My current PC is starting to struggle in League of Legends. It has an Intel i5-8400, a GTX 1060 6GB, an unspecified amount of RAM, and I play at 1080p on a 144 Hz monitor. I usually want a steady 144 FPS, but my frame rate often drops from around 144 to 100 or lower. I have about €1,300 to spend on the PC itself, excluding the monitor and peripherals. League is my main game, but I would also like to run demanding titles such as GTA V and potentially GTA VI in the future. I'm not very familiar with current hardware, so I'd appreciate practical advice on whether a Ryzen 5 or Core i5 is sufficient, how much to spend on the CPU versus GPU, whether 32 GB of RAM is worthwhile, if AM5 is a good choice for upgrades, and what to look for in the motherboard, power supply, storage, and other components. I'm also unsure whether building the system myself or buying a prebuilt would be the better option.
2 Answers
League is relatively easy to run, so you don’t need an expensive high-end CPU or GPU for your current monitor. An affordable six-core processor, 16–32 GB of dual-channel memory, and a midrange graphics card should handle it comfortably. AMD systems often offer good performance for the money, but check actual local pricing and availability before choosing a specific model. If you buy a prebuilt, inspect the exact parts rather than accepting vague descriptions: the PSU, motherboard, RAM configuration, SSD, and cooling can be where manufacturers cut costs. Building yourself usually gives better value and upgradeability, but a reputable prebuilt is reasonable if you value convenience.
For a €1,300 budget, prioritize a balanced modern system rather than trying to make it completely future-proof. A current Ryzen 5 or Core i5 is more than enough for League at well over 144 FPS when paired with a sensible graphics card. Aim for 32 GB of RAM if the price difference is reasonable, choose a reputable 650–750 W power supply, and get at least a 1 TB NVMe SSD. AM5 is attractive because it gives you a better CPU upgrade path, but prices vary by region, so don’t sacrifice the GPU or power supply just to use it. GTA VI’s eventual PC requirements and optimization are unknown, so no €1,300 system can guarantee high settings or performance in that game.
Thanks. I’m not very comfortable choosing used parts or assembling a system myself. If I focus only on getting a stable 144–200 FPS in League, what level of hardware would I actually need?