Category: Gaming

While the growing popularity of desktop PCs and PC gaming has seen a rise in creative and striking computer setups, featuring more RGB than you can shake a mechanical keyboard at, there are some who have pushed the boundaries of computer building even further.

If you’re someone who never seems to have enough desk space or who is struggling with temperature management, there’s one trend in PC building that has taken off and may be something worth looking into.

This trend is the wall-mounted PC, and it’s as impressive to look at as it is crazy sounding. Think of it as taking high-end prebuilt gaming PCs to the next level.

While many people still love the standard mid-tower desktop, and there are plenty of great options available if this traditional setup appeals to you, there’s something truly amazing about a wall-mounted PC, whether it be the exposed components whizzing overhead or the sheer practicality of freeing up all that extra space – it’s no wonder these setups have exploded in recent years.

The growth in popularity of this slightly strange but highly appealing system has seen a number of incredibly badass looking computers be put together, and as they become ever more elaborate we move one step closer to that glorious cyberpunk future that awaits us!

In this post we’re going to look at 8 of the most zany and impressive wall-mounted PC builds from all over the world, to give you a little bit of inspiration and to encourage you to consider if you really need that new PC case after all!

This build was posted on the overclock.net forums way back in 2014, by user Recoil P, and it’s probably one of the earliest trackable wall-mounted PC builds making this a very early iteration of the new very popular, and incredibly refined philosophy of wall-mounted computers.

The build consisted of an Intel Core i7-920 and a GTX 590 paired with a custom water cooling system made from a variety of specialist custom parts from Aquacomputer, Monsoon, Phobya, and Alphacool, and a few others.

While the component list shows the age of this system, at the time it would’ve been a beast, and despite its relatively simple design compared to today’s standards, it’s clear to see how much desk space this has saved.

There are some interesting design choices too, such as the reverse mounted graphics card and minimal blue lighting.

If you’re interested in looking at the build log, you can check it out here!

Another great early build is this one by Show4Pro, as posted on overclock.net here

As you’ll see in the post, this one was put together over the course of a month and took around 100 hours to build indicating how much effort and care goes into these designs. Much of the work would need to be done by hand and custom rigged, so if you thought building a PC was nerve-wracking enough, imagine bolting it all to your wall as you do it!

The build itself consisted of an Intel Core i7 950, an ASUS Rampage III Extreme,  12GB of Corsair Dominator RAM, 4 x 120GB Corsair Force SSDs, 2 1TB Western Digital HDDs, another 2TB Western Digital Caviar Green HDD and a further 1.5TB  Caviar Green HDD with a Corsair AX1200i as well as cooling components from EK Supreme, Swiftech, FrozenQ, XSPC and Koolance among an array of others.

It’s a seriously impressive build for a very early run at this style of PC, and while the specs may be well and truly outdated today (and were probably quite a pain to swap out) this PC would’ve been a true spectacle at the time and is a historic piece in the world of wall-mounted PCs.

This build, put together by Chris Howell was highlighted on Bit-Tech.net in 2015 and it’s one of the most visually consistent and striking builds on the list, that looks like it comes straight from the Metro franchise or maybe even the Bioshock Universe!

The steampunk aesthetic is awesome and is well connected by copper-colored accents on the fans and power supply, as well as the HDD. The copper cable routing is also a genius touch to hide the cables, and the custom wooden backboards look great too, if they may be a little difficult to keep clean.

You can check out the build itself here.

The next build was put together by an Imgur user known as FerosRigs, and as you can see this is a very nice system with a batman-esque pairing of purple and green lighting that looks as if this PC is Bane’s own personal gaming rig!

This builder has put together an array of different rigs and as their name suggests they’re clearly an avid builder keen on experimenting with systems and pushing them to be as artistically appealing as they are powerful.

There are several nice touches here such as the metrics display to monitor temps and speeds, as well as invisible cabling and very cool lighting around the power supply fan and around the rear of the backboard for a nice surround effect.

You can check out some of the builds here.

This rig by Reddit user u/vicoooo is a very nice minimalist system that shows you don’t have to go crazy with the cable management or the lighting to get a very sleek and clean-looking system that would suit almost any room or aesthetic.

The lack of a theme is actually a boon and the simple, clean layout speaks more to the practical user who wants to get the benefits of the space and cooling wall mounting can provide without agonizing over thematic details and elaborate lighting and cable management.

