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 October 2021 Gaming PC Build hardware updates: If you have been tuning into the Monthly Gaming PC Builds over here at Newb Computer Build, then some of the updates for October may be a tad underwhelming as there hasn’t been much in terms of new releases. However, overall hardware costs seemed to have gone down a tad over the last month or so, with the exception of the obvious graphics card category.
Graphics cards are available, but it’s a bit of a gamble when searching as they go quick. You can’t quite get cards at around MSRP, and they are still higher than they should be, but I’d say it’s gotten a tad better.
If we are being realistic, the shortage of GPUs and higher costs may last a bit longer, and this is because of the ongoing “chip” shortage manufacturers like AMD have been facing. Recently AMD CEO Lisa Su, mentioned and speculated that the chip shortage will end in the second half of 2022 according to this recent Tech Radar article — which in the short term isn’t great news, but is great to see there may be an end in sight.
With that being said, the builds below are all possible, you just have to do a little searching in terms of GPUs, and the rest of the hardware should be a piece of cake to purchase.
Below you will find the best budget builds up to date for October 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 October 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 | October 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
*Cost has gone down making this a very strong contender to its Intel competitor the i5 -11600K
- 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: $272.99
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: MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS Motherboard
- Supports 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen/ Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics desktop processors for AM4 socket
- Supports ddr4 memory, up to 4400+(oc) MHz
- Audio boost 4 technology with nahimic 3 software enhancement for immersive experiences
- Frozr heatsink with patented fan design – propeller blade technology and double ball bearings
- Pre-installed IO shielding is grounded and protects the IO ports from potential electrostatic discharge damage from the external environment
Amazon Price: $169.99
4. Graphics Card: AORUS GeForce RTX™ 3070 MASTER 8G
*If not in stock: Search for other RTX 3070's in stock OR Go Straight for an RTX 3080: ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity OC ($1435)
Cost (Amazon): $1209.99 (Keep in mind MSRP would put this card at $530-$740)
*Note: Stock on GPU's has been limited, BUT stock does seem to be shifting, albeit slowly. The linked RTX 3070 is in stock at the time of posting this update, however, it is pricy. You can also try these alternative GPUS:
ALTERNATIVE GRAPHICS CARD CHOICES for the $1500 PC BUILD (in stock at posting)
- XFX Speedster QICK319 AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT ($849.99) - Performs *slightly less than the RTX 3070, but WAY better cost at the moment.
- ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti ($1275) - Performs *slightly better than plain RTX 3070
- ASUS ROG-STRIX- GTX 1080 Ti ($869.99) - Performs less, but in stock and less money.
5. RAM: 16Gb 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: $84.99
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: $86.99
7. Power Supply: be quiet! BN672 Pure Power 11 FM 750W, 80 PLUS Gold efficiency, power supply, ATX
- 80 PLUS Gold efficiency (up to 93.9%)
- Modular cables for maximum build flexibility
- Two strong 12V-rails
- Silence-optimized 120mm be quiet! fan
- Advanced stability and voltage regulation thanks to LLC, SR and DC-to-DC
Check out our review of the be quiet! Pure Power 11 Fm 750W PSU
Amazon Price: $114.99
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 (October 2021): $1350 (If GPU at MSRP) - $2119 (With Current GPU Cost)
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $1500
The best $1500 gaming pc build for October 2021 includes an AMD Ryzen 5600X CPU, a newer Ryzen 5000 series CPU that performs amazingly, especially for gaming. The 5600X has come down to a very respectable cost and is widely available now.
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. There are RTX 3070’s available now (as stock was virtually non-existent in previous months with most GPUs), however, do expect to still pay a bit of a premium, or keep checking for stock closer to MSRP cost.
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 | October 2021
Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 (HD) resolutions up to Higher Settings at 2560×1440 (2K)
Powered by the Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and the RX 6700 XT Graphics Card
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler
The Ryzen 5 5600X is a superb processor for any gaming pc build. If you planning an Intel gaming pc build and would prefer the Intel alternative, you could consider the Intel 11400F -- however, at the moment, this cpu is a tad more expensive than it should be.
