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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
While it’s satisfying to build your own gaming PC on a budget, the markets aren’t exactly stable enough to let people build, upgrade, or customize.
But building your own PC isn’t exactly something you can decide to do in one day. You need to do research on how components complement one another, how to build, and how to manage both hardware and software needs at once. This is why most people just prefer to purchase a prebuilt gaming PC.
Granted, a prebuilt gaming PC might be a couple hundred dollars more than building from scratch. But it does give you that convenience and peace of mind that you don’t get with building your own gaming PC.
In this article, we’re looking at 17 of the best gaming PC under 1000, and all of them are prebuilt. We’ll take a look at their different specs and what makes them good for beginners who don’t have the skills to build their own gaming PC.
This is probably one of the best prebuilt gaming PC under $1,000. If you have the capability to purchase this gaming computer, then there’s no other option than the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme.
Up first, we’re looking at an Intel Core i5-11400f processor backed by 8GB DDR4 RAM and 500GB SSD. Needless to say, you’re looking at a powerful and fast PC. The GPU, however, is the cherry on top of this pre built gaming PC ice cream.
The CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme comes with a Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU, which is one of the most difficult graphics cards to get your hands on. The RTX 2060, combined with the Intel Core i5-11400f, guarantees excellent gaming performance for the latest high end games at high settings.
Our only disappointment here is the 8GB DDR4 RAM, but it’s actually not an issue because you can just easily upgrade to the latest hardware and you’ll be running a beast of a gaming rig. It’s also worth noting that this PC is similar to how 120Hz gaming laptops are built.
The iBUYPOWER Pro is one of those pre built gaming PCs under $1000 that comes with an AMD Ryzen CPU. For those AMD fanboys out there, this is your option.
The iBUYPOWER Pro comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, backed by 16GB of RAM, AMD RX 6600XT, and 480GB SSD. You should be able to run all of the latest game titles without having to worry about scaling down to lower than high settings.
Compared to the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme, the iBUYPOWER Pro’s CPU is a bit on the underwhelming side but it does beat the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme in terms of RAM. Other than that, both prebuilt gaming PCs are solid choices for heavy gaming with enough gaming power to compete against a high-end gaming PC. But if you want a PC for video editing, then consider the iBUYPOWER Pro.
CUK is a known brand when it comes to prebuilt gaming PCs, so it’s no surprise that apart from the CUK Mantis, they have another entry level gaming pc under $1000 – The CUK Continuum Micro Gaming.
Under the hood, there’s some serious power here for those who’re into AMD hardware. The processor is an AMD Ryzen 3 3200G, and is backed by 16GB DDR4 RAM with a AMD Radeon Vega 8 GPU. Games and files are stored on the 512GB SSD that comes with the CUK Continuum Micro Gaming.
When it comes to gaming at highest resolutions possible, the AMD Radeon Vega 8 does an amazing job at getting you high FPS output at 1040p and 1080p resolutions. And yes, there’s room for future upgrades on the CUK Continuum Micro Gaming.
Storage-wise, 512GB SSD is more than enough to store games and files without having to make room for either consistently. If you need more storage, you can always upgrade to 1TB (or 2TB SSD) when budget allows it.
IBUYPOWER is one of those recognizable brands for prebuilt gaming PCs, and they have different PCs for varying price ranges. On this list, we have the IBUYPOWER Trace 49310, which is one of the best gaming PCs on this list.
On this PC, we have the AMD Ryzen 5 Processor, backed by 8GB DDR4 RAM, AMD Radeon RX 5500XT Graphics Card, and 240GB SSD for storage. Granted, you’re not getting a lot of storage or RAM but the graphics card and CPU combo makes up for the entirety of this investment.
Casual and heavy gaming is an easy feat for the IBUYPOWER Trace 49310, and can even play the latest games at medium settings (all thanks to the processor’s overclocked capabilities). For those AMD Radeon fanboys out there, the IBUYPOWER Trace 49310 is definitely a good purchase for those on a tight budget but still want to have their own gaming PC under $1000.
With a name sounding like it came from Harry Potter, Periphio’s gaming desktop is a solid buy if you want a gaming PC under $1000. Periphio Gaming Desktop also has impressive hardware specs and could give other PCs here a run for their money.
The Periphio Gaming Desktop runs on Intel Core i5 (2nd generation processor), Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 120GB SSD. Yes, we know. The storage is just horrendous compared to the others on this list, but you’re already getting a GTX 1650 and 8GB DDR4 RAM.
Games like Fortnite and Rainbox 6: Siege should run on this gaming rig on medium to high settings. But like all the other gaming desktops on this list, there’s room for upgrade. If you want to store more games, you should boost your storage to at least 500GB SSD. It should set you back a hundred bucks or so, depending on how big the SSD you’re getting.
Skytech is no stranger to prebuilt gaming PCs, and here we have the Skytech Shadow gaming PC. This is a beast of a gaming rig for less than $1000.
To deliver decent gaming performance, the Skytech Shadow is powered by Intel Core i5-9400F processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 500GB SSD. With this hardware specification, you shouldn’t feel the need to upgrade any time soon. If you do want to squeeze out more power, upgrade the RAM to at least 16GB. More if you want to do some video editing or audio editing. With the GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card, you’re looking at high FPS output at 1080p resolution for games like League of Legends and Fortnite.
All in all, the Skytech Shadow is a solid pick for gamers who want to own a powerful CPU without having to spend a lot of money.
The CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master is a budget prebuilt gaming PC version of the Gamer Xtreme variant, but make no mistake, this is still a good gaming PC.
Unlike the Gamer Xtreme variant, the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master has an AMD Ryzen 3 3100 CPU, backed by 8GB DDR4 RAM, 240GB SSD with a 2TB HDD, and AMD RX 550 GPU. Both processor and GPU are on the weaker side compared to the Gamer Xtreme, but you do get more storage.
It might also struggle to play the latest game titles at medium settings, but you should be able to max out most modern games shouldn’t be an issue. If you’re looking to save money in buying a gaming rig with the option of being able to upgrade or future-proof, the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master is a solid choice.
HP is no stranger to the pre built PC and gaming laptop scene. While they’ve been focused on releasing gaming laptops with a powerful CPU, HP still has a decent lineup for gaming PCs.
One of their entries on this list is the HP Pavilion gaming pc, a solid pre built gaming PC that puts out a solid 1080p gaming performance.
The HP Pavilion gaming desktop comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G Processor, AMD RX 5500 GPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 256GB SSD. The HP Pavilion also comes in a micro-ATX case, making it a decent choice for people who’re into minimalism for their desktops, or those who just want PC gaming that doesn’t take up a lot of table space. On the one hand, you could also go for mini ITX builds.
Install a 1080p monitor on the HP Pavilion gaming desktop, and you’ll have a gaming computer that outperforms probably all of the other contenders on this list. Is the HP Pavilion one of the best gaming PCs on the market right now under $1,000? It’s safe to say that it is.
The HP Pavilion gaming desktop has enough power to guarantee decent gaming performance to play high end games at medium settings or higher.
Don’t be fooled by the name because it might be a new brand, but this gaming PC has a lot to offer. The YEYIAN SAI R01 gaming PC makes it to this list because of the power it holds.
The YEYIAN SAI R01 gaming PC comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 500GB NVMe SSD. It has enough storage for the most games but still gives you more room to upgrade to push this gaming computer’s performance to another level.
This is another one of those tight budget gaming PC under $1000 that makes it worth investing on. It comes with pre installed Windows 10 64-bit operating system, RGB lighting, and typical PC features.
The Allied Gaming Stinger is a relatively new gaming desktop under $1000 that’s hit the prebuilt gaming PC market. It’s not exactly the fastest gaming desktop on this list, but it does give you guaranteed gaming performance for a lot of the modern AAA games.
Under the hood, the Allied Gaming Stinger comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 1600AF processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 240GB SSD. It comes with the usual PC features such as pre installed Windows operating system, RGB lighting, and more.
It competes with most other gaming PCs on this list without difficulty, and for the price you’re paying, it’s a steal. However, don’t expect a lot as well from the Allied Gaming Stinger because you get exactly what you pay for. This gaming PC still has room for upgrades, so you can actually just invest in this gaming computer and then replace the RAM, SSD, and even GPU in the future.
It’s a good investment, and if you’re looking for a solid gaming computer that’s easy on the budget, the Allied Gaming Stinger is a good gaming desktop.
The Skytech Archangel competes with the likes of the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme in terms of power and hardware, but the Skytech Archangel does it better. The Skytech Archangel is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU. This is probably one of the most powerful pre built gaming PC that outperforms even a midrange custom PC with little to no effort on its end.
The GPU and CPU combination delivers excellent gaming performance on a 1440p 144Hz monitor, so playing games at 4K resolution is a walk in the park for the Skytech Archangel. If you’re willing to spend a bit more above $1,000, the Skytech Archangel is an obvious pick for the best gaming PC under 1000 USD. Coincidentally, a lot of 144Hz gaming laptops have the same specs as the Skytech Archangel, if not better.
Another entry level gaming PC from Skytech is the Blaze II Gaming Desktop. Unlike the Archangel, the Skytech Blaze II is on the more affordable side of the best gaming pc under 1000 USD.
Under the hood, the Skytech Blaze II comes with an AMD Ryzen 3 3100 Processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 500GB SSD. It’s a prebuilt gaming PC that’s easy on the wallet but doesn’t really shy away from competing against some of the best gaming PCs on this list.
This is a solid gaming computer that can play most games on medium to high settings without difficulty, though it might struggle to play high end games on anything but a lower setting. This is what you might expect from most gaming PCs that are built from scratch by people who’re also tight on the budget.
If you want a reliable but robust budget friendly gaming PC, the Skytech Blaze II is a good investment.
Another entry from the HP Pavilion gaming desktop line is the TG01. The HP Pavilion TG01 is another excellent choice for those who want to have more power on their gaming rig without being afraid of spending a little too much.
The HP Pavilion TG01 comes equipped with an Intel Core i5-10400f processor (2.9GHz), Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, 12GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB NVMe SSD. It’s not exactly the latest hardware on this gaming rig, but for those on a tight budget, the HP Pavilion TG01 can outperform most of the gaming PCs within its price range.
The HP Pavilion literally has everything you need for a non-stop gaming experience. The system itself is compatible enough to run the Windows 11 operating system, but don’t upgrade if you want to do just gaming from this beast.
