Question£1,300 New PC Advice
Question£1,300 New PC Advice
Hello,
I’m considering purchasing a new custom gaming desktop and would appreciate some guidance on my options, especially as I’ve selected them via the PC Specialist form.
Estimated purchase timing: Aim to buy by the end of the financial year.
Budget: Approximately £1,300.
Usage priority from highest to lowest: Gaming, light video editing, word processing, and internet use.
Monitor: No (though it does require a display port connection if that’s crucial).
Upgrades needed: Full build, so everything should be compatible. I’m uncertain whether DDR4 or DDR5 RAM is more suitable.
Current options:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7500F
- Motherboard: ASUS Prime B850-plus wifi
- RAM: 32GB PCS Pro DDR5
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT
- Alternatively:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT
- Motherboard: ASUS Prime B550-plus
- RAM: 32GB PCS Pro DDR4
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT
Storage: Should I opt for a small-capacity SSD paired with a storage drive, or a larger SSD?
Operating System: No need to buy OS yet (I’m using Bazzite and plan to install it on the new machine).
Preferred parts suppliers: PC Specialist UK is ideal for a custom build; I’m open to other UK-based vendors if they ship to me.
Location: UK
Preferences: I don’t have a specific brand preference beyond AMD or Intel since I’m using Linux.
Overclocking: Unlikely to be necessary.
Multiple GPUs: Probably not required.
Extra note: I already own a case (Fractal Pop Air) and intend to add a drive, so the build must accommodate that.
Most importantly: Why am I upgrading? My current machine is nearly ten years old (Aspire GX-281 with AMD Ryzen 5 1400, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and an AMD Radeon RX 480), so I’m seeking a more upgradeable and future-proof system.
Thank you in advance.
Views are entirely divided on this matter.
Certain individuals favor a single large storage drive.
Others, including myself, like keeping the operating system and applications on one drive while storing all data elsewhere.
Neither approach offers any advantages or disadvantages.
I wouldn't opt for a prime board. These units usually feature weaker VRM designs that restrict future upgrade possibilities. I prefer having one SSD dedicated to the operating system and another for gaming.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 5 7500F 3.7 GHz 6-Core OEM/Tray Processor
(£133.94 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Assassin King 120 MINI V2 64.87 CFM CPU Cooler
(£17.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Motherboard:
Gigabyte B650 GAMING X AX V2 ATX AM5 Motherboard
(£134.99 @ Amazon UK)
Memory:
Klevv FIT V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
(£299.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Storage:
Crucial T500 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
(£87.99 @ Amazon UK)
Storage:
Samsung 980 Pro w/Heatsink 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
(£124.47 @ Scan)
Video Card:
PowerColor Reaper Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB Video Card
(£379.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Case:
KOLINK Observatory MX Mesh ARGB ATX Mid Tower Case
(£34.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Power Supply:
Montech CENTURY II 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(£85.47 @ Scan)
Overall Cost: £1299.82
Costs encompass shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts.
Created by PCPartPicker
2026-01-30 15:27 GMT+0000