You can find the build log here.

Back to the heavily themed builds, this rig goes to show how glorious it can be to honor your favorite franchise or show with a stunning wall mounted PC.

This rig was put together by Imgur user marksmanguy and shows how well yellow and blue work together, and how to incorporate a lot of personality into your wall-mounted PC.

This PC truly floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee! 

The build log can be found here!

This build by Imgur user JalfreziJeff is an interesting carbon fiber style system that makes heavy use of this effect along with plexiglass and RGB lighting and gives a feel of a Formula 1 racing car engine more than a high performance gaming machine!

You can find the build here!

This build by Imgur user kdevault813 is a much more modern PC and has some awesome touches such as the power gauge on the right and old-fashioned switches coupled with a rustic wooden backboard.

The build is no slouch despite its old-fashioned aesthetic and the whole build can be found here!

PC building enthusiasts used to go for big computer cases, on the principle that the more room they had, the more high-end gaming tech they could fit into it.

These days though, the fashion in building is to go smaller and use mini-ITX motherboards. Result? Powerful mini-gaming PCs, less of a footprint.

The rise in popularity of mini-ITX cases, and the unstoppable advance of computer hardware (GPUs and CPUs) means it’s never been as easy to build a powerful mini gaming computer as it is right now.

If you’re thinking of downsizing, we’ve put together three options for small form-factor mini gaming PCs: a budget version, a mid-range, and a high-end option.

That way, you can build your own mini budget gaming PC, according to your gaming needs, your budget and your sense of personal style, without worrying about what goes with what.

Think of these as the closest thing to buying a pre-built machine, but optimized for performance and price.

We’re giving you a bridge into the world of mini-builds for gaming PCs, so even if you haven’t been sure till now which components you’d need to get what results – and what you’d probably have to pay for them – you can follow our lead, or vary it slightly to suit your own individual tastes, and put your own stamp on your build.

In Brief – Three Mini-ITX Builds

Let’s take a quick look at the three mini-ITX gaming builds we’ve put together. The table will give you some basic idea of what the build contains, as well as Amazon links to the components you’ll need to build them. We’ve also added in the link to the pre-built version.

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A Budget-Friendly Mini Gaming PC

This budget gaming build features a compact mini-ITX cube-style case. It’s the Cooler Master Elite 130, which is one of the most budget-friendly cases on the market. But because of a rush of powerful mini graphics cards, you can fit a pretty high-end system in this much smaller case if you want to.

Here though, we went cost-conscious with an Intel Core i3-10100f and a GTX 1650 Super.

The i3-10100f is quad-core, and the GTX 1650 Super 6GB graphics card will let you play most games you could want on a reasonably pocket-friendly 1080P monitor. And if your favorite games don’t demand high-intensity graphical performance (Hello, Fortnite…), this is a build that will play them on all the higher settings.

We chose the Intel Core processor because while a budget AMD processor like the Ryzen 3 3200g would at least work, the Intel would outperform it in this scenario.

In terms of the other specs, this build has 8GB of DDR4 memory, 550W of power and an SSD of 240GB. If you feel like amping up the storage, you could switch out the SSD for a 1TB hard drive for around the same price, but the SSD felt right in a smaller build.

This is a solid mini gaming PC that delivers for any games that are not graphically thirsty, and should run anything you feel like on a 1080P monitor, at least on lot-to-medium settings.

How To Build It – The Parts You’ll Need

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A Mid-Range Mini Gaming PC

We like the budget-friendly build because it delivers a lot without killing your plans for the month. But if you have a couple hundred more dollars stashed away, you can upgrade from the little build that could to something a little more stylish and mid-range.

This system upgrades to an Intel Core i5-10400f processor and a GTX 1660 6GB graphics card.

What does that give you that you didn’t have before? Well, a more hardcore graphics card means you’ll be able to blast any game on a 1080P monitor. If you’re not keen on the GTX 1660 6GB, feel free to go for something like an RX 590 8GB instead; it’ll hurt not at all and give you an extra 2G to play with.

We have to be honest, the NZXT H210 case sends chills up our spine. This thing is not only built to impress, it’s dressed to impress too.

