$850 Gaming PC Build
Building a $850 Gaming PC: A Comprehensive Guide
Building a gaming PC on a budget can be a highly rewarding endeavor. With the right components and careful planning, you can create a powerful system that offers excellent performance for most modern games without breaking the bank. This guide will walk you through the process of building a $850 gaming PC, detailing the components you need and why they are important. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to put together a gaming rig that maximizes your investment.
Setting the Budget and Priorities
When building a budget gaming PC, it’s essential to prioritize the components that will give you the most performance for your money. The primary components to focus on are the CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage. Secondary considerations include the motherboard, power supply, case, and cooling solutions.
Choosing the Right Components
- CPU:
The CPU is the brain of your computer, handling all the instructions from your software and games. For a $850 gaming PC, you want a processor that offers a good balance between performance and price.
Recommendation: Intel Core i5-12600KF
The Intel Core i5-12600KF is an excellent choice for a budget gaming build. It features 10 cores and 16 threads, 6 of them are performance cores and 4 are efficient cores, with a boost clock of up to 4.9 GHz. The Intel 12600KF offers strong single-core and multi-core performance, making it ideal for gaming and multitasking.
Price: $148
- Motherboard:
The motherboard is the backbone of your PC, connecting all the components and allowing them to communicate.
Recommendation: MSI PRO B660M-A DDR4
The MSI PRO B660M-A DDR4 is a well-rounded motherboard that offers good build quality, multiple connectivity options. It is compatible with the Intel Core i5-12600KF, making it a perfect choice for this build.
Price: $140
- GPU:
The GPU is arguably the most critical component in a gaming PC. It handles the rendering of images, videos, and animations, allowing you to play games at high resolutions and frame rates.
Recommendation: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4060 WINDFORCE OC 8G Graphics Card
The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4060 WINDFORCE OC is a great graphics card that offers excellent 1440p gaming performance. With 8GB of GDDR6 memory, it can handle most modern games at high settings, making it an ideal choice for a $850 gaming build.
Price: $300
- RAM:
RAM is essential for ensuring smooth multitasking and quick access to data. For gaming, 16GB of RAM is the sweet spot.
Recommendation: Silicon Power Value Gaming DDR4 RAM 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz
This RAM kit from Silicon Power provides 16GB of high-speed DDR4 memory, which is more than enough for gaming and most other tasks. The 3200MHz speed ensures fast data access and smooth performance.
Price: $31
- Storage:
Storage options have become more affordable, and SSDs (Solid State Drives) are now the preferred choice for their speed and reliability.
Recommendation: Silicon Power 500GB UD90 NVMe 4.0 Gen4 PCIe M.2 SSD
The Silicon Power UD90 offers 500GB of fast NVMe storage, ensuring quick boot times and fast game load times. It’s read and write speed is up to 5000 MB/s and 3850 MB/s, while 500GB may seem modest, it’s sufficient for the operating system, essential applications, and a good selection of games.
Price: $36
- Power Supply (PSU):
A reliable power supply is crucial for ensuring the longevity and stability of your PC.
Recommendation: Thermaltake Smart BX1 750W Bronze
The Thermaltake Smart BX1 750W is an affordable and reliable power supply with an 80+ bronze certified rating. It provides sufficient power for this build and ensures stable performance.
Price: $70
- Cooling:
To cool the Intel Core i5-12600KF a 240mm AIO is essential. It can help to maintain optimal temperatures and improve performance.
Recommendation: Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 Black ARGB CPU cooler
The Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 is a highly regarded 240mm liquid cooler that offers excellent cooling performance and quiet operation. The ARGB lighting adds a touch of flair to your build.
Price: $51
- Case:
The case houses all your components and provides the necessary cooling and protection.
Recommendation: MONTECH XR
The MONTECH XR is a mid-tower case that offers a compact design, excellent build quality, and good airflow. It includes 3 pre-installed 120mm fans and it also has tempered glass side panel and front panel, allowing you to showcase your build.
Price: $64
Total cost: $840
Conclusion
Building a $850 gaming PC is a rewarding experience that offers great value for money. By carefully selecting components and assembling them correctly, you can create a system that delivers excellent gaming performance and reliability. This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of the components needed.
Whether you’re a first-time builder or an experienced enthusiast, this $850 gaming PC build is a solid choice for enjoying the latest games without spending a fortune.
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