Does anyone know a good 500 dollar gaming pc build?

[DootDootboi]

I know I'm not going to get a top of the line pc but I have 500-600 dollars that I can use. So does anyone have any builds or suggestions?

 

[P4-630]

IMO a "good" new gaming PC for 500$ doesn't exist...

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Right now jack crap even used gpu are way over priced.... Assuming they were in stock an Xbox Series X or a PS5 would run circles around anything you could build right now under 1k.

 

[hat]

Right now jack crap even used gpu are way over priced.... Assuming they were in stock and Xbox Series X or a PS5 would run circles around anything you could build right now under 1k.

This, sadly.

 

[dirtyferret]

this guy did a $500 build for MMO & MOBA games but with current inflated GPU prices (assuming you can even find them online) it would probably be difficult to pull off such a build for at least another 30-60 days.

 

[bug]

I know I'm not going to get a top of the line pc but I have 500-600 dollars that I can use. So does anyone have any builds or suggestions?

It strongly depends on your exact definition of "gaming". If you want to play anything out there and are willing to sacrifice a little IQ, you are looking at $400-500 for the video card alone at the current, inflated prices
Do you need a complete system? Are there parts you can reuse?

 

[cst1992]

Are there parts you can reuse?

^^^This. This would make a lot of difference.
Parts as in:
- Monitor
- Speakers
- Peripherals
- SSDs or HDDs
- Case and fans(if you have an old system that you intend to discard)
- Power supply
- GPU(GPUs have a lot of compatibility across the board - you could reuse a 10 year old slow GPU to bridge the gap till you get a new one, but the same cannot be said about a CPU or motherboard, especially Intel)
- Optical drive if you care about it(low-budget builds usually do, because they play older games better, which are on CDs or DVDs).
- CPU cooler(if you happen to have an aftermarket one, but low-budget build processors don't overclock so a stock cooler is included with the CPU, which suffices most of the time).

 

[Chomiq]

I know I'm not going to get a top of the line pc but I have 500-600 dollars that I can use. So does anyone have any builds or suggestions?

Xbox series x.

 

[Bill_Bright]

It really depends on the game. Solitaire, Chess and many other games can be played on very budget minded systems.

Also, what must be included in that $500 budget? Do you already have a monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers or headset?

 

[kapone32]

You could start with a 3200G ($150) and the MSI B550 Pro M Wifi ($99). Get a Team GX1 1 TB ($99) and 16 GB Gskill Ripjaws 4 3000 MHZ or Team 2933 MHZ ($89). Use a Cougar Mx331 case ($40) and a Corsair 450 Watt PSU ($50). You will at least be able to play MMOs with that setup. With what you have left over look for the cheapest RX570, 580 8 GB, 5500XT 6 GB, 5600XT or 1060 used or 1660 but wait until after today to see what AMD says about their mid range new GPUs and indeed APUs.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

I'd look to a second hand rig off eBay or a pro refurbished unit for that money at the moment.

 

[DootDootboi]

It really depends on the game. Solitaire, Chess and many other games can be played on very budget minded systems.

Also, what must be included in that $500 budget? Do you already have a monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers or headset?

I would use it mostly for Minecraft or binding of isaac so nothing to intense. On the account of keyboard and monitor I already have those items.

 

[Tom Sunday]

I know I'm not going to get a top of the line...

Everytime I go to our local computer show or 'hang-out' in my local Indian stripcenter PC shop, I see all kinds of people getting their impossibilities fulfilled. For a cool $500 cash Gandhi Place will hobble together a very decent gaming rig for the man on the street. Mostly reconditioned or discontinued hardware including used GPU's garnered from undercover cryptominer connections. A GTX 980ti for $75 if you want to splurge. Older generation Motherboards, Mugen 5, CDROM, gray market Win 10 pro, 16GB memory, 2TB 7200 HDD and a new ATX case are the basic build staple for a cash $500 dream. One thing the Indian boys know very well is how to build a PC and live in reality. They do not like AMD too many issues it was said. Warranty: 1-year 'unconditional' and just drive over to the shop 7-days a week and it will get fixed the same day. If you like me working the third shift driving a forklift, it's heaven to know these boys. If you go early the Gandhi staff even provides free coffee and donuts to the hang-outs. It is those kind of people and connections you need to find in your area and town. As Madhu said in his broken English: "We generally do not do business with the rich people. 90% of our business is word to mouth. Besides nobody beats our prices and service and we make NVIDIA and Intel dreams come true for the common folks." The cryptominers just send over another a big load of 1080's and 2080's and Madhu noted that these will sell like hotcakes. Thank you NVIDIA. Life is good.

 

[r9]

You can make a decent machine if buy some parts used, you just have to keep an eye on the used parts ads for the right deals.
GPU- You can get GTX 1070 for $150
CPU - You can get decent Ryzen 1 or 2 for $100-$150
MB - Doesn't have to be nothing crazy as it has the lowest impact price/performance. $50
RAM - 16GB DDR New $70
SSD - 512GB New $50
Case/PSU 650W New $120
Total ~ $590

 

[blobster21]

it's called a console

 

[newtekie1]

I would use it mostly for Minecraft or binding of isaac so nothing to intense. On the account of keyboard and monitor I already have those items.