Amazon Price: $272.99
2. Cooler: Wraith Stealth Cooler (Included)
This is the stock cooler that comes with the Ryzen 5600X. If you are wanting to do some overclocking and feel you need a better cooler, you can always add one in (see the hardware alternatives table on the Best $1000 Gaming PC Build page).
Price: *Included with Ryzen 5600X
3. Motherboard: MSI MAG B550M Bazooka Gaming Motherboard
This is a great budget B550 motherboard, in a small form factor.
- Supports dual channel DDR4 memory up to 128 GB (4400 MHz)
- Lightning Fast Game experience: PCIe 4.0, Lightning Gen 4 M.2 with M.2 Shield Frozr, AMD Turbo USB 3.2 GEN 2
- Core Boost technology combines optimized power circuit layouts and digital power regulation which allows for precise and steady current delivery to the CPU
- AUDIO BOOST rewards your ears with studio grade sound quality for immersive gaming experiences
- Premium Thermal Solution: Extended heatsink with additional choke thermal pad rated for 7W/mk and PCB with 2oz thickened copper
- Flash BIOS Button lets users flash the BIOS even without a CPU or memory. Operating System Support for Windows 10 64-bit
Amazon Price: $119.99
4. Graphics Card: XFX Speedster QICK319 AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
The 6700XT replaced the previous card in this build, which was the 3060 Ti. The 6700XT performs a bit better, is in stock and is better priced at the moment. However, if you can find a 3060Ti in stock for less, that would still be a great option as well.
Price: $849.99 (actual) - $479.99 (RX 6700 XT MSRP)
Alternative Graphics Cards:
- ASRock AMD Radeon RX5600XT ($729.99) - Lesser performing card, but much less!
5. RAM: Crucial Ballistix 3600 MHz DDR4 DRAM Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 16GB (8GBx2) CL16
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 a great spot for Ryzen CPUs.
Amazon Price: $84.99
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: $49.99
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: $79.99
8. PC Case: Phanteks Eclipse P400A ATX Mid-tower
- Optimal cooling performance with the ultra-fine performance mesh front panel and features a tempered Glass Side panel in a compact Mid-tower
- Spacious open interior: supports up to E-ATX motherboard, 280/360mm radiator in front, vertical GPU mounting support (with PH-VGPUKT_02)
- Two pre-installed high-performance low noise fans with an integrated fan controller with 3-speed fan modes: low, medium, high
- Extensive storage options: 6x HDDs (2x HDD trays included) and 8x SDD (2x dedicated bracket included) mounting locations
- Easy accessibility to I/O featuring 2x USB 3. 0, mic, headphone, power button, reset, and the 3-speed fan controller
Amazon Price: $74.99
Estimated Cost (October 2021): $1163 (with GPU at MSRP) - $1532 (With current GPU Cost)
*Prices on this PC build are a bit inflated at the moment, if you want to lower the cost then I would suggest bumping the GPU down to an RX 6600 XT instead.
Overview | $1000 Best Gaming PC Build 2021
The $1000 build for October 2021 now includes a Ryzen 5 5600X (same as the above $1500 pc build) and includes its wraith Stealth cooler. You don’t have to spend any money upfront for a cooler, however, if you want more superior cooling should you be overclocking, you could consider a better cooler (check out the $1000 gaming pc build page for upgrade alternatives),.
The real performance driver behind this build is the RX 6700 XT, which at the moment of posting this article is in stock for ok costs. However, you could also consider the previous card that was included in this build, which was the GTX 3060 Ti.
This $1000 pc build will play games smoothly at a 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 | October 2021
Capability: Game at Smoothly with High settings and FPS at 1920X1080 resolutions in most games.
Powered by the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X CPU and an RX 5600 XT Graphics Card
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3300X
The Ryzen 3 3300X is a phenomenal budget CPU that has been shown to do very while as a gaming pc cpu and it competes very well with the previous AMD Cpu that held this spot, which was the Ryzen 5 3600.