Again, we’ve gone for Intel, but if you wanted to focus on your AMD lifestyle, you could go with a Ryzen 5 3600 processor and a B550 mini-ITX motherboard here. But then you’re starting to push the price higher than the mid-range market.

In storage terms, you’re looking at 480GB SSD. And here, a semi-modular 650W power supply helps keep your cable management game on point.

This is a mid-range mini gaming PC build that rips the roof off most games you can name.

How To Build It – The Parts You’ll Need

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A High-End Mini-ITX Gaming PC Build

Wanna go hog wild on a build? Let’s go hog wild, just to know we’re alive. If you’ve got the budget and the dream, we can fix you up with a sweet high-end mini-build.

Let’s start with an Intel Core i5-10400f processor and an RX 5600 XT graphics card.

The RX 5600 XT graphics card means you’re maxing out any game on an 1080P monitor, and barbarian hordes be damned! If you upgrade your monitor to a 1440P, you’re still looking good for entry-level 4K gaming – bear in mind, this is a mini-build!

If you want to go down the competitive gaming route, pairing this build with a FreeSync monitor with a sweet refresh rate will give you relatively flicker-free in-game action too.

This high-end mini-build is equipped with 16GB of RAM, a 480GB SSD, and a semi-modular 650w power supply.

Again, if you want to go the AMD route rather than Intel, try a Ryzen 5 3600, but for our sack of cash, the i5-10400f gives you the performance bump you want to feel when you’re going high-end.

You do you – if you go with the Ryzen 5 3600, you might have some budget left elsewhere to max out some other elements of your build. For us, the CPU and GPU are pretty core when it comes to that feeling of “Look what we have built…”.

The case is NZXT’s H210 mini-ITX chassis. It’s another one we can’t stop looking at, with its tempered glass side panel and its PSU shroud.

If you’re going to spend the big bucks, you might as well have a build that looks as though you’ve spent the big bucks – and this fits the bill beautifully for our money. It also of course has plenty of space inside to fit a system this high-powered.

One of the joys of building a high-end mini gaming PC is that you can future-proof your gaming experience to a much greater extent than you can when you’re constrained by budget and size.

This is a build that makes our gaming hearts sing a happy little song. Sure, there are bigger builds with practically nuclear-powered graphic performance and processing power that could run an international war.

But the fun about mini-builds is the relatively low footprint they carry, while still delivering the power and the slickness. Here we’re looking at a mini-build that knocks on the door of 4K gaming and looks like the nuclear football.

Forgive us if we love it really rather a lot. And while it’s high-end on the inside and stylin’ on the outside, it’s still nowhere near the cost you’d be looking at for one of those all-singing, all-dancing gazillion-core big beasts.

Ultimately, if you want a slick and superpowered mini-ITX gaming PC, we think this beauty will meet your needs right now. And, as a bonus, the components are hot enough that we think it should go on meeting your needs for quite some time into the future.

How To Build It – The Parts You’ll Need

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Buyer’s Guide

We’ve put together what we think are three great mini-builds, with occasional strip-out alternative options for you. Where we’ve mostly gone with Intel processors, you can go for an equivalent AMD module if you feel more of a connection to that brand and its performance characteristics.

But what should you think about before you click the “buy” button on any component for your own mini PC gaming build?

Keep Your Goals In Mind

Have a clear idea of what you intend to use your mini PC gaming build for once it’s built.

If you have to choose between a lower-end, lower-spec component now, or a better one next month when you have more cash, we’d usually advise you wait till you can get the higher-spec component, because the higher the spec you can afford, the more future-proof your build will be.

Obviously, that might result in you building your mini gaming PC over a longer timescale than you’re prepared to commit to. If that’s the case, go for the most powerful component you can afford right now, for the future-proofing, but don’t go over the budget you’ve set for yourself. Which reminds us…

Set Yourself A Build Budget

Everyone feels the pull of going up a level in their build. It’s only natural, you want a machine that slays all-comers, looks hotter than spit on a griddle and gives you the longest-living, most future-proof machine for the smallest footprint.

But unless there’s a piece that’s a once-in-a-lifetime bargain, resist, resist, resist. Have a budget, be prepared to spend money on getting components that help you achieve your build goals, but don’t blow the budget to move up a level, because the real world exists outside of your build too, and it gets annoyed if you do that kind of thing.

If a mini ITX case is too much money for you, you might want to consider other PC case sizes.

