Whether it’s better for a gamer to design a system or purchase one of the best prebuilt PCs is a debate that’s been raging for years. Particularly for inexperienced PC builders, it’s tempting just to spend money on a ready-to-go system instead of struggling to design a cheap PC build. In reality, while the prebuilt approach is the fastest way to enjoy the many benefits of PC gaming, selecting and installing parts to build a customized rig is now easier than ever before. There is a wealth of online resources that suggest compatible build configurations, complete with links to purchase parts at the lowest prices possible.
When assembling a budget gaming PC build, some key factors include deciding on an Intel or AMD processor which will dictate the choice of other components like motherboards. Buyers will also have to wrestle with whether to save money on a CPU with integrated graphics or choose a budget graphics card which adds to the total cost of a system considerably. Finally, even an affordable gaming PC can come in a variety of form factors from mini ITX to ATX, housed in compact or full-tower cases. Whatever route a gamer goes, these four budget gaming PC build options are great introductions to the exciting world of custom-made PCs.
The Best Overall Gaming Build Under $500
The Best Value-Centric Gaming PC Build Under $500
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Zalman T7 ATX Mid Tower PC Case
The Zalman T7 ATX Mid-Tower PC Case features a front mesh panel for maximum airflow and a transparent side viewing window. The case includes 2 pre-installed 120 mm fans and accommodates ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards.
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Intel Core i3-12100F
The 4-Core, 8-Thread Intel Core i3-12100F processor is an entry-level contender from Intel’s 12th generation that can handle today’s games to a moderate level without bottlenecking and offers a path to upgrade to a faster processor by allowing you to build on an Intel 600 or 700 series motherboard.
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GIGABYTE H610M S2H V2 DDR4 Motherboard
$90 $100 Save $10
The GIGABYTE H610M S2H V2 DDR4 Motherboard is an excellent, entry-level motherboard that offers the Gigabyte UD moniker indicating better build quality on offer than most of its competing entry-level alternatives.
With a single M2 slot and 2 DIMM slots on offer, the H610M is built for minimalistic, budget-centric PCs in 2023 with support for Intel’s 12th, 13th, and 14th generation CPUs.
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Gigabyte Radeon RX 6600 Eagle 8G Graphics Card
$190 $210 Save $20
Gigabyte Radeon RX 6600 Eagle 8G is the company’s mid-range graphics card from the most popular Radeon RX 6000 series. It is built with the AMD RDNA 2 architecture and provides a 128-bit memory interface with 8 gigabytes of GDDR6 memory. It is installed with Gigabyte’s Windforce 3X cooling solution, which means that it sports three alternate spinning fans for optimal airflow. The GPU supports multiple high-resolution monitors simultaneously with two DisplayPort connectors and two HDMIs.
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TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 16 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
$33 $38 Save $5
The TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 16 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory is a tremendous value and is compatible with a wide variety of Intel and AMD motherboards. A streamlined cooling module and high thermal conductive adhesive keep the memory cool during intense gaming sessions. The TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z comes with a lifetime warranty.
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Lexar NM710 SSD
The Lexar NM710 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD is designed to boost gamers’ computing experience with faster Gen4x4 performance. With quick transfer speeds of up to 5000 MB/s read and 4500 MB/s write the NM710 is an excellent NVMe drive to upgrade a PC for an affordable price.
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Apevia CAPTAIN550 ATX Power Supply
The Apevia CAPTAIN550 watt power supply packs a wallop for an incredibly affordable price. The CAPTAIN550 features an automatically thermally controlled 120 mm fan and all-black cables to blend in with modern gaming rigs. Connectors include: 1 x 20/24pin Main Power, 1 x P8pin(P4+4pin), 1 x 6/8pin PCI-express, 12V, 3 x SATA, 3 x Peripheral, 1 x Floppy.
Total Estimated Cost: $524
Assembling the best budget gaming PC build using a lower-end NVIDIA graphics card is relatively straightforward with fewer compromises than a builder might expect. The brain of this build is the Intel Core i3-12100F processor, which is more than adequate to drive a lower-end system. The quad-core processor debuted in early 2022 as part of Intel’s 12th generation of CPUs and offered a better gaming alternative to some of its more expensive AMD alternatives.
