Today’s computers have evolved into powerful and compact devices that are very useful in day-to-day life. However, some people still don’t realize how much of a difference it makes when you upgrade your system. A custom built computer will not only offer you quicker and more powerful performance, but it will also allow you to do new things that the manufacturer didn’t even know you could do.
There are many options for a budget gaming PC on the market today, so it can be a bit overwhelming when it comes to choosing the right parts. Recently, we’ve seen a few high-end system combinations hit the market, giving users a chance to build a PC that offers all the power and features they need. For example, the HP Omen Desktop PC combines an Intel Core i5-6400 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 graphics card, and 16GB RAM, all of which are available for just $250.
The price of a gaming pc has dropped dramatically over the years, and the best builder in the business has been making the best builds for $250 for almost five years. This year, we are going to take it a step further and show you how to build the best gaming PC for $250 in 2016.
You don’t have to be disappointed if you just have $250 in your wallet since you can still participate in the PC Master Race and enjoy gaming as much as the others.
Although the graphics may be less aesthetically appealing, the frame rate will be decreased, and the resolution may be reduced, you will still be able to enjoy all of your favorite games, whether they are AAA titles or competitive games like as Fortnite, PUBG, CSGO, or Valorant.
All you have to do is thoroughly examine the PC hardware on the market and make the appropriate decisions.
I’m certain that with the gear mentioned below, you’ll be able to play your games at 720p, if not 900p, with medium settings. Except in a few titles, the frame rate will not exceed 60 frames per second; nevertheless, most games will remain at about 40 frames per second.
However, for 1080p gaming, you’ll need to lower the settings to low for smoother gameplay, and if that’s enough for you, this $250 will allow you play for a long without worrying about an update.
List of $250 PC Components
AMD Ryzen 3 3200G processor
The Ryzen 3 3200G from AMD is the fastest APU under $100, and no CPU with integrated graphics comes close to matching it in terms of value. The APU has four actual cores rated at 3.6GHz, with the ability to increase to 4.0GHz without overclocking.
This is the greatest option you can make in 2020, since it supports all games at 720p to 900p resolution on medium settings. If you choose a CPU without integrated graphics, such as the Ryzen 3100 or Intel Core i3 10100F, you’ll need a separate graphics card, which will set you back at least $70-$80 extra to equal or exceed the performance of Vega 8.
The Vega 8 graphics card has eight GPU cores with a clock speed of 1250MHz, which is adequate for gaming at medium settings. According to reviews, the APU can average 30+ frames per second in games like Fortnite, PUBG, Resident Evil 2, Forza Horizon 4, Fary Cry 5, and more at 720p and 1080p settings.
MSI A320M-A Pro MAX Motherboard
The Ryzen 3 3200G is intended to overclock, but it requires a motherboard with the B450 chipset to do it. Unfortunately, the cost of a simple B450 board will push the overall cost of this construction beyond $300, making it impossible to provide a component list for this design.
The A320 chipset is the most affordable and has the most basic functionality. These specifications are enough for operating a gaming computer without difficulty. In the future, you may add a dedicated graphics card, as well as a PCI device such as a WiFi or sound card, 4x SATA disks, and 2x RAM modules.
You won’t be able to overclock your Ryzen 3 3200G on this board, but the APU’s turbo clock will still function. The greatest part about this board is that it has Debug LEDs, which may be used to identify the potential reason or component of a problem if your PC refuses to start.
It includes 6 USB ports, 2 PS/2 ports, 1 LAN port, and 3 audio jacks for attaching accessories. You have the option of using a DVI or HDMI connection for display.
4GB DDR4 Patriot Viper Elite series RAM
Using 4GB of RAM for gaming at 720p resolution should not be a problem, but raising the resolution may cause bottlenecks in certain games. Because our budget doesn’t allow us to go for 8GB RAM right now, you can expand to 8GB RAM later by adding another 4GB stick to the motherboard’s 2x DIMM slots.
Patriot’s RAM stick is clocked at 2400MHz, which the motherboard supports, and features CAS latency timings of 16-16-16-39 for quick performance.
Seagate Barracuda 500GB hard drive
Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about storage space since the 500GB Seagate hard drive will be plenty for storing a few large games, as well as your operating system, software, and other data. It’s now available on Amazon for about $20, but you’ll only receive a 120GB SSD.
Thermaltake Smart 430W Power Supply
Your PC component’s safety is ensured by a dependable power supply. There are many inexpensive $10-$20 power supplies that will suffice, but if you want to save $250 on parts, you should invest in a reliable power supply like the Thermaltake Smart 430W PSU, which will ensure you have enough wattage to supply to your components while also protecting them from faulty currents and voltages.
This power supply unit comes with a 5-year guarantee and a 120mm fan that runs quietly. Although this PSU is expensive for this PC, it will be enough for future upgrades. Without altering it in the near future, you may install a graphics card, fans, or storage devices.
DeepCool Matrexx 30 chassis
We used to have several excellent inexpensive choices for cases that cost less than $30 a few years ago, but we now have a severe scarcity of such cases in 2020. A micro-ATX tower is often less expensive than a mid-tower case, and the DeepCool Matrexx is one of such cases that provides all of the functional characteristics you’ll need to construct your system without difficulty.
