Building a gaming computer is undoubtedly difficult, like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded while juggling. And if you’re trying to build one under a low budget of $300, well, it’s like trying to fit an elephant in a smart car. But fear not, my penny-pinching pals, with some compromise and a little bit of DIY magic, you can still have a gaming PC that won’t break the bank.
For example, by searching for deals and opting for a Ryzen 3200G processor instead of an Intel Core i5, you can get a capable gaming PC for $300 with 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD and a decent GPU.
Of course, you won’t be able to run the latest and greatest games with all the bells and whistles, but who needs those anyway? You can still enjoy the classics like Minesweeper and Solitaire, and even indulge in some Fortnite or Minecraft with your new budget-friendly build.
So, what components do you need for the best cheap gaming PC build under $300? Well, you’ll definitely need a CPU, motherboard, RAM, storage, power supply, and case. But don’t worry, we won’t ask you to sacrifice a goat to the PC gods for good luck. We’ll guide you through the process step-by-step so you can build your own gaming PC without breaking the bank.
Best Cheap Gaming PC Build Under $300 In 2023
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AMD Ryzen 3 2200G
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: AMD | Speed: 3.7 GHz | Socket: AM4 | Cache: 4MB | Cores: 4 | Threads: 4
PROS
✓Very effective for gaming as well as video editing.
✓It provides sufficient speed for high-end tasks.
CONS
✗You need to upgrade next year.
It is an excellent processor having a good buying record for many consumers. It is very reasonable in price as it comes in around 100-150 dollars budget. AMD is a reputable brand and has made a name for itself, especially in the recent past. Gamers tend to prefer this brand for building their gaming computer.
The CPU is an integral part of your gaming computer, so it needs to be chosen correctly. And as per our recommendation, the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G is a decent option for you in 2023. It comes with four cores and four threads having a speed of 3.7 GHz, which is pretty decent for gaming. For budget gaming, you couldn’t have a better option than this as a processor.
The socket used in this processor is AM4 which is sufficient to add to the motherboard. You don’t need an upgrade of the socket to attach it with the other component. It has AMD SenseMI technology, which boosts your gaming computer’s overall speed under budget. This new technology ensures that the performance is pushed to the fullest; this extra boost is called: Precision boost. This boost gives you an ultimate gaming performance, a great feature in the Ryzen family of components.
This particular processor has made overclocking ridiculously easy and fast. The model Ryzen 3 2200G CPU will be a great pick for you as it covers both the requirements of CPU and GPU. Having an attached graphics card means that you don’t need to spend extra money on another graphics card. It would increase the gaming pleasure even more, and you will feel a big difference while playing online with your competitors. It will also give you an extra edge in the gameplay, which will help you to win games from the smallest of margins.
This processor supports high-quality graphics card 4k Ultra HD displays. Building a budget gaming PC, especially for around 300 dollars, is no better option than the Ryzen 3 2200G model. A simple and reliable option for many consumers who have purchased it previously. You could always choose to upgrade it whenever you like, so it also gives you an option. You could either continue with this processor for a long time or choose a different version, a more advanced one, once you have some money in hand in the future.
The good thing about this particular processor is that you don’t need a unique motherboard for its compatibility. Because of its universal socket: AM4 could be attached to your existing motherboard if you have any. It also saves a lot of costs, as you don’t need to upgrade the socket of the motherboard in this case.
AS Rock B450M-HDV
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: ASRock | Memory Speed: 3200 Mhz | CPU Socket: AM4 | RAM memory: DDR4 | Chipset type: AMD | Form Factor: Micro ATX | Weight: 1.61 pounds
PROS
✓The latest technology with relatively lower price as compared to its competitors.
✓Multiple monitors support.
✓Build quality is amazing.
CONS
✗It has some problems with overclocking.
After CPU, the important part you need for a gaming PC is a strong motherboard. Without a motherboard, your PC will not even start unless you already have an old one available. A motherboard is a component in which you attach all the components like a processor, graphics card, RAM, etc. It has to be compatible with all the mentioned components to operate.
