I'm completely new to building PCs and would appreciate advice on what to buy. I'd like to play games such as Rainbow Six Siege, League of Legends, Minecraft, and other fairly lightweight games with friends, since I currently play on Xbox and often can't join them. Ideally, I'd like around 120 FPS at 1080p, although I'm willing to settle for 60–80 FPS if reaching 120 would require a much larger budget. I also need enough RAM to run Discord and music alongside games. Appearance doesn't matter to me at all, and I'm happy with an ugly case or used parts if that makes the budget work. My total budget is roughly £300–£500, and all parts or systems need to be available for delivery or purchase in the UK. Should I build from individual parts, buy refurbished components, or look for a used or prebuilt system?
3 Answers
For the games you listed, you don’t necessarily need an extremely powerful PC. Siege, League, and Minecraft can run well on modest hardware, especially at 1080p. However, 120 FPS in every game is ambitious at this budget. A used gaming PC from a local marketplace may offer much better value than buying individual new parts, and you can upgrade the RAM, storage, or graphics card later. Aim for at least 16GB of RAM so Discord and music won’t be an issue.
You may find a basic prebuilt online within the budget, but inexpensive systems often use weak graphics cards, so check the GPU carefully before buying. A used desktop with a decent dedicated graphics card is usually the better option than a new machine with integrated graphics or an entry-level card. For your target games, prioritize a real graphics card, 16GB of RAM, an SSD, and a reputable power supply over appearance or RGB lighting.
Building a completely new PC for £300–£500 and expecting around 120 FPS in most modern games isn’t very realistic right now. Even if the processor and graphics card are good enough, the cost of RAM, storage, a power supply, and the case adds up quickly. Saving closer to £700–£1,000 would give you more options for a new or quality prebuilt system, while a used PC could still work within your current budget. Be cautious with marketplace listings, test the computer if possible, and check the exact parts rather than trusting vague claims like “gaming PC.”
The games are mostly Siege, League of Legends, Minecraft, and other less demanding games, so I’m fine with used hardware if it can handle those reliably.