Another solid budget gaming computer is the Acer Aspire TC. It’s not exactly as powerful as the rest of the other desktops on this list, but it’s enough for those who want to play older games on medium to high settings.
The Acer Aspire TC comes with an Intel Core i3-9100 processor (9th Gen), 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, and Intel UHD Graphics 630 built-in. It doesn’t have a separate graphics card, but you can always upgrade in the future.
The specs are decent enough to put Acer Aspire TC on this list, mostly because it’s still one of the best prebuilt gaming PC choices. This gaming computer, however, might struggle to play games that have been released recently, so don’t expect a lot.
The Acer Aspire TC is a solid buy for those who just want to play light games such as Fortnite and Overwatch, or those who want to have a gaming PC under $1000 that can do office productivity tasks with ease.
Looking for a small gaming PC that’s still more powerful than your typical desktop? The Allied Gaming Javelin is an entry level gaming desktop with a modest list of specifications.
The Allied Gaming Javelin run on an AMD Athlon 3000G processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, an Integrated Vega 3 Graphics Card (as powerful as as an Nvidia GeForce 910M graphics card), and 240GB SSD for storage. Then you get free lifetime tech support, pre installed Windows OS, and other PC features.
Granted, it’s not the best gaming PC on this list, but it’s not a deal breaker because you still upgrade this gaming PC and turn it into a midrange gaming PC under $1000 without breaking your bank.
We’re not exactly fans of onboard graphics card because it limits your gaming performance. The only upside to running an integrated GPU is the money that you save from buying a prebuilt gaming PC.
A brand that needs no introduction, Dell is a powerhouse when it comes to gaming PCs or laptops. They might even have some of the best gaming PCs in the market at higher price ranges, but don’t worry. They have an entry for the best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000.
The Dell Gaming Optiplex Tower sounds a lot like sci-fi headquarters, but there’s a lot of power underneath this gaming PC. The Dell Gaming Optiplex Tower comes with an intel Core i5 processor, 16GB DDR RAM, 256GB SSD, and Nvidia GeForce GT 730 graphics card.
I know what you’re thinking. It’s not exactly as powerful as any other gaming PC under $1000 on this list, but it does give you a decent gaming performance. Casual gamers and people who want to do office work can rely on the Dell Gaming Optiplex Tower’s hardware. And yes, it’s a gaming PC under $1000 so there’s a lot of room for upgrading this rig. PC gaming on this machine might be on the casual side of things, so don’t expect to run the modern AAA games on anything but low settings for this budget PC.
Last, but definitely not the least, we have the CUK Mantis. They’re known for cranking out high-end gaming PCs, but they’re also known for making a gaming PC under $1000.
The CUK Mantis is nice to look at, having 6 RGB cooling fans with a tempered glass side panel on the side. Underneath the hood, you have an AMD Ryzen 3 3200 processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, and an AMD Radeon graphics card. It can definitely play most games on medium to high settings, but a bit on the low to medium settings for the latest games.
The processor may not be as powerful as the latest generation of Intel Core processors, but gaming is still going to be great on this machine. Overall, the specifications of the CUK Mantis is impressive and should make for the best prebuilt gaming PC for those who just want to play games on the casual side.
How Do You Choose the Best Gaming PC Under $1000?
Choosing the best gaming PC under $1000 can be difficult, especially when you don’t know how to make heads or tails out of the hardware specifications. But this guide should make things easy for you.
Processor
Processor is one of the biggest hardware considerations to look at if you want to run AAA games. You need some decent processing power if you want your graphics to look good and run smooth. At the bare minimum, you need 9th gen Intel Core processors or AMD Ryzen Processors (if you’re an AMD Radeon fanboy).
RAM
PC games will take up a lot of space, and even though some of the PCs on this list run on 8GB, you actually need more than that if you want to play the most demanding games. 8GB is probably stretching it out for processing power and multi-tasking on the fly, so anything that’s at least 12GB DDR4 to 16GB DDR4 should be a decent choice. A solid RAM combined with either the latest Intel Core i5 or an AMD Ryzen should allow you to multi-task with ease.
Graphics Card
It goes without saying that in order for you to run PC games smoothly, you need a dedicated graphics card. Integrated graphics cards found in most budget prebuilt gaming PCs can limit your FPS output and overall gaming performance.
A solid choice for brands would either be an AMD Radeon RX graphics card or an Nvidia GeForce GTX or RTX series, depending on what your budget will allow you to purchase. It’s worth noting that upgrading a prebuilt gaming PC’s graphics card might be a daunting task, seeing as there is a global shortage. And you don’t want to bottleneck your unit with a crappy GPU that’s about a decade old.
Storage
PC games need a lot of storage, especially the latest and popular games in the market right now. Sometimes, a 250GB SSD might not suffice so it’s best to settle for a minimum of 500GB SSD. Expanding your prebuilt gaming PC storage to 1TB SSD shouldn’t be an issue because you can cop 1TB SSD’s for a couple hundred dollars. You can also expand your storage to up to 2TB HDD so you can store your video, audio, and text files.
How Difficult Is It to Upgrade a Prebuilt CPU?
In terms of difficulty, upgrading a prebuilt gaming PC is just similar to upgrading a custom-built PC. It’s relatively easier to upgrade a prebuilt PC than to upgrade a prebuilt gaming laptop.
The difficulty of upgrading a prebuilt CPU lies in budget constraints and access to the latest hardware. But if you want to plan out your upgrades, here’s how you could approach it:
Upgrade the RAM or Storage first. RAMs and SSDs are affordable enough, and should cost you a couple of hundred dollars to purchase the latest hardware. Getting 16GB DDR4 RAM and 500GB SSD should allow for superb performance for casual gaming and heavy office productivity tasks.
Upgrading your CPU or motherboard is your next big task, but should give you a boost in terms of gaming. If your prebuilt PC doesn’t have it installed, you might want to upgrade to an Intel Core i5-10400f, or settle for an Intel Core i5-11400f if you can afford it. The motherboard is a difficult upgrade because you need to make sure that all of your existing hardware is compatible with the board. The latest gaming motherboards should be able to accommodate the latest generation of Intel Core and AMD Ryzen processors and have expanded capacity for both RAM and SSD.
Lastly, you should be upgrading your graphics card if you want more than decent performance for gaming. But as mentioned earlier, there is a global shortage for graphics cards so pricing and availability are kind of iffy. If you do find available graphics cards, either brand new or used, you’ll find that their prices are heavily inflated. If you want to get the latest RTX or GTX series, or AMD Radeon graphics cards, then expect to shell out at least a thousand dollars or so. That’s how heavily inflated they are right now.
Brand New or Used Parts for Upgrading?
It definitely goes without saying that for upgrading your prebuilt gaming PC, you should always stick with brand new parts. The reason being here is that in case any of the hardware fails, you have the option to avail of their warranties.
But if availability of parts is an issue from where you live, or from where you shop for PC parts, then used parts are probably the way to go here. Now, the biggest advantage of getting used parts is that you can save a lot of money compared to buying the brand new counterparts. But you also run the risk of faulty hardware. In most cases, warranties for used parts are almost always non-existent because they’ve already expired. That’s one of the main reasons why their previous owners have released them.
If you’re relatively new into owning a gaming PC, or have yet to purchase a prebuilt one yourself, then buying brand new is the way to go. You save a lot of money and time when you’re faced with technical issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Am I Looking For In a Prebuilt Gaming PC?
If looking at hardware specifications confuse you, you should be on the lookout for the CPU and GPU. As long as your prebuilt gaming PC has an Intel Core or AMD Ryzen Processor, and Nvidia or AMD Radeon graphics cards, you should be fine.
Caveat here is that you might end up spending more than $1000 if you do get these brands. But on the upside, you are getting hardware that you won’t have to upgrade for the foreseeable future. Don’t focus too much on what the PC cases look like too. They’re irrelevant for the meantime as you’re more after what’s inside the system.
This is all dependent on what you need a prebuilt gaming PC for too. Do you need to run certain games at certain settings? If so, then you’re better off with getting the latest hardware even if it means costing you more than a thousand dollars.
If you just want to do some casual gaming on the side but carry out multitasking for office productivity, then you can go for the bare minimum specs. Any of the gaming PCs under $1000 that’s listed here will meet your gaming and productivity needs.
How Long Does a Prebuilt Gaming PC Last?
A prebuilt gaming PC has the same lifetime as a custom PC, and it all boils down to usage and hardware. A prebuilt gaming PC can outlast a maxed-out gaming rig if the latter’s used for hardcore gaming sessions.
You can expect prebuilt gaming PCs to last at least five years or so, depending on what hardware you have and how often you use it. Most people make the mistake of never turning their gaming rigs off, which severely affects the PC’s longevity negatively. Unless you’re running liquid cooling and high-end graphics cards with high-end CPUs, turn your PC off when you’re not using them.
In terms of sticking with a prebuilt gaming PC’s default parts, you can always upgrade them without difficulty. Future-proofing your prebuilt gaming PC can be easily done by purchasing a new RAM and/or SSD for storage. Upgrading your parts bit by bit will turn your prebuilt gaming PC into a custom PC once it’s all said and done.
How Much Storage Should I Have?
Casual gaming and heavy gaming require at least 100GB of storage, but you need to settle for at least 240GB SSD if you want to reduce load times and multi-task with ease. Thankfully, SSD storage is affordable, so you should be able to upgrade your existing SSD’s on your prebuilt gaming PC.
Does My Gaming PC Need A Lot of RAM?
For gaming, you need a decent amount of RAM. A bare minimum would be about 8GB to run Windows 10 Operating System smoothly and even then, there’s no guarantee you’re able to multi-task efficiently with just 8GB.
You can get some decent performance for gaming and office productivity if you’re at 12GB or 16GB DDR4 RAM. You don’t need more than that unless you’re doing video editing or other multi-threaded tasks.
Is It Okay If My PC Doesn’t Have a Cooling Feature?
Cooling is an important feature for gaming PCs, but it’s not exactly installed in some prebuilt gaming PCs under $1000. Some prebuilt gaming PCs that are more than a couple thousand dollars might have liquid cooling in place, but even then, they’re running high-end GPUs and CPUs that need overtime cooling.