Choosing your motherboard would help if you were wise because it is mostly a one-time purchase. A motherboard could last for a very long time, nearly as much as a decade. So it is a one-time investment in most cases unless you want to make twerks with your gaming PC every couple of years or so.
For this reason, we have chosen AS Rock B450M-HDV motherboard, whose price is very reasonable and comes under 80 dollars. It is very compatible with our previous computer part: Ryzen CPU. This motherboard comes at the lowest price possible, so if you don’t choose this, you’re probably going out of your 300 dollars budget.
The form factor of this motherboard is Micro ATX which has various capabilities. You could attach so many components because of this same form factor as we have already chosen a CPU, which is Ryzen 3 2200G, so it is extremely important to choose the compatible motherboard.
It has a couple of power outputs, like a 24-pin ATX motherboard power input and 4-pin 12 V ATX power input with B450 chipsets. As you know, we have chosen the lowest priced motherboard, so a few compromises have been made. It will help if you are bored with these compromises as you won’t get everything of high quality in this budget.
So even after these compromises, you will not regret having this gaming PC once it is completed. Another unique quality of this motherboard is that it can manage three monitors simultaneously. It is extremely important to consider as you can play multiplayer games. As well as play games and work simultaneously.
The B450M-HDV model of the motherboard is the most reliable option when you are looking to build a cheap gaming computer in 2023. In upcoming sections, we have chosen other components, which will clarify why we chose this option in this guide.
This motherboard also has an exceptional cooling performance, which helps it cool down naturally while playing games. For a gaming computer, it is extremely important to have a motherboard with a cooling mechanism, as gamers complain about their PCs overheating because of playing high-intensity games.
Patriot Viper Steel DDR4
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Patriot | Speed: 3200MHz | Memory Size: 16 GB | Memory type: DDR4 | Voltage: 1.35 Volts
PROS
✓A great product at a reasonable price.
✓Beautiful performance.
CONS
✗Lack of RGB.
After installing the processor and the motherboard, we head to the RAM. It is, again, an essential part of the gaming computer because it will increase the overall gaming performance significantly. Once we have installed a motherboard, we need to look at a compatible rig, so in this case: Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 memory is a perfect fit for your budget PC.
It comes at a very reasonable price which will help you to keep under your decided 300$ budget. Only a few years ago, 8 GB of RAM was enough for most games, but you need a bit more memory as time has progressed. Games have also advanced quite a bit, requiring more memory to perform to their optimal level.
In this case, we have given you the option to choose 16 GB RAM, which will be sufficient for now and future. So you won’t have to spend much on memory in the future because even the newer games to be released would work under this memory size. Patriot brand has a very strong build under a very reasonable budget. You will get much better options in terms of brands in the market, but as we are currently sticking to a strict budget, this is a perfect option for now.
You would also notice that this option has DDR4 RAM, the latest technology, under a reasonable budget. One may suggest going for DDR3 to save more money but don’t be that fool. The latest technology gives much better options for playing and installing new games. Not only is there a wider variety of games, but also the functionality and speed at which the games are played will be the key.
The design of this particular brand RAM is beautiful, but it could cause some minor inconveniences too. Patriot 16 GB rig would ensure you play games without lags and stoppage. This experience would lead to winning games you may have lost, as other rigs could cause that minor lag problem. The combination of this rig and the motherboard, processor, and GPU we have chosen will give you an amazing gaming performance.
The Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 is also a great value for money in the long term. You wouldn’t need to upgrade it often. You could upgrade the other related components when you have money, but as long as RAM is concerned, you’re good for 2-3 years at least. It has a sleek and iron-looking design which is more than useful in terms of giving it security from getting any physical damage. Now, as we are done with another important component, RAM, we move to another important component needed by your gaming PC: the power supply.