Prioritize

What’s most important to your build? The high-performance PCU? The GPU that gives you access to 4K gaming? The memory that can make your gaming PC smart in your day-job, as well as a killer gaming, build?

Choose which elements are the most important to you, and prioritize your spending on maxing out those elements first. You can always bring the rest up to speed and par over time if need be. But by putting your primary build needs first, you’ll be happier with the overall build for longer.

When it comes to building a new gaming PC, there has always been a relatively consistent price point that is considered the absolute sweet spot in terms of price to performance, and this has been around $1000 for a long time.

At this price point, you will be able to get some of the best components available for gaming, while not entering the realm of diminishing returns where better performance starts to cost exponentially more for only a slightly better gaming experience.

For 1000 dollars you will be able to build a PC capable of maxing out any game at the best possible settings while at a resolution of 1080p, and may be able to get strong performance at even 1440p with some slight graphical tweaks.

The beauty of this sweet spot is that you’re able to invest the money into the key components a gaming PC needs, such as a top quality graphics card and CPU, while trimming back in some key areas to get a system that packs an incredible amount of punch but that doesn’t break the bank.

The other benefit of building a parts list this way is that you can find very special deals and offers that can lead to even more immense savings, and there are always flash deals and specials on various computer parts that can add immense value to your build and lead to you getting even more performance for a better price, or getting insanely good prices on decent performance.

In this guide, we’re going to run down our recommended parts list for a solid 1000 dollar gaming PC, including all of the key components to look for and why we think they’re so great.

We’re also going to provide some alternative options should you find your budget changing a little for the better or worse, to give you some other options if you’re desperate to start gaming!

DISCLAIMER: PC parts and components are subject to significant price changes, particularly in the current market due to shortages in materials and components.

This may lead to steep increases in the price of some components, well above their recommended retail price, so take care to plan for this accordingly.

Graphics cards, in particular, have seen huge surges in price due to these unfavorable conditions, so if you find yourself priced out at the moment try looking at the second-hand market or at pre-built systems as alternatives.

Build Overview

If you’re sick of being stuck on a console or tired of a slow, unreliable laptop, you’re probably about ready to find yourself a powerful and excellent value desktop gaming PC.

Graduating to this type of system will open up many doors to amazing new experiences, whether they be playing the latest games at max settings, or trying out VR for the first time. The options and flexibility you have with this kind of system is unparalleled.

In terms of specs, we’ve put together some amazing components to create a solid mid to high end performance gaming PC, and included some excellent performance as well as some shrewd savings.

For the CPU, we’ve decided to go for the latest Intel Core i5 Processor, the 11th generation 11400F, the Nvidia RTX 2060, 16GB of RAM, a 500GB SSD with a 2TB HDD, as well as a gold rated 750W power supply by Gigabyte and the excellent NZXT 510 Mid Tower Case which has plenty of space for all these components and good airflow and cable management features.

Parts List

• CPU – Intel Core i5 11400F
• CPU FAN – Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
• MOBO – Asus PRIME B560-PLUS ATX LGA1200
• GPU – ASUS GeForce RTX 2060
• RAM – 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200Mhz
• SSD – 500GB SAMSUNG 980 NVMe SSD
• Storage – 2TB SEAGATE Compute
• Case – NZXT 510 ATX Mid Tower
• PSU – Gigabyte P GM 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
• ODD – Install using USB
• OS – Windows 10 (Not included in budget)

Breakdown

This parts list is one of the best performing we could come up with and for the money, there are few better options out there.

That being said there are alternatives to the choices we’ve made, and depending on price fluctuations there may be slightly better value to performance at different times, however, this will be one of the best builds around for the foreseeable future, and only a few small changes would need to be made to keep this system running well into the future.

CPU – AMD or Intel?

AMD has really closed the gap on Intel in the last few years, and their Ryzen series of CPUs, particularly the 3600X, is one of the best performers when it comes to gaming, and the market share AMD holds over this is a strong indication of how well Ryzen has performed recently.

However, Intel has begun the fightback with their 11th generation of i5 processors, with the 11400F being on par with or superior to the 3600X and even the 5600X, despite the fact that both of these processors are quite a bit more expensive than the latest offering from Intel.

