$700 Gaming PC - April/May 2024

The links in this content may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you click and make a purchase.

PC Build - $709 USD

CPU + Cooler	Ryzen 5 5600	$140	[Amazon, Newegg]
Motherboard	Gigabyte B450M DS3H Wifi	$90	[Amazon, Newegg]
RAM	2x8GB DDR4 3200 CL16	$34	[Amazon, Newegg]
SSD	1TB M.2 PCIe	$60	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU Option 1	RX 7600 8GB	$270	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU Option 2	RTX 3070 8G Used	$290	[Ebay]
GPU Option 3	RX 6700 XT 12G Used	$260	[Ebay]
Case Option 2	Montech AIR 100	$65	[Amazon, Newegg]
Case Option 2	Bitfenix Nova Mesh	$60	[Amazon, Newegg]
Power Supply	MSI MAG 550	$50	[Amazon, Newegg]

Explanation

Here's a straightforward $700 Gaming PC that can handle any game at 1080p, high-settings today. The 6-core/12-threaded Ryzen 5 5600 still offers great performance, and it can be ugpraded to the legendary 5800X3D for even more gaming performance when you're ready. You have 3 solid GPUs to choose from: the new RX 7600 and the used RTX 3070 or used 6700 XT.

Wifi and Bluetooth are included in the B450M DS3H Wifi. If your motherboard does not have Wifi you can use one of the following two options.

USB Wifi	TP Link AC1300	$20	[Amazon, Newegg]
PCI Wifi + Bluetooth	TP Link AC1200	$30	[Amazon, Newegg]

$260 Gaming PC - April/May 2024

Disclaimer

Building a cheap computer requires patience and research. In order to make sure that all of your components are compatible, PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE before purchasing anything. Remember to check your local markets, too. They can help you out!

Pre-built Base

Firstly, you want an office PC that has the following:

1. i5 8000 CPU or better

2. 8GB of RAM or better

If it doesn’t have an SSD, that’s OK. If it does, great! We’re probably going to upgrade it anyway.

You want an office PC that is a regular Mini-Tower (MT) form factor. This is the standard desktop size. You can also get a small form-factor (SFF) desktop, but you are limited to low-profile (LP) GPUs.

The links in this content may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you click and make a purchase.

Pre-Built Option 1	Dell Inspiron 3670	$120	[Ebay]
Pre-Built Option 2	HP Elitedesk 800 G4	$100	[Ebay]
Pre-Built Option 3	Dell Optiplex 3060	$100	[Ebay]
RAM	1x8GB DDR4	$13	[Ebay, Amazon, Newegg]
SSD Option 1	500GB M.2 PCIe	$40	[Amazon, Newegg]
SSD Option 2	500GB 2.5" SATA	$30	[Amazon, Newegg]

GPUs for Mini-Tower (MT) Desktops

If your pre-built PC is MT or a regular desktop size, then you can use any of the following GPUs. This includes low-profile (LP) GPUs, too. If you order a 1650 Super or RX 5500, make sure you buy the power adapter.

GPU Option 1	GTX 1650 Super 4GB	$110	[Ebay]
GPU Option 2	RTX 3050 6GB	$170	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU Option 3	RX 5500 8G	$90	[Ebay]
Power Adapter for 1650 Super	Single SATA to 6 Pin	$3	[Ebay]
Power Adapter for RX 5500	Single SATA to 6 Pin	$6	[Ebay]

GPUs for Small Form Factor (SFF) Desktops

If your pre-built PC is SFF, then you can only use LP GPUs. Here is a list of a few I recommend.

GPU Option 1	RTX 3050 LP 6G	$180	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU Option 2	RX 6400 LP 4G	$100	[Ebay]

$340 Gaming PC - April/May 2024

The links in this content may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you click and make a purchase.

CPU Opt 1	Ryzen 5 3500X	$53	[Aliexpress]
CPU Opt 2	Ryzen 5 1500X	$30	[Aliexpress]
CPU Cooler	Wraith Stealth	$9	[Amazon]
Motherboard Opt 1	Gigabyte A520M K V2 (mATX)	$58	[Aliexpress]
Motherboard Opt 2	Biostar A520MS (mATX)	$54	[Aliexpress]
Motherboard Opt 3	B450M HDV R4.0 (mATX)	$56	[Aliexpress]
RAM	2x8GB DDR4 3200 CL16	$32	[Amazon, Newegg]
SSD	500GB M.2	$40	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU	RX 580 8GB	$59	[Aliexpress]
Case	Thermaltake Versa H18 or H17	$50	[Amazon, Newegg]
Power Supply	TT Smart 500 W	$40	[Amazon, Newegg]

Upgrades

I highly recommend the case upgrade if you can swing it. Both of these cases have 3 or more pre-installed RGB fans. It provides more airflow for another $15-20. The wraith stealth, though mediocre, will work fine with any 65W CPU.

CPU Cooler Upgrade	Thermalright Assassin X120	$18	[Amazon]
Case Upgrade 1	BitFenix Nova Mesh	$60	[Amazon, Newegg]
Case Upgrade 2	Montech AIR 100	$65	[Amazon, Newegg]

$500 Brand New Gaming PC - March/April 2024

A pretty awesome PC using only new components. Don’t worry, we have some second-hand options if you want to save even more money.

