How to Build a Budget Gaming PC in 2021 [Detailed Guide]

It has been about four years since the Ryzen CPUs were released in the market. It has been around four years since the release of the AMD Radeon RX 480. And yet, most of the budget gaming PCs are still NVIDIA based. A lot of people prefer NVIDIA for it is more powerful, has better performance, has better display, has better battery life, etc. But if you are someone who is looking to build a budget gaming PC, then the AMD Radeon RX 470 is most likely the best option for you.

Here is a step by step guide to building a budget gaming PC. This is not a noob guide, just a guide to help you start building your own gaming PC. It will provide you with all the necessary information on building your own gaming components. It will also help you understand the intricacies of building a gaming PC.

Gaming computers are expensive, but buying a high-end gaming desktop can be expensive too. As a result, some people choose to build their own gaming computer, saving money over buying a ready-made model. A gaming desktop can be built from very little if you are willing to compromise on some system specifications, but the components listed below are what I recommend for a gaming desktop in 2021.

I personally went through a lot of trouble since I didn’t know what kind of components I needed for my PC. On top of that, I’ve been duped twice. I don’t want anybody else to go through what I did, which is why I’m going to talk about the most dubious process of all: “how to construct a cheap gaming computer.”

For that, you’ll need to stick with me throughout the rules, as I’ll do my best to throw in potential additions and exclusions, as well as what to look for in a build and how much money a person should set aside for today’s gaming standards.

Requirements for Modern Gaming

Every day, you come across a new game entry, thanks to the ever-changing environment that development creates. If you examine Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, for example, you’ll see that it requires a minimum of 6GB of VRAM. If you want to pursue such games—Triple A titles—you’ll need to set aside a bit extra money.

Almost certainly, it varies greatly depending on the title. For example, if you want to play Star Wars Jedi: The Fallen Order, a 4GB VRAM and an Intel Core i5 6th generation CPU would suffice. Furthermore, every game requires about 8GB of RAM. This is not the time for your computer to run on 4GB or 6GB of RAM.

Increase the RAM requirement to at least 8 Gigabytes. Apart from that, a reasonable quantity of storage will suffice, since we are aiming for a low-cost gaming PC design. Make sure you have at least 1TB of storage for this (HDD).

You may utilize sites like Game-Debate and Wikipedia to learn more about the specific needs of apps and games, making the selection criteria more realistic and believable.

An Exploration of the Hardware Industry

a computer processor (CPU)

I would suggest either a 6th generation Core i5 or a 3rd generation Core i7 for your cheap gaming PC setup. If you wish to go back to an Intel Core i3, at the very least, 4th or 6th generation CPUs are suggested.

Aside from that, you must examine each Hardware’s dissection formula. When it comes to CPUs, for example, you must consider:

Physical Cores: The amount of physical cores in your CPU determines how often it will attend to the job. The better the performance, the higher the points. However, any CPU with four cores would serve for a budget-friendly machine.

Clock Speed: This is a measurement of how fast your CPU is. 3.0 GHz, for example, denotes 3000000000 clock cycles per second. This is the number of operations your system does per second. I would suggest choosing CPUs with a reasonable clock speed.

Overclocking: If you prefer Intel CPUs, the “K” version will only enable you to overclock. As a result, low-cost CPUs like the Ryzen 5 3600 are increasingly popular.

Computer Graphics Card (GPU)

The graphics card is the brains of your gaming rig. I would suggest looking at the GTX 700 to 900 series for this budget-friendly gaming PC setup, particularly the GTX 750 Ti, which will offer you an advantage over other GPUs. When it comes to AMD GPUs, you may choose any model as long as it is from the R9 family.

What factors should you consider when purchasing a low-cost GPU?

VRAM: It all comes down to how much VRAM your GPU has. A 512MB VRAM won’t be able to run games like GTA 5 or any other game that exceeds the average barrier. You should buy a GPU with at least 2GB VRAM for this, since it will be adequate to run games at modest settings.

Brand: Well, brand plays a big part in deciding how well your budget-friendly gaming computer will perform. Because of the price-to-performance ratio, I would pick AMD any day of the week. AMD GPUs have been shown to outperform Nvidia in a number of areas, and this is the case.

FPS Generation: The number of frames per second produced is completely dependent on the kind of GPU you have. Always avoid GPUs that can only generate a bare minimum of 30 frames per second. Nobody like playing games that are delayed. If your FPS generation isn’t up to par, it’s time to upgrade your GPU.

Motherboard

Motherboards are, without a doubt, an essential component of any gaming system. Your system is nothing without them. Motherboards are similar to vessels, therefore you must examine every element of them to obtain the greatest outcomes.

CPU Socket: The first step is to collect as much information as possible about the socket you require for your components. If you want to purchase an AMD processor, you’ll need a separate CPU socket. LGA 1150, H81, and H97 chipsets are all compatible with Intel. An AMD chipset will not work in a CPU socket that supports Intel CPUs.

