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Buying guide
Complete, compatibility-checked parts lists with the reasoning attached — and an honest label on what the prices are.
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How to use these builds
Guide total ≈ £706 (~$897)
Spec-led 1080p target; verify settings and frame rates in dated independent tests.
Open the dedicated entry 1080p build page
| Part | Component | Why this part | Guide price | Price check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 7500F | A low-cost entry onto AM5 with a documented upgrade path; later CPU support still depends on the board vendor and BIOS. | ≈ £125~$159 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| CPU cooler | Thermalright Assassin X 120 R SE | Boxed 7500F includes AMD's Wraith Stealth; this £20 tower is a quieter aftermarket option. Comparative cooling performance depends on the case, fan curve, and workload. | ≈ £20~$25 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte B650M D3HP | Four DIMM slots and two M.2 slots at a budget price — the upgrade path matters more than frills here. | ≈ £92~$117 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| RAM | 16GB (2×8GB) DDR5-5600 | 16GB is the deliberate compromise while DDR5 pricing stays inflated; two free slots make 32GB a drop-in upgrade later. | ≈ £48~$61 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| SSD | WD Black SN770 1TB | PCIe 4.0 speed without the flagship tax; 1TB is the sensible floor for current game install sizes. | ≈ £58~$74 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB | The card the whole build is wrapped around: a specification-led 1080p target with DLSS available. 8GB is the practical capacity constraint to watch. See the GPU catalog for VRAM fit. | ≈ £270~$343 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Case | Fractal Design Focus 2 | Mesh front, two fans included, no glass tax — airflow per pound is the only metric that matters at this budget. | ≈ £45~$57 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| PSU | MSI MAG A650BN 650W | 80+ Bronze from a known brand; 650W leaves room for a mid-range GPU upgrade without rewiring the build. | ≈ £48~$61 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Approximate tier total | ≈ £706~$897 | |||
Every pound in this build is directed toward the graphics card because the target workload is 1080p gaming. The RTX 5060 is a specification-led choice with DLSS available as a fallback; verify settings and frame rates for the games you play. Its 8GB of VRAM is the main capacity constraint to monitor.
The Ryzen 5 7500F is a low-cost AM5 entry point, and the platform is the real purchase — a later X3D upgrade remains a possibility subject to BIOS and vendor support. Boxed chips include a Wraith Stealth; the £20 tower is a quieter aftermarket option whose real-world advantage depends on the case and workload.
The compromises are deliberate and reversible. 16GB of RAM keeps the guide total near £700 while DDR5 prices stay inflated, with two slots free for the upgrade. The PSU is bronze-rated and non-modular, the case has no glass panel — and none of that touches a single frame.
16GB of RAM is this tier's agreed compromise — DDR5 pricing through 2025-26 makes 32GB hard to fit near £700, and it should be the first upgrade. Guide prices are approximate; GPU and RAM pricing moves weekly, so check each part before ordering. Guide prices checked August 9, 2026. USD figures are indicative conversions at a static rate, not live prices.
Guide total ≈ £1,003 (~$1,274)
Spec-led 1440p target; verify settings and frame rates in dated independent tests.
Open the dedicated balanced 1440p build page
| Part | Component | Why this part | Guide price | Price check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | Zen 5 efficiency keeps the CPU from being the 1440p gaming bottleneck in most titles; still AM5, so the X3D upgrade path stays open. | ≈ £165~$210 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| CPU cooler | Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE | Twin-tower cooling for the price of a basic single tower — the 9600X does not justify liquid cooling. | ≈ £33~$42 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX | Wi-Fi 6E, three M.2 slots and a 4-DIMM layout — the sensible middle of the B650 range. | ≈ £108~$137 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| RAM | 32GB (2×16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 | DDR5-6000 CL30 is a commonly specified AM5 pairing; 32GB leaves more room for 1440p textures and background applications than the 16GB tier. | ≈ £92~$117 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| SSD | WD Black SN850X 1TB | A higher-tier PCIe 4.0 drive at a guide-price step above budget models; 1TB is the selected starting capacity. | ≈ £68~$86 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | 16GB at a mid-range price is the point: it is selected for high-settings 1440p targets and VRAM that should not date first. Catalogued alongside other mid-range cards on the GPU guide. | ≈ £410~$521 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Case | Phanteks XT Pro | Mesh front, one included rear 120mm fan, and clearance for a three-slot card when the GPU upgrade comes. | ≈ £55~$70 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| PSU | MSI MAG A750GL 750W Gold | 750W Gold with a native 12V-2x6 cable; the listed capacity leaves an upgrade margin, but confirm the future GPU's vendor requirements. | ≈ £72~$91 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Approximate tier total | ≈ £1,003~$1,274 | |||
The 16GB GPU configuration is selected for a 1440p target because it provides more memory headroom than the 8GB alternative. Verify game-specific settings and frame rates in dated independent tests rather than treating this list as a benchmark.