It is bundled with the well-priced GIGABYTE H610M S2H DDR4 motherboard that offers an M2 slot, Gigabit ethernet, and a low-profile design even as it clocks in towards the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to pricing for an Intel Socket LGA 1700 motherboard. Paired to an inexpensive, low-latency stick of 16GB DDR4 RAM clocked at 3200 MHz means that the PC can be upgraded on demand with more memory or a faster processor which should utilize the 3200 MHz, CL16 spec better than the 12100F.
With Nvidia’s GTX 1650 moving up in terms of price with multiple retailers, the obvious choice is the significantly faster AMD RX 6600 which offers as much as a ~65% increase in performance while being slightly cheaper than Nvidia’s GPU, which it replaces. It also offers twice the VRAM in a market where 4GB no longer cuts it for a multitude of titles, even at lower presets, making for a welcome and necessary upgrade over the previous iteration of this build.
For this budget gaming build, the well-priced Zalman T7 ATX Mid-Tower Case not only provides more potential for expansion than more compact cases but also has a clear side window for a premium look. Gamers can install up to four 2.5-inch hard drives, with the 500GB Lexar NM710 NVMe SSD allowing users to take advantage of all 4 going forward. As far as cooling goes, there are two 120 mm fans already positioned on the front and rear of the case, but up to eight more can be installed. Combined with a mesh front panel, the fan layout of the Zalman T7 should keep the temps of this relatively low-powered gaming rig under control.
The Best APU Build Under $500
The Best AMD Ryzen 7 Integrated Graphics Gaming Build Under $500
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Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L
The Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L is a Micro ATX tower case that’s all about flexibility. The case’s I/O panel can be installed in six different positions and the case is suited for vertical or horizontal positioning. A clear side window gives a view into a modern gaming rig. A front magnetic dust filter with a perforated front allows for constant airflow in and out of the case.
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AMD Ryzen 7 5700G 8-Core 16-Thread Processor
The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is not a desktop GPU replacement for gamers, but it does do a fair job for some MOBA titles as well as for light 720P/1080P gaming on medium graphics. It does offer a full 8-core, 16-thread processor but halves the L3 cache as a result versus its comparable 5700X and 5800X siblings in the Ryzen 7 5000 Series lineup and limiting itself to PCI-E 3.0 speeds.
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Gigabyte B550M K Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard
The Gigabyte B550M K Micro ATX AM4 motherboard supports the AMD Ryzen 5000 Series/ Ryzen 5000 G-Series/ Ryzen 4000 G-Series and Ryzen 3000 Series family of CPUs. The motherboard features a sturdy power design and offers support for HDMI 2.1 to meet the latest standards in 4K video playback with HDR.
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Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
$41 $45 Save $4
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB DDR4-3600 memory is compatible with many Intel and AMD DDR4 motherboards. Using a solid aluminum heat spreader and high-quality PCB, the memory is ideal for overclocking and gaming rigs. Its low profile height of 34 mm makes this memory an ideal choice for compact systems.
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Kingston NV2 500G M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
The Kingston NV2 500G SSD uses Gen 4×4 NVMe PCIe technology. This drive delivers read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 2,800 MB/s. It’s designed for systems requiring fast performance, in both laptop and desktop builds. It is suitable for most applications thanks to the compact, single-sided M.2 2280 design. And the low power requirements mean that it produces minimal heat.
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Thermaltake Smart BM2 550W
The Thermaltake Smart BM2 500W ATX power supply is made for smart PC builds, with an efficiency rating of up to 86%. The power supply’s 120 mm Ultra Quiet fan manages substantial airflow without annoying background noise. The Thermaltake Smart BM2 500W provides the security of a 5-year warranty.