Now all prebuilt PCs will have some form of cooling. RGB fans are mostly used for cooling with extra ventilation windows within the panels to help dissipate heat, but that doesn’t mean you should run your rig 24/7. Upgrading to a liquid cooling system might be difficult because your casing or your motherboard might not be able to accommodate such a system.
When you are building a PC, one of the main concerns on your mind will undoubtedly be how much money it costs.
If you have ever bought a pre-built PC in the past, then you know how expensive they can be. However, if you know where to look, you can get a really decent gaming PC for less than $400.
That’s right, you heard us correctly. Sometimes a company will charge you simply to put all the pieces together.
It is quite easy to build your own PC if you follow the right instructions to the letter. It might be stressful, but if you are willing to put yourself through that then you might make a substantial saving on your PC.
All you’ll need to do is make sure that everything that you have is high performance and will give you everything that you need for a ferocious speed.
You’ll need a high-end graphics card and a motherboard that will be able to support the whole thing without any major lagging issues.
So where can you find the best $400 gaming devices for your needs? Where can you find all the components that will give your games that optimal performance? What is the best CPU for gaming? What superior motherboard do you need to get for this device? How much will the entire package cost you exactly?
Well, if you want answers to these questions and a whole lot more, then we would suggest that you keep reading.
We have compiled a list of some of the best gaming PCs that money can buy, as well as parts that will fit well together and are easy to install. If you thought you could never buy a gaming PC for less than $400, then you can think again.
First off, we’ll start with the prebuild. This pretty incredible-looking unit will give you everything you need for solid gaming performance, with a motherboard that will be able to easily process all the graphics and give you a pristine HD output at the end of it – introducing the iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Computer.
This beast is simply amazing and is marketed at people at the lower end of the budget spectrum. It comes in a tall, durable case that won’t get worn down or damaged.
Coming with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600, you can be sure that it will be able to process your fast graphics with ease.
Pros
This comes with a dedicated NVIDIA graphics card that will be able to render even the most intense games. This will certainly appeal to online players who need that smooth and latency-free playing situation.
This comes with tempered glass, which is great for durability, but also for cooling the inside of your PC down. This also makes it a very cool PC to look at – almost something akin to a jet engine fighter.
This has plenty of storage space, with an SSD card that will be able to store lots of information and run it back at very high speeds.
The case comes with plenty of adaptable USB ports, which are perfect for hooking up a USB mouse or a wireless keyboard.
Having a pre-built option will always be more pricey than getting all the components and putting the thing together yourself. If you are looking to save some serious cash, then we would certainly recommend that you buy your graphics card and CPU separately.
Okay, now we’ll move on to the individual components, starting with the most important of all: the CPU.
Intel is one of the best manufacturers of CPUs out there, so you won’t have to worry about your processor handling even the graphics-heavy computer games. We would certainly recommend this one as a solid running unit – introducing the Intel CPU BX8070110100F Core i1-10100F.
This Intel processor comes extremely highly rated and is often included in a lot of pre-built PC kits.
With a two-fan setup, you can be sure that you won’t have any lagging issues with this computer, although we would suggest that you include at least 3 fans for optimum running time.
Pros
The price – because this has been on the market for quite some time, it comes at a very reasonable price. This will be able to handle multiple processes such as high-end graphics and sound cards.
This is a standard core that is used in a lot of units, which means that it is tried and tested. It also comes very highly rated on Amazon, so you won’t have to worry about that.
This core was specifically built for running many processes at once, so whether you want a CPU for gaming or a CPU for graphics design, this is the choice.
Intel has made this processor very easy to install, all you have to do is follow the instructions and you should have your processor set up in no time at all.
Cons
You’ll need to make sure that there is plenty of airflow getting into this processor, as it will often overheat and succumb to lag if you are operating it in a warm environment.
Next, we have another essential component for your computer: the motherboard. This is another tried and tested board that you can use to plug in your processor, your graphics card and your sound device.
This has a very durable construction and you can expect it to last you for many years after installation – introducing Gigabyte H410M Motherboard.
This is built especially to support dual Intel processors. It comes with easy-to-use ports that you can slot in your graphics cards.
It also comes with USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, which will be great for hooking up any state-of-the-art wireless mouses and keyboards that you happen to be using.
Pros
This is very easy to install, making it great for anyone who might not be that technologically minded. You can rig this one up to your hub very quickly, so you won’t have to worry about delays when it comes to gaming.
This is a great motherboard for playing games. It has a solid setup and circuit board that will offer you a very fast transfer of information.
This is one of the best motherboards for self-built computers. It has plenty of USB ports, so you can upgrade your computer whenever you see fit. This will not only help you with your gaming, but will also keep the price of your unit low.
You can also plug in speakers, a monitor, a webcam and a microphone. If you are thinking of streaming, this is the perfect setup for you.
Cons
This is not a top-end motherboard, although it will provide you with all the basics that you need. We would certainly recommend this one for upping your gaming capabilities.
Next up, we have a very powerful dual fan graphics card. This comes at a decent price and will pretty much enable fast gameplay and intense frame rate on most fast-paced action games.
This is a popular model amongst gamers, who have all described this variously as one of the best graphics cards for first-person shooters – introducing XFX Radeon RX 550 4GB DDR5 Double Dissipation Graphics Card.
One of the first things that you might notice about this graphics card will be the dual fans.
This will help you keep your graphics card nice and cool, allowing it to run your graphics at super speed, clocking it up to the maximum settings. We would certainly recommend this one for high-speed gaming.
Pros
This is very easy to install – all you have to do is click it into your motherboard and install the software that comes with it.
The dual fan system will make sure that you have everything that you need for optimal cooling. If you are clocking your computer to its maximum settings, then you can’t go far wrong with this hefty device.
This is a very durable device, made from solid steel, you can rest assured that it won’t get damaged in the post.
The price – one of the main reasons that you might want to buy this one is the amazing price. You won’t find yourself breaking the bank with this one, making it ideal for students or a family on a budget. One of the best budget graphics cards you’ll ever get your hands on. Period.
Cons
This might not be suitable for people who really enjoy their high-end gaming. Some games like Call Of Duty and Warzone, when placed on the highest settings, will certainly need a lot more power from their graphics card.
Next, we have a solid-state drive that will really help you when it comes to giving your computer that top-level memory boost that will be important for your high-end gaming options.
With no internal moving components, this is a fast, smooth and very high performing device – introducing PNY CS900 240GB 3D NAND 2.5-inches SATA III Internal Solid State Drive.
This will be an effective substitute for a lot of laptop and computer hard drives. You can even operate this in tandem with your existing hard drive.
If you have two running at once, you can expect a high operation, which is especially important for fast-paced action computer games.
Pros
This will boost the speeds of your operating system, you’ll notice straight away that your device will be running smoothly and efficiently.
This is one of the hard drives for large amounts of information. You can use it to install your OS and then have a secondary hard drive for all your other applications and software.
This solid-state drive comes with very few working components, so you won’t need to worry about any of them coming loose and having issues with your device.
This can be installed onto your computer very easily, with a simple connector, you can be sure that you’ll have consistent and reliable access to your Windows OS.
Cons
This SSD can be quite hard to navigate for anyone who has not used one of these devices before. We would certainly recommend that you read up on these first before going out and buying them.
When it comes to building your PC, one thing that you’ll definitely need is a decent hub. This one is one of the best on the market, coming in a solid steel design that is easy for you to open and install all of your components.
This comes with various fans, which can be connected to keep your machine cool and in optimal performance – introducing the Zalman T6 ATX Mid Tower Computer PC Case. If size is an issue, mini ITX builds are also something to consider.
This is made from solid alloy with a wire mesh on the side that will encourage ventilation. This is one of the most important aspects of having a PC case.
You’ll need to make sure that plenty of air is circulating through to make sure that it stays cool and does not overheat. This is especially important for powerful machines where the processor is always maxing out.
Pros
This has a very sturdy case, made from alloy steel, you can be sure that you’ll have everything that you need in case you drop it or it gets dinged in the post.
This has a great versatile layout in the center, so you can set up your components in whatever way you want. It also has plenty of room if you want to adapt it at a later date.
This comes with powder-coated steel, so you can be sure that it will not succumb to any magnetic interference.
This is one of the best units to have for optimal cooling. It comes with hairline gaps in the design, which encourages air transfer and will give you everything that you need for optimal internal temperature.
Cons
This unit is very heavy, which might put off games that do not want to put their back out putting it together.
Buyer’s Guide
When you are putting together your computer, you’ll need to make sure that you have everything that you need for optimal performance. You’ll need to consider speed, running power and construction. You’ll also want something that can be well ventilated.
Here are a few things you’ll want to consider for your PC:
How Fast Is It?
You’ll need to make sure that your CPU is capable of running all these high-end components such as graphics cards and solid-state drives. If you have a motherboard that is not equipped at adapting to your components, then you will experience a lot of inefficiency in your device.
Can It Be Upgraded?
One of the most important things that you’ll need from your computer is the ability to update it.
Often new graphics cards and hard drives will become available, so you’ll want the option of being able to add them to your computer as and when. This will certainly help you when it comes to increasing the performance of your computer.
You’ll also need to consider just how big your budget should be for PC cases, as they can limit your choices for GPUs and motherboards.
How Much Does It Cost?
The point of this article is to keep the cost low. You can do this by buying your components separately and then putting them together by following various Youtube tutorials. This process can be very stressful and time-consuming, but you’ll save yourself a few hundred dollars by doing so.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Save Money On Your Gaming PC?
Buying all the components separately and putting your PC together yourself is a great way of saving yourself some money. This is because most companies charge for putting this stuff together, so you are cutting out the costs for labor.
Budget gaming PC builds aren’t a bad idea either if you just want to get the ball rolling. You can always upgrade down the line.
Another way of saving is by getting lower-end graphics cards, as well as cheaper keyboards and mouses. You can slowly upgrade these elements over a year or so as you come into more money.
These days a lot of people like to buy their computers already built for them. This cuts out a lot of time shopping for parts and can be quite handy if you don’t know a motherboard from a graphics card. However, you might be still a little confused about which one to buy.
There are plenty of machines out there that will help you with your gaming. If you want a really good machine, you’ll ultimately be looking for a powerful graphics card that will be able to render the high frame rate of a super-speed graphics card with ease. You’ll also want something with a decent fan.
But where can you find the fastest pre-built gaming machines? What features do they need to have to give you the best performance? What materials should a good gaming PC be made out of? How much will you have to spend on a luxury unit and how much for a budget unit?
