I'm putting together an affordable PC for a family member and want to make sure it will provide a decent 1080p gaming experience. The most demanding game they're likely to play is Call of Duty: Warzone. I'm planning to shop for at least the graphics card on the used market, so I'd appreciate advice on whether the component choices are balanced and whether any parts should be upgraded or replaced.
4 Answers
The Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 5 5500 are about the minimum I’d consider for a modern gaming build. They can still work, but newer games may limit them to around 60–70 FPS on demanding settings and produce weaker 1% lows or occasional stutter. I wouldn’t go much older unless the goal is strictly entry-level gaming.
A Ryzen 5 5500X3D would be a significant CPU upgrade if you can find one around $150. If keeping costs very low, a used Ryzen 5 3600 for about $60 is still a reasonable option. For the graphics card, look for a used Radeon RX 6700 XT if pricing is good; its 12GB of VRAM gives it more breathing room than many budget alternatives.
A used RTX 2070 Super would pair well with this kind of 1080p build. I’d focus on replacing the CPU with at least a Ryzen 5 3600, or preferably a Ryzen 5 5600X or newer. Another good used-market option is the 12GB RTX 3060, especially if Warzone and other newer games are a priority.
I’d replace the older Hyper 212 Evo with a newer Thermalright Assassin-style cooler, which usually offers better value and performance. I’d also avoid limiting the build to an 8GB graphics card if possible. A used RTX 2080 can be worth the extra money for its additional VRAM, though these cards are getting old, so check temperatures and be prepared for possible cleaning or thermal-paste replacement. A Ryzen 7 5800 is another worthwhile CPU option if the budget allows.
The RTX 2080 and similar cards are nearly a decade old, so condition matters a lot. A card that needs maintenance may perform far below expectations if it is overheating.
I recently replaced a Ryzen 5 3600 because of stuttering and moved to a Ryzen 5 5500X3D. For roughly $150, the extra gaming performance makes it worth considering. The regular 5500 also has less L3 cache than the 3600, so it isn’t always the upgrade people expect.