AM4 Apu Build ideas(also vs low end laptop)

[zaydm_n]

Hey guys
I hope you are all well.

I am considering building an APU build on the cheap and adding a GPU next year when I will have more time to game, so just putting a feeler out for ideas and to see if my idea is realistic. I'm not definitely building anything as I know the time isn't right, but I have a feeling after my exams on the 18th, and until I start my 2nd year of CTA, I am going to be very bored after work and be looking for a project, as I spend almost every night after work studying or working overtime. I was thinking I could put this together, hook it up to my TV and router and use it with the TV for light games/emulation and stream to my tablet for productivity purposes. I'll only start looking at making purchases after/around the 18th so that I don't get too distracted. This is competing with my other idea, to get a low end DGPU laptop for similar purposes but I think this may be more worth it in the long run.

The specs I was thinking of:

CPU:
5600/5700G(5500/5600GT also an option)- R1500-3000

MOBO-MATX/ITX: as cheap as possible, B550 ideally and I don't want to spend more than 1500-1800 ideally. Would be great if it had Wifi/bluetooth.

RAM:
DDR4- 16GB- 3200 or 3600Mhz-R400-R800

Case-MATX/ITX- Don't have a specific case in mind, but needs to be big enough to fit a GPU in eventually. Budget of R1000 max

PSU: Would prefer to buy new but if anyone has anything decent on the cheap that is new/newish, I would consider around R1000-R1500.

SSD-any 512GB NVME 3.0 or 4.0 drive with 100% health as a boot drive- R300-R500

My goal is to keep the total build price as close to what I got for my PS5 as possible(R8000, +-R500). I'm open to other suggestions for build compositions if they can provide more power at a similar price but also with an upgrade path, like AM4 has, as I haven't built a PC in years. I am aware some consider AM4 dead but I feel it still has some life, especially since you can always go higher than the 5600G and also can always include a GPU at a later stage when affordable. I don't want to buy a cheap GPU now and not be able to get much back for it later. Is this idea of mine as well as the pricing realistic? Is it a good idea objectively? And is there a better way to execute this idea?

 

[Switch]

Your idea will work, but as far as I'm aware all the APU are pcie 3 only and are monolithic architecture with less L3 cache instead of chiplet like the 5600x/5800x3d/5900x/etc, you will get less relative performance, and miss out on some faster technology with pcie 4 if you plan to keep this for a long time. It will be better to get a ryzen cpu like the 5600 and then try minimize cost elsewhere to scrounge out more budget for a 1060 or amd equivalent, you will get far more return in terms of enjoyment than trying to save about R1.3k not getting a gpu and playing stuttering games an apu. Or think of it as a ~R400 loss as payment for your entertainment if you take the knock reselling a R1.3k 1060 for R900. Of course this depends on what games you intend to play.

I will unashamedly point out that there is a b550 mobo available over here.

 

[zaydm_n]

Your idea will work, but as far as I'm aware all the APU are pcie 3 only and are monolithic architecture with less L3 cache instead of chiplet like the 5600x/5800x3d/5900x/etc, you will get less relative performance, and miss out on some faster technology with pcie 4 if you plan to keep this for a long time. It will be better to get a ryzen cpu like the 5600 and then try minimize cost elsewhere to scrounge out more budget for a 1060 or amd equivalent, you will get far more return in terms of enjoyment than trying to save about R1.3k not getting a gpu and playing stuttering games an apu. Or think of it as a ~R400 loss as payment for your entertainment if you take the knock reselling a R1.3k 1060 for R900. Of course this depends on what games you intend to play.

I will unashamedly point out that there is a b550 mobo available over here.

Thank you so much for the advice man.
I realise now that you are 100% right.
Unfortunately my ideas may not pan out, as we will be moving in 3 months at the end of our lease, to a cheaper area and probably a smaller apartment where there may not be space for a PC. If we don't find a place in time we'll have to stay at my parents till we do, so definitely no place for a PC there anymore.

We also don't have much furniture of our own, most of our stuff is included with the rent and that includes the TV, so I wouldn't even have a screen when we move. I'm also rethinking the potential power bill increase lol. A low end laptop may be better suited to my situation, I'll have to see what happens in the coming months. I'vs also been reminded that my tablet was supposed to be my only gaming device till I finish PGDA/CTA next year so... I'll have to see how things pan out. I can swing a laptop as needed for my studies at least🤣, as I don't actually have a personal laptop and would need one if I need to write any exams/tests online.