- 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors are the world's most advanced in the desktop PC gaming segment
- Can deliver smooth 100+ FPS performance in the world's most popular games, discrete graphics card required
- 4 cores and 8 processing threads, bundled with the quiet AMD Wraith Stealth cooler
- 4.3 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 18 MB of GameCache, DDR-3200 support
- For the advanced Socket AM4 platform, can support PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
Amazon Price: $210
2. Cooler: Wraith Stealth Cooler
The stock cooler that comes with the Ryzen 3 3300X is the Wraith Stealth Cooler.
Amazon Price: *Included
3. Motherboard: MSI Arsenal Gaming B450M Bazooka MAX WiFi
- Supports 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen / Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics and 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen with Radeon Graphics / Athlon with Radeon Vega Graphics Desktop Processors for Socket AM4
- Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 4133(OC) MHz
- Lightning Fast Game experience: 1x TURBO M.2, Store MI technology
- Core Boost: With premium layout and fully digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance
- DDR4 Boost: Advanced technology to deliver pure data signals for the best gaming performance and stability
Amazon Price: $92.08
4. Graphics Card: ASRock AMD Radeon RX5600XT
*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.
Price: $729.99 (Actual) - $279.99 (MSRP)
*Note: As with all GPUs the costs are quite high, but supply levels are increasing and cards are becoming increasingly available.
Alternative Graphics Cards
- ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super ($499.99) - Performs less, but is more budget-friendly, although way above MSRP.
- MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 ($339.99) - Budget card. Doesn't perform as well, but is more affordable
5. RAM: Crucial Ballistix 3600 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: $84.99
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: $49.99
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 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: $49.99
8. PC Case: Zalman S4 ATX Mid Tower Gaming PC Case
- Bezel Design For Optimal Airflow
- Full Acrylic Tinted Side Panel Shows Your Custom System In Style
- High-Strength Chasis and Premium Black Coating for Corrosion Protection
- User Friendly Case I/O
Amazon Price: $52.99
Estimated Price (October 2021): $1270.03 (With Current GPU Cost) - $820 (With GPU at MSRP)
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $800
The October 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 3 3300X, which is a budget CPU that performs way higher than you’d think while gaming.
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 | October 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: $289.95
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: $210 *A bit higher than it should be at the moment
2. Cooler: AMD Wraith Spire cooler (Included)
This cooler is included with the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G and is more than enough to cool this $500 gaming pc build.
3. Motherboard: ASRock B450M PRO4 AM4 AMD Promontory B450 SATA 6Gbs USB 3.1 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
This motherboard is a quality budget Micro ATX sized board, that features everything you'd need in a $500 PC, including:
- Socket AM4 Digi Power design 9 Power Phase design Supports 105W Water Cooling (Pinnacle Ridge) Supports 95W Water Cooling (Summit Ridge) Supports 65W Water Cooling (Raven Ridge)
- Chipset AMD Promontory B450
- Memory 4x DDR4-3200+(OC)/2933/2667/2400/2133 DIMM Slots Dual Channel ECC Non-ECC Unbuffered Max Capacity of 64GB (AMD Ryzen series CPUs (Pinnacle Ridge))
- Slots 2x PCI-Express 3 0 x16 Slots (one runs at x8) 2x PCI-Express 2 0 x16 Slots (two run at x4) 1x PCI-Express 2 0 x1 Slot
- SATA 4x SATA3 Ports Support RAID 0 1 10 NCQ AHCI and Hot Plug
For full specifications, please visit AsRock.com.
Amazon Price: $77.00
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: $339.99 (*Quite a bit over MSRP at the moment)
*Alternative lesser comparable graphics cards if no GTX 1650's are in stock:
5. RAM: TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z DDR4 16GB Kit (2x8GB) 3000MHz (PC4-24000) CL16
16GB is an upgrade to the $500 gaming PC build, and might even be more than you actually need. However, at the moment 16GB kits are close in cost to 8GB ones at the moment anyhow -- so it only makes sense.
Amazon Price: $56.99
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: $29.99
7. Power Supply Unit: Thermaltake Smart 500W 80+ White Certified PSU, Continuous Power with 120mm Ultra Quiet Cooling Fan
500W is plenty for this pc build and the Thermaltake Smart 500W RGB does the trick perfectly.
