PROS:

• We sell previous generation gaming rigs in the $400-$800 range (console price range),  as opposed to current generation flagship systems that will be at least $1,000 to start and can reach as high as $5,000 or more.  A console is good at gaming, but you can do so much more with a PC, from gaming, to work and productivity, and content creation etc.

 

• This is a good entry point for someone wanting to get into PC gaming without spending thousands.

 

• Entry point for those with smaller budgets, but can still enjoy modern gaming.  Most competitive games (E-Sports) play at the lowest graphics settings to minimize input and visual lag.

 

• A personal computer can play games like a console, but can also do work, stream, content creation, edit videos, edit word and excel documents, look at emails, and print documents.

 

• Plenty of the most popular games do not require very powerful specs.  Examples:  Marvel Rivals, Roblox, Minecraft, World of Warcraft, Diablo Series, Fortnite, Counter-Strike, Apex Legends, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege, etc.  These games can run above 100 FPS on max settings on 8-10 year old hardware.

 

• You can upgrade your rig over time, like add more storage, increase the memory and upgrade the CPU or GPU, or just get a new case.  There is plenty of room to customize and improve.

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Below is a benchmark result on an Intel i7-11700 CPU (Released in 2021) and a Nvidia RTX 3060TI GPU (Released in 2020).

These parts are 5-6 years old and achieving 109 FPS on 1080P High.

 

Below is the same benchmark on a slightly older system with an Intel i5-8400 CPU (Released in 2017) and an RTX 2070 Super GPU (Released in 2019).

These parts are 9 and 7 years old and Averaging 105 FPS on 1080P High.

 

Want to test your rig? The Unigine Superposition Benchmark can be downloaded here.

View more benchmarks for different hardware on our YouTube Page.

Our Recommended Parts for building a Budget Gaming PC:

These parts are linked to Amazon.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050:

Asus Dual Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 6GB OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card on Amazon

This is the ultimate budget GPU to bring any office PC to life.  It does not require any power supply connectors.  This GPU Draws around 75 watts of power directly from the PCIE slot on the motherboard.  If you have an office PC with a weak power supply or lack the 8 pin power connectors, this card is made for you.

Going from integrated graphics to the RTX 3050 will be a huge performance boost for gaming.  Released in 2024 with an MSRP of around ~$179. 

Please note that current product shortages and the AI demand may have increased the available purchase price up from the original MSRP.

 

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050

MSI Gaming RTX 5050 8G Gaming OC Graphics Card on Amazon

Unlike the RTX 3050, the current Generation RTX 5050 requires an 8 pin power supply connector.  This GPU was released in 2025, and costs on Average $70+ more than the RTX 3050.  The MSPR is around $249, but can nearly double the frames per second when compared to the RTX 3050.  

Please note that current product shortages and the AI demand may have increased the available purchase price up from the original MSRP.

Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L Micro-ATX PC Case

Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L Micro-ATX PC Case on Amazon

This is a good low cost and compact case.  It comes with 1 exhaust fan, which would work fine for a stock budget gaming rig.  More fans can be added in the future when overclocking or upgrading to much more power hungry components.  Maximum CPU cooler height is 159MM.  Maximum GPU length is 360MM.  Maximum Power Supply Length is 160 MM.  It comes with magnetic dust filters that give it a sleek look.  It has a glass side panel with IO Built in that can be adjusted to any corner.

MSI A520M-A PRO V1 Gaming Motherboard AMD Ryzen AM4, DDR4

MSI A520M-A PRO V1 Gaming Motherboard on Amazon

This is a good low cost Micro-ATX motherboard that fits in the Cooler Master Case above.

Compatible with an AMD Ryzen 5000 AM4 CPU and DDR4 RAM.

 

 

Geforce RTX 5060

Geforce RTX 2060

The Geforce RTX 2060 came out in 2019 with an MSRP of $349, but can be found for around $200 refurbished and/or renewed on Amazon.  The RTX 2060 is a viable card for those on a tight budget and it can still perform and run most modern games.

The Geforce RTX 5060 came out in 2025 with an MSRP of $299, and can nearly double the frame rate of the RTX 2060, but can easily cost $100+ more.

Please note that current product shortages and the AI demand may have increased the available purchase price up from the original MSRP.