Building a gaming PC from scratch can be intimidating and expensive. But, if you’re on a budget of less than $400, you can still get some good value with a pre-built system. In this article, we’ll review the best gaming PC for under $400, and the components that make up an adequate gaming system. We’ll also review the kinds of components you may need to consider if you’re building your own gaming PC.
Starting with a pre-built system, you’ll save money on the cost of buying the individual components. The kind of gaming PC you can build with less than $400 won’t be capable of running recent games at their highest resolution and frame rate, but you can still play a variety of games with good achievement at decent settings. The main components that determine your gaming PC’s performance are the processor, graphics card and amount of RAM, and it’s important to know the specs of each of these components.
When building a gaming PC from scratch, most enthusiasts’ goal is to outpace pre-built systems in terms of performance, so naturally the components you select must be up to the task. Processors are the brain of your gaming PC, and the Intel Core i series are the best choice when it comes to modern games. Graphics cards decide the amount of output your gaming PC can handle, and GPUs from the AMD Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce series are good options if you don’t want to splurge. RAM is the primary memory in your gaming PC and 8GB comes standard nowadays, and doing a build-upgrade is highly recommended if you’re working on a tight budget.
If you decide that a pre-built system is the right choice, there are a handful of brands that offer good gaming PCs at a competitive price. The Acer Nitro 50 is a popular pre-built system for gaming PC users, and for $400, you can get a system with 8GB RAM, 16GB of storage in an SSD, a 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB graphics card.
The GAL-1501 from GALAX is another great pre-built option. It has 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a Ryzen 5 2400G processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB graphics card and a 1TB hard drive. Both systems have comparable components, and would make an excellent choice for an entry-level gaming PC. If you’re in the market for a gaming system that won’t break the bank, you should definitely consider pre-built gaming PCs from gaming PC brands such as Acer, GALAX and MSI.
On the other hand, building your own gaming PC from scratch is the way to go if you want the absolute pinnacle in gaming performance. Experienced gamers know that a gaming PC is more than just components, and careful selection of a gaming motherboard, power supply and cooling system are essential for an optimized gaming PC. Customizing gaming PCs is much more complicated than pre-built systems and more expensive, but definitely yields better results.
Processors
Choosing the right processor is important if you want your gaming PC to perform at its best. Processors, also known as CPUs (central processing units), are the most important part of your gaming PC, as they determine its overall performance. Intel CPUs have generally been considered to be the best choice, especially if you’re building a gaming PC from scratch. Intel’s 8th and 9th generation Core i series processors are the ones to consider, as they offer the best performance for gaming. AMD Ryzen processors are also worth considering, although they tend to offer lesser performance than Intel processors.
In a pre-built gaming PC, you may find processors from the Core i3 or Ryzen 3 series. However, these processors may not offer anywhere near the performance of the 8th and 9th generation Core i series processors. If you are looking for optimal gaming performance, then Intel’s 8th and 9th generation Core i series processors are the way to go.
When choosing a processor, it is important to pay attention to its clock speed and core count. The clock speed, measured in GHz, dictates how quickly your processor can process data, while the core count determines how many cores it has which affects its multitasking capabilities. Generally speaking, the higher the clock speed and core count, the better the performance.
If you’re building a gaming PC from scratch, Intel’s 8th and 9th generation processors come in a variety of clock speeds and core counts, so it is important to do your research and pick the right processor for your needs. Pre-built gaming PCs usually use Intel 8th or 9th generation Core i5 or Core i7 processors, so be sure to pay attention to the specs of the processor in a pre-built system before you make your purchase.
Graphics Cards
It’s no secret that graphics cards are the most important component in a gaming system and are responsible for a majority of the graphical output your gaming PC will produce. If you’re looking to build a gaming PC from scratch, then you should look for a graphics card from either the AMD Radeon or NVIDIA GeForce series. Both companies have a wide range of graphics cards to choose from, depending on your budget and needs.
For gaming PCs built with a budget of less than $400, mid-range graphics cards such as the AMD RX 580 and NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti are good choices. For pre-built gaming PCs, you’ll likely find either the AMD Radeon RX 570 or the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB. These are still great cards for gaming, and are capable of running most modern games at decent settings and resolution.
