The best part is the components you need to build your cheap PC setup are readily available and easily replaceable. You can compare the prices with different online and offline sellers before buying each component. After looking at the benefits of a cheap PC build, you must be excited to build your setup. Aren’t you? However, a few things should be kept in mind before building it. You may end up paying an exorbitant amount without the proper guidance. Follow this article to know how you can save some bucks and still make the PC the best for gaming.
Cheap Gaming PC Build
You might be wondering why someone should go for a cheap PC setup instead of buying a laptop with almost similar specs or a readymade AIO. Not only that, a laptop is portable, but a PC is not. Well, let me tell you that laptops and AIOs, though portable, do not dissipate the heat as well as a PC. This results in a performance bottleneck. Although expensive laptops have a better heat release mechanism, the price tag does not suit everyone’s budget. Also, read Best MacBook Pro Alternatives 2022 | Top 10 Laptops in 2022 (Tested & Reviewed) The whole purpose of a cheap PC build is to get the best out of every penny spent. However, this may turn out to be a costly affair if you do not know which products to buy as per your budget. A cheap PC build does not mean a low-end PC with limited functionality; rather, it means that you are spending less to get the most out of it. I am not saying that an expensive PC build is useless; it is intended for professional gamers, video editors, or tech professionals who need top-notch specs. If you are building your PC for the first time, then all you need to have is a budget and this guide. After reading this article, you will feel the need to go nowhere except directly to the shop to purchase the components.
How to Build a Cheap Gaming PC
To be able to build a cheap gaming PC, you need to know its components. Follow the steps below to know what to consider when building a cheap PC setup.
Which Motherboard to Buy?
The motherboard, also known as the main board, is the primary component of your PC on which all the components are installed. You can frequently change the components, such as RAM, CPU, GPU, SSD/HDD, etc., as far as your motherboard supports it. While you are building your budget PC, you should buy a motherboard that is latest and reliable. Here are some suggestions:
1. MSI B450 Performance Gaming AMD Ryzen ATX Motherboard
MSI B450 Performance Gaming AMD Ryzen ATX Motherboard is one of the cheapest but the best motherboards that you can buy in 2022. Here are its specs:
Supports 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen Ryzen GraphicsSupports up to DDR4 memory (RAM) @4133MhzSupports USB 3.2 gen2 portsSupports PCIe Gen 4 M.2 slot
Price: $99.99 Also, read How to Fix GPU Fan Not Spinning | Find Out Why Your GPU Fan is Not Running
2. MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming Motherboard 13
MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming Motherboard is a budget motherboard by MSI that supports AMD Ryzen 5000 processors. It supports the highest speed RAM on the list. You can pair this with your cheap PC build or an AIO. Here are its specs:
Supports only 3rd gen Ryzen GraphicsSupports up to DDR4 memory (RAM) @4866MhzSupports USB 3.2 gen2 portsSupports PCIe Gen 4 M.2 slot
Price: $169.99
3. ASUS AM4 X570-Plus AM4 Zen 3 ATX Motherboard | 12
ASUS AM4 X570-Plus AM4 Zen 3 ATX Motherboard is a mid-range motherboard with a lot of top-notch features at this price range. It supports PCIe 4.0 dual M.2 SSD slots, has ASUS tough military grade component slots, and a PS/2 port as well. Here are its specs:
Supports 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen Ryzen Processors and Vega GraphicsSupports Active cooling through PCH heatsink, and M.2 Heatsync fan Supports USB 3.2 gen2/Type C/Type A ports Supports PCIe M.2 slot
Price: $202.99 Also, read How to See What Motherboard I Have | Secret Tips & Tricks
Which PC Case to Buy?
The PC holds all the components that you buy for your cheap PC build. The more you invest in your PC case, the more features you get, including cable management, transparent glass, metal build quality, and so on. The easiest way to choose the right PC case for your cheap PC build is by scrolling down here.
1. AeroCool Cylon RGB Mid Tower PC Case
AeroCool Cylon RGB Mid Tower PC Case is the cheapest but the value-for-money option on my list. It has one acrylic side through which you can see the internals, which makes it a more modern-looking PC case. Here are its salient features:
Comes with an acrylic side panel to make it transparent from one sideHas 13 LED lighting modes on the front panel Has 6 RGB flow lighting modes and 7 solid color modes Supports CPU cooler up to 155mm in size
Price: $54.99
2. Thermaltake Versa N24 Black ATX Mid Tower PC Case
Thermaltake Versa N24 Black ATX Mid Tower PC Case is a cheap but aesthetically made PC case under $60. Along with that, it has an acrylic side for the see-through look and RGB lighting. You will get a Rear fan preinstalled with this case. Here are its salient features:
Comes with an acrylic side panel to make it transparent from one side.Made with Alloy steel from the inside. Comes in Black and White color options. Comes with a Power Supply cover which helps in hiding the cable cutter.Supports up to 240mm Radiator on top of the case.
Price: $59.50 Also, read How to Clean a Mousepad | Clean Mousepad in 3 Simple Steps
3. Bgears b-Voguish ATX Mid Tower PC Case
Bgears b-Voguish ATX Mid Tower PC Case is similar to the other two PC cases mentioned above in terms of the acrylic side panel and RGB lighting. However, the major difference between Bgears and other cases is that the former comes with a Tempered Glass. Price: $60.99 Here are its salient features:
Comes with an acrylic side panel to make it transparent from one side.Comes with tempered glass on the front as well as the acrylic side of the case.Supports water-cooling front 240mm, top 240mm, and rear 120mm.Has a dust cover on the top.
Which PSU to Buy?