- Delivers 500 Watt Continuous output at plus 40 degree. Compliance with Intel ATX 12 Volt 2.31 & EPS 12V 2.92 standards
- 80 PLUS Certified, 80 percentage efficiency under typical load
- Supports (2) PCI E 6+2pin Connectors. Active (PFC) Power Factor Correction, MTBF: 100,000 hours
- Industry Grade Protections: (OPP) Over Power Protection, (OVP) Over Voltage Protection, (SCP) Short Circuit Protection
- High Quality Components
- Equipped with a powerful plus 12 Volt rail, superior performance under all types of system loading
- 5 Year Warranty
Amazon Price: $39.99
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 (October 2021): $543.91
(*Using integrated graphics on the Ryzen 5 3400G)
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $500
The best $500 budget Gaming PC build for the month this October 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 made 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 an 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 (both the GTX 1650 and newer Ryzen 3 3300x).
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 | $99.99 (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 |  |
October 2021 Gaming PC Builds of the Month Overview Video
*Coming soon!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.
Comments 4
Hey guys! I have been following you since August 2016, when you guys help me build my first PC rig which I still currently have:
Processor: Intel Boxed Core I7-6700K 4.00 GHz 8M Processor Cache 4 LGA 1151 BX80662I76700K
Cooler::Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler CW-9060025-WW
Motherboard: MSI Performance Gaming Intel Z170A LGA 1151 DDR4 USB 3.1 ATX Motherboard (Z170A Gaming Pro Carbon)
Graphics Card: ASUS Geforce GTX 1070 8GB Turbo Edition 4K and VR Ready
Ram: Ballistix Sport LT 16GB Kit (8GBx2) DDR4 2400 MT/s (PC4-19200) DIMM 288-Pin – BLS2K8G4D240FSE
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-75E500B/AM)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2 80+ PLATINUM, 750W ECO Mode Fully Modular NVIDIA SLI and Crossfire Ready 10 Year Warranty Power Supply
Computer Case: Fractal Design R5 black window
Keyboard: Logitech RGB G810 Orion Spectrum
Mouse: Razer Mamba tournament edition
Pad: Razer firefly
My question is, does my rig still hold up? I was thinking about upgrading my monitor which I been wanting to do for a while since my current one is 1920 x 1080, 60Hz. It is good but I know I can do better and I know my rig would be able to handle a 144Hz one. Besides that, in the future, what should my focus be on with regards to my next upgrades? and when should I start upgrading it?
Thank you so much, I am a big fan!
Author
Hey Jacob, how amazing. Welcome back!
Funny enough, I would say your rig should still holds up alright. I mean, typically the easiest way to boost your performance would be to plug a better GPU in there, however the 1070 is still not bad, and actually worth now than when you bought it. So in terms of that, if I were to do your next big upgrade, I’d do that and probably wait until mid 2022 to do so.
I would agree, a bump up to a 144hz 1080p monitor would would be well worth it for gaming. You could bump up your storage to an NVMe SSD as there is a M.2 slot in that motherboard as well — which could speed up boot and software load times a bit.
Other than that, you’re probably doing alright performance wise. You could always see what sort of FPS you’re getting in whatever you play and I wouldn’t even upgrade unless you’re actually in need there.
You have 16GB of memory, albeit not the fastest kit, but you could always look at Task Manager while doing whatever you do on your PC and see if it’s being fully utilized, but with 16GB and gaming I wouldn’t think so.
Other than that, you could always overclock the heck out of the I7-6700K and your 1070 haha.
Appreciate the kudos!
Thanks sooo much! 🙂 and one last question does my Cooler::Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler need any special maintenance after all this time?
Author
No problem! And I mean other than making sure the rad is clear of dust (I like to spray canned air through mine once in a while) and that it’s still running, it’s probably all right. If you are finding temps spiking at any point, that may indicate a problem. The only other thing you could really do is re-seat it, and re-apply some thermal paste which sometimes helps after a period of time.