It’s important to note that when buying a graphics card, the clock speed does not necessarily determine how powerful it is. Instead, the memory type and memory size are the two most important factors. The memory type will tell you how fast the data can be processed, while the memory size determines how much video memory the graphics card has. Most modern games require at least 4GB of video memory, so the higher the memory size, the better.
Once you’ve chosen the right graphics card for your gaming PC, the next step is to install it. Installing a graphics card is usually a straightforward process, but some graphics cards may require you to install additional components such as a power connector or an additional fan to help keep its temperature in check.
RAM
Random-access memory (RAM) is the primary memory used by your gaming PC, and is responsible for loading and running applications quickly. It is important to select the right RAM for your gaming PC, as having enough RAM is essential for gaming performance. Generally speaking, 8GB of RAM is enough for most modern games, but if you’re looking for the best performance, 16GB or more is recommended.
When building your own gaming PC, the kind of RAM you’ll need will depend on your CPU and motherboard. Intel CPUs use DDR4 RAM while AMD Ryzen processors use DDR3 RAM (or DDR4 if you have an AM4 motherboard). Make sure to check the RAM compatibility of your CPU/motherboard before purchasing RAM, as incompatible RAM will not work.
Pre-built gaming PCs usually come with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and that should be enough for most gamers. If you find that you need more RAM, then you can always purchase an upgrade to 16GB or more. The GAL-1501 from GALAX comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, so upgrading to 16GB or 32GB would make it a much better gaming PC.
It’s important to note that you should not mix and match RAM from different brands, as this will lead to compatibility issues. It’s also important to keep in mind that RAM requires special formatting for it to work, so make sure to follow all instructions carefully.
Storage
Storage, or hard drive, is one of the most important components of your gaming PC. There are two types of storage: solid-state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives (HDDs). SSDs are much faster and offer better performance than HDDs, but they tend to be more expensive. This means that HDDs are a good choice for budget gaming PCs, as they offer more storage capacity at a lower cost.
Pre-built gaming PCs usually come with a combination of both SSD and HDD. For example, the Acer Nitro 50 comes with 256GB of SSD storage, and a 1TB HDD for storing games, applications and other data. You can also opt for an all-SSD system if you’re looking for better performance, but the price will be higher. If you’re building your own gaming PC, the type of storage you choose will be a personal preference.
It’s important to know that storage impacts gaming performance as well. SSDs are much faster than HDDs, so if you’re looking for the best possible gaming performance, an SSD would be the better choice. HDDs are better if you’re looking for more storage capacity, as they offer larger storage sizes at a lower cost.
When building or upgrading your gaming PC, it’s important to consider the type of storage you will need for your gaming needs. It’s also important to note that some SSDs require additional components for them to work properly, such as a SATA cable or an SSD enclosure. These components are usually included when you purchase an SSD, so make sure to read the instructions carefully.
Cooling
Cooling is an important factor when building a gaming PC, as the components in your system need to stay cool in order to work properly. Without proper cooling, your gaming PC may not perform as well, and can even suffer permanent damage. There are a variety of cooling solutions available, ranging from air cooling to water cooling.
If you are building your own gaming PC, then air cooling is your best bet. Air cooling is the most common and budget-friendly option, and uses fans to cool the components in your gaming PC. CPU coolers and GPU coolers are the most important components, as these will be responsible for cooling the CPU and GPU respectively. If you are not sure which CPU or GPU cooler to choose, there are plenty of websites that can help you choose the best one for your needs.
For a pre-built gaming PC, there is usually no need to worry about cooling as the system is usually pre-installed with a fan and cooling solution. However, if your pre-built system does not come with a cooling solution, then it is worth investing in one. Aftermarket CPU and GPU coolers will offer improved cooling performance, and will help keep temperatures in check.
Conclusion
Building a gaming PC from scratch can be an intimidating and expensive task, but if you’re on a budget of less than $400 then you can still get some good value with a pre-built system. When building a gaming PC from scratch, the