The 9600X and the AM5 socket are the specification-led CPU and platform choices here, with an X3D upgrade left as a possibility subject to BIOS and vendor support. The £33 twin-tower cooler is a compatible option; noise and temperature results depend on the case, fan curve, and workload. Intel's Core Ultra 5 245K is an alternative if current pricing changes the balance.
A 750W Gold PSU and a case with room for a three-slot card leave an upgrade margin on paper. Confirm dimensions, power connectors, and vendor requirements before changing the GPU.
The RX 9060 XT also ships in an 8GB version for roughly £40 less; the 16GB model is the capacity-oriented choice for this guide's 1440p target. Compare current pricing and dated independent tests before ordering. Guide prices checked August 8, 2026. USD figures are indicative conversions at a static rate, not live prices.
Guide total ≈ £1,502 (~$1,908)
Spec-led high-refresh 1440p / sensible 4K target; verify results in dated independent tests.
Open the dedicated high-end 1440p / 4k build page
| Part | Component | Why this part | Guide price | Price check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | A gaming-focused CPU choice with 3D V-Cache; verify the effect for your games in dated independent tests. The listed tower cooler is the compatible low-cost option. | ≈ £370~$470 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| CPU cooler | Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE | The £33 air tower is the listed compatible cooling option for this CPU; actual temperatures and noise depend on the case, fan curve, and workload. | ≈ £33~$42 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Motherboard | MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi | B850 brings a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and current connectivity at a sane price; X870 adds little a gamer uses. | ≈ £150~$191 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| RAM | 32GB (2×16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 | The same DDR5-6000 CL30 specification as the tier below; 32GB is the selected capacity for the target gaming workload. | ≈ £92~$117 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| SSD | WD Black SN850X 2TB | 2TB, because at this budget a second drive should not be a near-term purchase. | ≈ £112~$142 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB | Selected for the guide's high-refresh 1440p and sensible 4K targets; 16GB VRAM helps texture-heavy games — only small quantized local models are realistic here. See the GPU guide for model fit. | ≈ £590~$749 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Case | Lian Li Lancool 207 | Two 140mm front fans and a PSU-shroud layout; compare independent airflow and noise tests for the exact configuration. | ≈ £70~$89 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| PSU | Corsair RM850e 850W Gold | 850W of quiet ATX 3.1 delivery — the transient headroom modern cards actually exercise. | ≈ £85~$108 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Approximate tier total | ≈ £1,502~$1,908 | |||
This tier targets high-refresh 1440p and sensible 4K settings on paper. The RX 9070 XT's 16GB of VRAM provides more capacity for texture packs and creative work; treat local LLM use as small-model experimentation only — verify game-specific performance independently. The RTX 5070 Ti is an alternative if ray tracing matters more, subject to current pricing and dated tests.
The 9800X3D is the gaming-focused CPU choice in this specification list because of its 3D V-Cache design. Compare dated independent tests before treating that choice as a performance conclusion; the listed air cooler remains a compatibility choice.
The remaining parts are selected to leave practical margins: 2TB of NVMe storage, a B850 board with a PCIe 5.0 slot, and an 850W Gold PSU. Confirm clearance, connectors, and power requirements for the exact components.
The RTX 5070 Ti is the alternative GPU if ray tracing matters more than the guide-price target. This build uses the RX 9070 XT as the value-oriented specification choice; compare dated independent tests before ordering. Guide prices are approximate and the GPU reprices often. Guide prices checked August 9, 2026. USD figures are indicative conversions at a static rate, not live prices.
