Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Who pronounce a gambling PC has to be expensive ? you could get a circle of gaming PC for under $ 500 if you spend it cautiously . That ’s where we come in . This guide will round up the best gaming hardware deals available today to give you a cracking starting item for your own budget play PC build for under $ 500 .
If you have a little more to drop , check out our guides on thebest gaming PCs of 2024 , and also thebest gaming PC dealsright now .
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
The build and what it can do
We ’ll go into more detail about the hardware we ’ve chosen below , but this is a quick sum-up of what we ’ve picked if you need to just dive in and buy them right now .
Note : All of the product number below are venal from Amazon and were found on the site during our research for this clause . It ’s deserving verify that damage are accurate before corrupt as they do change on a regular basis . regrettably , they also quickly trade out — specially when we recommend them . If you do n’t see an item in the faculty below or the price looks off , just click through the link on the individual factor listing below .
In this guide , we ’re also rivet alone on the PC itself , so you ’ll require tobudget for a reminder , shiner , and keyboard if you do n’t have them already .
OK , so it ’s somewhat over budget . This was the best collection of hardware we could discover , though . If you could shave a few dollars off , fantabulous . Go for it . Otherwise , just save up for a tiny flake longer and go for this gear . It makes a capital gaming microcomputer .
We ’ve opt for a 12th - propagation Intel CPU , which comes with its own cooler to assist cut down on costs . The motherboard , although a substantial part of our budget is entry - level but still has the features we need to take full advantage of our other factor for gaming . It ’s also mATX , which means we can fit it into a little , flash case .
The art scorecard is the most knock-down we could grind away in our budget . If you want more performance and can afford to seat more , a libertine GPU will always give you well frame rates and higher contingent scene . The memory is 16 GB of fast DDR4 . you’re able to go for more if you wish well , and it wo n’t be much more expensive , but outside of specific games that need it , it wo n’t make a huge difference to your gaming performance .
The PSU is affordable , but in high spirits - caliber enough to ensure that it wo n’t fail , and even if it did , it would n’t take the rest of your PC with it . The storage is affordable but still based on NVMe technology , so it is far faster than traditional SATA SSDs but at a low terms and footmark . The case is dated and does n’t have expectant air flow , but it ’s tawdry and can fit all the constituent we need . It has a single sports fan installed as monetary standard , so you might require to tot another later to improve its cooling . If you could find something serious for similar money , do let us know .
Overall this system should have all the great power it needs to act all the most democratic esports game at mellow frame rate at 1080p or 1440p , and even a few New AAA game at grim detail mise en scene , too .
Once you ’ve grease one’s palms your element , if you need some help putting it all together , espouse along withour step - by - pace guideand we ’ll take the air you through the whole process .
CPU: Intel Core i3-12100F
Intel ’s Core i3 - 12100F backpack only four performance cores and no efficiency cores , but it still supports hyperthreading so it can support up to eight coincidental threads , give it all the big businessman it needs to run modern games , and multitask likemuch more expensive CPUs . It make in high spirits clock speed for gaming , and remains one of the best entry - level central processor for gaming and just about anything else , too .
There ’s lot of scope for upgrading this CPU in the future , as well , as you have financial backing for the entire compass of 12th- , 13th- , and fourteenth - multiplication processors to select from without necessarily needing a motherboard or retentivity rise .
This is an F - class CPU , so does n’t have onboard graphic . That means it requires a dedicated computer graphic card to even head for the hills your microcomputer . Fortunately , that ’s well within our $ 500 budget .
Motherboard: MSI Pro H610M-G
The MSI Pro M610M - g-force is an first appearance - degree motherboard that perforate above its exercising weight on features . It supports Intel ’s 12th- , 13th- , and 14th - generation LGA 1700 processors , PCIexpress 4 , with an “ armoured ” x6 PCIe slot , and a clean and understated design . It has post LEDs to help troubleshoot any problems , and support for both NVMe M.2 and up to four additional SATA SSDs .
It does n’t have USB - C or built - in Wi - Fi , so you may require to use sum - in cards to improve its functionality , but for $ 80 , it ’s a mere , straight motherboard that will get the job done for our $ 500 gaming physique .
Graphics card: PowerColor RX 6600 Fighter
flummox any sort of nontextual matter card in a $ 500 gambling personal computer build is a tricky proposition , but we can do it . The AMD RX 6600 is a great entry - degree art notice that will aid this PC playact just about anything . It easily outpace onboard nontextual matter of even the most capable CPU , and it ’s modern enough to suffer the tardy gambling feature , likeFidelityFX Super Resolution , and ray tracing . Sure , if you want to actually utilize irradiation trace you ’d need to work down just about every other setting , but for the more casual re traced games , the option is there .
Memory: Teamgroup T-Force Vulcan Z
store is so cheap in 2024 , you’dnormally get as much as you could afford . But in this budget build we ’re looking to cut costs , so 16 GB of fast DDR4 memory is plenty . This personal computer ca n’t actually fit more than two sticks due to the designing of the motherboard , so if you desire more , make certain you buy a 32 GB kit with two 16 GB stick . It ’s an easy rise down the line too .
Storage: PNY CS1030 500GB SSD
With SSD prices as broken as they are , we had to attempt to chock up a chintzy NVMe SSD into this physique , and we contend to do so by sticking to a relatively small sizing . This SSD offer up tight , PCIe 3 upper of up to 2,000 MBps read , and 1,1000 MBps write . Far quicker than any SATA SSD or older intemperate drive at an low-priced price , it has enough quad to fit a modest gaming program library , but you might require to add a SATA SSD for more game in the futurity .
Power Supply: Corsair CX550
If might be enticing to save by buying a really chinchy PSU , but you should n’t . The chinchy PSUs have cheap components and start the risk of fry your more expensive component if it blow for some intellect . With a tone power supply from a society like Corsair , you’re able to rest tell you ’re getting quality . Even then , though , do n’t go for the cheapest . Go for something like the CX550 . It ’s a no - ruff PSU , but it ’s been thoroughly vetted by microcomputer constructor and gamers around the Earth as an low-cost but reliable manikin .
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L
We ’ve been recommending this case for yr , and though we ’d fuck to indicate something New , good , or fancy , it just does n’t make sentience to spend any more on a budget this slopped . There are much nicer cases that be $ 60 , $ 70 , or more , but we ’d rather you put that money into a best central processing unit , more storage , or a loyal graphics card . While a fancy case is prissy , for most gamers , it ’s just where they store their PC parts . As long as it has enough flow of air to not cause overheating and can fit in all our constituent , that ’s in effect enough for us . At a terms like this ? That ’s backbreaking to beat .