Apevia JUPITER600W Jupiter
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand:Apevia | Output wattage: 600 Watts| Form factor: ATX12V, ATX | Connector types: EPS, Floppy, PCI Express, SATA
PROS
✓Value for money.
✓Built quality is supreme.
✓Very minimal noise.
✓Outstanding cooling mechanism.
CONS
✗It is only available in black colour. If you are not worried about colours, then there’s no reason to avoid it under this budget.
Now we have another important component of a gaming computer which plays a significant role in generating power. It is a power supply, so we have chosen the brand: Apevia. It is a reliable brand, and the model we have chosen is JUPITER600W Jupiter 600W. Getting any other power supply under the budget of 45 dollars is very tough. It is compatible with all the other components I suggested earlier for building a cheap gaming pc under $300.
The power supply is a component in a gaming PC that should be chosen very carefully, even if you are planning to build a budgeted PC. The reason is that if something goes wrong with the power supply, it damages the motherboard and other related components.
A good power supply gives you enough power to start your PC and make other functions work properly. A quality PSU would ensure that even with lesser or higher voltage, it doesn’t damage the other components. Instead, it damages itself to save the other related components, which are more expensive.
There are: OPP (Over Power Protection), OVP (Over Voltage Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection) and UVP (Under Voltage Protection) in this power supply to make sure the Apevia JUPITER600W Jupiter 600W power supply unit is durable.
This particular power supply also has a 6 + 2 Pin PCI – Express pair, which is very useful for connecting other components. It comes with external connectors as well, which you could buy aftermarket. It is very budget-friendly in terms of price and has a strong base, which doesn’t get damaged easily. The size is so convenient that it can easily fit in your computer case.
The cable’s Apevia power supply unit is well covered with protection, making it more secure for the other PC components attached. It has many positive reviews from people who have previously purchased and used it. And in combination with all the components, I suggested to you earlier in this guide, this power supply unit would be a perfect match.
COUGAR MX330 Mid Tower Case
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Cougar | Weight: 11.2 Pounds | Material: Composite | Ports: USB3.0 x 2, USB2.0 x 2, Mic x 1, Audio x1 | Dimensions: 7.79 x 14.88 x 16.18 inches
PROS
✓It has a strong base.
✓It has transparent side glass.
✓It has cooling support as well as settles components well in it.
CONS
✗Little more expensive than you would like. You wouldn’t like to spend too much on a computer case, would you?
Now we move to another important thing for your gaming PC, which is the case. It has a very aesthetic look as well as reasonable price. I have picked this because of its size and look, as you won’t regularly see what is inside the computer, but the first look will always be at your PC’s case.
The budget for selecting a case was below 50 dollars from my side, and this fits perfectly to it. It has space for all the components I previously recommended to you: Motherboard, CPU, GPU, power supply, and so on. Because of its size and dimensions, there’s enough space to add discrete graphics cards and other upgraded components in the future.
It is a very durable case with a unique airflow that keeps all the other components cool. It keeps all the high-end components cool while playing your favourite game. Even with heavy games, it doesn’t bother you as much as the other cases would do.
Various cases in the market overheat the PC, so keeping that point in mind, I did detailed research before selecting this one. It could last for many years, so you don’t need to change it often when upgrading the other components in the future. You must ensure that the components you select for upgrades in the future match the last part’s sizes.
It has enough space to install the storage cards like SSD and HDD. And even multiples of them, in some cases, do not have much space, and for gaming PCs, you would always need extra storage space. It has a gigantic super cooling mechanism in front, ensuring it doesn’t heat because of the outside temperature.
The design is so amazingly designed that the dust doesn’t easily get into it. And it is very easy to clean when you look to clean it in 2-3 months. The design is so good that you only need a wet cloth to clean it from outside and inside every few months.
The tower case helps the chosen motherboard fit quite nicely and creates no problems. So because of this, you can easily attach the components to your motherboard. At last, you won’t regret this option once you consider it for building your cheap gaming PC in 2023. Let’s head on to the next component: an SSD, a solid state drive.
