PC Build Navigation:
- $1500 Gaming PC Build
- $1000 Gaming PC Build
- $800 Gaming PC Build
- $500 Gaming PC Build
- Gaming PC Peripherals & Components Ideas
Welcome to the June 2021 Gaming PC Builds of the Month, bringing you the best budget builds from $1500 to $1000, $700 and $500 and everything in between.
The June 2021 Gaming PC Build hardware updates: Things seem to be on the uplift in the PC hardware market as of late, which is good. I mean, hardware supplies (specifically with GPU’s) aren’t necessarily hitting normal levels or anything, but there does seem to be more folks getting their hands on some higher-end cards. And if you want some ideas on how to get your hands on a fresh GPU, you can try some of the ideas in my article The 2021 GPU Shortage.
IF you can’t find a GPU for your gaming pc build, one suggestion is to look at CPUs with integrated graphics, and some of the builds below have those included as options. However, for the builds that’s don’t, feel free to leave a comment asking what might be a good option for your specific needs. And then you can hunt down a GPU in the future and at least get started playing games in the meanwhile.
And as mentioned previously, Intel had officially launched their Intel Rocket Lake processors, which is Intel’s first architecture in the last six years – wowzers. And what we’d be interested in with these particular builds you see below would be the release of the Intel i9-11900K and the Core i5-11600K and the i5-11600K is currently a great contender for the included AMD Ryzen 5 5600K. Meaning, it would be a great substitute should you choose Intel given recent benchmarks being released. While the Intel i9-11900K could have replaced the $1500 builds alternative CPU upgrade option, the Ryzen 9 5900K, but it’s just doesn’t do the trick given its high cost per performance.
Further, the MOST exciting part of Intel’s Rocket Lake releases is the Intel Core i5-11400F, which has recently set the standard for budget CPUs and is a high contender for the infamous AMD Ryzen 3600 that I’ve included in the less expensive builds you see below for a very long time. Also, if you are having trouble getting a graphics card priced reasonably, you could also get a newer Intel i5-11400 which has integrated graphics (unlike the 11400F), and at least game while you wait for a proper GPU to come in stock.
With all of that being said however, we are sticking with the Ryzen 3600, as as the motherboard supports are cheaper, and it comes with a decent stock cooler to get going, making the overall cost per performance still a lot cheaper.
Below you will find the best budget builds up to date for June 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 June 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 June 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 | June 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: $299.99
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
*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 not in stock: Search for other RTX 2070's in stock
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: $87.99
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: $120.33
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: $125.99
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 (June 2021): $1431 - $1641 (assuming GPU supply and cost)
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $1500
The best $1500 gaming pc build for June 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 June 2021 and there is actually supply now, awesome!
Also to note, Intel just 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. However, I would consider this over say a Ryzen 3600 (as in the below builds) if you can a tad more to spend on both a CPU and motherboard.
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 | June 2021
Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 (HD) resolutions up to Higher Settings at 2560×1440 (2K)
Powered by the AMD Ryzen 3600 and the RTX 3060 Ti 8GB Graphics Card
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler
The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a phenomenal gaming processor for the cost. Straight out of the box, it can beat some more expensive CPUs in gaming.
Amazon Price: $209.99
2. Cooler (Included): Wraith Stealth Cooler
The AMD 3600 comes with a stock cooler that is more than enough.
Price: Included
3. Motherboard: ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming 4
This is a great budget B550 motherboard, perfectly matched for the Ryzen 3600 CPU offering the exact amount of features you need to get up and gaming with your new PC.
- Supports 3rd Gen AMD AM4 Ryzen / Future AMD Ryzen Processors
- 8 Power Phase Design, Digi Power
- Supports DDR4 4733+ (OC)
- 1 PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 PCIe 3.0 x16, 2 PCIe 3.0 x1, 1 M.2 Key E for WiFi
- Graphics Output Options: HDMI
Amazon Price: $96.00
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 3600 MHz DDR4 DRAM Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 16GB (8GBx2)
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 3600 MHz, which is the perfect RAM speed for this build too!
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: $57.99
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: $78.00
8. PC Case: Phanteks Eclipse P360A
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 (June 2021): $990 $1240 - (Assuming GPU supply and cost)
Overview | $1000 Best Gaming PC Build 2021
The $1000 build for June 2021 includes a Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, which straight out of the box performs amazingly and even comes with a stock cooler that will be more than enough to cool this pc build down efficiently, even when overclocking to maximize gaming performance. One could also eye the Ryzen 5 3600X if it’s priced similarly. OR one could eye the newer Intel Rocket Lake i5 11600K, which is a tad more expensive alongside a slightly more expensive compatible motherboard — making it not 100% worth it in my opinion on a price per performance ratio.
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 | June 2021
Capability: Game at Smoothly with High settings and FPS at 1920X1080 resolutions in most games.
