How to Build an Affordable Gaming PC

1. Set Your Budget and Priorities

If this is your first attempt at building a gaming PC, the number of options available can feel overwhelming. With so many choices across different types of components, it can be tricky to determine what to prioritize and where to compromise. To simplify the process, focus on components that offer the best value, such as memory and storage, which have a direct impact on gaming performance.

For other components, such as the CPU and motherboard, consider exploring budget-friendlier choices, options like older-generation models rather than the absolute latest releases.

2. Your Starting Point: The Motherboard

Before we dive into individual components, let’s talk about the motherboard—the foundation of your system where all other components will connect. Fortunately, a basic motherboard will work perfectly for most budget builds, especially if you don’t plan to overclock or need multiple SSDs.

When working within a budget, there is no need to invest in a high-end motherboard with features you won’t use. By taking this approach, you can allocate more of your budget to components that directly enhance gaming performance.

3. Being Savvy with Your Storage

You can’t talk about a gaming PC without mentioning storage! As we discussed earlier, a gaming SSD should be a priority for this type of build, as it’s where you will be storing and running your game library. Compared to an HDD, an SSD will provide much faster boot and load times, making them a must for your system.

Kingston FURY Renegade SSD is an excellent choice for a gaming PC, providing exceptional responsiveness and fast boot times for your new system.

4. Lights off: Skip the RGB Aesthetics

When building an affordable gaming PC, it’s important to focus on components that directly contribute to performance and efficiency. For example, while RGB RAM can add visual appeal to your new build, regular non-RGB RAM offers a more cost-effective solution without sacrificing performance.

With so many gaming memory options available, it's essential to do a thorough research before making your purchase. By choosing non-RGB RAM, you can allocate your budget to other performance-enhancing components, such as your SSD and GPU.

The “lights off” approach can also apply to other components that can often come with RGB options in gaming PCs, such as fans and cases. While RGB adds aesthetic value, any component with an RGB feature typically costs more. So, to save money, it is better to opt for non-RGB versions, allowing you to allocate more of your budget to performance rather than style.

5. A GPU Suited for You

When choosing the right GPU for your affordable gaming PC, the key is to balance performance with cost. By understanding your gaming needs and avoiding unnecessary overspending, you can ensure your GPU delivers smooth performance in your favorite titles, all while staying within your budget.

For example, playing at 1080p instead of 1440p (4K) allows you to save money by selecting a mid-range card while still enjoy solid performance. Additionally, opting for a GPU from a previous generation won’t come at a premium price like the latest models.

6. Monitor Your Budget: 1080p Vs 4K

As we mentioned earlier, opting for 1080p over 4K can save you money on your GPU, and the same logic applies to your monitor. While the monitor is an unavoidable cost in your PC building journey, it’s one you can budget for. 1080p monitors are typically more affordable than their 4K counterparts, and you can often find used options for even greater savings.

7. The Right Case: Function Over Style

While we’ve covered the individual components you can save on, and which ones to prioritize when budgeting your build, the component that holds everything together is just as important: your PC case. Cases range from budget-friendly to high-end, with a variety of brands to choose from.

As we’ve mentioned, it is important to allocate your budget towards performance and longevity, and with your case it is no different. By prioritizing good air flow within your PC, you can make cost-effective choice without compromising functionality.