Total Estimated Cost: $429
Many gamers instantly turn their noses up at the idea of a budget gaming PC built without a dedicated graphics card. Still, when the budget-saving AMD Ryzen 7 5700G appeared in April 2021, the prospect of gaming with an integrated graphics controller was more attractive than ever, especially with graphics card shortages rampant. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G won’t allow gamers to play Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K resolution, but it does hold its own against most entry-level budget graphics cards. This compact and cheap PC build best suits entry-level gamers with 1080p displays and limited desk space. Coming in well under the $500 price point, this rig also has room to grow if a builder wants to upgrade its GPU.
In this build, the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G CPU works well with the Gigabyte B550M K Micro ATX motherboard, which supports a range of Ryzen 3000 to 5000 CPUs. Since this parts list lacks a dedicated graphics card, it’s essential that the motherboard can handle both current-generation standards. Thankfully, the Gigabyte B550M includes a single HDMI 2.1 port which is HDCP 2.3 compliant with full HDR support, as well as a single DisplayPort 1.4 connection. The motherboard also has dual M.2 slots, one of which can house the budget-friendly 500G version of the PCI-E 4.0 Kingston NV2 NVMe SSD. While the 5700G does not support PCI-E 4.0, the SSD itself is backward-compatible, making it a no-brainer that offers speeds that cap out at the maximum PCI-E 3.0 currently offers. For memory, the Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB DDR4 low-profile RAM is ideal to fit in a Micro ATX case while sporting a dedicated heat spreader design to keep temperatures in check when pushing rated DOCP speeds.
Without a dedicated graphics card, this budget PC build is all about simplicity, and a Micro ATX case like the Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L fits with this theme perfectly. Although a user could install a graphics card up to 14.1 inches in the case, the chassis is small enough not to look too cavernous without one. The MasterBox Q300L blends in remarkably well either in a home entertainment center or small desk, since it supports vertical or horizontal placement. Even the I/O panel is installable at various points around the edges of the case. The edge-to-edge clear side window is acrylic, not tempered glass, but it’s hard to argue with the overall look of the case at this price point. The small case only ships with one fan installed toward the rear, but the stock cooler on the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G and the lack of a toasty graphics card should keep case temperatures reasonable.
To give life to the best budget gaming PC with Ryzen-based integrated graphics, the Thermaltake Smart BM2 500-watt White Certified PSU may seem like overkill, considering the total power consumption of the system is around 150 watts. Even so, the PSU adapts well to low-power budget PCs and provides flexibility if a gamer wishes to add a graphics card or more components in the future. The 120 mm fan in the PSU is whisper-quiet, so it won’t disturb movie-watching in living rooms or gamers sensitive to excessive background noise.
The Best Budget Unlocked Gaming PC Build Under $500
Going Team Red On A Limb
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Thermaltake Versa H15
$57 $101 Save $44
The Thermaltake Versa H18 is an excellent option for new PC builders or gamers assembling a compact, power-efficient rig. The Versa H18 is a Micro-ATX case with an acrylic side window allowing a clear view into the most impressive builds. The mesh front panel maintains an efficient airflow, and the cable routing gap makes hiding unsightly cables behind motherboards simple. Hidden drive bays have room enough for two 2.5-inch and two 3.5-inch storage devices.
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a midrange CPU, excellent for gaming setups. This is the fastest six-core AM4-based processor from AMD and features 12 processing threads. According to the company, the processor can deliver 100-plus FPS performance in the world’s most popular games. The processor supports DDR4 memory with a sweet spot of 3600MHz.
It offers 4.6 GHz boost clock speeds out of the box with overclocking potential in tow coupled with 35 MB of cache. This model comes bundled with a quiet and capable AMD Wraith Stealth cooler.
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Gigabyte B550M K Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard
The Gigabyte B550M K Micro ATX AM4 motherboard supports the AMD Ryzen 5000 Series/ Ryzen 5000 G-Series/ Ryzen 4000 G-Series and Ryzen 3000 Series family of CPUs. The motherboard features a sturdy power design and offers support for HDMI 2.1 to meet the latest standards in 4K video playback with HDR.
