I'm a casual gamer and I'm trying to decide whether to build my own gaming PC or buy a used one. I found a used HP Victus 15L selling for $350, but I'm wondering if I would be better off building a PC instead, especially since I'm looking to play games like Sims 4 with mods and Call of Duty. What's a good route to take in the $300 price range if I decide to build?
3 Answers
Honestly, $300 is a pretty rough budget nowadays if you're looking for a gaming rig. You could make something work if you really know where to find good used parts, but expect low-end specs. If you're not super familiar with PC building, consider saving a bit more—$500 could get you something decent. You might find something prebuilt, or if you build your own, you should aim for a decent GPU like an RTX 3060 or 3050.
It's tough to say without knowing the specs of that HP model, but keep in mind prebuilt systems can have limitations, like being tougher to upgrade later. The condition and specs (like CPU and GPU) can also vary a lot based on what you find used nearby.
I'd recommend going for the used option, especially since $350 for a new build is kind of tight. You might need to hunt around a bit to find a decent deal, but buying used generally gets you more bang for your buck.
That’s true! For that price, a lot of new parts won’t cut it. It pays to be patient when looking for used hardware.