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Building a Budget Gaming PC for $500 in 2024

9/11/2024

Building a Budget Gaming PC for $500 in 2024

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Building a gaming PC on a budget can be a rewarding experience, offering both performance and value. Here’s a guide to assembling a powerful gaming rig for just $500.

1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a six-core processor that provides excellent performance for its price. With a base clock of 3.6 GHz and a boost clock of up to 4.2 GHz, it handles gaming and multitasking with ease.

2. Motherboard: Gigabyte A520M

The Gigabyte A520M is a reliable and affordable motherboard that pairs well with the Ryzen 5 5500. It offers essential features like PCIe 3.0 support, multiple USB ports, and solid build quality.

3. GPU: ASRock ARC A580

For the graphics card, the ASRock ARC A580 is a budget-friendly option that can handle most games at 1080p resolution. It provides a good balance between performance and cost, making it ideal for a budget build.

4. RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws V 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3600

With 16GB of fast DDR4-3600 RAM, the G.SKILL Ripjaws V ensures smooth multitasking and gaming performance. This amount of memory is sufficient for most modern games and applications.

5. Storage: KLEVV 512GB NVMe SSD

A 512GB NVMe SSD from KLEVV offers fast boot times and quick game loading. NVMe drives are significantly faster than traditional SATA SSDs, providing a noticeable improvement in overall system responsiveness.

6. Case: Antec NX200 M

The Antec NX200 M is a budget case that offers decent airflow and enough space for your components. It has a sleek design and includes a tempered glass side panel to showcase your build.

7. Power Supply (PSU): Segotep 750W

A reliable power supply is crucial for any build. The Segotep 750W PSU provides enough wattage for your current setup and future upgrades, ensuring stable and efficient power delivery.

Estimated Total: $470 - $530

This build strikes a good balance between performance and cost, allowing you to enjoy most games at 1080p with decent settings. It’s a great starting point for anyone looking to get into PC gaming without breaking the bank.

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Gaming Benchmarks for ASRock ARC A580

  1. Cyberpunk 2077
    • 1080p, High Settings: Average FPS: 55-60
    • 1080p, Ultra Settings: Average FPS: 45-50
  1. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
    • 1080p, High Settings: Average FPS: 70-75
    • 1080p, Ultra Settings: Average FPS: 60-65
  1. Fortnite
    • 1080p, High Settings: Average FPS: 120-130
    • 1080p, Epic Settings: Average FPS: 90-100
  1. Call of Duty: Warzone
    • 1080p, High Settings: Average FPS: 80-85
    • 1080p, Ultra Settings: Average FPS: 65-70
  1. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
    • 1080p, High Settings: Average FPS: 55-60
    • 1080p, Ultra Settings: Average FPS: 45-50

These benchmarks show that the ASRock ARC A580 can handle most modern games at 1080p with high to ultra settings, providing a smooth gaming experience.

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CPU Benchmarks for AMD Ryzen 5 5500

  1. PassMark PerformanceTest

    • Single Thread Rating: 3,220
    • Multi Thread Rating: 20,202

  2. UserBenchmark

    • Gaming: 86%
    • Desktop: 89%
    • Workstation: 79%

  3. Geekbench 6

    • Single-Core Score: 1,365
    • Multi-Core Score: 10,416

Performance Highlights:

  • Single-Core Performance: The Ryzen 5 5500 performs well in single-threaded tasks, making it suitable for gaming and general use.
  • Multi-Core Performance: With six cores and twelve threads, it handles multi-threaded applications efficiently, providing good performance for productivity tasks.
  • Gaming: The CPU’s performance is strong enough to support most modern games, especially when paired with a capable GPU like the ASRock ARC A580.

These benchmarks indicate that the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a solid choice for a budget gaming PC, offering a good balance of single-core and multi-core performance.

Building Tips:

  • Compatibility Check: Ensure all components are compatible with each other. Use online tools like PCPartPicker to avoid any issues.
  • Assembly: Take your time during assembly. Follow online guides or videos if you’re new to building PCs.
  • Cooling: Make sure your case has adequate airflow to keep your components cool. Consider adding extra fans if necessary.

Building your own PC can be a fun and educational experience. With this $500 build, you’ll have a capable gaming machine that offers great value for your money. Happy building!