As a game enthusiast, you know how important it is to have a powerful gaming PC to keep up with the latest games. But building a high-end gaming PC that can handle the latest games can be an expensive endeavor. This article will detail how to build a great gaming PC that won’t break the bank, at under $300. We’ll talk about what components to use and put it all together in a step-by-step format.
The first component to look at is the processor. You will need a budget processor that offers enough power to play the latest games without draining your wallet. You can get a budget processor CPU like an Intel Pentium G4560 or an AMD Ryzen 3 2200G for under $100. Both of these CPUs are great for budget gaming and should get you decent frame rates in most games.
Next, you’ll need a motherboard. For this build, we’ll need one that has an LGA 1151 socket. This will fit the processor we chose earlier. A good choice for this build is the Gigabyte B250M-DS3H motherboard. It offers an LGA 1151 socket and lots of features for under $50.
The component that will put the most strain on your budget is the graphics card, but with a few compromises, you can still get a good gaming experience. A GTX 1050 Ti will be able to handle some of the more recent games decently, and it won’t cost you more than $150. You will have to lower the graphics settings in some particularly demanding games, but this card should be fine for most titles.
You will also need a case to house all the components. You can get a budget case like the Cooler Master N200 for around $30. This will fit all the necessary components and keep the PC cool during gaming sessions.
The last component you’ll need is a good power supply. We recommend getting one that is at least 500W from a reputable brand like EVGA or Corsair. EVGA has a great 500W PSU for under $50 that should do the job nicely.
At this point, you have all the components needed to build your gaming PC. To put it all together, you will need to install the processor, RAM, and graphics card, and plug all the cables in the right places. This process can be intimidating if you’ve never built a PC before, but step-by-step guides can be found on the internet.
Installing an Operating System
Once your PC is assembled, you’ll need to install an operating system. If your budget allows, we recommend going with Windows 10. It offers a lot of gaming and productivity features and can be bought for under $100. If you don’t have that kind of money to spare, then you can go for Windows 7 or 8. They won’t get you all the latest features that Windows 10 offers, but they should still be able to run the latest games.
Upgrading Your Gaming PC
Once your gaming PC is up and running, you may find that you need to upgrade certain components in order to achieve the performance you’re after. A good way to kickstart your upgrades is by getting more RAM. You can start with 2GB and then later upgrade to 4GB or even 8GB, depending on the games you plan on playing. Another way to upgrade the performance of your gaming PC is to get a better CPU or graphics card. Upgrading from a budget CPU to something like an Intel i5 or an AMD Ryzen 5 will get you a noticeable performance boost. The same goes for graphics cards – upgrading from a GTX 1050 Ti to something like a GTX 1060 will significantly bump up the visuals.
Staying Cool While Playing
With a budget gaming PC, you will want to take extra measure to make sure your components don’t overheat. Firstly, make sure your PC case is positioned in an area with good airflow. Next, invest in some good cooling components like fans and heatsinks. Finally, check the performance of your components while playing and make sure they’re not getting too hot.
Improving Performance on a Budget
Finally, you can get a significant performance boost by tweaking certain settings in-game. This usually involves lowering graphics settings to achieve better frame rates. You can also disable certain features like anti-aliasing and shadows, which are nice to have but can be taxing on budget hardware. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also overclock certain components to squeeze out a little more performance.
Optimizing Settings
If you’re looking for a more in-depth look at gaming optimization, you’ll need to delve into driver optimization and other advanced settings. Generally, game developers will provide recommended settings for an optimal experience, so make sure to look these up and adjust your settings accordingly. Some games will even offer support for alternative graphics APIs like DirectX 12 and Vulkan, which can further improve the performance of your gaming PC.