Well, if you are keen to get yourselves the best computer for a fast-paced online game, then you should keep reading.
We’ve combed through the internet and found you some of the best prebuilt gaming machines that you can find on the market, along with some pros and cons that will certainly help you when it comes to shopping for one of these more difficult items.
Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs for 2021
Prebuilt Gaming PC
Specs
Price
CUK Continuum Micro Gamer PC
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X Twelve Core Processor 64GB DDR4 3200MHz 1TB NVMe Solid State Drive + 2TB 7200rpm Hard Disk Drive NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB GDDR6X
This first computer we have chosen for one of our more extreme options, coming with a powerful graphics card and a twelve-core CPU that will allow you to render graphics at an extremely high frame rate.
This is very important if you are a fan of first-person shooting games – introducing the CUK Continuum Micro Gamer PC.
This will not struggle to play 4K games, which is very important when it comes to high-end, crystal clear gaming.
It comes with a very powerful 24GB graphics card with 64GB of RAM, which is probably one of the meatier options that you can get for a computer. However, you will have to pay more for something of this caliber.
Pros
This comes with a very powerful graphics card, with a 1080p monitor that will render your graphics with crystal clear quality. You can also easily adapt this unit for VR gaming.
This has a very impressive CPU which is great for not only gaming, but video editing and music production. You can have many CPU-draining programs operating at the same time with this one.
This has all the top-rated features that you’ll need for your computer, including a high-end graphics card as well as a cooler that will keep everything very cold, which is important for high performance.
This comes made from stainless steel and other very durable materials, so you won’t have to worry about dropping or damaging it.
This has a very powerful voltage supply, offering you plenty of support and will make sure that your power will not cut out at any point.
Cons
The price – this is not a cheap model, if you want quality then you’ll have to pay for it. However, you can expect this machine to last you for a very long time if you do decide to spend money on it.
Next up, we have a unit that saves you a few more dollars on the wallet. It comes with a 240Hz monitor that will really help you with your gaming, with an Intel processor and a 10GB graphics card.
You can play some 4K games with a very high graphics bit rate, which will really help those fans who enjoy first-person shooters – introducing CUK Mantis Gaming Desktop.
This is another beast of a machine that won’t set you back too much in terms of your finances.
This comes with 64GB of RAM and DDR4 memory, both of which are very important when it comes to coping with layered graphics and incredibly high frame rates. It also has a solid-state drive that has 1TB of space.
Pros
This is a high-end unit that comes at just under $1,500, so you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank on this unit. We would certainly recommend that you buy this one if the top PC is slightly out of your price range.
This has 1TB SSD space, which is great for storing plenty of video files and programs. We would definitely recommend this if you have a small amount of space.
This has a very stable construction, which is very important if you are going to be carrying this from one location to another. This will also be important if you are getting this delivered and you want it to arrive at your home in one piece.
You can play this one for hours at a time, making sure that you have everything that you need for solid gameplay without audio latency issues, which can often plague online gamers with slow machines.
Cons
This might be a high-end machine, but some users have still complained about certain latency issues and lagging when they are running their games at full pelt.
This is a great budget unit, with plenty of processing power that you can be sure will give you everything that you need for smooth gameplay.
This comes with a powerful Intel Core i7-9700KF processor with an RTX 2060 6GB GPU and DDR4 memory. This is perfect for 4K gaming, rendering your graphics quickly and effectively – introducing Skytech Chronos Gaming PC.
Pros
This computer comes with a lot of technology that will give you everything that you need for a very special gaming experience.
It has a 1TB solid-state drive, which is great for storing information very quickly with very little interruption or data corruption.
You’ll be able to crank your games up to their full spec with this device, so you won’t have to worry about it lagging and stuttering issues.
This has a glass PC case, which will not only help with cooling, but it will look really cool with all the LED lights and green backlighting.
Cons
Some users have complained that the NVIDIA graphics card struggles when you try and crank it up to the higher levels of your games.
This next computer is one of the less expensive options, with an AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 6GB graphics card, which will have no problem at all with processing some of the fastest games on the market such as Call of Duty and Warzone.
This is great for pumping up the display so that you get clear 4K gaming – introducing iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC.
Pros
This allows you to operate at 1080p gaming, which is great for high-speed online gaming where seeing every part of the screen clearly is very important for gaining that advantage on the field.
This comes with lights on the inside of your CPU, which will not only look really cool, but will help you find any buttons you need to press if you are playing in the dark.
The price – this is an amazing budget machine, matching some of the performance speeds of some of the top-level machines.
This comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which will really boost your performance and reduce the amount of lag and stuttering that you would normally get on a game.
Cons
Although it is a great budget unit, this lacks some of the high-end punch that you get with the more expensive machines.
Next up, we have a machine that comes in a slightly smaller size, which will definitely appeal to gamers who want to save space in their apartment.
It comes with a very solid 10th Generation Intel Core processor, which will help you to max out any game on a 1440p monitor – introducing the MSI MEG Trident X 10-1282US Small Form Factor Gaming Desktop.
Pros
This comes with a very powerful GPU, which is very important for getting smooth graphics that don’t look too pixellated. This is also boosted with a very powerful processor.
This comes with a 1TB solid-state drive, which is very important for running programs at a high bit rate with very little stuttering or latency issues.
This will run pretty well off a 1440p monitor, which is great for first-person shooter games where you’ll need that completely fluid motion and seamless loading times.
This has many top-notch assets that you can be sure will give you everything you need for a smooth running. This is very important if you are going to be running many programs at one time.
Cons
This computer does have a slightly smaller construction, which will really limit its options. You might also find it struggling to run the fast games at the highest settings.
This next computer comes with a slightly less effective AMD Ryzen 7 5800 CPU, which makes it one of the less powerful units, on the other hand, it does come at a reduced price, which will certainly appeal to people who are on a strict budget.
If you are using your computer purely for gaming, then this is a great machine to have – introducing the Skytech Prism II Gaming PC Desktop.
Pros
This might not have the CPU performance of some of these computers, but in terms of budgeting, then you can’t go far wrong with this CPU.
This is a great budget computer for gaming and you can be looking to shave off a few hundred dollars by choosing a less powerful CPU.
This comes with 32GB of memory, so you can be sure that this PC will be able to handle most games. You can also make sure that you have everything that you need for some of the more basic games.
This has a very solid body that you can be sure will not get damaged or dented in the process of shipping from one place to another.
Cons
The glass panel will certainly compromise the overall housing of your PC, although if you treat it gently, then you won’t have to worry about any breakages.
This is another high-end computer that really won’t cost you that much. This has a powerful 10th generation processor, so you’ll be able to run most games at a very high speed.
Not only will you have everything that you need for solid gameplay, but it comes with plenty of RAM that will allow you to run multiple programs at once – introducing the Omen 30L Gaming Desktop PC.
Pros
This PC not only performs incredibly well, but it looks pretty amazing, with a red panel glass that will make you the envy of all your gaming buddies.
This comes with a 1TB SSD, which is all the room that you’ll need for your games and any software that you are intending to use. This will run high-end editing software for both music and video.
This machine is very cheap, which will certainly appeal to students on a limited budget who still want to game in their off-study period.
If you are willing to trade off some great performances for a decent price, then this is certainly the machine for you.
Cons
This machine doesn’t reach the peak performance of a lot of these machines, so if you are thinking of clocking your computer as high as it can go, then we would recommend going with another model.
Buyer’s Guide
When you are buying a prebuilt computer for gaming, there will be a lot of options that you’ll want to consider. Firstly, you’ll want something that runs very quickly and won’t be too much of a drain on your resources. Also, you’ll want decent CPU power, graphics, and sound quality.
Here are some of the things that you’ll need to consider when buying a computer that is purely for gaming:
How Fast Is The CPU?
A lot of these computers have an Intel system, which is very important when it comes to running high-level programs. Having multiple apps and software processing at one time can also guzzle a lot of CPU power.
If you are wanting to stream your games, then you’ll definitely want to have decent performance with your CPU. If you are running a webcam with your first-person shooter then you’ll need to make sure that you have the power to process all the graphics.
How Sturdy Is The Machine?
You’ll want to make sure that your computer is durable enough to take any drops or knocks that might be thrown its way. If you are a particularly passionate gamer, you might be prone to knocking lumps out of your CPU if you haven’t reached the requisite number of kills that you’re looking for.
A computer with a decent cooling system is also a must-have if you are clocking your computer to the higher end of the graphics spectrum. Make sure that you have a few fans in your hub and that they are fast enough to keep everything cool, especially during a hot day.
How Good Is The Graphics Card?
Graphics are very important for gaming, that goes without saying. We would recommend that your computer have a high-end NVIDIA or AMD card, as both will be able to process a large number of pixels.
However, make sure that you couple this with a good CPU, as the two will work in tandem to give you that crystal clear definition and rendering speeds. This goes double for 4K games.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Fans Should Be In Your CPU?
You should have at least 2 fans in your CPU to give you the optimum level of cooling. We would also recommend that you have a clear panel on the side of your hub, as this will also help to keep everything inside at a decent temperature.
What Is A Solid State Drive?
This is a type of hard drive, but it has no moving internal parts. This means that it will run a lot faster and be less prone to breaking than a normal hard drive.
These SSD drives have a much higher capacity and running speed than most other hard drives and often come as standard with most PCs now.
It’s one thing to take up PC gaming as a hobby, but it’s another level when you’re building your own gaming PC from scratch. For the handful of PC gamers out there, a gaming PC build goes way beyond what a prebuilt gaming PC has to offer.
These gamers who build their own gaming PC from the ground up aren’t satisfied with the sheer power of the hardware itself. These are people who are particular about how good their PC looks aesthetically. Maximum performance is the name of the game here, but there is a minority of gamers out there who are thematic about the way they build a new gaming PC.
If you want to venture into the world of gaming PC builds, there are tons of resources out there to help you get started. And we’re one of the groups out there who can help you achieve the best gaming PC build possible.
By the time you’ve gone through the entirety of this article, not only will you have your own PC build, but you’ll also have enough information to proceed with the next gaming PC build.
What Do You Need To Build a Gaming PC from Scratch?
If you’re going to build your own gaming PC, you’ll need the following components along with some tools. You’ll need to make sure that the parts you pick out are compatible with one another.
