Hello, and welcome to PC Builds On A Budget – the place on the internet to learn how to build a PC on any budget.
I built this website in hopes that I can help guide individuals to enter the world of PC gaming with whatever type of budget they have to work with. Just know that the more you pay, the better your computer is going to run your favorite games!
When I first had the idea of getting a gaming PC I researched pre-built desktops. I was actually surprised by the results!
Did you know that most desktop manufacturers charge double, sometimes more than triple the cost of the hardware itself?
Sure, they need to make a profit, but when building your own PC can be simple…
Why would you pay more for something you could do yourself..?
That’s when the beauty of building your own desktop comes in.
Building a custom computer not only allows you to personalize it the way you want to, but you are also able to narrow down on a specific budget that you’re most comfortable with and still get a really good computer for yourself!
Some of the things I like most about PC gaming are the community, the ability to modify my favorite games, and the fact that I can upgrade my PC whenever I want rather than having to go out and buy a whole new rig.
I’m excited about the future of PC gaming. It’s going to be a wild ride, so hopefully, I can help you get a head start in this next generation of epic gaming. 😉
Cheers,
Founder of PC Builds on a Budget
E-mail: colton@pcbuildsonabudget.com
if i build myself a new computer, can i take the 1tb hd out of my old hp envy h8-1414 and use it or will i run into some problem? it would be nice to not have to download everything i already have on it and not buy windows. looking forward to not playing games on the lowest setting possible and thanks for all the help!
You should be able to as long as it is a normal, traditional hard drive. Some desktop hard drives like that have proprietary stuff with them where it can only be used with a specific type of motherboard but there’s only one way to find out if it does or not and that’s by trying to use it with a new build. Give it a shot and see what happens!
Hi. Just new for this kind of topic.
ASUS STRIX GeForce GTX 970 Overclocked 4 GB DDR5 256-bit DisplayPort HDMI 2.0 DVI-I Graphics Card
VS
ASUS STRIX GeForce GTX 960 Overclocked 4 GB DDR5 128-bit DisplayPort HDMI 2.0 DVI-I Graphics Card
If I choose the 970, Will it still work? for the 600$ gaming pc build?I dont know whats the difference between this 256 and 128 bit. Thanks!
Hey Raphael,
If you have the room in your budget then I’d definitely highly recommend going with a GTX 970 over a 960.
Thing is, you’ll want to make sure that the 970 can fit the case as there are some versions of it that wouldn’t. The version that you’re referring to (this one) would definitely work though 🙂
Hi Colton
What a great site you have which I have just been so lucky as to stumble upon as I was searching the net for a place with recommendations for a cheap pc build.
Reading through your recommendations for the various builds I suddenly realised that what I need is an upgrade for my rig and not a complete new one ie. I do not need a new case, PSU or CD drive as I already have them and i’m content with them and don’t see any needs for upgrading them also.
So, this got me thinking and I came up with this idea; why don’t you have a section for builds which only require the “core” components of a rig like cpu, mobo, ram and video card.
I hope you’ll take my suggestion into consideration.
Kind regards,
Henrik
Hey Henrik,
Interesting suggestion man… I’ll definitely do some research see if people are looking for guides like that and if there are, I’ll definitely start building some! 🙂
Thank you!!
Thank you for your website. I was needing a new computer and I wanted to build one. Building one for the price of a prebuilt one I knew I could get more bang for my buck. This website was a great starting point to find compatible components. I elaborated on some parts. But for 700 bucks I made a beast of mid grade gaming machine that will double as a work machine. And out perform my Xbox one which was my Goal. Thank you again for this website. It is awesome for newbies but also use nerds who just need a place to start. And don’t queit remember all the types of stuff like socket types what can work with what. Thank you.
Griffin,
Thank you for the kind words man, that is my overall goal with this website and I’m super happy to hear that you find it useful for those trying to move forward with their ideal builds!
