PC Build Navigation:
- $1500 Gaming PC Build
- $1000 Gaming PC Build
- $800 Gaming PC Build
- $500 Gaming PC Build
- Gaming PC Peripherals & Components Ideas
The July 2021 Gaming PC Build hardware updates: If you’re here for the first time, then welcome! Building your first, second or third Gaming PC is ultra-satisfying, especially when you have a finished product that can crush any PC game out on the market at high FPS and resolutions.
Since last month, we’ve seen the release of some newer GPU’s to the market from NVidia, with the release of the RTX 3080 Ti and RTX 3070 Ti, which have had an underwhelming reception from the PC building community. For one, it’s not impossible, but cards are still harder to get than they should be, and the RTX 3080 Ti costs 71% more than the 3080, while performing only 10% more and the RTX 3070 Ti costs 20% more and 10% faster than the regular RTX 3070. So overall, decent card, but the cost per performance is lacking — and these are based on MSRPs.
If you’ve been here before, you may have noticed that some of the builds have had some major performance upgrades — due to Intel’s recent CPU released not long ago here. See both the $1000 and $800 builds for these changes, as performance is up and cost is unchanged.
Also since last month, I released a useful article for anyone who’s looking to fine-tune their new Gaming PC Builds temps with the Newbs Guide to Benchmarking Gaming PC Temps – this may be useful for those who might be wondering if they need more case fans, or a better CPU cooler for instance, or if you simply want to know how to measure your hardware temps.
Below you will find the best budget builds up to date for July 2021 from $1500 to $1000, $800, and $500 and all in between, maximizing performance per dollar spent. Please keep in mind that every PC is and can be unique to its builder, so feel free to swap things like cases if you had your eye set on something more unique to you — and if you have any questions as per compatibility, please feel free to leave a comment.
Which July 2021 PC Build is right for you?
Included in the gaming PC builds of the month, you will find builds anywhere in-between $500, $800, $1000, and $1500. This should accommodate most PC gamers out there that play in a multitude of gaming settings, maxing games anywhere from 1080p, 1440p and play really well into 4K.
If you are not sure which pc build is right for you based solely on your budget, then here is a quick breakdown on which build may be a right fit for you:
- $1500 PC Build: For gaming at 2K resolutions into 4K
- $1000 PC Build: For gaming MAX settings at 2K resolutions
- $800 PC Build: For gaming at MAX settings 1080p resolutions into 2K
- $500 PC Build: For being able to game in any game at 1080p.
Best of luck building the best possible gaming pc build this July 2021. If you have any questions be sure to leave a comment or simply join our new Facebook Group: Gaming PC Builders Facebook Group.
Bookmark our Best Gaming PC Builds for 2021 Page to Keep up to Date With the Monthly Gaming PC Builds, or subscribe here.
The Best $1500 Gaming PC Build | July 2021
Performance: Game with Extreme settings and High FPS at resolutions of 1920×1080 (1080P) & 2560×1440 (1440p) + good gameplay at 4K
*This Gaming PC Build is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5600X CPU and an RTX 3070 Graphics Card
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
*Note: Stock is low on this, so it may be hard to get one at the moment - so keep an eye out!
- AMD's fastest 6 core processor for mainstream desktop, with 12 processing threads
- Can deliver elite 100+ FPS performance in the world's most popular games
- Bundled with the quiet, capable AMD Wraith Stealth cooler
- 4.6 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 35 MB of cache, DDR-3200 support
- For the advanced Socket AM4 platform, can support PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
Amazon Price: $289.99 *great price
2. Cooler: Stock AMD Wraith Stealth Cooler
The Ryzen 5600X is an amazing CPU in so many ways, in that it doesn't necessarily need to be overclocked and comes with a great Wraith Stealth Cooler, this saves you with a little more cash for other upgrades!
