Budget PC Build Guide ($400-$600 Range)

Note: All parts listed in red are available in our store. Build total: ~$550

Best Value Components

1. Processor (CPU)

Intel i5-13600K or AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

Excellent mid-range performance with good upgrade paths.

2. Motherboard

ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus (Intel) or Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE (AMD)

Durable boards with good feature sets for the price.

3. Memory (RAM)

G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB or Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB

16GB DDR4 kits with good performance.

4. Storage

Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB or Crucial P5 Plus 2TB

Fast NVMe storage options at different price points.

5. Graphics Card (GPU)

NVIDIA RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT

Great 1440p gaming performance.

6. Power Supply

EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G5 or Thermaltake Toughpower PF1

Reliable power supplies with room for upgrades.

7. Case

Phanteks P400A or NZXT H510 Elite

Quality cases with good airflow and aesthetics.

Budget Building Strategy

Where to Save Money:

  • Use the AMD stock cooler instead of aftermarket
  • Skip RGB lighting and fancy case features
  • Start with 1TB storage (can add more later)

Where NOT to Compromise:

  • Power supply quality (never buy used PSUs)
  • Motherboard VRM quality
  • SSD speed (avoid mechanical hard drives)
Assembly Steps

Key Differences from Beginner Build:

  1. Install the RX 6600 GPU in the top PCIe slot
  2. Connect PCIe power cables to the graphics card
  3. For AMD builds: Use the included Wraith Stealth cooler
  4. Enable XMP in BIOS for full RAM speed
Budget Build Pro Tips
  • Check for CPU/motherboard bundle deals
  • Consider buying GPU used from reputable sellers
  • Wait for seasonal sales (Black Friday, etc.)
  • Future upgrades: Add more storage or RAM first