Building the Ultimate Budget Gaming PC

Dreaming of high frame rates without emptying your wallet? This walkthrough will help you craft a powerhouse PC on a lean budget.

1. Choosing Your CPU

Seek out efficient mid-range processors such as the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 or Intel Core i5-11400F. These chips deliver solid gaming throughput while remaining wallet-friendly.

2. Picking the Right GPU

Opt for cards like the Nvidia GTX 1650 Super or AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT. Both handle 1080p at high settings across many modern titles without costing a fortune.

3. Motherboard & RAM

Choose a reliable B450 or B460 motherboard boasting quality power delivery. Match it with 16GB of DDR4 memory at 3000MHz to ensure smooth multitasking and game loads.

4. Storage Solutions

Install a 480GB NVMe SSD for your operating system and priority gaming installs. Supplement with a 1TB SATA SSD for mass storage—balancing swift access times with ample capacity.

5. Power Supply & Cooling

Select a trusted 550W 80+ Bronze PSU to reliably feed your components. Pair with an affordable tower cooler or the stock cooler bundled with your CPU to maintain safe temperatures.

6. Case & Peripherals

Pick a budget-friendly chassis featuring solid airflow and cable management. For peripherals, a quality keyboard-and-mouse bundle under £40 delivers performance without overspending.

7. Assembly & Testing

Follow manufacturer instructions carefully, apply thermal paste in an even layer, and boot into stress-test utilities like Cinebench and 3DMark to verify stability under load.

By following these guidelines, you’ll assemble a cost-effective, powerful gaming PC that punches above its weight—happy building!