ADATA SU635 240GB
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: ADATA | Speed: 520MB | Compatibility: Desktop | Capacity: 240 GB | Interface: SATA 6.0 GB/s |
PROS
✓Value for money.
✓Brilliant performance-wise.
✓Minimum noise.
✓Minimum power consumption.
✓Extremely smooth performance.
CONS
✗There’s no reason to avoid it. It’s the perfect match for a budgeted gaming PC.
Now we head on to the solid state drive, one of the essential components for a gaming PC in 2023. Previously we used to have HDD drives in our computer for storage, but as time progressed, we upgraded to SSDs. The solid-state drives are faster, smoother, and more efficient than the HDDs.
The SSD used to be a little expensive previously, but as the years passed, many companies came into competition with one another. Because of this positive competition, the users got cheaper products as brands give price breaks to sell most of their products.
The ADATA SU635 240 GB SSD perfectly matches all the components you have added to your gaming PC. The components we have chosen have a lot to do while choosing an SSD, so we researched the right storage card for you. This SSD has a very bright performance in terms of speed in games and other functionalities in your gaming PC.
It has a unique feature, namely: LDPC (Low-Density Parity Check), which ensures that you have more functional space for work and detects unusual errors. The size of this SSD is enough for playing games on your gaming PC. As we are sticking to a budget, this looks to be the best choice amongst all the other competitors. The price is low, but the performance is not compromised while selecting this solid-state drive.
It saves energy up to 30% compared to the other SSD cards available in the market, which is a pretty decent feature. It provides decent boot-up, data-transferring, and overall processing of tasks in your cheap, built gaming computer. Another plus point of having this card is its technology; it’s the latest one.
The newer technology brings more power and support to your gaming PC, which combines with the other components to generate more speed. Generally, if you have a strong CPU, which is AMD Ryzen 3 2200G, your SSD tends to generate more speed combined to give you a more pleasurable experience while playing your favourite game in 2023.
It summarises the guide: Best Cheap Gaming PC Build under $300. In it, you got the option of a good gaming case, a strong motherboard, an attached processor and graphics card, a decent PSU, and an SSD. It is the best I could do to keep it under your budget. I recommend you push your budget a little bit and then pick a strong RAM for your gaming PC to make it run fast. It wasn’t possible in this budget, but I feel if you have around 500 dollars, you could build a good gaming computer for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play competitive games on a PC built for under 300 dollars?
You can play competitive games on a PC built for around 300 dollars. You may compromise a bit on quality as the components used require upgradation for quality features. But playing many games on budgeted PCs is certainly possible in 2023.
Is it possible to play GTA and related games on a 300 dollars gaming PC?
You can play GTA and other action-filled games on a gaming PC for around $300. However, there will be compromises on display quality and speed if you look to play newer versions of GTA; old versions will play smoothly.
Can you further upgrade your gaming PC, which is built on a 300 dollars budget?
The best thing about a gaming PC is upgrading it whenever you like, unlike gaming consoles. So yes, you can upgrade your PC if you initially build it under a certain budget.
Can you play shooter games on a gaming PC built on a 300 dollars budget?
You can play a limited number of shooter games on a PC built for under 300 dollars. But yes, several shooter games require fewer specifications and could be played on your budget gaming computer.
What is the lowest price I can add all the computer components to a gaming PC without compromising much?
I feel you must have a budget of at least 400-500 dollars at least to give you a good chance to build a decent gaming PC. In this case, you’ll not compromise much on necessary parts and build a PC for long-term operations.
Final words:
It ends our guide: Best Cheap Gaming PC Build under $300. Please share your views on this and share with us if you got any valuable information from this article. If you have more questions about building a cheap gaming PC within a certain budget, contact us. Various articles are available on Gaming Zaming, which will guide you while choosing components for your new gaming PC. It also has to buy guides that help you build a computer from scratch in 2023.
Thanks for reading!