Gaming PC for cheap
Table of Contents:
- Understanding Budget Gaming Needs
- Prebuilt Budget Gaming PCs
- Custom Budget Gaming PC Builds
- Conclusion
- Future of Budget Gaming
- Additional Considerations
- FAQ
Introduction to Budget Gaming PCs
Are you ready to dive into PC gaming, but your wallet’s feeling a bit light? It’s a common challenge! In recent years, PC gaming has skyrocketed in popularity because it is versatile, but also because it is high-performing. However, building, or buying, a gaming PC can be intimidating, mainly if you’re watching every penny. This guide gives you a rundown on getting a gaming PC without emptying your bank account. We’ll look at prebuilt options and how to build your own.
Understanding Budget Gaming Needs
What do you want from your gaming experience? To get started with a budget gaming PC, you need to think about this question. A PC that runs games at 1080p resolution with medium, or high, settings is good enough for most. Typically, this asks for a CPU that is in the middle of the performance range, a dedicated graphics card, enough RAM, as well as a storage drive that’s speedy.
What parts are essential for budget gaming?
- CPU (Central Processing Unit)– AMD Ryzen 5 series, or Intel Core i5 series, CPUs are fine for most budget gaming needs. These CPUs balance price and performance well.
- GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)– A dedicated GPU is important. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 are great budget choices. These GPUs work for 1080p gaming with medium settings.
- RAM (Memory)– 16GB of RAM is a typical recommendation. DDR4 memory is still frequently used, however DDR5 provides better performance if you can afford it.
- Storage– A fast NVMe SSD is important to make games load fast. Start with a 500GB, or a 1TB, SSD.
- Power Supply– Your power supply should be able to handle all your parts’ power needs. 650W PSU is often good for budget builds.
Prebuilt Budget Gaming PCs
Don’t want to build your own? Prebuilt gaming PCs are an option for you. With those PCs, you have everything to start playing at once.
Examples for Prebuilt Options
These are a few examples to consider:
- Xidax X-2 ARC B580 + I5-14400F– It’s priced around $1,199 and is suitable for 1080p gaming with high frame rates in esports titles, but also medium settings in AAA games. This prebuilt PC has a decent price to performance ratio. It has an Intel Core i5-14400F CPU, an Intel ARC B580 GPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD.
Custom Budget Gaming PC Builds
Are you wanting more control? Building your own PC allows for adjustments to fit your needs and it can also be cheaper. Below is a budget-friendly build breakdown:
Parts for a Custom Build
This is a list of components for a custom built PC:
- CPU– AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- GPU– AMD Radeon RX 6600 (or search for a used GPU for better performance)
- RAM– 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
- Storage– 500GB, or 1TB, NVMe SSD
- Case– Thermaltake Versa H16
- PSU– 650W Corsair Bronze-rated PSU
Build Overview
The PC build is made to provide a great 1080p gaming experience. The Ryzen 5 5500 CPU is paired with the RX 6600 GPU. In this combination they can handle many games such as Fortnite, Call of Duty or Minecraft on medium settings.
Some Build Tips on a Budget
The following list of tips will help you to build your own PC on a budget:
- Find Sales– Watch for sales and discounts on components.
- Used Parts– Used GPUs, as well as CPUs, can bring the price down.
- Easy Upgrades– Pick parts, like a higher wattage PSU, that allow easy upgrades.
Conclusion
You need to think carefully about what you need and what you can spend when building, or buying, a budget gaming PC. Whether you want a prebuilt system, or decide to build it yourself, there are many options to get a great gaming experience for a satisfying price. You can make a good gaming PC for under $1,500 if you pay attention to the important parts and think about buying used parts.
Future of Budget Gaming
Technology is always improving and that means lower prices and better performance in the PC gaming market. When hardware gets better, budget gaming options will get better. Now is a great time to see what budget options are out there, especially if you are entering PC gaming without spending too much money.
Additional Considerations
A few more things to consider are:
- Operating System– Your PC needs a real version of Windows, or you can use a Linux version if that’s easier for you.
- Warranty, also Support– It is important to check the warranty and support a company offers when you purchase a prebuilt PC.
- Easy to Upgrade– It is important to think about how easy it is to upgrade your PC later to make it last longer.
If you consider these things, and look at both prebuilt and custom builds, you can find a budget gaming PC that you like, without spending too much.
FAQ
What’s the cheapest way to get into PC gaming?
Consider building your own PC using used parts, or going with a lower-end prebuilt system.
Is it better to build or buy a budget gaming PC?
Building lets you customize and often save money, however prebuilts are more convenient.
How much RAM do I need for budget gaming?
16GB is good. If you can, consider a motherboard that can handle more than 16 GB in the future.
Resources & References:
- https://www.xidax.com/blog/post/9-best-gaming-pcs-any-budget
- https://techguided.com/budget-gaming-pc-builds/
- https://www.blackoutcomputers.com/community/blog/best-gaming-pc-builds-for-2025
- https://www.techradar.com/news/best-budget-gaming-pc-2018-top-gaming-desktops-for-less
- https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-pc-builds-gaming