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Maxsun AMD Radeon RX 550 4GB Low Profile Small Form Factor
An excellent choice for the most budget-oriented gamers and builders of compact PCs, the Maxsun AMD Radeon RX 550 is more capable than its price tag would indicate. This affordable graphics card supports features like AMD FreeSync for smooth gameplay. The graphics card has both DisplayPort and HDMI outputs to send 4K and HDR signals to multiple displays.
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Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 16GB (1 x 16GB) 3200 MHz
Patriot’s Viper Steel line of DDR4 memory uses a custom aluminum heat spreader to keep temperatures in check. The Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 16GB ram supports XMP 2.0 for excellent overclocking potential.
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Kingston NV2 500G M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
The Kingston NV2 500G SSD uses Gen 4×4 NVMe PCIe technology. This drive delivers read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 2,800 MB/s. It’s designed for systems requiring fast performance, in both laptop and desktop builds. It is suitable for most applications thanks to the compact, single-sided M.2 2280 design. And the low power requirements mean that it produces minimal heat.
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Thermaltake Smart BM2 550W
The Thermaltake Smart BM2 500W ATX power supply is made for smart PC builds, with an efficiency rating of up to 86%. The power supply’s 120 mm Ultra Quiet fan manages substantial airflow without annoying background noise. The Thermaltake Smart BM2 500W provides the security of a 5-year warranty.
Total Estimated Cost: $512
Users looking for an all-AMD build can lean towards a beefier CPU or a GPU. For most, however, going all the way down to AMD’s dated (and cheaper) quad or hexacore offerings can be a bit too much in terms of performance bottlenecks. Users on the fence for a better, cheaper GPU in 2023, can opt for an entry-level RX550 or alternatively, a higher-end, refurbished RX 580 GPU instead.
This build utilizes the unlocked and fairly fast AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU which has an upgrade path to a decent Ryzen 7 5800X3D down the line and a mid-range Gigabyte B550 motherboard while offering a secondary DIMM slot for users looking to upgrade to 32GB down the line.
The budget-centric Thermaltake Versa case coupled with a fast Kingston NVMe 4.0 SSD and a balanced 550W PSU all offer excellent value for money to round off what is a balanced, unlocked AMD CPU build which can be upgraded to a higher-end GPU with ease down the line.
The Upgradable Budget Gaming Build Under $500
Ryzen 7000 Series Galore
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MAKASHI MKII Full-Tower Case
The Enermax Makashi MKII is a full-tower case perfect for gamers new to PC building. Unlike many budget cases, the Makashi MKII has the space for Extended ATX (E-ATX) motherboards, up to 6 hard drives, and 8 fans. The tempered glass side window lets users keep tabs on expensive components. LED strips lining the front of the case provide a unique look to the Makashi MKII, with addressable RGB effects compatible with the most popular lighting ecosystems.
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AMD Ryzen 5 7600
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the entry-level, yet very capable, gaming CPU from AMD that features 6 cores, 12 threads, and 32MB of L3 cache. It has a base clock speed of 3.8GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.1GHz. The Ryzen 5 7600 is an unlocked processor with a default TDP of 65W. It also has integrated RDNA 2 graphics and is the cheapest offering in the lineup with an iGPU.
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GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX
$190 $230 Save $40
The Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX is a high-end motherboard featuring the B650 chipset that allows it to command a much lower price point, closer to AMD’s more budget-oriented motherboard lineups. It is a capable entry that also offers a PCI-E Gen 5 M2 slot that should allow access to faster PCI-E 5.0 storage down the line.
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Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RGB Gaming 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL40 Memory
The Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RAM has faster frequencies, greater capacities, and lower voltages offering excellent gaming performance. In addition, the aluminum heat sink, available in black or white, quickly dissipates heat from the RAM and allows for long-term high performance.
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Kingston NV2 500G M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
The Kingston NV2 500G SSD uses Gen 4×4 NVMe PCIe technology. This drive delivers read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 2,800 MB/s. It’s designed for systems requiring fast performance, in both laptop and desktop builds. It is suitable for most applications thanks to the compact, single-sided M.2 2280 design. And the low power requirements mean that it produces minimal heat.