3. Motherboard: ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus AM4 Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen Ryzen ATX Motherboard
- AMD AM4 Socket and PCIe 4. 0: The perfect pairing for Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
- Enhanced power solution: military-grade TUF Gaming components, Precools socket and Digi+ VRM for maximum durability
- Comprehensive Cooling: Active PCH heatsink, VRM heatsink, M. 2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Expert 4
- Next-Gen Connectivity: Dual PCIe 4. 0 M. 2, USB 3. 2 Gen 2 ports, exclusive Relate L8200A Gigabit Ethernet, TUF LANGuid and Turbo LAN technology
- Relate S1200A Codec: Features an unprecedented 108dB signal-to-noise ratio for the stereo line-out and a 103dB SNR for the line-in, providing pristine audio quality
- Please ensure your BIOS is up to date if installing a compatible Ryzen 5000 series CPU. Visit ASUS site search by motherboard model name, click on “Support” tab, Drivers and Tools, then BIOS & Firmware to download the latest BIOS.
Amazon Price: $177.99
4. Graphics Card: ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Twin Edge
*If not in stock: Search for other RTX 3070's in stock
OR try the Newegg Shuffle (RTX 3070 Linked)
*Note: Stock on GPU's has been limited, so keep checking for other RTX 3070 cards as well. The RTX 3070 is a graphics card that absolutely performs amazingly in all games at higher resolutions. You can also keep checking the actual NVIDIA.com listings to see if they are in stock here.
Guestimated Price: $530-$740 (Based on MSRP and Theoretically in stock cost)
Alternative Graphics Card: MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2070 Super 8GB GDRR6
If you want a graphics card right away and there are not RTX 3070's available, an alternative could be the older RTX 2070 SUPER. *Do note, that because of the major limited supply levels in all of the newer graphics cards, people seem to also be buying up the older ones as well. This leaves you with three options - wait for stock, buy used, or pay way too much from a scalper!
If you are having trouble finding a graphics card, here's a useful resource: Tomshardware's GPU Ranking hierarchy
5. RAM: Crucial Ballistix 3600 MHz DDR4 DRAM
16GB of RAM is the perfect spot for any high-end gaming pc - included is a 16GB kit of Crucial Ballistix 3600Mhz Gaming Kit - the perfect speed of RAM for this build.
What is the best RAM speed for gaming? Learn more about the best RAM speed for gaming with Ryzen 3000 CPUs in our recent article here.
Amazon Price: $93.99
6. SSD: Crucial P2 1TB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD Up to 2400MB/s - CT1000P2SSD8
- Capacity: 1TB but Up to 2TB with sequential reads/writes up to 2400MB/s/1900MB/s
- NVMe PCIe interface, marking the next step in storage innovation
- Includes SSD management software for performance optimization, data security, and firmware updates
- 5-year limited warranty
Amazon Price: $118.95
7. Power Supply: EVGA 220-GA-0750-X1 Super Nova 750 Ga, 80 Plus Gold 750W, Fully Modular
- 80 plus Gold certified, with 90% efficiency or higher under typical loads
- Fully modular to reduce clutter and improve airflow
- 100% Japanese capacitors, LLC resonant circuit design +DC-DC converter design to improve 3.3V./ 5V. Stability
- Double ball Bearing fan and EVGA eco mode for exceptional reliability and quiet operation
- 10 year limited warranty and unparalleled EVGA customer support
- Heavy-duty protections, including OVP (Over Voltage Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OCP (Over Current Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection), and OTP (Over Temperature Protection)
Amazon Price: $98.83
8. PC Case: Cooler Master MasterBox MB511 ARGB
The Cooler Master MasterBox MB511 has a fine mesh front panel with very good airflow and an aRGB lighting system for a fully customized lighting experience.
To see the full specifications, please visit the product page at coolermaster.com.
Amazon Price: $89.99
ESTIMATED PRICE (July 2021): $1400 - $1610 (assuming GPU supply and cost)
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $1500
The best $1500 gaming pc build for July 2021 includes a new AMD Ryzen 5600X CPU, a brand new Ryzen 5000 series CPU that performs amazingly, especially for gaming. The 5600X has come down to a very respectable cost for July 2021 and there is actually supply now, awesome!
Also to note, Intel recently released their Rocketlake Intel i5-11600K, which could have been a solid competition for the 5600X on a price per performance ratio- so if you can’t find AMD’s chip in stock, this could be a consideration as well.