Form Factor: This is something that the majority of consumers overlook. Don’t do it for the love of God. Form considerations are just as important as selecting a suitable CPU socket. Consider putting an ATX motherboard inside an ITX case.

Chipset: Here’s something more. You’ll need to update your motherboard with each new Intel Core-i and AMD Ryzen generations. It’s possible that you won’t be able to utilize an Intel Core i7 on a motherboard with an out-of-date CPU socket. Isn’t that plausible? As a result, make sure you’re using the proper Chipset version.

RAM (Random Access Memory) (Random Access Memory)

The amount of RAM in your gaming computer determines its overall speed. For example, the faster the RAM data rate (DDR4, DDR3), the better the temporary storage execution will be.

Not to add that the memory capacity is sufficient. With just 4GB of RAM, you won’t be able to play games like Call of Duty Warzone. The game needs a minimum of 12GB of RAM. 8GB of RAM is quite fine for a cheap gaming computer setup, in my opinion. But, once again, it is completely up to you.

The CAS delay and the RAM frequency are two more factors to consider. You’re in excellent shape as long as the RAM’s frequency stays high. For example, RAM with a frequency of 2666MHz will be more efficient than RAM with a frequency of 1066MHz. Furthermore, you must guarantee that the RAM’s CAS latency is kept to a minimum. You’re in excellent hands as long as the number is low.

PSU

Well, I’ve met a lot of individuals who have been the victims of such ticking time bombs. If you’re going to save money on the brand and quality of your power supply, it’s no different. I’m not trying to be dismissive, but individuals need to improve their analytical abilities.

Even if you’re constructing a low-cost gaming PC, you’ll need a high-quality power supply. It makes no difference whether it costs $100; just buy it. PSUs are the lifeblood of your system; it’s always better to overspend on them than to let them die in two weeks.

You can get a good Corsair or Antec PSU with a 500W to 750W rating. Anything in the price range will suffice.

Also, I suggest looking through your PSU tier list to get a better understanding of what certification entails and what level of efficiency would be most beneficial to you.

Last but not least, when calculating the total TDP of all components, always utilize an online calculator. That should give you a good idea of what kind of PSU you need at the end of the day.

devices for storing data

There is no definite method to choose storage devices. However, I would recommend double-checking what kind of magnetic recording (SMR or CMR) your hard drives utilize. You shouldn’t purchase a 2TB Seagate HDD, for example, since SMR methods are heavily embedded in their drives.

Before completing any HDD, always check for health and power-on hours. Apart from that, purchasing a 128GB SSD for the sole purpose of installing Windows is preferable. This way, you won’t have to spend as much money and will be able to get quicker boot and load speeds.

Last but not least, it’s always a good idea to check at the RPM (revolutions per minute) of drives since they tell you how fast they can read and write.

Casing

Since we’re looking for a low-cost gaming PC, I’d think any good, non-flashy casing will do. However, before purchasing a case, make sure it has enough capacity for all of the components, will fit the motherboard, and has adequate ventilation space to keep the temperatures down.

If all of these conditions are met, you’ve got yourself a dream case.

Other Elements

This area is just for those who don’t have any peripherals or displays. You may skip this session if you are not one of them. In any case, these additional costs do not precisely add up to the entire budget. The various components within the enclosure are usually included in the planning. That is all there is to it. If you have the funds to support additional components such as a mouse and keyboard, go ahead.

When it comes to a budget-friendly system, you may depend on membrane keyboards rather than mechanical keyboards. Also, a good 1080p 60Hz monitor would do; there’s no need to go overboard when you’re on a tight budget.

Assembling all of the components

First and foremost, double-check that you have all of the necessary components on hand. You’re ready to go after you’ve assigned them their designated spots. Before I go any further, I’d want to point out that reading manuals is usually a good idea since they include comprehensive instructions on how to repair an XYZ component.

Always use caution while handling delicate components, particularly CPUs. It’s time to start your first budget-friendly gaming system after you’ve finished building all of the components in your system.

I wish you the best of luck! Please share how you overcame all of the challenges while putting all of the pieces together in the comments section.

Also check out these related articles:

In ten years, home gaming systems will have evolved to the point that they’re little more than a smartphone with a TV attached. The PC will have been replaced by a “gaming phone”, which will be smart enough to emulate gaming on any PC game you throw at it.. Read more about best gaming pc build 2021 and let us know what you think.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much would it cost to build a gaming PC 2021?

It would cost you about $1,500 to build a gaming PC 2021.

Is it worth building a gaming PC in 2021?

It is worth building a gaming PC in 2021, but it will be more expensive than buying one.

What do you need to build a gaming PC 2021?

You will need a CPU, RAM, and an SSD.