The first biggest mistake that novice builders make is thinking that all PC parts go together. This assumption is mostly true, to some extent. The internal functionality of the PC hardware will determine whether or not parts are actually compatible with one another. And when compatibility is an issue, you often encounter what’s called bottlenecking.
Bottlenecking happens when there’s not enough power from one hardware to complement another hardware’s power. For example, having a powerful GPU or graphics card but a mediocre processor will result in a bottleneck. This is because the processor will find it difficult to keep up with the graphics card, and so the graphics card has to slow down to match the processor’s performance. Bottlenecking is also a common issue in PC gaming, especially with a prebuilt gaming PC.
For this section, we’ll already go over the recommended hardware that you can use as a template for your first gaming PC. These are all the high-end gaming hardware and peripherals that you can get from local stores and online.
The first build that we’re about to show you is a gaming computer built using an AMD processor. We chose this processor because it’s a lot more capable of handling multi-threading tasks such as video editing and rendering. If you’re looking for a gaming computer that can do what a high end workstation can do, this is the build for you.
For a high end gaming pc, you need a powerful processor. And for this build, we have the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X.
But you’re asking “why aren’t you recommending the 5900X processor for this build?”. While it’s true that the 5900X is a lot more powerful, there’s no significant discrepancy in gaming performance in any of the Ryzen 5000 chips.
In other words, the Ryzen 5 5600X is just as good as the 5900X for gaming. On top of that, the 5600X is a lot more affordable but still more powerful. The core count of the 5600X may be half as that of the 5900X, but you’re still heading into it with 6 cores and 12 threads, which is sufficient for heavy editing workloads and even for intense gaming. We’re convinced that the next generation consoles, or even the current gen consoles, are powered by anything higher than 8-cores and 16-threads.
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X comes with the Wraith Stealth Cooler, so you don’t have to purchase a third-party cooler. You don’t really need to purchase a third-party cooler, or improve your current one, if you don’t have any plans on overclocking the CPU.
Unlike the Ryzen 5 5600X chip, we’re not cutting corners with the motherboard. Here, you’re getting the best one there is in the market, and that’s the Asus ROG Strix B550-E. Here’s a future proof motherboard that’s going to last you for at least 5 years or so without having to upgrade to a newer one.
As expected from the Asus Republic of Gamers’ line of gaming peripherals and hardware, you’re getting premium specs from the Asus ROG Strix B550-E. You’re getting 14+2 power stage, pre-installed backplates, and M.2 heatsinks. It also comes with Wi-Fi 6 wireless network and an Intel 2.5GB Ethernet. Of course, we can never say NO to RGB led lights.
As with any Asus ROG motherboards, the Asus ROG Strix B550-E is capable of matching all the other high end motherboards out there today.
Let’s set aside the fact that you’re never going to find the RTX 3060 Ti right now at any of the stores online and locally due to the global shortage and hoarding of crypto miners. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti easily outperforms the RTX 2080, though not by a lot. If you’re really eager to build this gaming PC, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080Ti is a solid alternative.
But going back to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, its performance levels is unmatched compared to the RTX 2000 series. You can easily hit 1080p and 1440p resolution gaming at about 60fps or so. You could even hit 4k at 60FPS without making this powerful gaming PC work up a sweat.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is a lot cheaper than the RTX 2080 Super or 2080 Ti, so that’s also something to incentivize you. If you can find one, that is.
In our articles concerning the best gaming PC builds, we’ve always settled for just 16GB of RAM. It’s a straightforward decision when it comes to PC builds, mostly because you don’t need anything higher than 16GB unless you’re planning on running your own Minecraft server.
The prices for RAM sticks aren’t that crazy, unlike the prices for graphics cards. Corsair and other future brands of RAMs offer 16GB of RAM for less than $100. You can choose between Gigabyte, Crucial, Ballistix, Adata, HyperX, PNY, Team, and XPG as far as we’re concerned.
Regardless of the brand you want for the RAM installed in your gaming PC builds, the rAM should be at least DDR4-3000 or higher with a low CAS frequency.
While you could spend more money to get a high end PCIe 4.0 SSD, the WD Black SN 770 will actually get you high end performance that a PCIe 4.0 SSD gives you, at a more affordable price. And the gold standard for gaming PCs is to have an SSD for your primary storage. When we say primary storage, this is where everything is hosted – from your operating system to your games to your applications. With an SSD, you significantly increase load times and boot times, so you can start playing games and just spend a few seconds on the loading screen.
The SN770 is an NVMe M.2 SSD that offers you enough space for all your programs and games, and storage for your video and audio files even without forcing you to delete them to make room. What’s even interesting here is that you can expand further up to 2TB SSD if you really want more storage, or cut down to 512GB if you feel like you don’t need much for the best gaming PC.
While the SSD provides a far more superior performance in terms of storage compared to the HDD, it doesn’t really hurt to have additional storage for your gaming PC. Most games you find on Steam and Battle.Net are about close to 100GB in size, which is why you probably need 1TB of SSD storage just to be sure.
For your additional files such as work files, video files, and other files, you can work with a standard 1TB HDD, which the motherboard can accommodate. On our end, we prefer an external storage so we can bring it around.
If you want external storage, we recommend the WD Black due to its 7,200RPM drive and a 32GB cache. At 1TB, you’ll spend about $70 or less than that. Cheaper alternatives are the Seagate Barracuda or the WD Blue.
There’s nothing more boring than talking about a power supply unit for a gaming PC build. But like having the birds and bees talk with your children, this is an unavoidable topic of conversation. For any gaming PC, you don’t want to be cheap when it comes to buying a PSU. And for this PC build, we have the Corsair TX650M. It comes at an affordable price and dons an 80+ Gold Efficiency.
Power supply units from other future brands are just as good as the Corsair TX650M, but we wouldn’t recommend anything less than a rating of 80+ Gold (Bronze if you want to skimp). The $10 or $20 saved up on buying a power supply unit is not worth it, to be honest. If you end up with a terrible PSU, you could end up damaging your graphics cards, processors, or the entire system.
For the Corsair TX650M, we have a modular PSU so you’ll deal with less cable management inside the tasks. You only use wires when you actually have to use them.
As a future gaming PC builder/enthusiast, you’re going to want to pay attention to PC casing. Some of the best gaming PCs out there have RGB lighting, tempered glass side panel, and a sleek black/white coloring.
For this build, we want your gaming PC to be as sleek as it can get with the NZXT H510. It’s an affordable casing with premium features and aesthetics, so if you’re going for that clean and minimalistic look, this is the case for you.
Ultimately, a gaming PC case is personal preference and doesn’t really affect the overall performance. It does, however, restrict you with motherboard choices, cable management, and even radiator sizing (if you plan on building a liquid cooling system or AIO cooling). Where you put your gaming PC also matters in terms of cooling solutions. For example, PCs tend to get hotter when you put your PC on the carpet.
Build #2 – An Extreme Gaming PC Powered By Intel Core CPU
The second gaming PC build that we’re about to feature showcases a gaming computer with all the high end hardware you could ever get. These specs are what you’d usually find in PC builds that can run 4k gaming at 60FPS easily or something you’d find in a pre built system (like a high-end gaming laptop).
If you are considering this build, you’re expected to spend a lot of money just to get the parts. This gaming PC doesn’t shy away from the costs, but we’ll provide you with the best gaming hardware alternatives as well.
If you want the best of the best, look no further than the Intel Core i9-12900K processor. This is the top of the line Intel Core processor and is the fastest chip in the market right now. But AMD still gives the Intel Core i9-12900K a good competition with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
The Intel Core i9-12900K is a 12th generation unit with hybrid core architecture, characterized by a combination of Performance Cores and Efficient Cores (P-Cores and E-Cores, respectively). The P-Cores give the Intel Core i9-12900K all the power it needs for gaming at high resolution.
The Intel Core i9-12900K is also the latest hardware from the Intel Core lineup and provides the best performance in their product roster. With that said, expect to pay a couple more hundred dollars than the other Intel Core processors, namely the Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7.
If you do decide to run with the Intel Core i9-12900K, you’ll need a good motherboard, a powerful cooling fan, and a very sturdy PSU.
You’re running an Intel Core i9 processor, so it’s only fair that you get a compatible motherboard for it. And when we say compatible, we actually mean something that can withstand and house the awesome processing power of the Intel Core i9 and the graphics card (which we’ll feature below).
Here, we have the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro for this extreme build of a gaming computer. This is an all-specced out motherboard with 13-rear USB ports and strong VRM, capable of delivering consistent and clean power to all of your hardware.
And yes, you’ll have the Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and 2.5GB Ethernet connections. Unfortunately, you don’t have Thunderbolt 4 or another M.2 slot, which are unnecessary for this gaming PC.
Why isn’t this an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090? That’s probably the first thing that came to your mind when you got to this part. For this extreme PC gaming build, we wanted something robust and powerful. Something that could make 4K gaming at 60FPS even for the most demanding AAA games. And the GeForce RTX 3090 would fit that tab, but there’s also one more: the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has one of the best prices for graphics cards in the market right now, and is about $300 cheaper than the RTX 3090 (of course, if you can afford the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090, go for it). At the $1,200 price tag, it’s not a budget option but this build is anything but budget-friendly. Compared to the RTX 3090, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is as capable of 4K gaming as its high-end sibling. Ray tracing at 4K is even possible, if you make use of the DLSS 2.0 feature.
However, this is still one of the most difficult graphic cards to find due to the global shortage and scalping issues that plague the graphics card industry at the moment.
This is the best gaming PC build we can imagine. You have a powerhouse Intel Core i9 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, so it makes sense to have a beastly cooler. Here we have the NZXT Kraken X62 and yes, it’s the BEST PC cooler there is because it can handle overclocking the i9.
The reason why you’re actually getting a cooler is that Intel Core processors don’t have their own CPU cooler, so you’d have to rely on third-party coolers. They’re not like the AMD Ryzen processors where they have their own coolers, but you can still opt to use the NZXT Kraken X62 with the first gaming PC build above.
If you plan on pushing the Intel Core i9 to its limits, you’ll run into some problems if you just rely on the NZXT Kraken X62. You’ll need a custom liquid cooling loop, which is far beyond the scope of this build, because not even the best AIO cooler can handle a maxed out Intel Core i9 processor.