This is paired with another powerfully new piece of hardware, the RTX 3070 graphics card, making this a very powerful gaming pc capable of extreme performance in games at higher resolutions. (*Note: If you have a hard time finding The RTX 3070 in supply, you could consider a previous-gen RTX 2070 Super, noting that it doesn’t perform quite as well. All in all, it may be tough to get literally any GPU out there at the moment, so hang in there.
If you are looking for an over-the-top, very fast-performing gaming PC build that you don’t have to worry about tweaking very much in order to max all games out at HD and higher resolutions, then this build is for you. However, unless you are wanting to get into seriously high-end 4K gaming, you shouldn’t need much more.
If you still think you need increased performances, you could upgrade your CPU or GPU if you have the excess funds to do so. If that is the case, you could simply consider upping the graphics card to something like an RTX 3080 (if you can find them in stock). This build also includes a very good gaming pc case, with great cooling included and more.
$1500 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades
If you have more to spend, then you could check out some hardware alternative suggestions. This could be for either upgrading this build before or after you buy it. To do so, visit the full $1500 gaming pc builds overview here:
The Best $1000 Gaming PC Build | July 2021
Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 (HD) resolutions up to Higher Settings at 2560×1440 (2K)
Powered by the Intel Core-i5 11400F CPU and the RTX 3060 Ti 8GB Graphics Card
1. CPU: Intel Core i5-11400F Desktop Processor
For a long long time, AMD held this spot in the $1000 Gaming PC Build of the month over here at Newb Computer Build -- however, now the Intel 11th gen 15-11400F (or 11400) holds this spot as it strongly outperforms the 2-year-old AMD Ryzen 3600 significantly.
Amazon Price: $175
ALTERNATIVE (With Built-in Graphics): Intel Core i5-11400 Desktop Processor
This CPU is the exact same CPU as the i5-11400F in terms of performance, however, it has built-in graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 730) -- so I would consider this option for only a bit more IF you cannot get your hands on a separate graphics card right away so that you can at least get set up and game somewhat. Then, when a graphics card eventually comes into stock -- all you have to do is plug it into your Gaming PC Build and you're golden.
Price: $189.99
2. Cooler: Cooler Hyper 212 Black Edition CPU Cooling
The stock cooler for the Intel 11400 just doesn't perform as well as it should, so purchasing a separate cooler like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition will have you PC performing nice and cool!
- Direct contact technology: 4 Heat Pipe with exclusive direct contact Technology effectively provides excellent heat dissipation; Air flow: 42 CFM; Noise level: 26.0 decibels
- Precise air flow: Stacked fin array ensures least airflow resistance which allows cooler air flow into the heatsink
- Smart fan sensor for jam protection: Never worry about your cables getting snagged or components being mucked up ever again
- Snap and play: Intuitive fan bracket design makes upgrading and removing the fan a breeze
Price: $39.99
3. Motherboard: ASUS Prime B560M-A
This is a great budget B560 motherboard, perfectly matched for the Intel 11400 or 11400F CPU offering the exact amount of features you need to get up and gaming with your new PC.
- Intel LGA 1200 Socket: Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 11th Gen Intel Core processors
- Comprehensive Cooling: Enhanced VRM heatsink, flexible M.2 heatsink, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 2+
- Enhanced power solution: 8 power stages, alloy chokes and durable capacitors for stable power delivery
- Boosted Memory Performance: ASUS OptiMem proprietary trace layout allows memory kits to operate at higher frequencies with lower voltages to maximize system performance. Support memory overclocking up to 5000 MHz
- Ultra Fast Connectivities: PCIe 4.0, Intel 1 Gb Ethernet, rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A &Type-C) and V-M.2 Key E slot for Wi-Fi
Amazon Price: $110.99
4. Graphics Card: MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB GDRR6
*Currently very low in stock. Hopefully, this month more come into stock -- keep checking Nvidia.com's RTX 3060 Ti supply lists as well.
