Building an affordable gaming PC doesn’t mean compromising on performance. It’s possible to achieve high-end gaming at a fraction of the cost. Here are some tips to help you build an affordable gaming PC without breaking the bank.
Firstly, choose the right processor and graphics card. Opting for mid-range or budget processors and graphics cards is the key to staying within your budget. You don’t need the most expensive gaming processor or graphics card to enjoy a great gaming experience. When it comes to processors, look for 4-core CPUs from Intel or Ryzen from AMD. For graphics cards, go for GTX 1050 TI and GTX 1650 from Nvidia or Radeon RX 560 and RX 570 from AMD.
Secondly, consider the amount of RAM you’ll need. RAM is important for any gaming PC, as it helps boost the speed and performance. 8GB RAM is enough for most games, but if you’re looking to maximize your performance, you can opt for 16GB. Also, make sure to look for RAM with a clock speed of at least 3,000MHz.
Thirdly, pick the right storage. Solid State Drives (SSDs) are best for gaming as they provide much faster loading speeds and better performance. You can opt for an SSD with a large 256GB or 512GB capacity and use an additional HDD for storage. Alternatively, you can also go for a hybrid drive which combines the speed and performance of an SSD and the capacity of an HDD.
Fourthly, find the right motherboard. For gaming, features like overclocking, SLI support, and USB Type-C are important. Make sure to choose a motherboard that supports all these features. For budget builds, Intel’s and AMD’s mid-range motherboards offer similar features at a lower price point.
Fifthly, choose the right power supply. Make sure to pick a power supply with at least 500W or more as most gaming PCs require robust power supplies. Also, make sure to go for a quality brand like EVGA or Corsair. This will ensure your PC has reliable and consistent power delivery.
Finally, select the right case. Mid-tower cases offer the best of both worlds by providing ample space for your components without breaking your budget. Also, make sure the case you choose has good airflow and adequate cooling. This will help to keep your PC perform at peak levels while keeping the components cool and running smoothly.
Processor Choice
When looking for the best processor to use in your gaming PC, it’s important to take into account the type of games you plan to play. For example, if you plan to play triple A titles like Battlefield 5 and Unreal Tournament 3, then you’ll want to opt for Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processors. These processors provide more than enough power to run these games at high settings, without any issues.
For budget builds, Intel’s i3 and i5 processors, or AMD’s Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5 processors offer a great balance of performance and value. They provide more than enough power to run most titles at decent settings. However, if you want to maximize performance, Intel’s i7 and AMD’s Ryzen 7 processors are the best options.
When it comes to overclocking, Intel’s processors are the better choice. They are able to achieve greater speeds, and require less power for more performance. AMD’s processors, on the other hand, don’t overclock as well and require more power for a similar increase in performance.
Finally, when shopping for the best processor, make sure to take into account the type of socket the processor requires. Intel and AMD have different sockets, and your choice of motherboard must feature the correct socket for the processor you choose.
Graphics Card Choice
When looking for the best graphics card, it’s important to take into account the type of games you plan to play. If you plan to play demanding titles like The Witcher 3 and Rise of the Tomb Raider, then you’ll want to opt for a high-end graphics card like a GTX 1070 or an RX 580. These cards provide more than enough power to run these games at high settings, without any issues.
For budget builds, Nvidia’s GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti, or AMD’s Radeon RX 560 and RX 570 are great choices. They provide enough power to run most titles at decent settings. However, if you want to maximize performance, Nvidia’s GTX 1070 and AMD’s RX 580 are the best options.
When it comes to overclocking, both Nvidia’s and AMD’s graphics cards fare well. Both companies offer their own overclocking software, which allows you to push your graphics card to its limits. However, Nvidia’s Pascal architecture cards are able to overclock better and are often a better choice if you plan to overclock.
Finally, when shopping for the best graphics card, make sure to take into account the power requirement. High-end graphics cards require powerful power supplies, so make sure your PC has a PSU that can handle the load.
