I'm looking for a UK PC build that can play new games at 1080p and 60fps and last a good while. The £1,500 budget is for the PC itself, not the monitor or peripherals. Is it worth spending the full amount, and are used parts worth considering?
What would you build for £1,500 for 1080p 60fps gaming?
Asked by
inventory_of_oddities
Answers
I wouldn't feel obliged to spend the full £1,500 for 1080p 60fps. A Ryzen 5 7600X, a suitable AM5 motherboard, 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD would make a sensible starting point. Pair those with a graphics card that fits the remaining budget, a decent air cooler and a case with good airflow.
A Radeon RX 9070 XT is one option if the price fits, though that's a fairly ambitious card for your current target. The extra GPU power could give you room to move to 1440p later. Check current UK prices rather than assuming a particular parts list will still come in under budget.
Reply to this answer
I'd compare builds around £1,000 and £1,500 before buying. The extra money opens up more graphics card choices and can make 1440p more comfortable, but you don't need to spend £2,000 just to hit your stated goal.
There are diminishing returns if you won't use the extra performance. Keep some money back rather than paying for a faster processor or graphics card purely because the budget allows it.
Reply to this answer
Used parts can stretch the budget, especially if you're happy with an older graphics card. Compare the saving against the price of a new equivalent, and check the condition, return options and any remaining warranty before committing.
For a machine you want to leave alone for a while, an all-new build is also a reasonable choice. You don't have to chase every second-hand deal to get a capable PC within this budget.
Reply to this answer
An Intel Core Ultra 5 225F build with a Radeon RX 9070 XT and a 2TB SSD is another combination to price up. Compare the total cost of the processor and motherboard against the Ryzen option, not just the CPU prices. If a future processor upgrade matters to you, check the platform and board support before deciding.
Reply to this answer
Don't forget the less exciting bits. Pick a power supply with enough capacity for the actual CPU and graphics card, plus some headroom, rather than choosing wattage at random. Check the graphics card's power requirements and connectors too.
I'd also look for a case with straightforward fan connections and decent airflow. You can skip RGB if you don't care about it and put the money towards storage or the GPU instead.
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
inventory_of_oddities:
Would the AM5 board help if I wanted to upgrade the processor later?
Piparoo:
It's a useful platform for that, but check the board's CPU compatibility and whether it needs a BIOS update before choosing a future replacement.