A $700 build definitely blows the Xbox One out of the water when looking at raw performance, enjoy the build man the PC gaming industry is in for some exciting stuff ahead 🙂
hey Colton, I saw that you were talking about the steam lunar new year sale. I was wondering if you had steam and if so would you be able to add me as a friend because I would to be able to contact you about questions quicker. (my name is CharvaD) I don’t mind if you do not want to friend me.
For sure, just picked up a game I had on my wishlist during it too!
I believe I found you and I sent you a friend request 🙂
hey colton, I hear people say amd video cards are not too good and you should go with intel video cards, what’s your view on that? I’m asking because amd is cheaper. And if intel is better, can I still use amd to play games with okay graphics because I don’t care about playing games with the most perfect graphics, I just play for fun and like to have decent graphics. Thank you for the help!
Hey again Jacob, good question.
As far as you saying “intel” do you mean nVidia? Because intel only has integrated graphics in their processors and aren’t really ideal for gaming.
My first build had a 1GB AMD card in it and it worked really well! Lasted me about 4 years until I was ready for a bit better performance. AMD cards work great, the only main difference is that nVidia cards are usually the first ones to get optimal drivers versus AMD having to take a bit of time for the correct drivers to be released. If you would rather go with an AMD card then go for it! They perform pretty well, good bang for the buck 🙂
ok thanks. yea I meant NVidia
also one of my friends says amd processors are awful compared to intel processors. again, I would like to get an amd processor because they are cheaper but I’m not sure if they will do well for me. I just want to have a pc for schoolwork, games with decent graphics and watching stuff. thanks for your help!
For the most part, some people are just big fans of Intel over AMD so they feel the need to put AMD down.
I have a friend who has used an AMD CPU for years with his build and it works great. Sure, some Intel processors have better performance but you just can’t beat the power per dollar spent with the AMD choices.
I just love the site and all the awesome info you’ve put in here! Keep it up!!!
Thanks Josh, that means a lot to me 🙂
I’l definitely keep treading forward with it!
hey colton, I have been following this awesome website for little over a year now and I wanted to say awesome work! keep it up!
Hey Jacob,
Thank you for keeping around, I really appreciate the kind words 🙂
I will definitely be keeping up the work, cheers!!
Hey Colton!
This site is THE best. Several months earlier I COMPLETELY struggled on finding the cheap components of a gaming computer, because I thought even the good graphics card starts at 700$. But when I found this site? next thing I know is that I’m building a PC 3 hours later.
I was a bit skeptical at first because some jerks on youtube told me the components you listed was weak, but MAN they were ABSOLOUTLEY wrong. Ran GTA V on High settings while remaining at 70 fps from the parts you gave me, truly the PC experience.
And I am still having the experience right now. without this glorious site, I wouldv’e bought a 1000$ PC and be left without any money
Anyway, thank you so much. You’ve got me into PC gaming, and like I said earlier, without this site, I would’ve been stuck in my old and aging XBOX 360.
Thanks again man!
Suez,
I’m really glad you dig the site! I made it to help people just like you, I was also an avid 360 gamer. Making the move to the PC gaming realm was the best decision I had ever made. 🙂
Do you happen to have a link to the YouTube video that you’re talking about? Wouldn’t mind taking a look at it.
PC gaming all the way, cheers and happy gaming!! 😀
great site, so happy i found it. surely will be donating.
Thanks Andrei!
I’ve got a donation button on the side bar there, I’d really appreciate it!! 🙂
I was thinking of buying it all on Amazon. Is that a good idea or should I try Newegg?
I always recommend Amazon strictly because of the super awesome service and support that they provide. If you want to save money to find cheaper means then by all means go ahead, but Amazon is the king of support!
Dear Colton,
Great site, bro! I’ve been searching around maybe to buy a gaming desktop, but came across your site and i am literally blown by your builds. I’m planning on building one soon, but not sure which one to use. The only game that would really worry me would be WoW. Could i know in your opinion, which $$$ build you recommend for the highest graphic WoW? Thanks!
