Most gamers dream of ideal setups powered by the latest tech, while some just want a solid budget pick that can run almost anything.
Although I enjoy the latest tech myself, I relate more to the latter category.
This is why I crafted a setup full of items that have the greatest efficiency-to-money ratio. Now I have a great machine that can run almost any game and many amazing accessories to enhance my gaming experience.
Best Overall
Runner Up
Budget Pick
Here are the components powering my PC:
- GPU: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660 6GB
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB)
- SSD: Crucial BX500 1 TB Internal SSD
- Case: NZXT H510 ATX Mid Tower Case
And here is the additional gear:
- Monitor: ASUS VG259QM
- Mouse: Razer Viper Mini
- Keyboard: Cooler Master CK552
- Headphones: HyperX Cloud Stinger 2
Finally, here are the FPS scores for my favorite popular games:
- League of Legends (1080p Very High): 220 FPS
- Apex Legends (1080p Very High): 130 FPS
- Assassins Creed Valhalla (1080p High): 60 FPS
- Battlefield V (1080p Ultra): 90 FPS
- CS:GO (1080p High): 260 FPS
- Fortnite (1080p Epic): 220 FPS
- Forza Horizon 4 (1080 High): 90 FPS
- Grand Theft Auto V (1080p Very High) 80 FPS
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The PC and its Components
As you have seen from the FPS chart above, this build packs quite a powerful punch for its relatively low cost. This is all thanks to GTX 1660 and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 combo. If I were to recommend anything from this build, these two components would be it.
GPU (ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660 6GB)
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ boost clock 1785 mhz ✅ fits 99% of systems ✅ 3 x DisplayPort 1.4 ✅ 1 x HDMI 2.0b ✅ good air flow |
❌ RAM 6 GB ❌ loud fans |
GTX 1660 is the most efficient mid-range graphics card. When tested against GTX 1660 Ti it gives 9% more value for the money spent. The card has no issues outperforming Radeon RX 580, either. Additionally, the GPU runs smoothly and quietly, and it offers much room for overclocking.
So if you are someone who wants a great card that does not break the bank, I would wholeheartedly recommend GTX 1660. It has never failed me, and it allowed me to install any game without having to check its system requirements first.
CPU (AMD Ryzen 5 3600)
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ CPU Speed 4.2 GHz ✅ 100+ FPS performance ✅ 6 cores and 12 processing threads ✅ supports PCIe 4 0 on x570 motherboards ✅ Wraith Stealth Cooler |
❌ no fan included ❌ short lifespan |
Not often do we see a processor that is just the perfect combo of cost, features, performance, frequency, and cores. When we do see it, however, it often becomes the number one ranking processor on Amazon. This is exactly what happened to Ryzen 5 3600, and that is why I included it in my build.
So whether you are looking for a budget CPU for gaming or anything else really, this one is definitely the best bang for your buck. It runs cool even in cases with minimal ventilation, and it has a performance that blows old AMD’s FX series out of the water. I would have a hard time recommending any other processor next to the Ryzen 5 3600.
RAM (Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB)
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ hand-sorted memory chips ✅ low-profile height of just 34mm ✅ high-performance PCB ✅ solid aluminum heatspreader ✅ supports Intel XMP 2.0 |
❌ no RGB lights ❌ plain appearance |
Corsair Vengeance LPX is a GOAT of entry-level RAMs. It is one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest DDR4 memories, and it has a stellar performance that is sufficient for most modern builds. The only drawback that can be considered as a drawback is its lack of RGB lights and plain appearance, but I consider these a bonus.
SSD (Crucial BX500 1 TB Internal SSD)
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ 1TB Solid State ✅ 300% faster than a typical hard drive ✅ loads files quicker ✅ improve overall system responsiveness ✅ boots up faster |
❌ not the greatest SSD ❌ low memory capacity |
I’ll be honest, this is not the greatest SSD out there, but it certainly delivers a lot considering its price. You can expect games to load fast, much faster than if you were using some average HDD.
You will notice that I picked 1 TB of memory. I did that since I found that size was the most appropriate for my needs. If you are someone who wants a bigger or lesser size, you can easily pick the same model with lower or higher memory capacity. The price remains fair for each size, so that is not something you need to worry about.
Case (NZXT H510 ATX Mid Tower Case) Enhanced Version
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ front I/O USB Type-C Port and Tempered glass side panel with single screw installation ✅ patented cable routing kit ✅ installation of either closed-loop or custom-loop water cooling ✅ motherboard support: Mini-ITX, MicroATX, and ATX ✅ 2 Aer F120mm fans included |
❌ no RGB ❌ no LED lights |
When I bought this case, it was around $80, and it should be around the same price point now. It definitely was not the most budget pick, but I did not mind handing out a little more money for a nice aesthetic case that would blend with my setup.
The case has great airflow, cable management, and sufficient cooling. It can comfortably store most components, and I would not recommend a bigger case unless you are going to equip it with things like water cooling and so on.
External components (Mouse, Keyboard, Headphones)
When it comes to external stuff, I still had a budget in mind, although a little less so. The thing I was aiming for the most was performance. I tried to find the top-of-the-line gear that was relatively cheap.