A Power Supply Unit is the power source for every component of your PC. The motherboard requires power to function, which is to be supplied from a dedicated unit all the time. Now, the PSUs themselves can be of 3 types. Non-Modular PSU: Suitable for beginners. Fairly cheap. All cables are soldered. Semi-Modular PSU: Suitable for moderate-level users. Fairly midrange. Some cables are detachable. Modular PSU: Suitable for professionals. Fairly expensive. All the cables are detachable. Here is the list of the best PSU that you can buy in 2022:
1. Thermaltake Smart 700W PSU
Thermaltake Smart 700W PSU is an 80+ White certified PSU and comes with 700W of power and a 120mm Ultra quiet fan. It can be connected to your mainboard via the PCIe lane. Price: $49.99 Also, read Is G-Sync Worth It | Learn More About G-Sync
2. ARESGAME 650W Power Supply
ARESGAME 650W Power Supply comes with 80+ Bronze Certification and operates at 650W output. It has one silent and durable fan along with all the cables that are in black. It is protected by 3 years of warranty. Price: $59.99
3. EVGA 700W Power Supply
EVGA 700W Power Supply comes with 80+ Gold Certification and operates at 700W output. It is occupied with a 120mm Silent fan to keep the base air cooled while running. It is protected by 5 years of warranty. Price: $64.80
Which Processor to Buy?
A CPU is said to be the heart of a Computer, and the Processor is said to be the heart of the CPU. There are only two Brands that are competing in this industry named Intel and AMD. Both offer a great variety of CPUs for all types of PCs. Let me take you through the list of the best cheap CPUs in 2022.
1. Intel Core i5-10400F Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.3 GHz
Intel Core i5-10400F Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.3 GHz has a lot of stars in its name, all thanks to its 6 crores and a clock speed of 4.3 GHz. I recommend buying it if you are on a budget but do not want to compromise on the performance. You may want to buy the graphics card separately in case you plan to game on this processor. Price: $133.00 Also, read How to Use a Laptop as a Monitor | Best Guide For Windows & macOS
2. AMD Ryzen™ 5 4600G, 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
AMD Ryzen™ 5 4600G, 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor is one of the best mid-range gaming processors that you can buy in 2022. It comes with Wraith Stealth Cooling technology that keeps the processor cool while you continue to take its full advantage. It comes with 6 cores and 12 processing threads with a clock speed of 4.2GHz. The H series and G series of processors by AMD are specially designed for gamers. It comes with AMD Radeon Graphics integrated processor. Price: $148.87
3. AMD Ryzen™ 5 5600X, 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
AMD Ryzen™ 5 5500X, 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor is a better version of the last processor I mentioned in the list. It has 6 cores and 12 threads which are clocked 4.6GHz. This Ryzen 5 5600X processor has a massive 35 MB cache. The best part about this processor is that you can play games at 100+ FPS performance without a second thought. Price: $199.00
Do You Need a Graphics Card?
Your processor has inbuilt graphics, which are enough for day-to-day but non-graphic intensive tasks. In case you are a graphics professional, you will need high-end graphics which are not supported internally by any processor. That is the reason why you should invest in a dedicated graphics card. There are plenty of options and obviously at different prices. Since I am talking here about PC budget gaming PC build, I will mention budget graphic cards. Also, read How to Reset Graphic Driver in 3 Easy Steps | Reset Now
1. Radeon RX 6600 Graphics Card
Radeon RX 6600 is the cheapest graphics card by AMD, which has a core clock speed of 2491MHz. It supports 1080P performance and is relatively affordable, looking at its features. Price: $289.99
2. GeForce RTX 3050 Graphics Card
GeForce GTX 3050 is a cheap graphics card by NVIDIA which comes at a core clock speed of 1777 MHz and supports 1080p gaming. It is able to maintain low temperatures and has TLSS (Machine learning enabled, deep learning super sampling technology) along with tensor cores, which allow you to have consistent frame rates. Price: $309.99
3. AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT Graphics Card
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is a budget graphics card that is great for gaming at 1080p and has excellent thermal performance. It draws 160W TDP and a core clock speed of 2607MHz. Price: $343.81
HDD or SSD: Which One is Better?
You are in the 21st century, and buying a hard disk does not make any sense for your cheap PC build because HDD always runs on mechanical parts, which can never compare to the speed of a solid-state drive, also known as SSD. I recommend buying a motherboard that supports the PCIe channel, at least. The most affordable SSD that you can buy in 2022 are mentioned below:
1. Crucial P2 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
Crucial P2 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD comes with a Read/Write speed of 2400/1900 MB/s. It is suitable for those who are on a budget but still need to look for an m.2 SSD. It has great value with high durability and 5 years warranty. Price: $39.99 Also, read How to Check PC Specs | Check Motherboard, RAM, CPU & More
2. TEAMGROUP MP33 512GB NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
TEAMGROUP MP33 512GB NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD is a great choice that offers a Read/Write speed of 1700/1400 MB/s. It will be compatible with your laptop, PC, and desktops as far as your motherboard supports it. It is three times faster than the SATA III interface SSD. It comes with a 5 years warranty. Price: $37.49
3. Western Digital PC SN730 512GB NVMe SSD
Western Digital PC SN730 512GB NVMe SSD comes with a Read/Write Speed of 3400/2700 MB/s which is the highest on this list. Just like other SSDs, this one is also reliable, compatible with PC and Laptops, and comes with a 5 years warranty. Price: $49.95
Wrapping Up
This brings us to the end of the article: How to build a cheap gaming PC? In case you have any queries or are facing an issue while building your cheap gaming PC, you can drop a comment. For the reviews of the products mentioned in this article as well as the extended list of the products, keep following the Path of EX.
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