The 11400F is also 100% geared towards gamers as the processor’s ‘F’ designation indicates that there are no included onboard graphics – so this card is fully designed to be paired with a powerful aftermarket graphics card and the savings this cutback has created is one of the reasons why this processor is so well priced despite its excellent performance.

It also has a lower power consumption compared to the AMD offerings, so you will likely find this processor cooler and give you more wattage to either use a more powerful GPU or upgrade without needing to buy a newer, more powerful power supply if your power ceiling is a concern.

If you do get the chance to purchase an AMD processor such as the 3600X or 5600X at a similar price to the 11400F, it’s really a toss up in terms of performance, value, and preferences, however, be aware that the AMD processors will require a different motherboard with a compatible AM4 socket.

Graphics Card – GeForce or Radeon?

The graphics card market is one of the most challenging for builders and gamers at the moment, and a whole host of issues has caused price inconsistencies and a massive unbalancing of supply vs demand has caused even low quality or outdated cards to be selling for far more than their recommended purchase price.

That being said, prices will eventually stabilize, and it is possible to sometimes find cards at their proper retail price.

One of the best options at the moment is the ASUS GeForce 2060, which provides extremely solid mid to high tier graphics card performance, and will certainly crush any game at 1080p with relative ease. Going for RTX 3060 laptops or graphics cards will definitely be more expensive.

While the 30 series cards have technically launched and a 3060 would be nice to have, they are so scarce that it seems unreasonable and unrealistic to suggest trying to use one of these cards at the present time, however when the supply of these newer cards increases feel free to move up to a 3060 or even 3070 if your budget allows for this, as they have the latest technology and will provide a significant performance boost over the 20 series cards.

There are also some competitive options from Radeon and AMD, such as the RX 5600 XT and RX 5700 XT, as well as GeForce’s 2060 Super or 2070 Super if you can find one at a good price.

All of these cards are VR ready and will provide astonishing performance at 1080p and even 1440p, allowing you to enjoy all the most demanding games of the day in the highest possible quality.

In terms of raw gaming performance, this is the most important component in a gaming PC, so cutting back in a few less important areas to ensure you can get a quality GPU is the best way to get awesome bang for your buck.

RAM – Do you need 8GB or 16GB?

This is an interesting question, as it has most definitely become the normal standard to see gaming PC’s use 16GB of RAM and many games do suggest 16GB for their recommended settings.

That being said, 8GB of RAM is still functional and will deliver pretty solid gaming performance if you have a quality CPU and GPU, providing you don’t plan to multitask while you game.

If you’re someone who likes to watch youtube or listen to a podcast, play music and game at the same time, or want to use your desktop for workstation tasks such as editing and production, 8GB of RAM will make your system feel a little slow and unresponsive at times, so 16GB definitely has its advantages.

Always make sure of course that you’re using DDR4 RAM in dual channel format when you install it into your motherboard and go for a good 3200Mhz speed to get the best performance at the best price.

Storage – SSD or HDD

While the humble HDD was once a mainstay of all gaming PCs, times have changed and the SSD now dominates the storage market in terms of performance, and the price for a good SSD has dropped significantly as a result of this.

While some builders now rely only on SSD’s for their storage needs, a good sized SSD paired with an HDD can offer excellent performance and capacity at a superb price.

Hard drives may be much slower than SSDs, but they can store media such as videos and pictures where loading times are so critical, while your SSD can be used for your favorite games, operating systems, and important applications like Photoshop or video editing software.

An alternative to this would be to take the money used on a large HDD and spend it instead on additional SSD storage, such as a single 1TB SSD drive, like the 1TB Samsung 970 or 980.

This one will depend on how essential boot speeds and application launching is to you. While it’s true that SSDs do have better performance, an HDD is more reliable and will likely last longer than an SSD, so think carefully about how you want to structure your storage.

Case Options

Cases are one of the most competitive parts of PC building, and there are a truly staggering amount of excellent cases out there that provide sleek aesthetics with the latest USB connectors as well as good cable management, airflow and quality finishing.

We’ve chosen the NZXT 510, however there are many great mid towers at a similar price point, so you can look around and pick one that you feel suits your budget or aesthetic needs.

HOWEVER, make sure that whatever case you choose has the dimensions to accommodate your graphics card as well as your chosen case fan, or you may find yourself having to return parts which can be a huge waste of time and money. Fan control software usage can also help with choosing what kind of case is best for you.

