Budget between $500 and $800 AUD to upgrade and secure my gaming setup for the future.
Budget between $500 and $800 AUD to upgrade and secure my gaming setup for the future.
I would try the 7800xt mainly due to the shift to 1440p. Current titles are already beginning to support 1440p and 8gb vram, which isn't ideal. Keeping with 1080p makes sense, as it’s easier to manage settings there. While some games can handle over 8gb buffers, at 1080p it should be simpler to avoid issues. Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti with 8GB is actually slower than the Intel Arc B580. Our tests show this version performs poorly in modern titles, making it better to stick with a more capable platform first.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
*
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D 3 GHz 8-Core Processor
($429.00 @ Scorptec)
Memory:
*
G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
($85.00 @ Centre Com)
Total:
$514.00
Prices cover shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected lowest-priced components based on criteria
Created by
PCPartPicker
2025-05-16 00:08 AEST+1000
Currently, most games are singleplayer titles such as Red Dead 2, Cyberpunk, and Witcher 3. I’m considering newer releases like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and others that would be similarly demanding in terms of hardware. I’ll also explore 4k monitors since adjusting resolution is a useful feature. Thanks for your feedback.
If you’re targeting 1440p or 4k displays, it might be wise to avoid purchasing a graphics card right now. The market isn’t set up to support high resolutions like 4k within an affordable budget, particularly at 800 AUD. Instead, consider a platform upgrade and gradually acquire components as your finances allow. A setup suitable for 4k is possible, but you might need additional cores for smoother performance on 1440p. Many recent titles demand more processing power, and even with 4k, my 5800X3D struggles to maintain over 60% efficiency when paired with a 5090 in Cyberpunk 2077. Switching to 1440p only marginally improves frame rates—often just around 20%—due to the CPU bottleneck at that resolution. The same applies to Monster Hunter Wilds. You’ll likely need a robust power supply capable of handling any future cards or upgrades, plus more than 32GB of RAM. I’ve seen systems hit their limits when background tabs and Discord are open, so ample RAM is essential. A quality CPU cooler is also necessary. Most modern GPUs use passive cooling, which can leave hot air trapped inside unless you install a front intake. If you need something immediate, focus on the CPU, motherboard, and RAM; otherwise, wait for better deals before investing in a full build.