comments:
TL;DR - Don't cheap out on a PSU, if you're on a tight budget then get a second hand CPU/GPU (preferably from CEX, since they do 5-year warranty on all electronics), and you'll probably have to spend a bit more than you should on decent RAM in 2026. If possible, try and salvage some (working) parts from your prebuilt (mainly any storage and RAM) to save yourself some money. The best advice i could give you is: under no circumstances should you cheap out on the power supply, because that could be the difference between a working pc and a paperweight and/or fire hazard. Don't get a second hand GPU, get one from a reputable company (corsair, gigabyte, to name a few), and make sure it's at least gold certified. Ideally, you;ll want to get a fully modular power supply, which means you can just use the cables you'll actually need to plug into the motherboard. Also, make sure it's wattage is enough to cover your Graphics card. I personally use the Gigabyte UD750GM: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B4VCHNKT - I got it for around £60 in 2024, but it seems to be more now. As for your used CPU/GPU question: definitely save a bit of money and just go that route. I bought many used CPU/GPU's from CEX, and they've all worked great so far, no problems. A few people don't really recommend buying a used CPU, but if you're on a budget then i say go for it, just avoid sites like Ebay, a bit shady IMO. The most expensive thing (other than a GPU) that you're gonna be buying is RAM (depending if it's DDR4/DDR5). Why? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024–present_global_memory_supply_shortage so if you can get a good deal on decent RAM, you're lucky.