What should I buy for the game they play?
Pick the game and a budget. We show the best graphics card upgrade, the best new PC and the console options, with the frame rate to expect and approximate UK prices.
Yes: £500 plays Fortnite smoothly
Three ways to spend it, with the frame rate our model expects at 1080p on High settings. Fortnite needs 8GB of RAM at minimum and 16GB is recommended.
Add a graphics card
The cheapest big upgrade for an older desktop. Best card up to £500, judged with a mid-range processor. A much older processor will hold it back.
| Option | Card | Price | FPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| New | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB | £460 | 162 |
| Used | GeForce RTX 3070 8GB | £220 | 168 |
Check the power supply fits the card first: PSU Wattage Calculator. Used cards are eBay UK asking prices. Prices checked 18 Oct 2026 and they move weekly.
A new desktop
At £500 the build tier to aim for is Budget 1080p: Ryzen 5 5600 with RX 6600, about £290 for those two parts.
We assume about 60% of the budget goes on the processor and graphics card, and the rest on motherboard, memory, drive, power supply, case and Windows. That split is our assumption, not a quote: memory prices in particular are moving fast in 2026. See all six build tiers.
Buy a console instead
Also on PlayStation and Xbox.
| Console | Price | Roughly equals | PC card as fast, new / used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S (512GB) | £429.99 | GTX 1650 Super class (rough) (low confidence) | RTX 3050 8GB £325 / RX 580 8GB £50 |
Console prices are UK list prices from the sources linked, dated 2026. A console also needs a controller, games and, for some games, a subscription; a PC may already have the screen, keyboard and mouse.
PC prices approximate, checked 18 Oct 2026. FPS figures are model estimates.
- GPU PRIX and GPU Price History (new UK prices), eBay UK asking prices (used), checked 18 Oct 2026
- Nintendo Life, Aug 2026 (Microsoft UK price rise)
- PlayStation Blog, price changes from 2 Apr 2026
- GamerKit FPS model (labelled estimates; calibration notes in the Can I Run It? tool)
- Console GPU equivalents: Digital Foundry matched-settings tests (see the PS5 comparison tool)
PC prices approximate and checked 18 Oct 2026. Console prices from the announcements linked. Whether a game is also on console is general knowledge; check the store page before buying.
FAQ
Is a PC or a console better for Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft?
Both play them well. In 2026 console prices rose sharply, so a graphics card upgrade to an older desktop, or a modest new PC, now competes on price. The tool shows all three routes for your budget and game.
How much RAM does the game need?
Each game shows its minimum and recommended RAM in the result. 16GB is the safe amount for most current games, and several need 12GB just to start.
Are the prices exact?
No. They are approximate UK street prices checked on the date shown and they move week to week, particularly for memory and graphics cards. Always check the live listing before buying.
Is a used graphics card safe to buy?
Used cards are the best value per pound but carry more risk. Buy from a seller with returns protection, and check your power supply can run the card.