South African gamers comparing options here usually want a straight answer they can act on, not a wall of spec jargon.

Quick Answer

A Path of Exile 2 build around R10,000 should pair a Ryzen 5 5500 with a GTX 1650 / used RX 6600, 16GB DDR4, and a 500GB NVMe SSD. That mix holds a steady 60 fps at 1080p in Path of Exile 2 without overspending on one part.

Where the money goes

For Path of Exile 2 the graphics card carries most of the load, so the GTX 1650 / used RX 6600 anchors this R10,000 build. A Ryzen 5 5500 keeps frametimes consistent during busy scenes, and 16GB DDR4 leaves headroom so the game streams assets without stutter. At R10,000 the goal is a system that feels even rather than one shiny part.

Don't forget the rest of the setup

A R10,000 build is only as good as the screen and chair around it. Pair this with a 1080p 144Hz panel from around R3,200, a decent mechanical board, and a 650W 80+ Bronze PSU so the GTX 1650 / used RX 6600 never gets starved. Cooling matters too: a solid tower air cooler keeps the Ryzen 5 5500 quiet under load.

Tuning Path of Exile 2 specifically

Path of Exile 2 rewards stable 1 percent lows over raw averages, so prioritise the Ryzen 5 5500 and fast 16GB DDR4. Cap the framerate a few frames under your monitor refresh to keep input feeling tight, and enable upscaling only if you need the extra headroom at 1080p.

What this means for local buyers

Rand pricing and local stock shift week to week, so anchor the decision to your real use case rather than the loudest spec. Set a firm budget, list the must-haves versus the nice-to-haves for gaming pc, and shortlist two options you can actually buy in stock now. That discipline beats chasing a headline number you will never feel in daily use, and it keeps the rest of the build from being starved.

FAQ

Do I need a bigger PSU for this Path of Exile 2 build?

A quality 650W 80+ unit handles this Ryzen 5 5500 and GTX 1650 / used RX 6600 comfortably with headroom for one future card upgrade. Going larger only matters if you plan a much stronger GPU down the line.

Should I spend more than R10,000?

Only if your monitor justifies it. Stepping up the GPU helps at 1440p or 4K, but at R10,000 this Path of Exile 2 configuration already runs Path of Exile 2 smoothly, so extra cash is better aimed at the screen.

Is 16GB DDR4 enough memory for Path of Exile 2?

Yes for Path of Exile 2 today. It covers the game plus Discord and a browser without paging to disk, and the platform leaves room to expand later if you start streaming or editing.

TIP

or three options in your price band, then check live Evetech stock before you commit, so you buy what can actually ship this week.