It features an airflow-ventilated front panel and a 120mm fan pre-installed at the back. It comes with a tempered glass side panel held by four thumbscrews for displaying your components.
The front bottom includes a hard drive cage that can hold up to 3x 3.5′′ hard drives and 1x 2.5′′ SSD, as well as enough cable routing holes to keep your wires organized. If you want to save even more money, try the Fractal Design Core 1100, which has a classic old design. If you want more features, consider the MasterBox MCB B600L or DeepCool Matrexx 50, both of which are mid-tower cases that will accept ATX motherboards.
Total Expenses: $270-$280
How to Make a $250 Gaming Computer
It’s like playing with LEGOs when it comes to building a gaming PC. You just need to understand where each component goes, and once you do, you can construct any kind of computer.
Here are the steps you’ll need to take to construct this $250 PC:-
- Prepare your materials– Remove all of the components from their packaging and get a size 2 screwdriver (better if magnetic).
- Install CPU– The first step is to insert the processor into the motherboard socket; there should be a tiny arrow on the corner of your socket and a similar arrow on your processor to indicate which way to align your processor. Open the tiny lever on the socket, put the processor in position without exerting pressure, and then shut the lever.
- Install a CPU Cooler– The Ryzen 3200G comes with a heatsink that is already installed. Screw holes for the heatsink may be found by opening the two brackets or plastic covers on opposite sides of the CPU socket. Align the heatsink’s screws to the motherboard’s screw holes over the top of the CPU and tighten the screws diagonally. The 4-pin CPU fan connection cable should then be plugged into the CPU Fan header on your motherboard, which is located on the top of the motherboard.
- Install RAM– A tiny incision will be made at the pins of your RAM stick, but it will not be in the precise center, but rather a bit to one side. Check the same on your DIMM slot by inserting it into either of the two DIMM slots on the motherboard, and you should hear a click. Don’t be hesitant to exert pressure on it.
- Install the motherboard into the case– To install the motherboard into the case, first apply pressure to the I/O shield that comes with the motherboard and then line the motherboard with the standoff screws in the case. If your case does not arrive with enough standoff screws pre-installed, you will have to manually add them, and these screws will be included with the case.
- Install the hard disk– Place the hard drive in one of the HDD slots in the case’s HDD bay and secure it with the screws. For simple connection, the connector location should be towards the rear of the casing.
- Install the power supply– Place the PSU with the fan pointing downwards and fasten it with screws from the rear. Sort the cables before connecting them one by one.
- Connect the 24-pin ATX cable– The PSU has a single large 24-pin ATX connection that goes into the motherboard’s 24-pin port on the right side. It will only move in one way, as indicated by the tiny plastic clasp in the center.
- Attach the EPS cable– Take a 4-pin EPS(CPU) connector cable from the PSU and connect it to the 4-pin EPS port on the motherboard’s top left. It, too, will follow a single path.
- SATA and hard drive cables should be plugged in– Your motherboard should come with at least two SATA cables. Connect one end to the motherboard SATA port, which is located below the ATX power port, and the other end to the hard drive. Connect the SATA power line to the hard disk from your power source.
- Connection to front-panel ports– There will be a few tiny wires coming out of the front of your case. One of them is an audio wire that will connect to the motherboard’s audio header. The USB 2.0 cable will be plugged into the USB 2.0 header, while the USB 3.0 cable, which is larger, will be plugged into the USB 3.0 header.
- Front-panel On/Off, Reset, and other functions – Power, Reset, HDD LED, and Power LED are the four wires that will be connected together. These will be plugged into various pin headers on the motherboard’s right bottom. The figure below illustrates how to link them correctly:-
Download our free guide on building a PC from the ground up for a comprehensive tutorial.
PC Peripherals (Peripherals for $250)
(This will raise the overall construction cost.)
Philips 226E9QDSB monitor
A 1080p display is more than enough for this PC, and although 900p resolution is suggested, many games will run well at 1080p. This monitor has a 22-inch IPS panel with AMD FreeSync technology for tear-free gaming. This will be a significant benefit to the user of this PC, since the Vega 8 is an AMD GPU that will improve gaming performance.
Keyboard & mouse- TopMate KM12
While you won’t find a decent mechanical keyboard and mouse combination for less than $30 most of the time, the TopMate KM12 is a great option for $30 and will last far longer than a basic membrane keyboard and mouse. The RGB illumination on the keyboard and mouse may be adjusted using the keys and buttons on the keyboard and mouse, accordingly.
Nubwo U3 Headset
Nubwo U3 is a popular sub-$30 gaming headset that works with PC, gaming consoles, and Mac devices and has over 7000 favorable ratings. It features a noise-cancelling microphone and comfy ear cups for communication with colleagues. Red and black are the two color options for the headset.
Bringing everything to a close
Without a graphics card, the Ryzen 3200G is presently the best option for gaming on a budget. This PC can play games at 40 frames per second, which is excellent given the limited budget on which it was constructed, and if you want even greater performance, you can add a dedicated graphics card like the RX 560 or higher to achieve 60 frames per second on medium settings.
If you need assistance, please leave a remark below!