The 3060Ti is a newer GPU that like the rest, is very low in stock. This GPU however, will blast the pants off any game you throw at it in resolutions of 1080p - 1440p -- especially considering it's better in terms of performance than the previous-gen more expensive 2080 Super (The RTX 2080 Super is currently in stock at about $1050).
Price: $400 - $650 (Based on MSRP and Theoretically in stock cost)
*Alternative lesser comparable / older-gen card if in stock: RX 5700 XT
*Alternative lower-performing, but in-stock card if you're sick waiting for stock: PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6GB AXRX 5600XT 6GBD6-3DHE/OC
If you are having trouble finding a graphics card, here's a useful resource: Tomshardware's GPU Ranking hierarchy
5. RAM: Crucial Ballistix 3200 MHz DDR4 DRAM
Included is a total of 16GB in the best $1000 gaming pc build, which will be plenty of memory for this rig, plus it's rated at 3200 MHz, which is a great spot using 11th Gen Intel.
Amazon Price: $87.99
6. SSD: Crucial P2 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
- Capacity: 500GB but up to 2TB with sequential reads/writes up to 2400MB/s/1900MB/s
- NVMe PCIe interface, marking the next step in storage innovation
- Includes SSD management software for performance optimization, data security, and firmware updates
- 5-year limited warranty
Amazon Price: $59.99
7. Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 650 Ga, 80 Plus Gold 650W, Fully Modular
The sweet spot for this build is 650W of juice, and the EVGA 650 Ga 80 Plus Gold does the trick.
- 80 plus Gold certified, with 90% efficiency or higher under typical loads
- Fully modular to reduce clutter and improve airflow
- 100% Japanese capacitors, LLC resonant circuit design +DC-DC converter design to improve 3.3V./ 5V. Stability
- Double ball Bearing fan and EVGA eco mode for exceptional reliability and quiet operation
- 10 year limited Warranty and unparalleled EVGA Customer Support
Amazon Price: $97.00
8. PC Case: Phanteks Eclipse P300A
This new Phanteks Eclipse P300A is a high-performing front mesh panel, featuring pretty good cooling for a more budget gaming pc build case, all while looking for modern and aesthetically pleasing.
- Ultra-fine Performance Mesh front panel for the best optimal cooling performance; Tempered glass side panel to showcase your build
- Spacious open interior: supports ATX motherboards, 280mm radiator in front, supports a vertical GPU bracket (optional PH-VGPUKT_0), and full-size power supplies
- Easy accessibility to I/O featuring 2x USB 3. 0, Microphone, Headphone, Power button, Reset button
- Front-loading HDD trays for easy installation, up to 4x SSD mounting locations, and a separate PSU compartment
Visit Phanteks.com to see the full overview and to learn more.
Amazon Price: $59.99
Estimated Cost (July 2021): $1013 $1213 - (Assuming GPU supply and cost)
Overview | $1000 Best Gaming PC Build 2021
The $1000 build for July 2021 includes an Intel Core i5-11400F CPU, which straight out of the box performs amazingly and even comes with a stock cooler, albeit the cooler is terrible. This is why I’ve included a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition that will be more than enough to cool this pc build down efficiently, even when overclocking to maximize gaming performance.
The real performance driver behind this build is the included and brand new RTX 3060 Ti 8GB graphics card which is a phenomenal card for 2K resolution gaming. It may use a bit more power than some other graphics cards on the market but performs so well — that is if you can find one in stock.
This $1000 pc build will play games smoothly at high refresh rate 1080p gameplay and really well into 1400p (2K) resolution gameplay.
$1000 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades
If you visit the full overview for the best $1000 build you’ll also find hardware alternatives and upgrades. This can be upgraded hardware including a better graphics card, more memory, or even more storage space should you need it.
The Best $800 Gaming PC Build | July 2021
Capability: Game at Smoothly with High settings and FPS at 1920X1080 resolutions in most games.
Powered by the Intel Core-95 11400F and an RX 5600 XT Graphics Card
1. CPU: Intel Core i5-11400F Desktop Processor
For a long long time, AMD held this spot in the $800 Gaming PC Build of the month over here at Newb Computer Build -- however, now the Intel 11th gen 15-11400F (or 11400) holds this spot as it strongly outperforms the 2-year-old AMD Ryzen 3600 significantly.
