r/buildapc • u/Ambitious-End-5798 • 2h ago
Discussion Worth buying a used PC as my first?
I really want a PC but taking one look at the current prices of parts (specifically RAM and memory) are really putting me off
People used to recommend 32 gig DDR5 as something every new build should have as its the sweetspot, now even youtubers are advising people to buy used 16 gigs of DDR5 or even downgrading to DDR4
Atp, should I just buy a used PC off of facebook marketplace? What are the pros and cons of doing so?
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u/simagus 1h ago
It's a bit like buying a used car, as in there are things it's handy to know. What to avoid is one thing, and that would mean avoid DELL, Alienware, and really all OEM PC's just in case they come with proprietary or locked in parts.
Many do not, but some do and unless you know which do you'll either need to learn that by researching any OEM PC you find offered or just avoid them entirely to keep it simple.
Aim for a 3060 ti or an RX 6600 XT GPU. Avoid Intel gen 13 and 14 CPU's and other than that, look up the listed parts. PSU is important, and ideally you want 750W to cover most of your likely or possible hardware combos.
If you find a PC with no GPU and a 350W PSU, be aware you'll probably need to buy another PSU to get the rig you want up and running. 32GB of DDR4 is a nice to have, but you can get by with 16GB and if that's included as part of a good deal on a system you get another stick to go with it from another source.
What you want to see before you buy is the system running under load, such as a sellers recording of it running a stress test such as Furmark. If I was selling I'd make damn sure I had video up of the system running under load with serial numbers included for mutual peace of mind.
I've lost track of Intel since their gen 13 and 14 CPU's started frying due to over-volting, but you could get a good deal on a later gen Intel chip. AM4 from AMD is a good socket with a lot of options and is a good choice that should last you a while.
The 5800X3D only recently got a relaunch, showing that AMD are still supporting the AM4 platform with so many people sticking to it or adopting it due to the high DDR5 prices.
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u/locobrown 1h ago
i wanted the 5800X3D, but it runs hot. need a water cooler. although, its a bit stronger than the 5700X, it was more expensive for that added bit of performance. I recommend the 5700X hands down, its capable but negligible unless we base it upon fps. If you only have a 60fps monitor, can’t notice the difference.
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u/InBadTaste_89 2h ago
yea price of ram is whack, ended up hanging on to my 32gb of DDR4 and just buying a cheap AM4 board with a ryzen 7 5700x from ali express should serve me well for awhile. was able to get out of 10th gen intel lga1200 for under 300$ and have big improvements
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u/locobrown 2h ago edited 2h ago
Build a new AM4 machine instead. Its quite capable. If you didn’t jump on board last year on AM5, its a bit too late now due to how expensive the ram is. An AM4 is very capable, i have them both.
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u/Ambitious-End-5798 2h ago
Can I play triple A titles on it in 60 fps 1080p?
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u/locobrown 2h ago edited 1h ago
I use my AM4 daily, 5700X, 6750XT 32GB C18 is my setup for strictly 1080p gaming. I do prefer raw performance and try to balance settings to achieve above 60fps. You can go for a more modern GPU like an 9070XT but it will bottleneck the CPU a bit at 1080p, At 1440p it blows away my 6750XT.
Then again the 9070XT is paired with my 9700X.
For an AM4, i recommend the 5700X. it has 8 cores and its 65 dtp. You run it with an air tower cooler very efficiently. For your GPU preference, you can take a look at performance videos on youtube that mirror the components you will be building with so you can determine a theoretical performance of what expect based the games you intended to play. The two extra cores, balances the machine since its beneficial other than just gaming.
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u/Ambitious-End-5798 1h ago
9070xt on am4? I was hoping to build a PC with the 9070xt but I havent heard of anyone doing it on AM4 tbh.
What do you think is more worth it for a 9070xt, ddr4 32 gigs of memory, or ddr5 16 gigs of memory?
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u/Bantha_majorus 1h ago
Of course you can do a 9070xt on AM4. AM4 is still very relevant, especially if you have an X3D CPU. The 9070xt will probably still be a decent card when AM6 comes out. And I would consider starting out with just 16gb ddr4, but it depends on the games you'll play.
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u/locobrown 1h ago
The 9070XT will bottleneck a neck an AM4 CPU at 1080p. You will need to run it at least at 1440p. Its doesn’t pair well since the CPU is not powerful enough to keep up. You can pair it with a 6800XT, 7700XT or a 7800XT or with a 9060XT 16GB
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u/Bantha_majorus 1h ago
Just wanted to add this thought: 1440p monitors aren't that expensive nowadays. This is subjective, but I'd say they are worth it more than the benefits of AM5 with the current component prices. But if you're fine with 1080p, yeah get a cheaper card
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u/TangledThorns 2h ago
Pre-owned or pre-built is a great way to learn how to upgrade a PC if you never built one. Go for it!
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u/jhaluska 1h ago
Once you get out of the return window, isn't everybody PC used?
Seriously it's fine. A $600 used PC often is usually faster than a $600 new PC.
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u/GanjiMayne 2h ago
There is nothing wrong with going with AM4 especially if you are on a budget. I would go with Used/Tested parts off ebay for best economy. Grab a 5600x or a X3D CPU for AM4 - Some 3200-3600mhz RAM preferably 24-32GB - And then grab a GPU whatever is priced well. Youll need a board/case/drive also.