If those are the types of games you play, a Ryzen APU would probably do the job, but right now even those are hard to find.

 

[dirtyferret]

If those are the types of games you play, a Ryzen APU would probably do the job, but right now even those are hard to find.

this, even the 3200g seems to be $190 on amazon & newegg. You can get it used for $150 but than you need a cooler

 

[cst1992]

Everytime I go to our local computer show or visit my Indian stripcenter PC shop I see all kinds of people getting their impossibilities fulfilled. For a cool $500 Ghandi Place will hobble together a decent gaming rig for the man on the street. Mostly used or discontinued hardware and used GPU's garnered from cryptominer connections. A GTX 980ti for $90 if you want to splurge. Even older motherboards to match. One thing the Indian boys know very well is how to build PC and live in reality. Warranty: 1-year unconditional and just drive over to the shop. Lots of people here will frown on this kind of build, but if you like me working the third shift driving a forklift, it's heaven send. And with some money left over to buy lunch. If you go early the Ghandi staff even provides free coffee and donuts. It is those kind of people you need to find in your area and town.

Where is this?
And it's Gandhi fyi.. Ghandi has a different pronunciation.

---

This thread is a major shakeup for First Worlders...

 

[Tom Sunday]

Where is this?
And it's Gandhi fyi...Ghandi has a different pronunciation.

From what I know they originally wanted to use the name "Nehru Place" based on the fact that this is one of the largest IT and hardware markets in the world located in the southern part of New Delhi, India. But they decided on the name "Gandhi" named after Mahatma Gandhi a world famous civil rights leader. You are correct my spelling was off, but not knowing languages and barely making it through high school is thus apparent. Sorry.

 

[cst1992]

From what I know they originally wanted to use the name "Nehru Place" based on the fact that this is one of the largest IT and hardware markets in the world located in the southern part of New Delhi, India. But they decdied on the name "Gandhi" named after Mahatma Gandhi a world famous civil rights leader. You are correct my spelling was off, but not knowing languages and barely making it through high school is thus apparent. Sorry.

No worries, I understand.
What city is this in though? LA?

 

[Vayra86]

Its called a console Or a chromebook.

Nah honestly, in the current situation the best bet you have with 500 is a second hand gamer's rig of some sort, something with DDR4 and a quadcore plus an old midranger is probably the best you can do. Can also skip the GPU and get something separately perhaps, because that's the part that will cap performance the most.

Your bottom line:

CPU> 6 threads, preferably 8 threads, and preferably 6 physical cores - but quad + HT can work for most purposes in gaming still - even if suboptimal. If its a quadcore, make sure it can clock high (>4 Ghz).
GPU > No more than 2 generations old (Pascal). Preferably 1070 or up. Maybe 1060 6GB will work too for now.

That would ensure a comfortable 1080p gaming experience with something left in the tank for new stuff. Anything less means being relegated to heavily reduced quality or FPS, or playing older games. Also fine, but for perspective this might help you.

At lower price, I'd then shoot for the aforementioned Ryzen APU, get something somewhat beefy (again 6 cores are no luxury) and it can game quite alright, especially if you are content with 720p - things will be pretty smooth that way for most titles. Another bonus is this will be expandable and its new vs 2nd hand, can always add a bigger GPU if you want to. The CPU will do fine for that too.

Another nice to have but fast becoming more essential, is storage of your applications (games) and OS on an SSD.

 

[tussinman]

I'd look to a second hand rig off eBay or a pro refurbished unit for that money at the moment.

100% agree with this suggestion

You can get an office desktop with a 6 core i5 8400 for $270-340 range. That leaves plenty of money for powersupply replacement and a decent GPU.

 

[jboydgolfer]

if you can reuse a case & GPU, you'd be able to do it.

i just did a couple weeks ago

phanteks PSU
i3 4Core 8 thread
16Gb DDR4
asrock 1200LGA moBo
samsung 860 evo 1Tb

this cost me $497 a couple weeks ago. re-used a 1070 & a case, as well as a Hyper 212 evo. bought it all on newegg. the market was all pretty much fine aside from GPU's. power supplies have increased a bit, which is why i went witrh phanteks, their psu lineup is new to the market, so theyre keeping prices lower than longer running brands like seasonic, but iits jus tas good as any seasonic ive bought

 

[JustAnEngineer]

Start with a refurbished or scratch-and-dented off-lease business PC from the Dell outlet (especially with the current 20% off deal). Add a graphics card. Enjoy.

 

[Solid State Soul ( SSS )]

Get a PlayStation 5 for 500$, the entry price for PC gaming these days are crazy high and most budget minded people are zoned out of pc gaming due to the crazy shit going on in the DIY PC market, unless you are going to get used outdated hardware, a PS5 might hold you for maybe a year or two, once you saved a good amount of money by then the prices of PC hardware would drop to reasonable MSRP and you can get the most out of your money then, as of now for 500$ a console has more value, its true