Building an affordable 1080p mid-range Gaming PC! FT. Antec Flux M & an RX 9060 XT

Components

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500

The CPU is the brain of our rig, and we’ve chosen AMD’s Ryzen 5 5500. Sporting six cores and twelve threads, it delivers plenty of muscle for gaming workloads. With a base clock of 3.6 GHz and a boost up to 4.2 GHz, it has the raw speed to keep modern titles running smoothly. While it’s built on AMD’s older Zen 3 architecture and relies on the tried‑and‑true AM4 socket, this chip still holds its own, especially at 1080p, and even dips into 1440p depending on the game. What makes this build stand out is its harmonic balance, because the CPU doesn’t need to be a powerhouse, just strong enough to keep pace with the RX 9060 XT. And the Ryzen 5 5500 does precisely that, minimising bottlenecks and letting the GPU shine at these resolutions.

CPU Cooler: upHere UP1KC4

The UpHere UP1KC4 is a no-nonsense, compact, single-fan air cooler offering solid thermal performance and broad socket compatibility. It features a futuristic shroud design with copper pipes, aluminium fins, and a full enclosed heatsink. It utilises a PWM fan, giving your system complete control over the speed, allowing it to self-regulate cooling needs. This performance makes it a good pairing for AMD’s Ryzen 5 5500. Additionally, the cooler’s compact size is a perfect fit for our smaller Antec chassis, easily fitting inside while proving to be a powerhouse when working with the case’s ventilation points. If you want RGB lighting, you can opt for the UpHere UP1KC4 ARGB, which offers the same dimensions and performance as the base SKU, with additional customisable, colourful flair.

Motherboard: ASRock B550M Pro4

The B550M Pro4 is a sensible match for our Ryzen 5 5500 because the board’s AM4 socket and chipset explicitly support Ryzen 3000/4000/5000 series processors. When this board was initially released, it introduced modern connectivity features: its GPU slot used PCIe 4.0, and the M.2 slots could support Gen4 M.2s. Even by today’s standards, these are still faster bandwidths. The board also provides plenty of USB ports for all your peripherals.

For memory and expansion, the board supports four DIMM slots up to 128GB DDR4. With the Ryzen 5 5500, you can overclock the RAM to speeds up to 4733+ MT/s (OC), giving you the best balance of cost and performance for gaming or mixed productivity workloads.

RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB RS DDR4

We chose the Corsair Vengeance RGB RS DDR4 kit because it strikes a rare balance between affordability, reliability, and design at a time when DDR4 prices are climbing, and availability is shrinking. The RS line is Corsair’s more budget‑friendly option, usually offered at lower frequencies, but it still delivers stable performance that makes sense for everyday gaming and productivity. It’s not chasing headline speeds; instead, it’s about dependable value, which is precisely what DDR4 buyers need in late 2025.

On top of that, Corsair’s reputation for consistent quality gives this kit extra weight. In our own systems, Vengeance modules have proven to be rock‑solid under load, and the RS continues that tradition while adding a sleek aesthetic with vibrant RGB lighting. It’s a kit that looks good in a build, performs reliably, and doesn’t break the bank, which is why it earns our recommendation!

SSD: TeamGroup MP44L

This SSD is a brilliant Gen4 M.2 drive; it offers high speeds at an incredibly affordable price. We recommend opting for the 1TB storage capacity, which has sequential read speeds of 5000MB/s and sequential write speeds of 4500MB/s. During our initial review, we were pleasantly surprised by the drive’s performance, and since then, the TeamGroup MP44L has featured in many of our PC builds.

GPU: Sapphire RX 9060 XT 8GB

The graphics card we’ve chosen is really the star of the show. The Sapphire RX 9060 XT is powered by AMD’s latest RDNA 4 architecture. This GPU comes with 8GB of GDDR6 memory, which is more than enough to handle high settings at 1080p and even light 1440p gaming. In fact, reviews highlight that the RX 9060 XT delivers one of the most significant generational performance leaps in AMD’s lineup, offering smooth frame rates across modern titles while keeping pricing firmly in the mid‑range bracket.

This makes it a powerful yet accessible choice, especially when paired with a last‑generation CPU to keep overall system costs down. If your targeted resolution is on 1080p gaming over the next couple of years, the RX 9060 XT with 8GB of VRAM offers good future‑proofing without breaking the bank. And if you’ve got a little extra budget, opting for the 16GB Sapphire RX 9060 XT variant ensures even stronger performance at 1440p, extending your system’s lifespan. Notably, despite its power, the Sapphire Pulse RX 9060 XT’s dimensions remain case‑friendly, so you won’t need to worry about compatibility issues when installing it.

Case: Antec Flush M

Often, we see that in cases with a smaller footprint, airflow isn’t excellent, so beefing out a small chassis with high-end components can be a risky move for thermals. Another thing to consider is that ample CPU cooling might be difficult in some of these cases, as they don’t have room to house AIO liquid coolers. The Antec Flush M solves this with a next‑generation, airflow‑optimised design built for serious PC builders. Its unique vertical airflow channel, powered by six pre‑installed PWM fans, delivers superior GPU and system cooling. At the same time, support for a 360 mm CPU radiator in the top panel ensures ample headroom for high‑performance setups.

Ventilation is integrated on all six sides of the chassis, including a dedicated intake for the PSU, ensuring balanced airflow throughout the chassis. Antec also includes an extension cable for the PSU to ensure clean cable routing and compatibility with standard power supplies, given the relocated PSU placement. Tool‑free panels make internal access simple, and its integrated GPU bracket provides intuitive support for heavier graphics cards, especially when paired with the pre-installed bottom fans, which help stabilise what would usually pose an issue for standalone GPU stands.

PSU: MSI MAG A650BN

This power supply delivers 650W to your system and is perfect for mid-range gaming setups like this one. Certified at 80 PLUS Bronze, this PSU is designed to lower energy consumption and higher efficiency whilst providing relatively quiet acoustics and a hassle-free installation process due to its non-modular design, which means you only have to connect one end of the cables to the motherboard. After installation, gamers can immediately enjoy a reliable performance experience without additional settings.

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