I'm new to PC gaming after years of using Apple devices and consoles, and I want a system that can handle games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 at 60 FPS or higher. My target resolution is 1080p to 1440p, and my budget is around $1,500 AUD.
I'm comparing two similarly priced systems. The custom build costs about $140 more but includes a Ryzen 5 5600, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB, 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory, a 650W Bronze power supply, and a 1TB NVMe SSD on a B550 motherboard. The other option is an HP Omen 16L with a Ryzen 5 8400F, RTX 5060 8GB, 16GB of DDR5-5200 memory in a single stick, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and a B650-based system.
DDR5 pricing in Australia is making AM4 systems more appealing, but I'm concerned about performance, upgradeability, and how well each graphics card will age. Which system would be the better choice for 1080p–1440p gaming at 60 FPS or above?
2 Answers
Both systems should be capable of 1080p gaming at 60 FPS or better, and the custom system should also do well at 1440p with sensible settings. For Red Dead Redemption 2, check benchmarks using the exact CPU and GPU where possible, but the Ryzen 5 5600 should not be a major problem. Lowering a few demanding settings from ultra to high or medium can make a substantial difference.
The HP's 16GB of DDR5 is configured as one stick, so it will run in single-channel mode and may lose some performance. That could be fixed by adding a matching module, but the machine's proprietary motherboard, power supply, and case can make future upgrades more awkward. The custom build uses two memory sticks and standard components, making it the better long-term foundation despite being AM4.
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