You’re probably wondering why we didn’t settle for a DDR4 for the RAM, but this was just too good to pass on. With a motherboard that could accommodate DDR5 memory, it would’ve been a complete shame to use anything but a DDR5. With that said, we get two sticks of 16GB DDR5 RAM at 6400 frequency. The G.Skill Trident is one of the few DDR5 RAMs out there that we’d ever want to put into this build.
And yes, 32GB of RAM is more than enough for gaming or content related tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and so on.
If you think you’ve seen once, you’ve seen them all, but you haven’t really seen a 4TB SD just yet. The Sabrent Rocket Q 4TB SSD packs a lot of storage and performs just as well with MLC drives. Granted, the Sabrent Rocket Q 4TB SSD may not be as bandwidth-friendly as other PCIe 4.0 drives, but without this combination of CPU and motherboard on this gaming PC, the Sabrent Rocket Q 4TB SSD’s storage would be put to waste.
At this point, you won’t even need an optional storage because you have everything that a gaming PC in 2022 will ever want in an SSD.
By this point, overclocking a gaming PC in 2022 is so yesterday’s news, and this build is still capable of delivering more power from more cores. But do you really need to?
Well, in case you really need to overclock an Intel Core i9 processor, you’ll need the EVGA SuperNova 1000G5. This bad boy offers 1000W of power for this extreme build and provide you with a smooth gaming experience unlike any other. After all, you need all that power for the Intel Core i9 processor and the Z690 motherboard we just put together, not to mention the RTX 3080 Ti.
But if you’re not running an RTX 3080 Ti or an RTX 3090, you can make do with EVGA SuperNova 850T2 that should cut down on some costs for this extreme build.
A high end gaming PC deserves a high end case, and for that we have the Corsair Obsidian 1000D, a behemoth PC case with a tempered glass side panel, expansion slots, and enough space to house 18 fans and 4 massive radiators at one time.
And yes, this is the case that you need for when you’re overclocking an Intel Core i9.
How To Choose Operating System and Computer Peripherals
We’re done with the hardware so it’s time to talk about the extras, such as the operating system and the peripherals. These are also integral to get you the best gaming experience possible out of the gaming PCs we’ve built above.
Operating System – Microsoft Windows
While there are three operating systems, namely Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, and Linux, we’re going to have to go with Microsoft Windows as the OS of choice for the gaming PCs on this article.
When it comes to gaming PCs, Microsoft Windows 10 is the most popular choice, achieving more than 80% market share back in December 2021. The reason why Microsoft Windows is so popular is its ease of use and user-friendly UI. It’s easy to navigate and it’s easy to install apps.
Updates are rolled out regularly and as long as you have it set to automatically update, you shouldn’t have to worry about falling behind on the latest versions. Now, one could argue that Windows 11 is the new thing and easily outmatches the Windows 10 in terms of gaming. With Windows 11, you get access to a built-in store that houses thousands of game along with the Xbox app and more.
Mouse and Keyboard
Gaming PCs wouldn’t be complete without a gaming mouse and keyboard. Much like the PC case, this is more of a personal preference than anything else. You can go for brands such as HyperX, Logitech, Razer, Corsair, and SteelSeries just to name a few.
Once you’ve picked up a brand, it’s time to decide if you want to go the wireless route or if the wired setup is still the best gaming PC setup for you.
Gaming Monitors/Displays
A great monitor is half the build of what makes the best gaming PC, but ultimately, it’s still a personal preference. What you really want to buy here is the monitor that matches the specs of your computer.
For the builds we’ve listed above, we recommend going for a 1080p/144Hz/240Hz monitor, or go for a 1440/144Hz monitor. If you want the best displays possible, settle for a 4K/60Hz monitor or 1440p/144Hz/240Hz monitor.
Other Points for Consideration For Building the Best Gaming PC
If you want to build a gaming PC, there are several things that you have to consider. But the main point of consideration here is your budget because it affects your ability to buy the components necessary for a gaming PC.
So how much should people be saving up for if they want to build the best gaming PC possible?
What Are Your Needs and How Big Is Your Budget?
Your needs are ultimately dependent on the size of your budget. Component prices are expensive, but it doesn’t mean to say there are no practical options available. On the contrary, you’ll find a lot of people who are into gaming PC builds will often stretch their budgets on just certain components, like graphics cards.
These are the people who are already familiar with hardware compatibility, so they don’t have issues at all with combining certain components from various price ranges. But if you’re just starting out on getting into gaming PC builds, you can refer to the following price categorization:
Entry Level Builds – Estimated Budget: $300 to $600
Midrange Builds- Estimated Budget: $700 to $900
High-End Builds – Estimated Budget: $1000 and above
Editor’s note: the price range covers only case and hardware, with no inclusion of other peripherals.
What Does Entry Level Mean?
A $300 to $600 budget for your gaming PC allows you to run certain games at low settings, but you definitely won’t be able to play AAA or any demanding games. At this price range, this is the best PC for playing older games, like games that were released about 5 to 10 years ago.
Note that with the stupidly inflated pricing of graphics cards, you’ll probably end up with running integrated graphics on this budget for PC builds.
If you’re fine with spending at least $500 to $600, you could land yourself a budget graphics card and an Intel Core i5 12400 (but realistically, you’re getting probably 9th generation or 10th generation) with about 8GB of RAM and 240GB SSD for storage.
But you might just want to hold off on capping your budget at $600 and just move on to the
What Does Midrange Mean
At this price point, you’re looking at about $600 to $800 (maybe even stretching to $900) for these PC builds. You’re good to go with probably landing a decent processor like an Intel Core i5 12400 (or even 11th generation) with a decent air cooler, with a GTX 1000-series graphics card (if you can find one).
With a price range for this build, you’re going to have fun with higher graphic settings and higher FPS settings. You’ll also have more money to spend for more RAM and storage capacity.
What Does High-End Mean?
This price point for a PC specifically has you just saying “money’s not a concern at this point”, or you just want to get the best bang for your buck. Either way, you’re no longer hesitant to stretch out your budget to build the best gaming PC possible.
At a $900 or higher, you’re getting the high-end components. For Intel processors, you’re ending up with an Intel Core i5 12400 or an Intel Core 7 12th generation processor. For AMD Ryzen, you’re probably getting at least a Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 6. For gaming PC builds of this price range, you’re enjoying 4K gaming at 60FPS or 60FPS at 1440p gaming even.
What Is A Good Budget Then?
When it comes to building a gaming PC, a bigger budget would guarantee better gaming performance. After all, your gaming PC is equipped with the right hardware that will allow you to play games at the desired settings.
For the current market that we have, including the fact that we have an insane surge of graphics cards’ pricing, a decent budget for a gaming PC should be somewhere around $1,200. With the different price points above, you should be able to land an Intel Core i5 or i7 / AMD Ryzen 5 or 6 processors while still having enough money to purchase a GeForce GTX 1000 or 2000-series graphics cards (or AMD Radeon 5000-series).
Go For A Custom PC Build or Buy a Prebuilt PC?
By this time, you’re still arguing as to whether or not it’s better to get a custom PC build or purchase a prebuilt PC.
Assuming your budget is capable of purchasing either of the builds we’ve listed on this article, it’s not exactly a bad idea to also go for a prebuilt gaming PC. Note that you might end up paying more to match the specs of the custom PCs we’ve listed here to a prebuilt PC. The reason being is that a manufacturer or brand of prebuilt gaming PCs will have already marked up their prices based on the components.
For example, a custom PC build will cost you about $1,500. Pre built gaming PCs of that same price might have the same specs or so, but expect some of them to be a little less powerful than the custom PC. For that budget, you could get yourself an Intel Core i9 processor with an RTX 3000-series video card for the custom PC. But for a prebuilt PC, your processor and graphics card may be downgraded to match the markup. If you go for a prebuilt PC with an Intel Core i9 and an RTX 3000-series graphics card, you’ll end up paying more than $1,500.
With that said, there are two considerations here and should help you determine what’s the best move for you here:
Go for a Self-built PC If:
You are fully confident about your capability to assemble the PC from scratch.
You are tech-savvy and you know where everything should go
You’re able to get all of the components without difficulty, or are able to locate possible alternatives if any components are unavailable for purchase
Go for A Pre built Gaming PC If:
If you’re technophobic or feel the slightest bit not confident in your ability to put together a PC
Your knowledge about computer hardware and its inner workings are limited
You don’t have access to getting all the right PC components
Playing games on either a custom PC build or a prebuilt PC with the same specs should still provide you with similar gaming experiences. Unless the prebuilt gaming PC you’re eyeing is a big downgrade from the custom PC, the margin for better performance is thin at best.
But Is It Difficult To Build Your Own PC?
The honest answer here is NO. But the main concern for any newbie builder is compatibility issues and susceptibility to damaged parts. Compatibility can easily be managed if you know how to do you research for hardware.
But for damaged parts, you should be able to avoid catastrophically damaging any of the parts if you follow the instructions.
What Tools Do You Need?
Before you build a PC, it’s important that you have all the necessary tools and space to do so. Some of them you’ll be able to find easily in your local hardware stores, if you don’t have them at home.
So what are the things that you need?
Workstation or a large enough table to accommodate all parts laid out
Phillips Screwdriver
Antistatic bracelet
Thermal paste
Lint-free cloth or paper towel
Cable ties and cable snips (optional)
Isopropyl alcohol
Anti-static mat
Let’s talk about a few of these items because we’re pretty sure you’re unfamiliar with some of them:
Workstation
You need a large enough space that’s clean and capable of handling all the boxes of computer parts. You don’t need a high-end set up as well or an anti-static room to do all of the assembly.
Make sure that wherever you’re working has enough lighting because there are several intricate actions done when putting together certain components. You can also use an anti-static mat on top of the table to lay out all of the items. This anti-static mat will also prevent electrostatic discharges from damaging any of the components.
Screwdriver
The screwdriver will be your most used tool when it comes to building your gaming PC, from installing and removing the tempered glass side panels to installing the CPU cooler. It’s also important that your screwdriver has all the heads to match the heads of the screws that the components areusing.
Thermal Paste
If you’re building your own PC, you need to secure a thermal paste. This thermal paste is used in conjunction with the processor and its cooling fan, or CPU cooler, to prevent overheating. If you’re running an AMD processor, its CPU cooler will have been treated with thermal paste, so you don’t have to worry.