RAM Choice
When picking the right RAM for your gaming PC, it’s important to take into account the type of games you plan to play. For example, if you plan to play triple A titles like Battlefield 5 and Unreal Tournament 3, then you’ll want to opt for 16GB RAM. This will ensure your system has enough RAM to handle the game’s memory requirements.
For budget builds, 8GB RAM is more than enough. This is because most games can run with 8GB RAM and don’t require more than that. However, if you want to maximize performance, 16GB RAM is the way to go as it will allow you to run more demanding titles without any issues.
When it comes to speed, the higher the clock speed, the better the performance. Therefore, make sure to choose RAM with a clock speed of at least 3,000MHz. This will ensure your gaming PC runs as fast and smooth as possible.
Finally, when shopping for the best RAM, make sure to take into account the type of RAM and the type of motherboard. Different types of RAM require different types of motherboards, so make sure to check compatibility before buying.
Storage Choice
When selecting storage for your gaming PC, it’s important to take into account the type of games you plan to play. For example, if you plan to play triple A titles like Battlefield 5 and Unreal Tournament 3, then you’ll want to opt for a Solid State Drive (SSD). This type of storage offer faster loading speeds and better performance when compared to HDD.
For budget builds, a hybrid drive is a great choice. A hybrid drive combines the speed and performance of an SSD with the capacity of an HDD, making it a great option if you’re looking to maximize performance while staying within your budget.
When it comes to capacity, you’ll need to decide how much storage space you’ll need. If you’re only planning to run a few titles and some other applications, then a smaller capacity SSD (256GB to 512GB) should be enough. However, if you plan to run more demanding titles and store a lot of data, then you’ll want to opt for a larger capacity storage solution.
Finally, when shopping for the best storage, make sure to take into account the type of storage and the type of motherboard. Different types of storage require different types of motherboards, so make sure to check compatibility before buying.
Motherboard Choice
When selecting the right motherboard for your gaming PC, it’s important to take into account the type of games you plan to play. If you plan to play triple A titles like Battlefield 5 and Unreal Tournament 3, then you’ll want to opt for a motherboard with high-end features, such as multi-GPU support, overclocking, and USB Type-C.
For budget builds, Intel’s and AMD’s mid-range motherboards offer similar features at a lower price point. These boards are more than capable of powering your gaming PC and running most titles at decent settings.
When it comes to overclocking, Intel’s Z-series boards are the best choice. They offer the most features and are better equipped to handle the increased power requirements of overclocking. AMD’s B-series boards offer similar features at a lower price point.
Finally, when shopping for the best motherboard, make sure to take into account the type of processor and graphics card you plan to use. Different types of processors and graphics cards require different types of motherboards, so make sure to check compatibility before buying.
Power Supply Choice
When picking the right power supply for your gaming PC, it’s important to take into account the type of components you plan to use. For example, if you plan to use high-end components such as the Intel i7 or the AMD Ryzen 7 processor, then you’ll want to opt for a power supply with at least 500W or more.
For budget builds, a 300W to 450W power supply should be enough. This is because most budget components don’t require a lot of power and don’t draw too much from the PSU.
When it comes to efficiency, make sure to go for a quality brand like EVGA or Corsair. These brands are known for offering reliable and consistent power delivery and are the most efficient. Additionally, they also offer better warranties and customer support.
Finally, when shopping for the best power supply, make sure to take into account the power requirement of the components you plan to use. Different types of components require different amounts of power, so make sure to check your components’ power requirements before buying a PSU.
Case Choice
When selecting the right case for your gaming PC, it’s important to take into account the type of games you plan to play. If you plan to play triple A titles like Battlefield 5 and Unreal Tournament 3, then you’ll want to opt for a mid-tower case, as it offers the best of both worlds by providing ample space for your components without breaking your budget.
When it comes to cooling, make sure the case you choose has adequate cooling and good airflow. This will help to keep your PC perform at peak levels and your components cool, allowing them to run smoothly.
Finally, when shopping for the best case, make sure to take into account the size and shape of the components you plan to use. Different types of components require different case sizes and shapes, so make sure to check compatibility before buying.