Power Supply

If the CPU is the brain of the gaming PC, and the GPU is the brawn, then the power supply is the heart of the system and is what will be delivering power to all these different components.

We’ve chosen the excellent Gigabyte P GM 750W 80+ Gold Certified power supply as it has a range of excellent features and ample wattage for this build and any future upgrades or additions you may decide to add.

The 80+ gold rating makes this pc highly efficient and delivers clean stable power to your sensitive parts very effectively, and it is also fully modular which is an excellent feature that helps make cable management far easier and reduces dust build-up inside the case of the PC.

Operating System/Optical Drives

We’ve not included an OS in the budget as there are many ways to get access to an OS. Some already own a copy of Windows, while others may want to use Linux or get it free from their school.

Windows 10 is the preferred option for a gaming laptop or PC though, and there are various ways to get it at a reasonable price.

Optical drives are no longer needed unless you have a CD copy of Windows, but most people use flash drives to install their OS these days.

Having a solid gaming PC for 1080P gaming doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. This $600 gaming PC build will be able to run most games on higher settings on 1080P monitors and with excellent framerates. 

The only catch is that you’ll have to build this computer yourself on a budget. The reality isn’t as daunting as the idea of it though, and by building the computer yourself you can cut down on the high markups costs that are attached to pre-build PCs. Plus, with that money you’ve saved you’ll be able to invest in a more powerful system. 

So if you’re up to the challenge, read on to see what components you’ll need to build a powerful gaming PC at just $600.

$600 Gaming PC Build Overview

While everyone covets a new gaming computer that has liquid cooling, an incredible graphics card and CPU combo, lots of RGB lights and a cool case, these are not really necessary components for you to be able to play your favorite games on higher settings.

So if you’re chiefly interested in being able to play today’s best PC games on high settings on a 1080P monitor, it is possible to do this with build a PC with a budget of $600 or less. You could go for prebuilt PCs under $1000 if you want to extend your budget.

While the parts list below doesn’t include an AIO cooler and no RBG-laden case, it still lets you experience your favorite games with a whole new level of graphics.

For $600, you can get an Intel Core i3-10100f processor, an RX 5500 XT graphics card, 16GB of memory, a 480GB SSD, and a 650W power supply. 

The i3-10100f and the RX 5500 XT combination will be able to run demanding games on higher settings, and will run max settings of less demanding games like Fortnite and League of Legends with no problems at all. 

Parts List for $600 Build

• CPU: Intel Core i3-10100f
• MOBO: Gigabyte H410M. This supports 10th Gen Intel Core Processors, and has an ultra-speedy M.2 with PCle Gen3 X4 and SATA interface.
• GBU: XFX RX 5500 XT. This GBU is equipped with the XFX Thicc II Pro cooling technology, giving you optimal performance and cooling.
• RAM:  OLOy 16GB. This RAM is compatible with Intel and AMD, has a lifetime warranty and is available in black, orange, titanium, red and white.
• SSD: ADATA 480GB. This SSD not only boasts low power consumption and noise level, but a sequential read/writes performance of up to 520/450MB and has an LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) error correcting code to ensure data integrity.
• Case: AeroCool Cylon. This case supports liquid cooling with a 240mm radiator in the front panel, as well as air cooling with a 120mm fan on top. It also supports high-end graphics cards up to 371mm. There’s also a removable PSU dust filter for easier cleaning and the fans can be controlled via any fan control software.
• PSU: Gigabyte 650W. 

The ODD can be installed from USB and the OS would be Windows 10. 

While prices of components vary over time the grand total of this parts list (not including the price of Windows 10) is between $570-$630.

Why isn’t Windows 10 Included in the Price?

We probably don’t need to tell you that your computer won’t run without an operating system, but we’ve still left the price of an operating system out of the overall price of the build. Because while Windows is the best operating system for gaming, a brand new copy of Windows costs about $100. 

However, there are alternatives. 

Installing a free Linux operating system is an option, for example. While you are limited in what games you can play, it’s obviously considerably cheaper than forking out $100 for Windows.

Another option is buying a Windows 10 key from a third party marketplace for about $30. While sources like Kinguin.net are considered trustworthy places to buy a Windows key, buying a Windows license from a third party source is definitely risky.