VIDEO

The links in this content may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you click and make a purchase.

PC Build - $509 USD

CPU + Cooler	Ryzen 5 5500	$85	[Amazon, Newegg]
Motherboard	Gigabyte B450M DS3H Wifi	$80	[Amazon, Newegg]
RAM	2x8GB DDR4 3200 CL16	$34	[Amazon, Newegg]
SSD	500GB M.2 PCIe	$40	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU	Arc A580 8GB	$165	[Amazon, Newegg]
Case	Montech AIR 100	$65	[Amazon, Newegg]
Power Supply	TT Smart 500 W	$40	[Amazon, Newegg]

Alternatives & Upgrades

CPU Alt 1	Ryzen 5 3500X	$60	[Aliexpress]
CPU Alt 2	Ryzen 5 3600	$70	[Aliexpress]
Cooler [NECESSARY for CPU Alts]	Wraith Stealth	$9	[Amazon]
Motherboard Alt 1	B450M	$75	[Amazon, Newegg]
Motherboard Alt 2	A520M	$65	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU Alt 1	RTX 2060 Super 8G (Used)	$180	[Aliexpress]
GPU Alt 2	RX 5700XT 8G (Used)	$160	[Aliexpress]
GPU Alt 3	RX 6600M 8G (Used)	$170	[Aliexpress]
GPU Alt 4	GTX 1660 Super (Used)	$135	[Aliexpress]
GPU Upgrade 1	RX 6600XT 8G	$195	[Amazon, Newegg]
Case Alt 1	Thermaltake Versa H18 or H17	$50	[Amazon, Newegg]
Case Alt 2	Bitfenix Nova Mesh	$60	[Amazon, Newegg]
Power Supply Upgrade	MSI MAG 550W	$50	[Amazon, Newegg]
USB Wifi	TP Link AC1300	$20	[Amazon, Newegg]
PCI Wifi + Bluetooth	TP Link AC1200	$30	[Amazon, Newegg]
Cable Extensions	Blue	$25	[Amazon]

November 2023 Builds: $325 & $500

$325 Gaming PC

The links in this content may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you click and make a purchase.

Use code "ALLONAE" between Nov 11 and Nov 17 to get $25 off on AliExpress!

CPU Opt 1	Ryzen 5 3500X	$53	[Aliexpress]
CPU Opt 2	Ryzen 5 1500X	$30	[Aliexpress]
CPU Cooler	Wraith Stealth	$9	[Amazon]
Motherboard Opt 1	Gigabyte B450M K (mATX)	$50	[Aliexpress]
Motherboard Opt 2	Gigabyte B450M-S2H (mATX)	$53	[Aliexpress]
Motherboard Opt 3	Asrock A320M-HDV (mATX)	$49	[Aliexpress]
RAM	2x8GB DDR4 3200 CL16	$32	[Amazon, Newegg]
SSD	500GB M.2	$25	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU	RX 580 8GB	$59	[Aliexpress]
Case	Thermaltake Versa H18 or H17	$50	[Amazon, Newegg]
Power Supply	TT Smart 500 W	$40	[Amazon, Newegg]

Upgrades

I highly recommend the case fans and fan splitter if you can swing it. The wraith stealth, though mediocre, will work fine with any 65W CPU.

CPU Cooler Upgrade	Thermalright Assassin X120	$18	[Amazon]
Case Fans	Uphere 120mm (3)	$11	[Amazon]
Fan Splitter	ARCTIC Fan Splitter	$7	[Amazon]

$500 Gaming PC

The links in this content may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you click and make a purchase.

Use code "ALLONAE" between Nov 11 and Nov 17 to get $25 off on AliExpress!

CPU	Ryzen 5 3600	$66	[Aliexpress]
CPU Cooler	Thermalright Assassin X120	$18	[Amazon]
CPU + Cooler Option 2	Ryzen 5 5500	$100	[Newegg]
Motherboard	B450M DS3H Wifi	$80	[Amazon, Newegg]
RAM	2x8GB DDR4 3200 CL16	$32	[Amazon, Newegg]
SSD	500GB M.2	$25	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU Option 1	RTX 2060 Super 8GB	$156	[Aliexpress]
GPU Option 2	RX 5700XT 8GB	$162	[Aliexpress]
GPU Option 3	RX 6600M 8GB	$133	[Aliexpress]
Case	Antec NX200M	$55	[Amazon, Newegg]
Power Supply Option 1	AP Prestige 600 W	$55	[Amazon, Newegg]
Power Supply Option 2	MSI MAG 550 W	$55	[Amazon, Newegg]

Upgrades

Like with the $325 PC, I highly recommend the case fans and fan splitter if you can swing it.

Case Fans	Uphere 120mm (3)	$11	[Amazon]
Fan Splitter	ARCTIC Fan Splitter	$7	[Amazon]

$700 - September 2023

The total for this PC is $690 to $735. I recommend the Ryzen 5 7500f here, but the 7600 will do just as well. If you buy an A620 board, you cannot manually tune precision boost. Your CPU will hit 95 C out of the box (this is normal and safe), but if you don’t like that, follow this tutorial to add a temperature limit.

