Assembling a Cost-Effective Gaming Rig

Craving top-tier performance without a hefty price tag? This guide walks you through building a gaming PC that outperforms its budget.

1. Selecting Your Processor

Opt for CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or Intel Core i5-12400F—both deliver solid frame rates at a midrange cost.

2. Choosing the Graphics Card

Look at affordable GPUs such as the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT. They excel at 1080p max settings in modern titles.

3. Motherboard & Memory

Pick a B550 or B660 motherboard with reliable VRMs. Pair it with 16 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM for smooth multitasking and gaming.

4. Storage Configuration

Install a 500 GB NVMe SSD for your OS and main games, plus a 1 TB SATA SSD for additional libraries—balancing speed and space effectively.

5. Power Supply & Cooling

Choose a reputable 550 W, 80+ Bronze PSU. Add an economical air cooler or the stock CPU cooler to keep temperatures in check.

6. Case & Peripherals

Select a budget case with strong airflow. For peripherals, a quality keyboard-and-mouse bundle under £50 offers reliable performance.

7. Build & Validation

Follow each component’s manual, apply thermal paste correctly, and stress-test with Cinebench and 3DMark to confirm stability.

By applying these steps, you’ll end up with a powerful, dependable gaming PC—without overspending. Enjoy building!