YouJun,
Thanks man 🙂 building your own desktop is definitely the way to go!
WoW is going to run flawlessly with the $500 build. You’ll be amazed by the performance 🙂
Thanks for the reply!
Luckily i can be a little flexible with my budget and also pray i can get cheaper parts during black friday and cyber monday
I have decided for any possible future gaming
Im goin for the 600 build with slight modifications
I changed the video card to Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 4GB GDDR5 DVI-I/DVI-D/HDMI/DP Dual-X with Boost and OC version PCI-Express Graphics Card 11217-04-20G
And the motherboard to be MSI Computer Corp. LGA1150/Intel H81/DDR3/SATA3 and USB3.0/A&GbE/MicroATX Motherboard H81M-P33
Also im curious on the differences between the 500 and 600 build ram and cd drive
What makes them different from each other? Thanks for any help!!!
I too am praying lol 😛 gotta make sure that we’re up and around right when the sales go down!
Those changes would be totally worth it, it’ll be one awesome gaming machine.
As far as the differences between the two, there really isn’t much of a difference except for branding. Both builds were though up at different times, with different prices fitting the different budgets lol. It’s whatever quality ones I’m able to put together to fit within the budget, those are what go in. Performance wise, really no distinct differences.
Thanks again!!!
Final question, any recommendation for wireless mouse/keyboards…i’ve used a few wireless mouses, but not all of them last very long,…
any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks!!!
Sure thing, if battery life has been an issue then you’re going to want to check out this mouse by Logitech, proven to stand the test of time with 250 hours of life.
For a wireless keyboard I’d recommend going with this one to pair with it. Most other wireless keyboards I’ve come across are of low quality, they aren’t worth the price points based on the reviews and overall design. If you need a backlit one then this one would be your best bet.
Hey Colton,
Sorry to trouble you again.
Having trouble with the other video card, so i’m looking into other options.
I noticed that you recommend in the 600 build the Gigabyte GTX 960 Overclocked 2GB GDDR5 Graphics Cards GV-N960WF2OC-2GD, but could i know if i use the Gigabyte GTX 960 Overclocked 4 GB GDDR5 Graphics Card GV-N960WF2OC-4GD, would there be any problems? like compatibility or if it will fit?
Also I’m looking into EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SSC GAMING ACX 2.0+, Whisper Silent Cooling w/ Free Installed Backplate Graphics Card 04G-P4-3966-KR.
Could you advise which one would be best? Thanks!
You’re not trouble at all YouJun, I don’t mind helping at all 🙂
Yes, you can use the 4GB version of that card. If you have the room in your budget then I’d highly recommend that you do so.
Through my research, the EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SSC GAMING ACX 2.0+ has just a slight hair of a performance win over the other card that you’ve mentioned, so it’ll honestly just come down to wanting to save that $10 or not. If that’s not an issue then I’d say to go for the EVGA one. That one will also fit the $600 build’s case just fine.
Hey Colton,
So after clicking on your link, i’m getting two slightly different video cards for the EVGA ones that I was asking previously, could you tell me which one would be better in your opinin…I cannot tell the difference between the FTW and the SSC…Thanks for the help!!!
EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB FTW GAMING ACX 2.0+, Whisper Silent Cooling w/ Free Installed Backplate Graphics Card 04G-P4-3969-KR
or
EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB SSC GAMING ACX 2.0+, Whisper Silent Cooling w/ Free Installed Backplate Graphics Card 04G-P4-3967-KR
The FTW version of the card has a slightly faster clock than the SSC.
Go with whichever one is best on your wallet but it is good to know that performance wise, FTW wins!
I’m really glad I had a run in with this site. I intended to buy an $800 laptop and was going to attempt to add external hardware to it to play games, but the idea that I can build my own gaming/just about anything computer for less than $500 boggles my mind! Thanks!
