Any recommendations for a budget gaming PC under $800 in 2024?

Question

I’m finally looking to upgrade my setup this year, but I’m strictly capped at $800. I mainly want to hit stable frame rates at 1080p for titles like Starfield and Apex Legends. I’m torn between buying a pre-built or building my own to save cash. Does anyone have a solid 2024 parts list or a reliable brand recommendation?

LunarLibrarian · Accepted Answer

This^ Also wanted to add that building is 100% the way to go if you wanna hit those frame rates in Starfield without breaking the bank. I'm still kinda new to this too, but I've been obsessing over parts lists lately lol. Since the 5600 was already mentioned, maybe look at these alternatives to keep you under that $800 limit:

- GPU: The XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 8GB GDDR6 is basically the king of budget 1080p right now. It handles Apex like a dream, though Starfield might need FSR to stay super smooth.
- Motherboard: You can save a bit with the ASRock B550M-HDV Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard. It's basic but it works!
- Storage: Don't settle for a slow drive; the Crucial P3 1TB PCIe Gen3 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD is usually priced really well.
- Power: Get something reliable like the Thermaltake Smart 600W 80+ Gold BN so you don't fry your stuff.

It's a bit of a squeeze but honestly so worth it once you see it boot up for the first time. gl! 👍

BerryBanshee · Answer

For your situation, I gotta stress the importance of safety and reliability when youre chasing budget parts. Don't just look for the cheapest price; look for components that won't fry your system. In my experience, the power supply is where people mess up. Seriously, dont buy a generic unit. I recommend the Segotep GM750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular Power Supply because it's reliable and has a decent warranty.

Here's a solid, safe list for under $800:

1. CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F Desktop Processor - It's super stable for Starfield.
2. GPU: XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 8GB GDDR6 - Great 1080p performance for the price.
3. Case: Montech AIR 903 MAX Mid-Tower Chassis - Comes with fans pre-installed, so you wont overheat.

Building is definitely the way to go for better quality parts, but honestly, be careful with static when assembling. Good luck tho!!

CinderSonnet · Answer

For your situation, I'd say building your own is honestly the best way to get Starfield running smooth under $800. I was kinda nervous when I built mine last month, but it actually saved me a ton compared to pre-builts! Starfield is super heavy on the CPU, so dont skimp there. I went with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 6-Core 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor and it handles 1080p perfectly.

Here's what I'd suggest for a solid budget list:
- GPU: XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 6600 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card (great value!)
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz CL16 Desktop Memory
- Storage: Crucial P3 1TB PCIe Gen3 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD

I think you might want to consider a cheap B550 board too. Make sure to check prices on PCPartPicker daily cuz they jump around a lot. Building it yourself might feel scary but there are sooo many tutorials... you got this! gl with the build! 👍