How to Build a Cheap Gaming Computer

Tired of lag and delays on your old computer while playing games? Try these steps to build a cheap gaming PC.

Steps

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    Pick a fast and cheap processor (CPU). If your budget is below $1000 an AMD Ryzen processor, especially the 1600 or the 2700, will be your best value. Options are also available by Intel that usually carry more raw performance, but come with a larger price tag, like the i7 8700K. If you want to build a PC for cheaper (sub $350), you want to look for a CPU with a powerful integrated GPU (APU). The best APU currently available is the AMD Ryzen 3 2400G.
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    Pick a good video/graphics card. You'll want a good video card. It is recommended for newer games to operate well. The rule of thumb is that the graphics card takes up one third of the budget. It is worth to take a look at used graphics cards in a very tight budget, especially the models GTX 960, GTX 970 and GTX 1050. For any larger budget any new graphics card by AMD or NVIDIA will suffice. The best value is carried by the series AMD RX 5xx and the GTX 1660Ti.
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    Pick a case that you can afford. You'll want to save as much room as you can on the case. Just make sure that the case has enough room for air-ventilation to prevent overheating. Hardware reviewers offer long lists that compare PC cases in component temperature and do in-depth reviews.
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    Pick a large and fast storage drive. Storage comes in two types: hard drive (HDD) and solid state (SSD) storage. HDDs use mechanical components which makes them cheaper, but also slower. SSDs are a newer technology which is very fast due to being free of moving parts. SSDs can be 2x to 50x as expensive as a HDD. Make sure your mainboard is compatible to the drive: Many SSDs and almost all HDDs come with the common SATA connector, while some high-end SSDs use the M.2 connector. Usually a 1 TB 7200RPM hard drive is enough to store many games, but if the budget allows for it, you should include a small, 120GB-256GB SSD for your operating system and your favourite games to load faster.
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    Pick a compatible motherboard. ASUS, Gigabyte, EVGA and plenty more are out there. Just make sure it is fully compatible with your CPU and video card. Preferrably, pick a motherboard with 4 RAM slots, ATX form factor and many USB ports. More expensive mainboards do not measurably increase performance, they provide you with advanced features.
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    Pick enough RAM. Nowadays 8GB should be seen as a minimum for any modern game, with few games requiring 16 GB of RAM. If you buy an APU, RAM speed and latency is especially important. 3000MHz CL16 (lower CL/more MHz is better) is a good value option. "Dual-Rank" kits that split memory on two modules increase performance at the expense of cost.
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    Pick a speaker. Unless you are in need of a 7.1 Surround Sound system, go for a budget speaker. 2.1, 2 satellite speakers with one sub-woofer will give you good sounds. Many gamers use headsets for their integrated microphone.
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    Choose a monitor. Unless you are in need of a cinema, go for a 24" 1080p monitor. Highly competitive games like CS:GO might profit from a high refreshrate 144Hz monitor, meaning the monitor can reproduce higher detail in moving objects. You should check reviews to find out if your graphics card is fast enough for this to make a difference.
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    Buy a keyboard and mouse. Unless you are in need of super-high-end gaming inputs, go for a budget mouse and keyboard.
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    Make sure you get a power supply that corresponds with your needs. Check How to Buy a Power Supply for an explanation.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can I make a normal work PC into a gaming PC by just adding a graphics card, RAM, and liquid cooler? I have a Core 2 Duo.
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Short answer, no. Long answer, no because for most modern titles a Core 2 Duo is radically insufficient and to run certain games you will need to upgrade the amount and speed of RAM. A liquid cooler isn't necessary unless you are doing overclocking, and the kind of computer that uses a Core 2 Duo won't have the correct chip set to do this.
  • Question
    Is it possible to build a gaming computer for roughly $100 to $200?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, it is, but you'll have to buy used and refurbished parts. I would recommend checking sites like Craigslist and Ebay.
  • Question
    How do I use a Core 2 Duo for gaming?
    Carlos Craig
    Carlos Craig
    Community Answer
    Do not use a Core 2 Duo; you need a Core 2 Quad for most games.
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Warnings

  • When putting your system together, always ground yourself to prevent electrostatic charges from reaching the components or it will damage the parts (or you).
    • You can use an electrostatic wristband.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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About This Article

Matt Ham
Co-authored by:
Matt Ham
Computer Repair Specialist
This article was co-authored by Matt Ham. Matt Ham is a Computer Repair Specialist and the CEO and President of Computer Repair Doctor. With over a decade of experience, Matt specializes in Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Smartphone repairs and upgrades. Matt holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. Matt has expanded Computer Repair Doctor to seven different locations. He is also a Co-Owner of Repair Life, a full-scale marketing agency specializing in driving both online and offline leads to cell phone and computer repair shops and device retailers. This article has been viewed 205,313 times.
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Co-authors: 38
Updated: February 8, 2023
Views: 205,313
Categories: Selecting and Buying a Computer
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