Amazon Price: $175
ALTERNATIVE (With Built-in Graphics): Intel Core i5-11400 Desktop Processor
This CPU is the exact same CPU at the i5-11400 in terms of performance as the Intel i5 11400F, however, it has built-in graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 730) -- so I would consider this option for only a bit more IF you cannot get your hands on a separate graphics card right away so that you can at least get set up and game somewhat. Then, when a graphics card eventually comes into stock -- all you have to do is plug it into your Gaming PC Build and you're golden.
Price: $189.99
2. Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition CPU Cooling
The Intel 11400 CPU comes with a stock cooler, so technically this is optional. However, I would recommend a quality cooler like this Hyper 212 to get the most performance and thermal cooling out of your Intel CPU as possible.
Amazon Price: $39.99
3. Motherboard: ASUS Prime B560M-A
- Intel LGA 1200 Socket: Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 11th Gen Intel Core processors
- Comprehensive Cooling: Enhanced VRM heatsink, flexible M.2 heatsink, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 2+
- Enhanced power solution: 8 power stages, alloy chokes and durable capacitors for stable power delivery
- Boosted Memory Performance: ASUS OptiMem proprietary trace layout allows memory kits to operating at higher frequencies with lower voltages to maximize system performance. Support memory overclocking up to 5000 MHz
- Ultra Fast Connectivities: PCIe 4.0, Intel 1 Gb Ethernet, rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A &Type-C) and V-M.2 Key E slot for Wi-Fi
Amazon Price: $110.99
4. Graphics Card: MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5600 XT Boost Clock
*If out of stock: Search all RX 5600 XT's in stock
*The 5600XT has been low on supply. See below for alternatives to search.
The 5600 XT is a great card for this pc build and even beats out the previous card that was included, which was the GTX 1660 Super. With this card, you can max most pc games out there at 1080p resolutions without a hiccup at well over 60FPS.
Price: $279.99 (Based on MSRP and Theoretically in stock cost)
*I wouldn't spend more than $50 more than this
**Alternative comparable / slightly lower performing cards to search for:
5. RAM: Crucial Ballistix 3200 MHz DDR4 DRAM Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 16GB
16GB of RAM is the sweet spot for any gaming pc out there and should be all you need -- however there is always room to upgrade!
Amazon Price: $87.99
6. SSD: Crucial P2 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
You can't go wrong with a great value per dollar spent on a Crucial P2 in terms of storage space and Read/Write speeds.
- Capacity: 500GB or up to 2TB with sequential reads/writes up to 2400MB/s/1900MB/s
- NVMe PCIe interface, marking the next step in storage innovation
- Includes SSD management software for performance optimization, data security, and firmware updates
- 5-year limited warranty
Amazon Price: $59.99
7. Power Supply Unit: Apevia ATX-PR600W Prestige 600W 80+ Gold Certified, RoHS Compliance, Active PFC ATX Gaming Power Supply
- Supports Dual/Quad/multi-core CPUs. Supports single 12V output for higher power usage
- Dc to DC converter design, provides a superior dynamic response, greater system stability and maximizes the 12V DC rail output
- Multi-gpu technologies supported; 6 pin and 8 pin PCI-E connectors support all GPU platforms. Built in 1 x auto-thermally controlled black 135mm fan
- Connectors: 1 x 20/24pin main power, 1 x 4/8pin 12V, 2 x PCI 6+2pin, 4 x SATA, 4 x peripheral. All protections
- Apevia ATX-PR600W Prestige 600W 80+ Gold Certified, RoHS Compliance, Active PFC ATX Gaming Power Supply, 3 Year Warranty
Amazon Price: $54.99
8. PC Case: DEEPCOOL MATREXX 50 Mid-Tower Case
- Tempered glass side-panel and front panel
- 210mm wide tower compartment with 24mm clearance for cable management
- A large area of air-intake on both sides of the front panel to ensure extreme cooling
- Magnetic dustproof net at top, dust-filter at front and bottom
- A newly designed cable routing hole preset on PSU Shroud for better cable management with GPU Power cable.
