I wanted to validate that an AMD APU-based gaming PC was the best value. Unfortunately it seems they aren’t and a discrete GPU-based gaming PC can do more for the same amount of money.

This is my build based on an NVidia GeForce GPU. What I like most about discrete GPUs is that it’s a common misconception that you have to buy a new PC every few years to continue gaming. In reality simply switching out your GPU every few years can often bring an old PC back to life.

The real limiting factor on an aging custom PC is usually the motherboard’s expansion slots. Once their interfaces are obsolete then newer and faster GPUs are not made for them. But until new slots come into wide use and only computer can be upgraded to keep up with advances in graphics technology.