Looking to achieve top-tier gaming performance without blowing your budget? This step-by-step guide will walk you through building a PC that rivals more expensive rigs, ensuring you get excellent frame rates and smooth gameplay for less.
1. Choosing the Right Processor
Consider value-focused CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel Core i5-12400F. Both deliver strong gaming benchmarks and keep overall costs reasonable, making them ideal for a budget build.
2. Picking a Graphics Card
Look at mid-range GPUs such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or AMD Radeon RX 6600. These cards handle 1080p and 1440p gaming on high settings for most modern titles while remaining affordable.
3. Motherboard & RAM Selection
Opt for a B550 or B660 chipset motherboard featuring stable power phases and helpful connectivity. Pair it with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200–3600 MHz to ensure smooth multitasking and gaming performance.
4. Storage Configuration
Use a 500 GB NVMe SSD for your operating system and key games, then supplement with a 1 TB SATA SSD for mass storage. This balance offers rapid load times where it matters and ample capacity for your library.
5. Power Supply & Cooling System
Pick a reputable 600 W power supply with an 80+ Bronze rating or higher. The stock cooler bundled with Ryzen CPUs is sufficient, but an entry-level aftermarket air cooler can improve thermals and run quieter.
6. Case & Budget-Friendly Peripherals
Select an affordable case with good airflow, cable-routing options, and front-panel USB ports. For peripherals, a wired keyboard-and-mouse combo under £40 can offer reliable performance without extra frills.
7. Assembly & Stress Testing
Follow your motherboard manual to install components carefully, apply thermal paste properly, and secure all connections. Run stability tests using Prime95, AIDA64, and Unigine Superposition to verify system reliability under load.
By following these steps, you’ll build a gaming PC that maximizes value and delivers impressive performance. Enjoy crafting your new system!