The links in this content may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you click and make a purchase.

CPU Option 1	Ryzen 5 7500f	$180	[Micro Center, Amazon]
CPU Option 2	Ryzen 5 7600	$210	[Micro Center, Amazon, Newegg]
Motherboard	A620M Gaming X	$70	[Micro Center, Amazon]
Motherboard Option 2	B650 Motherboard	$120	[Micro Center, Amazon]
RAM	2x8GB DDR5	$45	[Micro Center, Amazon]
SSD	1 TB M.2	$40	[Micro Center, Amazon]
SSD Option 2	512GB M.2 SSD	$25	[Micro Center, Amazon]
GPU Option 1	RX 6650XT 8GB	$230	[Micro Center, Amazon]
GPU Option 2	RX 6600 8GB	$210	[Micro Center, Amazon]
GPU Option 3	RX 7600 8GB	$260	[Micro Center, Amazon]
Case	Montech AIR 903	$65	[Micro Center, Amazon, Newegg]
Power Supply	PowerSpec 500W	$45	[Micro Center, Amazon, Newegg]

Extras

Fans	ARCTIC P12	$10	[Micro Center, Amazon, Newegg]
Cables	Colored Cable Extensions	$25	[Micro Center, Amazon]
Thermal Paste	TG Kryonaut	$12	[Micro Center, Amazon, Newegg]

$400 - March 2023

The links in this content may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you click and make a purchase.

CPU + Motherboard	Ryzen 5 3600 + B450 Combo	$130	[Micro Center]
CPU Option 2	Ryzen 3 4100	$70	[Amazon, Newegg]
Motherboard Option 2	B450 or A520 Mobo (mATX)	$70	[Amazon, Newegg]
RAM	2x8GB DDR4 3200 CL16	$40	[Amazon, Newegg]
SSD Option 1	500GB M.2 or SATA SSD	$30	[Amazon, Newegg]
SSD Option 2	Free 256GB SATA SSD	$0	[Micro Center]
GPU Option 1	RX 580 8GB 2048 SP	$120	[Amazon]
GPU Option 2	RX 5500 XT 8GB	$140	[Amazon]
Case	Thermaltake Versa H18	$55	[Micro Center, Newegg]
Power Supply	PowerSpec 500W	$45	[Amazon, Newegg]

Total: $360 to $425 USD

If you can’t grab the power spec power supply, then pick-up a power supply from EVGA, Seasonic, Corsair, CoolerMaster, or Thermaltake. Check out this power supply tier list for specific recommendations (I highly recommend it!). Choose a 450+ watt unit from Tier C or above.

Overclocking the RX 580

Run Unigine Superposition with the video card at stock and write down the GPU score.

Right click on your desktop then select AMD Radeon Settings > Performance Tab > Tuning. Select the grey “Custom” button on the right. Enable everything and move the power limit slider as far to the right as possible.

Start with a frequency of 1300 MHz on States 4 through 7 and a voltage of 1150 mV on States 4 through 7. Run Unigine Superposition. If the system crashes or the score decreases, bump down your frequency 25 MHz. If the system succeeds and the score increases, bump your frequency 25 MHz. Once you’re happy with the score, do the same thing with your voltage, BUT this time DECREASE it by 25 mV.

Then go to your memory section.

Start with a memory frequency of 2000 MHz on State 2 and a voltage of 875 mV on State 2. Repeat the same process, decreasing the voltage and increasing the frequency incrementally until you’re satisfied and/or it’s as far as it can go without being unstable.

$500 - November 2023

The links in this content may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you click and make a purchase.

CPU	Ryzen 5 5600	$120	[Amazon, Newegg]
Motherboard	A320 or A520 Mobo (mATX)	$55	[Amazon, Newegg, Ebay (Used)]
RAM	2x8GB DDR4 3200 CL16	$45	[Amazon, Newegg]
SSD	500GB M.2 or SATA SSD	$30	[Amazon, Newegg]
GPU Option 1	GTX 1660 Ti or Super Used	$115	[Ebay]
GPU Option 2	RX 5600 XT Used	$130	[Ebay]
GPU Option 3	GTX 1070 Used	$130	[Ebay]
Case	Thermaltake Versa H18	$55	[Amazon, Newegg]
Power Supply	Corsair CV650	$45	[Amazon, Newegg]
Case Fans	upHere 5 Pack 120mm RGB	$30	[Amazon, Newegg

Total: $465 to $480 USD

If the Corsair CV650 is not available, then pick-up a power supply from EVGA, Seasonic, Corsair, CoolerMaster, or Thermaltake. Check out this power supply tier list for specific recommendations (I highly recommend it!). Choose a 500+ watt unit from Tier C or above.

The RX 5600 XT from AMD does not have NVENC for streaming. It uses AMD VCE (lower quality, but still effective). PLEASE watch my video on how to not get scammed when buying PC parts on Ebay video!