Antistatic Bracelet, Mat, and Gloves
Antistatic gloves, mats, and bracelets are important if you want to build a PC. This is to help protect your components from unnecessary electrostatic discharges. Some components, like the SSDs, are sensitive to these discharges, so if you’re not careful, you could end up damaging them during assembly.
If you’re the type of PC gamer to go after the latest games after they’ve been announced, there’s no doubt that you need the best gaming PC possible. We’re talking about a powerful gaming machine, regardless if it’s a prebuilt gaming PC or a fully-customized gaming PC.
But sometimes, you don’t need to spend more than a couple thousand dollars to build powerful gaming PCs. Budget gaming PCs can still be powerful as long as you know what you’re looking for.
This article will cover the different budget gaming PC builds with some sample hardware specifications for easier shopping. And by BUDGET, we mean getting you to a sweet spending spot that allows you to invest practically in these hardware.
$300 for an entry-level gaming PC may not be considered as one of the best cheap gaming PCs, but it’s a good start nonetheless.
Prebuilt Gaming PC $300 budget
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In hindsight, you could technically purchase a gaming console and run the most played games at high settings, but there’s something about a gaming PC that does the job does right.
Build Your Own Gaming PC $300 Budget
If you want to build your own, here’s a shopping list for a $300 budget:
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Unlike most of the best budget gaming PCs on this article that run on an Intel CPU, this build has you running on AMD Ryzen 3 3200G, which is both discrete GPU and CPU altogether.
To help provide gaming power, you’re running this system on 8GB DDR4 RAM and on 240GB SSD storage. You should be able to run games without waiting on load times.
At $300, this is a good start for new PC gamers who’re transitioning from consoles. But there’s nothing wrong with stretching the budget either.
Later in the article, we’ll show you what kind of power you can expect from different price points. At $300, you shouldn’t be expecting much because this is the literal definition of a budget PC. You don’t even have a separate GPU. With the shortage of supplies worldwide, an Nvidia Geforce RTX can cost you double than the entire cost of this entire PC. That’s why you don’t have a dedicated GPU.
$400 Budget – Best Cheap Gaming PC
At a $400 budget, you’re still making compromises in terms of 0verall performance. You’re limited with your choices for graphics cards, RAM, and other important hardware that affects your gaming experience.
Prebuilt Gaming PC $400 Budget
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Budget gaming PCs at this price point aren’t exactly capable of giving you high FPS most modern games, but it doesn’t really hurt your overall gaming experience either. Just manage your expectations here and there when it comes to the best gaming PCs priced at $400 or so. You’re not exactly getting the high end PC cases here with this budget because you’re after function over form.
Even at $400, there’s still some impressive gaming power here. You’ll probably not be able to play the latest games, but playing older games on your library should not be an issue.
The build comes with an Intel Core i3-10100F processor, at least 8GB DDR4 RAM and 240GB SSD for storage. Expanding both RAM and storage will push your budget by a hundred bucks or more.
As for the GPU, you’re looking at the XFX RX 550 4 GB. Note that you might have issues with getting one because this is one of many graphics cards that are affected by the global shortage. But if you’re able to get your hands on this graphics card, this should tide you over until your next upgrade (which should be one of the RTX or GTX series, or from AMD Radeon.
For the most demanding games on this build and budget, your graphics settings might be scaled down to low and hover at about 20 to 30FPS, but you should still experience smooth gameplay overall.
All in all, $400 is not exactly a bad start to decent PC gaming. Manage your expectations when it comes to building budget gaming PCs because you’re skipping some power for budget.
$500 Budget – A Cheap Gaming PC For Slaying Consoles
This section is not intended to hate on consoles and their power. Rather, we’re here to provide you with a cheap gaming PC that could compete with one of the latest gaming consoles in the market right now.
And you can do that for $500 budget, give or take. The next-generation consoles, such as the PS5, are giving gaming PCs a run for their money. Despite being portable, these next-gen consoles are capable of running modern games at 1080p resolution or 4K even without any difficulty. Needless to say, not even the best cheap gaming PCs can go against the likes of these consoles.
But don’t worry because we’re here to give you a spec list for a best budget gaming PC that can go toe-to-toe against next-gen consoles.
When you’re about to spend above $500 for a cheap gaming PC or a gaming laptop, you’re about to take your gaming experience to the next level.
You’re getting an Intel Core i3-10100F processor, backed by an 8GB DDR4 RAM and 480GB SSD for storage. Even at limited RAM, you’re still getting intense gaming experience using 1080p resolution.
As for the graphics card, you’re getting the budget friendly MSI GTX 1650, which is not as powerful as some of the video cards on here, but it does an incredible job for playing your favorite games at high-resolution.
Stretching your budget to above $600 will give you more power and should be able to play even the most demanding games at low to medium setting.
$600 Budget – Mid Range Gaming PC
Now we’re at the $600 budget, which is pushing specs and pricing a bit further past what’s considered a cheap gaming PC. And based on video game statistics, users spend an average of about $600 or more for building their PCs.
This kind of budget hits the sweet spot for ample gaming performance. You should be able to stretch your budget more if you’re planning to upgrade. Here’s your shopping list:
You’re getting a 10th generation Intel Core i3-10100F CPU, which is a bit older and a bit of a downgrade compared to the i5-11400F. But make no mistake because this CPU still packs some punch, especially when gaming at 1080 resolution.
To boost its gaming performance further, you’re running on 16GB DDR4 RAM and 480GB SSD for storage. Load times on this bad boy are greatly shortened while giving you multi-tasking capabilities.
For GPU, you’re getting the XFX RX 5500XT, capable of handling most of the demanding games at 1080p (albeit slightly scaled down to low or medium). Note that just like the high-end GPUs from Nvidia and AMD Radeon, the XFX RX 5500XT is one of those cards hit by the shortage.
You also have a 16GB DDR4 RAM and 480GB SSD for storage, so you should be gaming without waiting on horrendous load times.
$700 Budget – Best VR Ready Budget Gaming PC
Whoever said VR gaming is expensive is probably lying through his teeth. You don’t need to spend a thousand dollars to get a gaming PC that’s capable of VR gaming. You can actually do it for $700 or so, and here’s your list:
For its CPU, we have the Intel Core i5-11400F because you actually need serious processing power to run VR games. To speed things up further, you’re running on 16GB DDR4 RAM and 500GB SSD storage.
But the highlight of this build is the GPU, which is the ASUS GTX 1660 Super, which is one of the best forming graphics cards in the industry right now. It’s capable of handling latest games at high settings and is completely VR ready.
$800 Budget – Best Budget Gaming PC
This is probably the best price you can spend to build a desktop that’s meant for some heavy PC gaming.
At this price range, you’re getting high-quality parts that have serious power behind them. You’ll be able to carry out 1080p gaming at high FPS and at high settings, or some gaming at 1440p resolution at medium settings.
Let’s take a look at what you’re shopping list will look like:
The Intel Core i5-11400F is one of the best CPUs in the market right now, completely outpricing the AMD Ryzen 5 cards but not without providing serious performance. The CPU sits at a base clock speed of 4.6GHz, but unfortunately, this CPU can’t be overclocked.
For the GPU, you’re getting the Radeon RX 5600XT graphics card, which puts up some serious competition against Nvidia GeForce GTX cards. The card runs on a 650W Power Supply, which is a 60+ Bronze Rating for efficiency.
For storage, you’re getting 480GB SSD, which should you give you enough room to accommodate most of the newer games while storing video and audio files. You can upgrade to a higher storage capacity, but you’ll need to stretch your budget by about $50 or so.
To add more speed to this beast, you’re running on 16GB DDR4 RAM, which is kind of like the bare minimum for intense PC gaming sessions.
What’s Up With Graphics Cards And Their Prices?
Before we continue with the discussion on buying or building the best budget gaming PCs, let’s talk about the prices of graphics cards and why they severely affect your budget.
As of this writing, graphics cards prices have skyrocketed by as much as 200% to 300% their MSRP. This is caused by several factors, but the biggest factor is international supply. And there’s no denying here that the main reason why there’s a shortage is because of cryptocurrency miners and scalpers.
You can’t even get an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 without paying two or three times its SRP. The Nvidia GeForce RTX series are worse in terms of supply and pricing. The total price of any best gaming PC deals will have at least 50% of its cost covering just the GPU.
If you’re planning to build your own gaming desktop to play games or do some video editing, then you might have trouble securing stocks for a powerful GPU. And no, a dedicated graphics card will not suffice for either games or videos.
Prebuilt Or Build It Yourself?
Without a doubt there is an ongoing debate as to which option is better though: is it worth it to purchase a prebuilt gaming PC, or are you better off building your PC on your own?
It depends on which you have access to in the market, be it locally or online. One PC Gamer might find it easier to order an entire prebuilt gaming PC from Amazon, while another PC gamer might find it easier to just order the parts themselves from sites like Amazon or NewEgg.
If you’re undecided between going for a prebuilt gaming PCs or assembling your own gaming desktop, take a look at these several factors.
Go for prebuilt gaming PCs if you:
don’t know how to assemble a gaming desktop from the ground up.
are unfamiliar with different hardware specifications
have the budget to purchase a high-end prebuilt gaming PC
don’t have access to certain pieces of hardware due to market supply (i.e. PC cases, GPUs, CPUs)
On the other side of the spectrum, go for DIY gaming desktop assembly if you:
know how to navigate your way through the many options for CPUs, GPUs, etc.
understand different hardware specifications and how well they work together or against (i.e. bottlenecking, overclocking, etc.).
have access to different parts locally or online without worry.
Note that in this article, we have not considered liquid cooling because this is an additional expense and is only meant for high-end PCs. You’ll also find liquid cooling on a prebuilt PC, depending on the leading digital publisher.
You’ll probably spend a couple hundred dollars more over your budget to accommodate liquid cooling, so that’s also one thing to consider.
It’s a common misconception that building your own gaming PC can cost a small fortune. While it may be true that a gaming PC at the higher end of the scale will cost more than a console upfront, it’s not true that a gaming desktop has to cost you the earth.
Today we’re going to show you how to build your own gaming PC for under $500. We’re also going to cover its specs and what you can expect from your new gaming PC.
That’s right! You can build your very own gaming PC from as little as $500. It will even give you an arguably better performance than a PS4 or Xbox One!
We’ve listed all the components you’ll need for your new gaming PC build down below. These will be ideal for those of you who are trying to stick to a budget, but still want to play your favorite games. These components should be able to handle medium resolution settings on a 1080p monitor.