Amazon Price: $49.99
Estimated Price (July 2021): $859
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $800
The July 2021 $800 budget gaming pc build is for those who just want to build a solid pc capable of maxing out games at standard HD 1080P resolutions. This is truly the ‘every person’ type build for those that just want to get gaming on a PC and do it at fairly decent performance settings.
The $800 gaming pc build of the month can easily push well fast 60FPS at 1080P in most PC games on the market right now. The CPU included (for the first time ever in the gaming PC builds of the month) is the Intel Core-i5 11400F processor and paired with a B560 motherboard, offering you great out-of-the-box mainstream gaming performance.
For the graphics card, we have an RX 5600 XT. This GPU will push games to high settings under a 1080p resolution. This build is probably most of what any very typical “I just want to game” gamers out there as it does max games out easily at 1080p standard HD monitor resolutions.
$800 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades
The best $800 gaming pc build can be further upgraded — visit the full overview page for a full overview of this build including suggestions for hardware upgrades including a higher-performing CPU, a high-performing graphics card for those more intense games, or even a better pc case.
The Best $500 Gaming PC Build | July 2021
Capability: Game at Smoothly with Medium-High settings and FPS at 1920X1080 resolutions in most games.
Powered by the Ryzen 5 3400G CPU with integrated Radeon RX Graphics
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G 4-core, 8-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Radeon RX Graphics
(*You don't need a graphics card with this CPU)
The Ryzen 5 3400G is a great starter CPU with integrated graphics (you don't need a graphics card). With graphics card prices what they are these days you can rest assured you can start gaming with this CPU with the option the add a graphics card at a later date.
Amazon Price: $286.99
AMD Ryzen 3 3300X 4-Core
(*You will need a Graphics Card with this CPU): This is an Alternative non-integrated graphics CPU option (if it is in stock and you can find a graphics card):
The 3300X's four cores operate at 3.8 GHz clock rate and boost to 4.3 GHz, providing great gaming performance.
Amazon Price: $189.99
2. Cooler: AMD Wraith Stealth Cooler (Included)
This cooler is included with the AMD Ryzen3 3300X and is more than enough to cool this $500 gaming pc build.
3. Motherboard: Asus Prime B450M-A/CSM AMD AM4 (3rd/2nd/1st Gen Ryzen Micro-ATX commercial motherboard
This motherboard is a quality budget Micro ATX sized board, that features everything you'd need in a $500 PC, including:
- AMD AM4 Socket: The perfect pairing for 3rd/2nd/1st Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
- Fast Connectivity: 1Gb LAN, HDMI 2.0b, D-Sub, and DVI display outputs
- ASUS CSM motherboard: ASUS Corporate Stable Model with up to 36-month supply, EOL notice, and ECN control
- ASUS Control Center Express to make IT endpoint management simpler
- 5X Protection III: all-round protection with LANGuard, DRAM overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, SafeSlot Core safeguards and stainless-steel back I/O
- Please ensure your BIOS is up to date if installing a compatible Ryzen 5000 series CPU. Visit ASUS site search by motherboard model name, click on “Support” tab, Drivers and Tools, then BIOS & Firmware to download the latest BIOS
To see the full specifications, please visit asus.com.
Amazon Price: $77.09
4. Graphics Card: *Integrated Radeon RX
The Ryzen 5 3400G CPU has integrated graphics, which should be suitable for lower-end gaming. With graphics cards so high in cost right now, this may be the best choice for you to get up and gaming right away with the option to add a graphics card later.
*Alternative Graphics Card: GeForce GTX 1650
The 1650 Super is a great 1080p gaming GPU and is capable of being able to run any game out there.
Amazon Price: $169.99 (Limited stock. *Don't overpay for this card)
*Alternative lesser comparable graphics cards if no GTX 1650's are in stock:
5. RAM: Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 8GB (2 x 4GB) 3200MHz
8GB for any gaming pc out there and should be all you need -- however there is always room to upgrade!