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MSI MAG A550BN Power Supply
The MSI MAG A550BN comes with 80 PLUS BRONZE certification. This certification ensures higher efficiency and lower power consumption. It includes a 120 mm low-noise fan with a sleeve bearing. The power supply is designed to offer stable output.
Note: While the team at Game Rant has recommended a more expensive motherboard than users might expect in the spirit of keeping things upgrade-friendly, people looking to keep things under $500 can utilize a much cheaper alternative from MSI that keeps costs well below the $500 mark without any performance impediments.
Total Estimated Cost: $566
For gamers looking for the most upgrade-friendly build under $500, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 packs a unique value proposition, bundling a stock air cooler, integrated graphics, and an unlocked hexacore Zen 4 chip in a neat package that clocks in just under $200. The Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX offers plenty of ports, Wi-Fi built-in, and decent VRMs for overclocking or CPU upgrades down the line. The build also features an excellent RAM kit with 32GB of fast DDR5 memory from Silicon Power.
On the PSU end, the MSI MAG 550W can handle most entry-level GPUs, even as the build leaves the choice of a future GPU upgrade open along with a larger SSD than the bundled 500GB Kingston NV2 on offer currently.
The stylish Makashi MKII is hardly the tallest or widest full-tower case on the market, but its roomy chassis makes cable management less complicated for users who are looking to upgrade to potentially larger GPUs and motherboards or looking to invest in liquid coolers down the line.
More Budget Gaming Build Choices Than You Bargained For?
With everything from groceries to consumer electronics rising in price, eventually, it may become impossible to assemble a capable gaming PC for under $500. Fortunately, that time has not yet come, and there remain a variety of successful approaches to building the best budget gaming PC for a limited amount of money.
Two of the gaming builds discussed above utilize 10th or 12-generation Intel Core i3 CPUs, while the others rely on AMD 5000 series processors with Radeon-integrated graphics. Deciding between these options has ramifications for how to approach the rest of a new system’s configuration. Our first build was a mid-tower PC with Intel Core i3-12100F CPU and a PNY GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. The Zalman T7 case selected is large enough to accommodate a dedicated graphics card and up to four 2.5″ hard drives.
The second budget build takes a different approach to assembling an affordable gaming PC since it includes an AMD Ryzen 7 5700G processor with integrated graphics. Taking a graphics card out of the equation reduces the overall cost significantly, but the micro ATX form factor of the Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L case and Gigabyte B550M K motherboard do limit storage options and future expandability somewhat.
For gamers looking for a rig that can adapt to an increasing budget, an alternate build with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G CPU and MAKASHI MKII Full-Tower case is also an option. Even without a Radeon or NVIDIA graphics card, this PC boasts some fairly high-end components including an ASRock X570 Steel Legend motherboard. The combination of this X570 motherboard and full-tower case makes it possible to add a large stack of 2.5″ or 3.5″ hard drives full of games or media.
Each build in this guide offers different form factors catering to gamers with varying amounts of space on their humble gaming desks or media rooms. None of the suggested PCs discussed will provide the thrills of 4K gaming as they are, but each is flexible enough to generate more serious gaming performance as a gamer’s budget allows for.
Need more gaming PC options? Check out Game Rant’s list of the best gaming PCs in 2023!
FAQ
Q: Is it cheaper to build your own gaming PC, rather than to buy a prebuilt system?
In most cases, finding the best prices for each component individually will save money over prebuilt options. Also, you may learn how to replace parts on your own instead of sending in a prebuilt PC for expensive repairs or buying a new system entirely.
Q: What should I consider when assembling a custom gaming PC?
Some factors to consider when putting together your own gaming PC are budget, what types of games you play, what resolution you want to play games at, and how much space you have for either a full tower or compact system.
Q: What are the most critical components of a gaming PC?
Some key parts of a gaming PC are the processor, motherboard, case, and graphics card. The graphics card will usually affect a budget the most, but also ensure that a CPU is compatible with a motherboard and that all parts will fit in the selected case.
