Is this PC good for competitive gaming?

Yes — the integrated Radeon with the Ryzen 5 8500G handles esports titles at smooth 1080p settings. Expect strong frame rates in games like Valorant and CS2 on medium–high settings; competitive players can upgrade to a discrete GPU later for higher FPS.

Will this work for university studies and online classes?

Absolutely. The 6-core Ryzen CPU, 16GB DDR5 and 1TB NVMe deliver fast multitasking, video calls and document work — a solid alternative to a university laptop with more power and better upgrade potential.

How does this PC handle load-shedding and the SA climate?

The configuration is energy-efficient for its class and uses a modest 400W PSU; it's well-suited to short power interruptions when paired with a UPS. Cooling on the B650 platform is straightforward, and the build performs reliably in warmer home environments.

Can I upgrade to a dedicated graphics card later?

Yes. The B650 AM5 motherboard and PCIe 5.0 readiness allow easy GPU upgrades and memory expansion, so you can boost gaming performance over time without replacing the whole system.