BUDGET BUILD

Enjoy 1080p gaming without breaking the bank

B660M Pro RS ASRock $120

This is as cheap as we want to go while still offering room for expansion and upgrades down the line.

Core i5 12400F Intel $180

There’s no iGPU on this chip, but it’s a little cheaper as a result, and will work great for this particular build.

GeForce RTX 3050 Nvidia $249

This GPU will deliver 1080p performance easily, and with 8GB of memory, it’s built to last. Laminar RM1 (included with CPU) Intel Free with CPU

There’s room for an upgrade here, but on a budget the included CPU will work just fine. Vengeance LPX 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Corsair $49

You could bump this to 16GB, but to save as much as possible we’ll stick to 8GB.

CV Series 550W Corsair $48

You could likely make do with less wattage, but Nvidia recommends a 550W PSU for the RTX 3050, so let’s be safe.

MX500 500GB Crucial $54

One of the best value SATA SSDs you can buy, and plenty fast enough for a snappy OS.

WD Blue 1TB 7200rpm Western Digital $43

You don’t need a HDD, so feel free to cut this to save cash, but one sure helps if you’re a virtual hoarder.

Neos BitFenix $65

You’ll want to minimize how often you rebuild your PC, so make sure to give it a good home. This case’ll do nicely.

GW2280 BenQ $113

A 1080p60 VA monitor will see you through in style and, once you upgrade, will make a superb second monitor.

G213 Logitech $60

It may be a membrane switch board, but it’s stylish, and well-built. Sometimes that’s worth more than cheap clicky switches.

G102 Logitech $30

A classic shape delivered in a sleek shell, this mouse fits all hand sizes and grips. A solid option for the money.