How to Build a Gaming PC on a Budget, According to an Expert

WIth inflation on the rise and supply chain issues driving up the prices of electronics, building your own gaming PC is more appealing than ever. It is certainly a more cost-effective way to go about gaming. Plus, who can beat the proud sense of accomplishment you feel once you’ve successfully completed your DIY build.

“Building your own gaming PC doesn’t just save you money—it maximises performance within a budget you set,” says Wai-Fai Cou, a hardware specialist at gaming marketplace U4GM. “With the right approach, gamers can save hundreds of dollars while still creating a powerful system.” 

He shares his insights on maximising performance while minimising costs.

Considerations to Make

When doing your own DIY build, it is important to consider the compromises you will have to make. For instance, it is nearly impossible to have both a high screen resolution (detailed images) and a high refresh rate (whether a game is choppy or smooth). 

Cou says, “Shooting for better performance will serve you in the long run. For a DIY build on a budget, aim for specs that are able to have 1080p screen resolution and a 60-144 Hz refresh rate.” 

Cost- Effective Components

Since this is a budget build, it’s essential to find parts that offer the best performance per dollar. Cou recommends the following tips when scouting for reliable yet budget-friendly components for your build.

PC Case – Any Will Do

Your PC case is important because it stores all the components you need. The good news is that many reasonably-priced PC cases exist. In fact, smaller cases can go for as little as $50. 

However, if it’s your first build, Cou says “it would be wise to invest in a bigger case, so you have more space to work. You don’t want to be frustrated by tools, tiny wires, and barely any space to assemble your build. Not to mention it has to house your motherboard and other components.”

Motherboard – Micro-ATX Are a Go-To

A quality motherboard is important because it makes it easier for the central processing unit, hard drives, and memory to work together efficiently. In other words, this is a component worth splurging a little on.

However, in order to save money, you could opt for Micro-ATX motherboard, which is smaller, less expensive, but still offers great performance. Cou suggests, “If you do end up going with the Micro-ATX motherboard, look for one with DDR5 RAM support – it will work much faster.”

Central Processing Unit – Intel & AMD Are Ideal

Companies like Intel & AMD are major central processing unit (CPU) manufacturers. They’re trusted brands which typically offer reasonably priced components. Just make sure that your motherboard supports whichever CPU you end up choosing. 

Cou advises, “Look out for a CPU with a 3.5-4.5 GHz minimum clock speed, and four to six cores.”

Graphics Processing Unit – Go Bargain Hunting

A new graphics processing unit (GPU) tends to be rather expensive. However, manufacturers tend to make their own bargain-priced RTX 3050-based cards for graphics processing units. Keep an eye out for these kinds of deals straight from the manufacturer. 

Cou says that “many people don’t know that pre-owned GPUs also operate pretty well. As long as you purchase them from a trusted seller, don’t be afraid to use a second hand GPU.”

Storage and Memory – Go For the SSD

A solid state drive (SSD) is preferable in gaming because they have faster read/write speeds and lower access time. They are also, unfortunately, more expensive per gigabyte of storage. However, storage is essential, so this is another area you can splurge a little bit on. 

Memory (RAM) is also vital to your gaming system. Be sure you have at least 16 GB of RAM, if not 32GB. Luckily, it’s not an expensive component – expect to spend no more than $50 on RAM.

Power Supply Unit

As long as your power supply unit (PSU) has enough wattage to power all of your components, feel free to go for a non-modular PSU, which will be cheaper than a modular one. PSU prices typically start from around $50 to $80. “This is one of those components worth spending a little more on for more wattage,” says Cou, “especially if you plan on buying extra components for your gaming PC in the future.”

Wai-Fai Cou, spokesperson for U4GM commented:

“Though it might seem like a lot of work if you’re someone who enjoys gaming and enjoys being a part of the process, building your own gaming PC is worth doing. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment that comes with having the finished product, knowing that all that hard work paid off. 

“A typical gaming PC these days costs anywhere from $1000 to $2500. By building your own, you could save hundreds of dollars. Plus, there’s an amazing DIY build Reddit community that you can engage with for a sense of comradery with other enthusiasts.”