Hey John,
I’m glad that you like the site! 🙂
Building your own rig is definitely a lot cheaper and in the end a lot more of a powerful choice when it comes to getting into the realm of PC gaming. It’s definitely the better way to go that’s for sure!!
colton is this a worth it laptop or gaming?
for around 350 USD
Not even a little bit Homun.
Laptops at that price range just don’t have the power behind them to be worth it at all.
Well, I finally went and built my custom build.
I had to settle with an ASUS M5A78L‑M/USB3 with AMD 760G over the Gigabyte AM3+ AMD DDR3 1333 760G you recommended for me. But, it seems to be doing about the same job really. Rather than order my parts online and wait around to get them, I went to Fry’s Electronics, a locally based electronics store that sells just about everything I needed to get my build put together.
So, here is a list of what I decided to use.
Enermax Coenus Gunmetal Grey Gaming Case
AMD FX-8350 8-core CPU (4.0GHz)
ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 Motherboard
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo CPU fan
2 x Tricool Red LED 120mm case fans
1 x 200mm Blue LED top fan
1 x 8gb crucial ddr3 ram
3 x 2gb crucial ddr3 ram
XFX R9 380 2gb GDDR5 GPU
Corsair CX750 750W PSU
1TB Segate 3.5″ HDD
Windows 10 Pro
Currently Single 24″ Dell monitor
<— in case the image doesn't post here is the link
http://i57.tinypic.com/mhpvlt.jpg
Sweet setup Dylan, loving the red and blue fan combo bro!
Enjoy what this build is going to do for you for years to come, it’s one hell of a beast that’s for sure 🙂
Happy gaming!
Bro might be a weird request but I was just skimming through the site, since I have been a fan for about 8 months now at least, and I saw you did a review for your best gaming chair…….why not do a desk?? A little while back I used a combo of your $500 and $600 build just because I prefer the combo of intel and nvidia specifically because they are better optimized to play the batman arkham series on PC, and from then on I just went on a amazon rampage buying your GameCom 780s by Plantronics, the DeathAdder Chroma, the BenQ Gaming Monitor, Azio Levetron L70, and I even took one of your suggestions from the Towers link you put. Again thanks for everything and added you on steam lets game broman!!
Awesome! 🙂
That gaming chair review was from a while back, you must be going into the deep archives haha 😛
I’ll definitely consider doing a desk, that’s not a weird question at all, friend! If you want me to do a certain kind of review just say the word and I’ll definitely consider doing it. I love that you’ve stuck around for as long as you have! It sounds like you’ve got a beast of a setup, both with your build and your peripherals.
What was your Steam name? I want to make sure I added the right person lol 😛
My steam name is [EVENT]MinerMcnugget and yeah it is only a beast because of you lol.
Added ya 🙂
hey Colton,
Love the site, you’ve inspired me to venture into the PC building world. kudos bro…keep up the good work! left some questions for you on your $600 budget build. hope top hear from you soon
Glad you’re liking the site, will definitely get back to ya! 🙂
Hello Colton,
I am loving the amazing information I can find here on your site and it is helping me to make some decisions on my upcoming journey into building my first ever custom gaming PC. Up until this point, I always thought storebought pre-builds were better, but seeing these budget PCs and comparing price, it’s DOUBLE If not TRIPLE the power at HALF the cost!
I also emailed you some questions and hope you may have a minute to chat sometime soon. Look forward to hearing from you, keep up the amazing work.
Indeed it is, Dylan.
It’s crazy how much the prices are marked up, I’m super glad that you love the site and I have e-mailed ya! 🙂
Hi Colton,
You have a terrific site here. It’s very informative and well designed! I will tell my sons about it since they are Gamers also.
Regards,
Donna
Thanks Donna, your sons are bound to find an awesome computer for their next gaming venture!
Cheers,
Colton
Hi Colton
Great site, lots of fab info. Thanks for sharing.
Jules 🙂
Thanks, Julie!
I appreciate the kind words 🙂
Cheers,
Colton