Guide total ≈ £2,455 (~$3,118)
Spec-led 4K target with headroom for creation work; light local-model experimentation only — verify independently.
Open the dedicated no-compromise 4k build page
| Part | Component | Why this part | Guide price | Price check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | A gaming-focused CPU choice for this list; compare the 9800X3D and 9950X3D in dated independent tests before treating core count as a gaming conclusion. | ≈ £370~$470 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| CPU cooler | Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 | At this budget the AIO is bought for sustained quiet under all-core loads, not because the CPU needs it. | ≈ £95~$121 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Motherboard | MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi | USB4, 5GbE and PCIe 5.0 across GPU and M.2 — the board you buy once for the life of the socket. | ≈ £215~$273 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| RAM | 64GB (2×32GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 | Games will not use it; capture and creation apps benefit from 64GB. Local LLM inference is still limited by GPU VRAM — see the GPU guide, not system RAM alone. | ≈ £180~$229 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| SSD | WD Black SN850X 4TB | 4TB ends the install-juggling that 100GB-plus games create; PCIe 5.0 drives cost more for gains games do not show. | ≈ £225~$286 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 16GB | Selected for a specification-led 4K target with DLSS available as a fallback. The RTX 5090 is a higher-cost alternative; compare current pricing and dated tests. | ≈ £1,150~$1,461 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Case | Lian Li Lancool 216 | Two 160mm intake fans are the airflow-oriented case specification; compare independent airflow and noise tests for the exact build. | ≈ £95~$121 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| PSU | Corsair RM1000e 1000W Gold | A 1000W ATX 3.1 PSU leaves a large power margin for the listed card; confirm the exact GPU's connector and vendor-wattage requirements. | ≈ £125~$159 | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
| Approximate tier total | ≈ £2,455~$3,118 | |||
This list has a specification-led 4K target with DLSS available as a fallback. The RTX 5080 is the selected fit on paper; compare current game performance, thermals, and pricing in dated independent tests. A higher-tier GPU can change the total substantially.
The CPU and 360mm cooler are selected for the stated gaming and creation-workload brief. Compare the 9800X3D and 9950X3D with dated tests, and validate noise and temperatures for the exact case and fan curve.
The headroom choices are the usable specifications: 64GB of RAM, 4TB of storage, and a 1000W ATX 3.1 PSU. For local models, GPU VRAM is the hard ceiling — system RAM helps with context and tooling around the model, not replacing a larger card.
An RTX 5090 can materially change the total at this budget. Guide prices are approximate and the GPU is the most volatile line by far; compare current figures and dated independent tests before ordering. Guide prices checked August 9, 2026. USD figures are indicative conversions at a static rate, not live prices.
FAQ
The questions that decide whether the build goes smoothly — answered honestly.
Do these prices include Windows?
No. The tier totals cover the tower hardware only. A Windows 11 licence adds roughly £100-£120 at retail; a free Linux distribution such as Ubuntu or Bazzite covers most gaming and essentially all local-AI use if you would rather spend nothing.
Are the monitor, keyboard and mouse included?
No — these are parts lists for the PC itself. Budget separately for a monitor matched to the tier (high-refresh 1080p for the entry build, 1440p or 4K above that), plus keyboard, mouse and audio.
How current are the prices?
Guide prices are approximate UK street prices last checked on 5 August 2026 — they are not live. RAM and GPU pricing in particular moved weekly through 2025-26, so use the per-part Amazon buttons to check the current figure before ordering anything.
Have you tested these exact builds?
Not as complete systems. Every list is checked for compatibility — socket, cooler clearance, wattage headroom, memory speed — and built from components with long, well-documented track records, but we do not claim benchmark numbers for hardware we have not assembled.
Keep going
The tower is one line item in the setup — these cover the rest.
Graphics
GPU buying guide
The RTX 5060, RX 9060 XT and RX 9070 XT used in these builds are catalogued by gaming and VRAM fit — useful if the tower also needs headroom for large local models.
High-end GPU cross-shop
RTX 5070 Ti vs RX 9070 XT
The alternative GPU callout in the high-end build, compared on manufacturer specs rather than invented benchmarks.
Head to head
Software and product comparisons
The same reasoning, applied to the tools the new machine will run.
Software
Stack Builder
Plan the business tool stack the hardware is there to carry.