Mouse (Razer Viper Mini)
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ LED Lights ✅ 6 programmable buttons ✅ 62 g ultra-lightweight ambidextrous design ✅ perform quicker and smoother swipes ✅ powered by Razer Chroma RGB |
❌ software issues ❌ for small hands |
Razer Viper Mini is definitely one of the best tech pieces I own. The mouse is most known for how great it performs in FPS games, but I could not find a single complaint as a MOBA-LoL player.
Viper Mini has an extraordinarily low click latency, which means every click gets registered without issues. This is something I really treasure as a right-clicking League of Legends enjoyer.
When it comes to its sensors, there are no issues either. It does not have the greatest sensor on the market, but it still works flawlessly. I have used mice that have technically better sensors, but I have not noticed much difference.
The only complaint that can be made about this mouse is its size. Some people find it too small for their hands. I find that completely fair, but I must highlight that I have not had issues with its size.
Mousepad (Cherry MP 2000)
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ surface is waterproof ✅ efficiently reduces signs of wear and tear ✅ ensure precise and silent handling ✅ XXL size 800 x 350 x 5 mm ✅ suitable for all mouse sensors |
❌ minimal design ❌ no color variations available |
The cherry MP 2000 is a recent addition to my gaming gear. The mousepad is mad good, and it definitely feels better than all the ones I used previously. I don’t know what technology was used to create it, but it definitely feels much better than cheaper alternatives. My mousepads used to get chalky white spots all the time, but with this one, I have not had any issues.
It’s been over a year since I purchased it, and it still looks brand new. The size I went for is XXL, and I much prefer it over the smaller ones I used in the past. It just feels more premium, and it enhances the gaming experience.
Cherry MP 2000 is also waterproof, which is one of my favorite features. If you are clumsy like me you will definitely appreciate not having to go through all the hassle associated with spilling a drink on a regular pad.
Keyboard (Cooler Master CK552)
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ Gateron Red mechanical switches ✅ rapid response times ✅ LEDs with multiple lighting modes ✅ 16.7 million colors to any key ✅ fine-tune macros |
❌ not wireless ❌ no color variations available |
We are finally living in times where you can get a decent mechanical keyboard for $80. I decided to spend this amount on none other than Cooler Master CK552.
The keyboard has a pretty simple yet appealing look that can blend in with any setup. The keys are soft, and the sound produced is medium. It definitely is not too loud, but it is not the quietest keyboard either.
All the keys have their individual RGB lighting that features over 16 million color combinations. As you might imagine, I have not had the opportunity to test all 16 million combinations, but I was very satisfied with the 300-400 combinations I used.
Regarding durability, developers claim that the keyboard can endure 50 million clicks. A quick Google search reveals that this is around 96 years. If you are a League of Legends jungler player though, I would assume that the number of years would be slightly lower. (Alprazolam)
Also read: Best Cheap and Budget-Friendly Gaming Keyboards in 2023
Headphones (HyperX Cloud Stinger 2)
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ over ear headphones ✅ minimal design ✅ good sound quality ✅ improved game chat experience ✅ adjustable rotating earcups |
❌ no RGB ❌ wired only |
There is no talking about gaming gear without mentioning headphones. They are not as necessary as a mouse and keyboard, but I could not imagine gaming without them.
The headphones I decided to add to my gaming gear loadout are HyperX Cloud Stinger 2. These are probably the best headphones I have used for under $50, but they do not come without their limitations, though.
The main thing that someone might dislike is their wired-only nature. I have not had any issues with this, as I do not mind having the cable. Otherwise, there are no issues in this regard since these are pretty straightforward plug-and-play headphones.
Another thing that is probably driving down their price is the plastic build. I do not find this a dealbreaker, though, since they are really comfortable in long gaming sessions. They are notably lightweight.
The most distinguished thing about Cloud Stinger 2 is its sound quality. It is clear that all the money that was cut on the build went straight into developing the best-sounding headphones for under $50.
High performance Monitor
Budget Gaming Monitor 1920 x 1080 – 1080P Full HD with Display Port.
Monitor (ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM)
High performance G-SYNC Compatible 280Hz IPS Monitor with Display Port.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| ✅ ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync (ELMB SYNC) ✅ G-SYNC Compatible ✅ connectivity ports include DisplayPort 1.2 ✅ fast IPS technology enables a 1ms response time ✅ High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology |
❌ low resolution ❌ no 4K support |
Conclusion
We are living in the golden era of gaming. The prices of gaming gear and all the related things have gone down significantly, and they have become much more affordable. This has allowed me to create a relatively cheap build that can run almost any trending game at 60 FPS.
The two main things powering this PC are its 6 GB GPU (GTX 1660) and CPU (AMD Ryzen 5 3600), and they are the ones to credit for performance. Additional components were simply the most budget-friendly ones found through hours of research.
When it comes to external components, I was a little more open to spending, but I was still somewhat conservative. The picks I made all share nice simple aesthetics and a great consistent performance.
(5 votes, average: 4.60 out of 5)
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