Powered by the Ryzen 5 3600 CPU and an RX 5600 XT Graphics Card
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler
The Ryzen 5 3600 CPU is a superb value coming in with 6 CPU cores and 12 processing threads at 4.1Ghz Max Boost. This is a solid gaming CPU that is priced really well.
Amazon Price: $209.99
2. Cooler: Wraith Stealth Cooler (Included)
The Wraith Stealth Cooler is included with the Ryzen 5 3600
3. Motherboard: ASRock B550M-HDV
The motherboard for this build is a newer B550 motherboard featuring newer features for budget AMD board, including straight out of box Ryzen 3000 series support and more.
- Supports 3rd Gen AMD AM4 Ryzen / Future AMD Ryzen Processors
- 6 Power Phase Design
- Supports DDR4 4733+ (OC)
- 1 PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 PCIe 3.0 x1
- Graphics Output Options: HDMI, DVI-D, D-Sub
Amazon Price: $69.99
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 3600 MHz DDR4 DRAM Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 16GB (8GBx2) CL16 BL2K8G36C16U4BCrucial P2 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD Up to 2400MB/s - CT500P2SSD8
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: $57.99
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: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L Micro-ATX
A classic Micro ATX case that offers a great value for the cost - including a compact interior with edge-to-edge acrylic transparent siding.
For full specifications, please visit coolermaster.com.
- I/O panel can be adjusted in 6 different locations and the Case can be positioned: Vertical or horizontal
- Edge to edge acrylic transparent side panel offers a full view inside
- Body depth height: Can support normal size ATX power supply
- Front magnetic design dust filter with open perforated front, top and bottom for high air performance
- Extra space behind the motherboard tray for hidden cable management
Amazon Price: $54.99
Estimated Price (June 2021): $865
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $800
The June 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 is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor and paired with a B550 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 | June 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: $389.99
AMD Ryzen 3 3300X 4-Core (*You will need a Graphics Card with this CPU): *Alternative non-integrated graphics option (if 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: $79.99
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 (*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: $52.99
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: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L Micro-ATX Tower
A classic Micro ATX case featuring an edge-to-edge all acrylic side window. To learn more or for full specifications, please visit coolermaster.com.
- I/O panel can be adjusted in 6 different locations and the Case can be positioned: Vertical or horizontal
- Edge to edge acrylic transparent side panel offers a full view inside
- Body depth height: Can support normal size ATX power supply
- Front magnetic design dust filter with open perforated front, top and bottom for high air performance
- Extra space behind the motherboard tray for hidden cable management
Amazon Price: $48.49
Estimated Price (June 2021): $559
(*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 June 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.
Gaming PC Build Peripherals (Monitors, Mice & Keyboards)
If you’ve decided to build your very own gaming PC and don’t already have PC peripherals or an Operating System, these will be the final things every gaming pc builder will need to get 100% up and running.
You will need a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and an operating system like Windows 10.
So if you are in the market for these things as well, see below for some Operating System ideas and see the following article for some gaming PC peripherals ideas depending on what you’re after.
Visit the Newb Computer Build Gaming PC Peripherals Page.
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 on a USB yourself – simply google how to!) |  |
| Ubuntu (Linux OS) | Ubuntu – Desktop | Free (open source) |  |
| SteamOS | SteamOS – “Build your own Steam Machine” | Free |  |
June 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!
You could also watch the following video as we go through a full pc build:
Comments 2
Hi Great site, enjoying what I am seeing. I am ussually play on consoles, so I don’t know that much about pc, but I am planing in building a $500 pc later down the year, following your advice. But before that happens, can you tell me with kind of games can the $500 budget computer runs? can it run all the new games? Like cyberpunk? but at a lower resolution (I have no problem in playing in 1080p), If it can, will it run atleast in constant 20/60 fps?
Sorry for asking this, I really want to build a computer that can run modern games smootly and not one that can only run games from 5 years ago.
Thank you.
Author
Hey Zaek! Thank you and that’s awesome you’re planning a future build. As for the $500 build, let’s just say it depends. The way it’s currently setup is that it’s using integrated graphics on the Ryzen 5 3400G and no separate graphics card. If you go this route, you can play probably most PC games, but they will have to be on very low settings, but they will be playable. Such as Cyberpunk (a VERY demanding game by the way), here’s an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig2XTAQUECI using just the 3400G.
With that being said. If you are building download the line, I would keep an eye on if GPU supplies become more abundant, and if they do, going with the Ryzen 3 3300X and the recommended GPU, which right now is the GTX 1650, which will give you phenomenally better experience.
IF it is still hard to get your hands on an affordable graphics card by the time you purchase though, you can still get the AMD Ryzen 3400G, still be able to play games, and still have the option to add in a separate graphics card when you are able.
I hope this helps!