I'm trying to build my first gaming PC with a budget of around $200 to $350, possibly stretching to $400. I want to be able to achieve over 120 FPS on games like Fortnite, Counter-Strike, GTA V, Minecraft, and other Steam games, so I can enjoy gaming sessions with my older brother and uncle. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot.
5 Answers
Honestly, for reliable performance, a console might be your best bet at this point. For a proper budget PC that outperforms a console, you're looking at spending at least $650-$750. It might sting a bit, but it ensures smoother gaming.
You could consider buying a complete used system. Building a new PC for your current budget may not be feasible, but a complete package might get you what you need without the hassle.
Honestly, for that budget, you're better off checking out the used market. A good setup capable of hitting those FPS targets usually runs higher than what you're looking at. A budget of around $600 to $800 would be more realistic for decent performance in games like Fortnite or CS2 at 120 FPS. You'll probably be looking at used parts, especially for CPUs, since many popular models are pretty expensive right now.
If you're determined to stay within your budget, keep an eye on used parts. I've managed to build decent PCs for under $500 sourcing parts from Facebook and other marketplaces. Just remember, you won't get everything cheap, especially peripherals, if that's not already covered in your budget.
If you're flexible with your parts, think about getting a used motherboard, CPU, and RAM combo from AliExpress, paired with a decent power supply, case, and SSD from Amazon. Look for a GPU from eBay or other sites. An office PC with a 6th gen CPU or better, adding a low-power GPU like a GTX 1050 Ti, could also fit within your budget. Might even land you a build under $200!

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