Lastly, you could install Windows 10 for free and not activate it. This is probably your best option. This is because Microsoft lets anyone install Windows onto their computer without needing to activate it. For the most part, you can still use Windows even when it’s not activated.

However, you do lose out on some customization options like setting a custom background for your desktop. But that’s probably a sacrifice worth making for an essentially free version of Windows. Plus, using a non-activated version of Windows is definitely a valid option until you can afford an activation key for it.

PC Gaming System Breakdown

One of the best parts about choosing components to build a new computer is that while there are definitely right and wrong components to get, there isn’t a right or wrong way to go about it. While the components listed above will perform well for $600, there are other routes you can explore with this build. Below, we’ll discuss some of the other options you have. 

Another bonus to building a computer is that you always have the option to upgrade it in the future, and we’ll talk more about possible upgrade routes too.

But before we look at the different component options and potential upgrades, let’s take a look at what kind of performance you can expect from this $600 gaming PC.

For just under $600, this PC can handle nearly all games on max settings on a budget-friendly 1080P monitor. For example, it can run less-demanding games like Apex Legends, League of Legends, and Rocket League on max settings at about 100+ frames per second. You’ll also find gaming laptops with the same price tag to have the same specs too.

It also runs more demanding games like Call of Duty: Warzone and The Witcher 3 on higher settings at around 60+ frames per second. 

So whether you’re building this system for competitive eSports titles or some of the more detailed and demanding games, this system can easily handle both on higher settings.

Intel Core i3-10100f vs Ryzen 3 3100 vs Ryzen 5 3600

There are three processor options that would work well with this build. These are the AMD Ryzen 3 3100, the Intel Core i3-10100f, and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600. 

We included the Intel Core option in our parts list because when the cost of the motherboard and memory is included, it’s probably the most affordable option. Of course, prices do vary, especially when sales are on, so it’s a good idea to shop around before you make a final purchase to see if you can get something at a discount.

GTX 1660 vs RX 590

While the three processors we mentioned above are all viable options, which graphics card to go with (either an AMD RX 590 8GB and a GTX 1660 6GB) is an even tougher call. 

Most benchmarks indicate that the GTX 1660 and RX 590 perform equally as well in most games, and they’re usually available for the same price. So the best option is probably to go with what the cheapest GPU is at that moment because both cards will deliver a similar experience. 

Can Upgrades Be Made?

While this $600 gaming computer is pretty powerful already, there are some upgrades you can make in order to really get the most out of it and get the best performance.

The first upgrade would probably be to add more storage. This build already has a CPU and GPU combo that could easily max out games on a 1080P monitor, so upgrading these two components probably won’t make sense unless you’re also upgrading your monitor too.

So we would suggest jumping up to add an SSD with an additional 500GB or more. Later, if you want to go for a 1440P or 4K monitor, then the CPU and GPU will need to be upgraded too. But since this build already has a decent motherboard and power supply, that shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish. 

Accessories For Your New PC

If you’re looking for a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to accompany your new system, you’ll definitely need to get one of each. Below you’ll find some budget-friendly recommendations that will compliment your new PC build.

We haven’t considered other accessories such as the best capture cards for streaming, microphones, and webcams as they might force you to go over your budget.

Gaming Monitor Picks

Sceptre C248B

This monitor has 3ms fast response time, and ghosting and blurring is reduced so you enjoy your game with clarity and precision.

Gaming Keyboard Picks

Logitech G213

For advanced gaming-grade performance, this keyboard is up to 4 times faster than standard keyboards so every press of keys is instantaneously displayed on the screen. The tactile performance keys also make for more responsive gaming. 

You can also easily personalize up to 5 lighting zones from over 16.8 million colors to match your style and gaming gear thanks to Color Spectrum Illumination. 

Dedicated media control lets you quickly play, pause, skip and adjust the volume of music right from your keyboard. 

Redragon K552

This small, compact keyboard has dust proof mechanical switches and equivalent linear switches for fast clicking action that has minimal resistance, no tactible, bumpy feel and is quiet to boot.

It is also backlit with rainbow LED and has different lighting effects and game modes, including 2 user defined modes. There are also multiple brightness levels to the speed precision keycaps for crystal clear, uniform backlighting. 

This keyboard is also ergonomically designed with high-quality, durable metal-abs construction and plate-mounted mechanical keys and switches. Even during gaming marathons they can stand up no problem!

