Before going about building your own gaming PC, you will, first of all, need the right parts.
That is why we are here.
Choosing the right components for the build can be a giant of a task at first, however, once you dive in it gets surprisingly simple, and a lot of fun too. This guide from (brand name) by no means is meant to be exhaustive, treat it as more of a primer for what you will need to know for gathering the right parts, and eventually putting together your dream gaming desktop.
In this post, we will be mostly focusing on building a gaming desktop – but it would cover the basics for everything starting from a high-end work rig to a simple media desktop.
Alright, let’s get to it!
How to build your own Gaming PC in a very reasonable budget?
And what will you need to get started?
Central Processing Unit or the CPU
The central processing unit is the literal brain of the PC where the instructions are converted into actions that the computer can then execute. If the CPU is the brain, the rest of the system parts are its body.
CPU being the most important component for any computer comes with endless options in a variety of price ranges. Two giant manufacturers for the consumer PC space are AMD and Intel – even with these two, you get massive choice options. If you are leaning towards AMD, go for the third-gen Ryzen, or the Threadripper – for a high-end machine. For Intel i Core CPUs are all good options – however, do consider the 12th Gen 15 or i7 if you want to build a serious gaming rig. Even if these two aren’t your thing, go for the Core i9.
Motherboard
It is the large circuit board connecting all computer components that make up your PC while facilitating communication between the hardware. There are options galore for motherboards, from the simple ones at the lower price end spectrum to to feature-rich motherboards with all bells and whistles. Your motherboard choice will depend on what CPU you are getting and what features you will be interested in. Remember to keep features like the CPU overclocking, lighting, and connectivity options in mind before buying a motherboard.
Video Cards or GPU
The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) will have to biggest impact on your gaming experience.
GPU allows your system to do complex graphics calculations – these calculations are responsible to make the games look so good. Many CPUs come with integrated graphics – however, a GPU is a must if you want the ultra gaming experience.
Again we see the two biggest players in the world of graphics – AMD and Nvidia. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can either go for lower-end modern GPUs including the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, or AMD’s Radeon RX 6500. On the flip side if you want a dope gaming experience – GPU might get to become the priciest part you will buy. In consumer-facing GPUs, Nvidia RTX 3090 Ti is the current crowned king, with AMD Radeon RX 6900 following right behind.
RAM / Memory
The Random Access Memory or RAM is your PC’s short-term memory – and when it is about RAM, the more, the merrier.
You just can’t have too much RAM, however, for practical purposes, most gaming rigs will do ok with a 16G B, or a 32GB for keeping the system viable in the coming years.
Gaming Desktop Storage
Storage is where all of your data will be stored – so your PC can access it.
This data includes files, games, your operating system, or any other type of data that needs to be kept on the storage drive. Formerly, storage at most consisted of HDD (hard disk drives) however now we have the SSDs (solid state drives) readily available. SSDs are essentially quieter, faster, and more durable but also come at a higher cost per gigabyte.
Samsung 980 Pro M.2 SDD is the current leading option, and 3TB Seagate Barracude HDD also works great for large installations and file storage.
Gaming Monitor
Now as you have chosen the parts of your build, it’s time to talk about everything else you will need for your ultimate gaming rig.
Let’s begin with a gaming monitor! As the sweet gaming experience is nothing if you can’t see anything.
As far as the gaming monitor is considered the entry-level 1920×1080 monitor or even a TV will do. However, we are talking about the ultimate rig, and how to build your own gaming PC in a very reasonable budget. So, let’s look at the best of both worlds – shall we?
For a good gaming desktop, you might need to move up to the higher resolutions for the gaming screen, like the 2540×1440, or even go as far as the 3840×2160 the 4K option for crystal clear images. Also, go for a higher refresh rate something along the lines of 144Hz to even 240Hz – making everything look a lot smoother. According to the choice of your GPU, you might want a gaming monitor, that works with Nvidia G-Sync or the AMD Freesync, as this will improve your gaming experience by reducing the gaming screen tearing.
The above factors including others like the aspect ratio and the display size will increase the cost. That being said, there is not much point in having a powerful gaming desktop if your display isn’t any good – hence a good gaming screen is worth the investment.
If you want a moderate-price entry-level screen, the curved Acer ED242QR comes with Freesync and 144 Hz refresh rate. If so you want to move up the ladder for a high-end gaming monitor, Alienware 34 offers everything you will need for a luxury gaming experience.
Building a Gaming PC on Budget
Congratulations!
No matter if it’s your first gaming laptop / PC or the twentieth, congratulation on taking the time to learn about how to build your own gaming PC in a very reasonable budget. There is always more to learn but if you have come about this far, you are on the right track to becoming a Gaming PC DIY master.
So is that it?
Nope, for a perfect gaming experience you will also need a good mouse, a keyboard, and a wonderful operating system – stay tuned for our next article which will discuss all these important components of a good gaming desktop and more.
Till then, Happy PC gaming!