I'm new to building PCs and want to put together a gaming computer for around €1,200–€1,300. I mainly play Minecraft and Terraria, but I'd also like to run newer, demanding games such as Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and the Dark Souls trilogy at a good quality level. I'm upgrading from a work-focused laptop and want the best performance for my money. I'm unsure which parts are compatible and don't want to accidentally buy components that won't work together. I live in Portugal, so local availability and shipping costs matter. I'm also not sure whether my budget needs to include peripherals such as a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers.
4 Answers
The games you listed range from very easy to quite demanding, so tell people whether you want 1080p or 1440p and what frame rate you’re aiming for. That information is more useful than simply saying you want games to run well. Also check delivery fees and warranty terms in Portugal, because prices from other countries may look good until shipping and taxes are added.
A balanced build should prioritize the graphics card, then use a capable six-core processor, 16–32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB NVMe SSD, and a quality 650–750 W power supply. Make sure the motherboard supports the processor out of the box, the case supports the motherboard size and graphics-card length, and the cooler fits the socket and case. Decide first whether the monitor is included in the budget; otherwise you may spend too much on the PC and have nothing left for a suitable display.
Start by choosing the target resolution and refresh rate, since that determines the graphics card you need. For 1080p or 1440p gaming, a Radeon RX 6700 XT or better can handle those games well, especially if you’re buying used. A Ryzen 5 7500F with affordable DDR5 memory is a strong modern platform if you find good prices, but older AM4 systems can offer better value when buying second-hand. Don’t cut corners on the power supply—around €100 for a reputable unit is money well spent.
Use a parts compatibility checker while planning the build. It will flag issues such as the CPU not matching the motherboard socket, unsuitable memory, insufficient power, or a graphics card that won’t fit in the case. Check Portuguese retailers and refurbished listings as well as new parts; refurbished components with a warranty can be a safer deal than completely used hardware. Remember that a €1,200–€1,300 budget for the tower alone goes much further than one that also has to cover the monitor and other peripherals.
If you buy through local classified listings, inspect the parts in person when possible and test them before paying. Used components can save a lot, but avoid deals that provide no way to verify that the hardware works.