All 87 keys have anti-ghosting capabilities and conflict-free nkey rollover. There are also 12 multimedia keys, and the non-slip ergonomic, splash-proof design comes with gold-plated high-speed corrosion. 

This keyboard also comes with a free USB connector so you always have a reliable connection, and is compatible with Windows 10, 8 and 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.

Thermaltake Tt eSPORTS

Designed with metal-look edges and blue illumination, this keyboard is super stylish and imposing. 

This keyboard also uses Tt Type II Plunger Switches with mechanical keycaps that improve gaming performance by giving you unparalleled speeds and responsiveness. 

The keycaps can also be replaced with tT eSPORTS’ Metal caps for tougher, more resolute feel to key presses. Plus, if you get bored of looking at the standard keys, you can switch them up with these metallic offerings.

The function keys also have cool functions like Repeat Rate, letting you control the speed at which they repeat, be it fast or normal. So you can choose a rate that matches your comfort level. There’s also the Switcher, which you can turn into WASD keys or vice versa.

There’s also incredible illumination backlighting with this keyboard, bringing you style and functionality during evening gameplay. The blue LEDs with beautiful adjustable illumination back lighting makes gaming in the dark easier than ever. 

Gaming Mouse Picks

Logitech G203

From the world’s best selling gaming gear brand, this mouse from Logitech has an 8,000 DPI gaming-grade sensor that responds precisely to movements. You can also customize sensitivity with Logitech G HUB gaming software, where you can peruse up to 5 DPI settings.

You can also play in color with the vibrant Lightsync RGB featuring color wave effects that are totally customizable with an incredible 16.8 colors.

To choose from preset colors and animators you’ll need to install Logitech G HUB software, and you can use this software to make your own animations too. Game-driven, audio visualization and screen mapping options are also available. 

The classic and simple 6-button layout and classic gaming shape of the mouse is much loved for a reason. It allows you to play comfortably and with total control. To simplify tasks, each button can also be customized using Logitech G HUB software.

The mouse’s primary buttons are mechanical and tensioned with durable metal springs for reliable, consistent performance and excellent feel. You’re sure to appreciate the crisp clicks and precise feedback while gaming.

Redragon M711

This mouse has 5 DPI options for you to choose from (500,1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 5,000) to meet your needs, whether you are using the mouse for gaming or work. It can be adjusted simply by taking advantage of on-the-fly DPI switching to instantly match mouse speed to gaming demands.

The Mouse Point Speed setting also lets you make small changes to the movement speed of the mouse so you can find the right fit mode for you.

This mouse also has 7 programmable buttons and 16.8 million lighting ‘breathing’ RGB that enable superior productivity and efficiency to meet all your needs.

It also has 5 memory profiles each with a dedicated light for quick identification and 16-million color backlight breathing RGB LED that emits ambient light for a unique gaming experience.

This mouse has also adopted the latest professional gaming chip, AVAGO, to capture fast and accurate movement for precise control, and the aforementioned 5 adjustable DPI settings that you adjust depending on what you’re playing. This mouse also has a maximum tracking speed of 100IPS.

The M711 Cobra gaming mouse is a must-have accessory for those serious about gaming, as it’s ergonomic design is unparalleled.

You’re sure to be impressed by the incredible comfort, lethal accuray and laser-sharp precision of this durable mouse, that is great for both gaming desktops and laptops.

It’s also incredibly silent, so you can click away without worrying the noise will disturb others, especially if you’re using the mouse in a library, dormitory or office setting.

It isn’t hard to see why die-hard gamers love this mouse. Whether you are aiming, attacking, slashing or targeting, this mouse will be your greatest weapon. It is compatible with Windows 2000/ME/XP/03/Vista/7/8/10 for programmable using and Mac OS for normal use.

Conclusion

This PC build proves that you don’t need to spend a small fortune on a computer that is powerful enough and capable of running today’s top games at higher settings.

It may not be a high-end gaming computer that can handle 4K gaming, or push a 1440P 144Hz monitor, but it’s great for those who have a laptop or older desktop that struggles to run games on a 1080P monitor at a playable framerate, and don’t have the massive budget required to upgrade to a high-end system. This $600 gaming PC build is a fairly affordable solution.

This build will not only give you the performance necessary to run the best games out there on higher settings, but will also give you plenty of room to make upgrades further down the line too.