Amazon Price: $51.99
6. SSD: PNY CS900 240GB 3D NAND
The $500 pc build starts at 240GB and it's plenty for those with the $500 budget pc build and there is always room for growth.
Amazon Price: $32.99
7. Power Supply Unit: Thermaltake Smart RGB 500W 80+ 256-Color RGB Fan ATX 12V 2.3 Kaby Lake Ready Power Supply 5 Yr Warranty Power Supply PS-SPR-0500NHFAWU-1
500W is plenty for this pc build and the Thermaltake Smart 500W RGB does the trick perfectly.
*Note: The Thermaltake 500W RGB was actually cheaper than the normal Thermaltake 500W Smart at the start of June. If this isn't the case, then you could consider the regular Thermaltake Smart 500W power supply instead.
Amazon Price: $54.99
8. PC Case: DEEPCOOL MATREXX 50 Mid-Tower Case
A great budget case from Deepcool, comes with a side panel to see all of your hardware components. It is a mid-tower case, however, you could get a more compact micro ATX tower if you wanted to with this build as an alternative. For full specifications, visit deepcool.com.
- Tempered glass side-panel and front panel
- 210mm wide tower compartment with 24mm clearance for cable management
- Large area of air-intake on both sides of the front panel to ensure extreme cooling
- Magnetic dustproof net at top, dust-filter at front and bottom
- A newly designed cable routing hole preset on PSU Shroud for be
Amazon Price: $49.99
Estimated Price (July 2021): $554
(*Using integrated graphics on the Ryzen 5 3400G)
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $500
The best possible $500 gaming PC build for the month of July 2021 will get you up and playing at standard HD 1080P resolutions with game settings scaled back for optimal FPS gameplay — without the need for a graphics card, which makes this the most accessible pc to game on out of all of the gaming pc builds of the month. This is make possible by using a CPU with integrated graphics, which also leaves this build open to adding in a graphics card later on when you can actually find one or want one.
The $500 gaming pc build is currently powered by the Ryzen 5 3400G CPU with integrated Radeon RX graphics. This means you do not need a graphics card to get up and started gaming, which is a plus since cards are really inflated with regards to cost at the moment. This also gives you the option to also add a better graphics card for increased performance in the $500 gaming pc build of the month.
Alternatively, and for a bit more in cost you could try and get a AMD Ryzen 3 3300x CPU and a dedicated graphics card like a GTX 1650. This could allow you more performance, however may be harder to get your hands on.
This gaming PC build is a back-to-the-basics type build that focuses solely on getting as much performance as we can out of each dollar spent. That means no bells and whistles, only pure performance and focusing on the necessities of our build.
This could be considered the gateway PC for those breaking free of the gaming console and jumping into PC gaming – or for those who want an affordable gaming pc that can play any game out there with scaled settings.
$500 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades
As with all of the gaming pc builds of the month, there are plenty of upgrades that you could consider if you had just a bit more to spend. You can check these out here:
The best $500 gaming pc build can be further upgraded — visit the full overview page for a full overview of this build including suggestions for hardware upgrades including a higher-performing CPU, or a high-performing graphics card.
Operating Systems for Your Gaming PC
Do keep in mind that you will also need an operating system, however, it’s not too difficult to find keys for windows 10 online, you will need to install it using something like a USB key or external drive.
| OS Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 | Microsoft Windows 10 Home USB Flash Drive | $105.00 (You can also download Windows 10 and install it on a USB yourself – simply google how to!) |  |
| Ubuntu (Linux OS) | Ubuntu – Desktop | Free (open source) |  |
| SteamOS | SteamOS – “Build your own Steam Machine” | Free |  |
July 2021 Gaming PC Builds of the Month Overview Video
A Step by Step on How to Build a Gaming PC this 2021
Looking for a step-by-step on how to build your pc? Then check out our article for 2021: A Step by Step on How to Build a Gaming PC this 2021 or simply leave a comment below with any questions!
Best of luck building the best possible gaming pc build for your budget! Questions? Leave them below.