Building a PC for under $500 overview
It may not surprise you to learn that building your own PC from scratch will work out much cheaper than if you buy a pre-built model. This is because you can pick and choose which components go into your PC case.
Building your very own PC isn’t that hard to do, either!
Of course, if you don’t want to build your own gaming PC, you can opt for a pre-built model. However it’s worth remembering that you won’t be able to choose the components you get in these desktops.
You will have to spend additional money if you want to swap anything out for a better performing alternative. We’d recommend opting for the Kepler gaming PC for a similarly priced pre-built model.
A gaming PC that you build yourself will have much better components. This particular gaming PC can be built for around $500, and comes with a range of great specs to give you the more immersive gaming experience that you’re looking for.
It’s also worth remembering that prices can differ for certain components depending on supply and demand of certain materials.
The great specs include an Intel Core i3-10110f quad-core (eight-thread) processor, 8GB of DDR4 memory, a GTX 1650 Super graphics card, and a 480GB SSD. This custom built gaming PC will be able to max out the high frame rate of non-demanding games such as Fortnite, League of Legends, Rocket League, Valorant, and other games of this type.
What’s really great about this gaming PC build is that it can also give you 60 FPS or higher for your favorite more intensive games, too.
Our custom built gaming PC is the ideal choice for those gamers who want to build their very own model without spending a small fortune.
This will give you a solid entry level gaming PC that will be much better than most of the pre-built gaming PCs available on the market. It should also allow you to play all of your favorite games without too many issues.
This particular gaming PC build also comes with a 650W power supply. This should easily allow you to upgrade for a higher end graphics card in the future.
All in all, if you’re looking for a powerful machine that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to put together, this is the gaming PC build for you. We’ve listed all of the parts you’ll need for your new gaming PC in the graph below.
Frequently Asked Questions About Building This PC For Under $500
Below we’ll cover some of the questions that you may be thinking about after seeing the components we’ve selected for our gaming PC build under $500.
Why not choose AMD’s new APU?
The new AMD Ryzen Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) is one of the more popular choices of processing units that those working with a budget usually opt for.
This is because it can bring your build in under a certain budget. The integrated graphics are also powerful enough to cope with most games when they’re playing on the lowest settings.
So while it’s true that AMD’s Ryzen APUs are an excellent choice if you’re looking for a budget processor and graphics combination, the Intel Core i3-10100f and GTX 1650 Super combination give you a more powerful pairing.
The components we’ve picked for our build will deliver a much more impressive performance overall than an AMD Ryzen APU and Ryzen 5 3400G combination.
APUs can of course make a great choice if you’re looking for an even cheaper custom gaming build. But to get the better results from your gaming, we think that our selected GPU/CPU combo is the better choice out of the two.
Ryzen 3 3100 vs Intel Core i3-10100f
It is of course a difficult decision when it comes to choosing between the impressive Ryzen 3 3100 and the Intel Core i3-10100f. You may even be thinking to yourself that the Ryzen 3 3100 is the better processing unit.
However, it mostly comes down to market price and general availability. At the time of writing, the Intel i3-10100f was on the whole much easier to find, and not to mention cheaper than the Ryzen 3 3100. There is also a whole range of affordable motherboard options that are suitable for use with the Intel i3-10100f more readily available.
We found that the Ryzen 3 3100 tended to fluctuate in and out of stock too frequently. It is also slightly more expensive than the Intel i3-10100f. This might not seem much at first glance, but it will all add up once you’ve bought all of your other components.
So yes, you could argue that both of these processors are suitable for your needs. However, the Intel i3-10100f is the better choice out of the two at the moment.
GTX 1650 vs RX 580 vs GTX 1650 Super
It’s true that the GTX 1650 and the RX 580 are great choices when it comes to building your own gaming PC. However, at the time of writing, the GTX 1650 Super is the best graphics card at a reasonable price point. This makes it the better option out of the three for your custom gaming PC.
Our preferred graphics card also gives you an impressive performance. It’s able to battle on par with the RX 580 for the majority of games, and it also beats its cousin the GTX 1650 in terms of performance.
Providing that the GTX 1650 Super is able to stick to this lower price point, it makes the perfect choice for your gaming PC under $500.
It’s also worth noting that either of the alternative options are a great choice. If you prefer the RX 580, you can of course opt for this instead. Or if you wanted to cheapen the overall cost of your PC build, you can always opt for the GTX 1650 instead of the GTX 1650 Super.
Personally, we would stick with the GTX 1650 Super, but it does of course come down to personal preference and what you like to get out of your graphics card!
Why does the price differ from $500?
Unfortunately the downside to trying to build your own gaming PC is that the components can fluctuate in price. The prices won’t stay the same as they appear at any one time because of how the demand for certain materials differs.
So you shouldn’t be surprised if at any one time the prices will push this custom gaming PC build under or over the $500 limit. They should stay in the same region, but it will be dependent on the availability of the components that you’re after. The price could even be vastly different in just a couple of hours’ time!
If the components that we’ve highlighted go over your budget, you may need to adjust the models you’re after. This should help you to bring the price of your build down. Your other option will be to be patient and wait for the price to come down again, but there’s no way of knowing when that will be.
At the time of writing, the easiest way to lessen the price is to swap out the graphics card. The GTX 1650 Super can easily be switched for the GTX 1650, RX 560, or even the RX 570.
Windows 10 isn’t included in the price?
You may have noticed that we haven’t included the price of Windows 10 in our gaming PC build. There are a couple of reasons for this. You will of course need an operating system for you to use your new gaming PC build to play your favorite games.
Of course, the easiest option is to pay for a Windows 10 license. However, there are a couple of cheaper alternatives that you can use to get an operating system installed on your PC build.
We’ve covered three alternative solutions to paying for a Windows 10 license upfront or show you how to get it for a discounted price.
Linux as an alternative
It’s important to note that Windows 10 isn’t the only operating system that you can use for your custom gaming PC build. It is of course one of the more readily available systems, but you can instead opt for the free Linux-based operating system instead.
The only downside to Linux is that it isn’t able to support as many PC based games as Windows 10 can. However, if you really don’t have the money to pay for that Windows 10 license, Linux offers a great free alternative for you to use in the meantime.
It’s an excellent starting point to get your gaming PC up and running until you can afford the Windows 10 license you need for your favorite PC games.
Cheap Windows 10
You should also be aware that you don’t necessarily have to pay the full asking price for Windows 10. If you were to go straight to Microsoft, you would of course have to pay between $90-$100 upfront.
However, you can find a copy of Windows 10 on sites such as Kinguin.net. This can have Windows 10 keys for as little as $30.
There is some question as to whether sites such as these are legit, so it’s always best to exercise some caution when you purchase keys from here.
If you don’t mind the somewhat morally questionable nature of sites such as Kinguin, then you should make sure to opt for the Kinguin Buyer’s Protection to keep yourself protected.
It’s also worth noting that if you serve in the military or are a college student, you can get Windows 10 at a discount. The Microsoft store will offer you a 10% discount when you buy Windows 10 directly from them.
Getting Windows 10 for free
Surprisingly you can also get a copy of Windows 10 for free. You can head straight to the Microsoft Windows download page to find the Windows 10 media creation tool.
Download this straight to a USB drive, and you can boot this from your new computer. This should allow you to install a copy of Windows 10 onto your new gaming PC without having to use a key.
Plus you’ll actually get a copy of Windows through this method! The only issue with this free version of Windows is that it won’t be officially licensed until you buy a legitimate key. Some people argue that you don’t actually lose much in terms of functionality if you don’t register this copy of Windows, though.
Another option is that you can carry on with building your gaming PC as normal and install this free version of Windows 10. This allows you to use a version of Windows so that you can play your favorite games until you can save up for an official license.
It will also give you an extra $100 or so that you can spend on your PC build, which will give you much better performance overall.
Additional accessories for your new gaming PC
So now that you’ve got all the essentials that you need to build your gaming PC, you will need to think about the additional accessories you will need to go with it.
These will of course include a monitor, a mouse, and a keyboard. It would be a bit difficult to try and play your favorite games without one of each to go with your new gaming PC build!
You can find plenty of 1080p monitors to suit a budget that will still work extremely well with the gaming PC build for under $500 that we’ve detailed above. There is also a range of keyboards and mice that will be perfect for your needs.
We’ve listed our top picks for you down below.
Best budget monitor
As much as you might like it to be, your new gaming PC build for under $500 won’t be suitable with 4K gaming. This is because it can’t push a 144Hz 1440p monitor.
Remember that even though this is a cheaper alternative, and you can play your favorite games on it, it still won’t be able to cope with the more demanding games that use higher resolutions and graphics.
To get the right monitor for your new gaming PC, you should opt for a 1080p monitor. This should be more than a match for your new gaming PC build, as it will be able to perfectly handle games at 1080p.
You should be able to find plenty of affordable 1080p monitors on the market. Even if you don’t already have one ready for you to use, you should be able to find one that doesn’t cost you a small fortune.
Your keyboard is a very important aspect of your gaming experience. You’ll be hard pressed to do anything if you don’t have one attached to your computer!
You may think that a gaming keyboard is more of a luxury item in terms of PC gaming. However, there are plenty of affordable options on the market so that you can game properly.
If you’re looking for a fairly inexpensive gaming keyboard that won’t break the bank, we’d suggest opting for the Redragon K552 KUMARA. This particular keyboard will be the perfect combination with your new $500 gaming PC build.
Best budget gaming mouse
It’s incredibly important that you have a high quality gaming mouse in your possession. This is because if you can’t handle your mouse properly, it will affect your gaming. You won’t be able to reach the high scores that you’re after if your mouse is of poor quality.
So it’s always important to opt for a better quality mouse. You should choose a mouse that has a good range of DPI adjustments as well as several programmable buttons.
These should help you to better tune your mouse to suit your preferences. So you’ll be able to smash through your favorite games!
So there you have it! You can indeed build a gaming PC for under $500. The custom gaming PC build that we’ve detailed above should be perfectly suitable for a 1080p monitor. You can even swap out any components as and when you need to over time to increase the power of the PC build itself.
This is of course one of the main advantages in opting for a gaming PC over a console. You can’t exactly upgrade aspects of a console. This system will give you an excellent entry point into PC gaming if you’re trying to stick to a budget.
