Building a new gaming PC on a $500 budget that also get’s solid frames IS possible, although it does come with a few sacrifices. In this PC build guide that is updated to July 2024’s latest pricing I show you how I spent that $500 budget and why I chose the parts I did. If you want to follow this build guide I will link all the parts used in the article.
Components
We’re a little over budget but in my mind that’s OK simply for the fact that if we can squeeze that extra $27 we’re able to get a competent 1080p gaming machine. All of the build guides you see featured here on yourpersonalgeek.net will have a pcpartpicker breakdown so you can easily see the parts and the pricing.
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Parts Breakdown
CPU
Intel i5-12400f ($110)
The Intel Core i5-12400F is an excellent choice for a budget build due to its strong performance and affordability. With six high-performance cores and twelve threads, it delivers impressive single-threaded and multitasking capabilities, making it ideal for gaming and productivity tasks. The absence of integrated graphics helps reduce costs, allowing users to invest in a dedicated GPU for better gaming performance. Additionally, its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory and compatibility with the LGA 1700 socket provide flexibility for future upgrades. Overall, the i5-12400F offers exceptional value, balancing performance and cost effectively for budget-conscious builders.
Amazon: Purchase the i5-12400fNewegg: Purchase the i5-12400fMotherboard
MSI PRO H610M-G Micro ATX ($80)
I chose the MSI PRO H610M-G Micro ATX motherboard because it gets the job done without breaking the bank. While it's not the most feature-rich option, it provides reliable performance and essential functionality. It supports the latest 12th generation Intel processors, including the i5-12400F, and fits well in compact cases due to its Micro ATX form factor. The motherboard offers basic connectivity options and supports DDR4 memory, making it a practical choice for a cost-effective build.
Amazon: Purchase the MSI PRO H601M-GNewegg: Purchase the MSI PRO H601M-GMemory
TEAMGROUP T-Create Classic 16GB (8x2) 3200Mhz ($32)
The 16GB 8x2 kit of TEAMGROUP T-Create Class RAM is nothing fancy but it is reliable RAM that will allow for fast data transfer rates and smooth multitasking capabilities. Like I mentioned earlier in the article there will be some sacrifices, this non-RGB RAM is one of said sacrifices. You could scrape together a few more dollars and find an RGB Kit but I wanted to stay as close to the $500 budget as possible.
Amazon: Purchase the T-Create Classic 8x2 3200Mhz RAMNewegg: Purchase the T-Create Classic 8x2 3200Mhz RAMStorage
Silicon Power 500GB M.2 SSD PCIe 3.0 ($35)
If you want decent performance at bottom dollar pricing, the Silicon Power P34A60 offers just that. It's NVME Interface far outpaces the older SATA interface and features a PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe 1.3 design while also rocking 3D nand flash technology. It's not the fastest at up to 2.2/1.6 GBps of sequential read/write performance but once again at this budget it will allow for your OS to be snappy and also install a few games.
Amazon: Purchase Silicon Power 500GB M.2Newegg: Purchase Silicon Power 500GB M.2Graphics Card
ASRock Challenger OC Arc A580 ($160)
Yes were going Intel here with the 8GB Arc A580. The biggest knock was their driver support but as of late it's been great. The Intel Arc A580 is nearly 20% faster than the GeForce RTX 3050, a GPU in the same price range. You also get modern features like Ray Tracing and XeSS support and performance wise your looking at 1080p 60fps on ultra for most games, hard to beat at this price.
Amazon: Purchase ASRock Challenger OC Arc A580Newegg: Purchase ASRock Challenger OC Arc A580Case
Antec NX200M Case ($50)
Antec has been a go to for me no matter the price point due to their top of the line performance, quality and looks. The NX200M is a solid micro-ATX case designed to offer a good balance of functionality and aesthetics at an affordable price. It caters to budget-conscious users looking for a case that doesn't compromise on essential features.
Amazon: Purchase the Antec NX200MNewegg: Purchase the Antec NX200MPower Supply
MSI MAG A550BN 550W 80+ Bronze Power Supply ($60)
Our last component for the build is the MSI MAG A550BN, a solid and reliable PSU that features enough power for the $500 gaming pc. It is non-modular but it does provide some nice black cables and doesn't have the ugly ketchup and mustard cables you sometimes see on budget power supplies.
Amazon: Purchase the MSI MAG A550BNNewegg: Purchase the MSI MAG A550BNConclusion
For $500 you’re getting a solid 1080p Gaming Machine that has some of latest features in the i5-12400f like Intel’s hybrid architecture, combining Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores) for improved performance and power efficiency. The ASRock A580 GPU is also one of if not the top pixel pusher at under $200 with ray tracing and XeSS capability. It’s not going to be the flashiest build out there but at this price were stricly looking for the best 1080p performance you can get and I think we achieved that here.
If you have any other price points you want me to build a PC around let me know in the comments below and if you do decide to build this Gaming PC I would love if you shared it with me on my social medias.
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