Hey everyone! I'm a high school student looking to build a PC that won't break the bank, ideally in the $250-$350 range. I'm planning to use it for some light gaming as well as for photo and video editing, but I have to admit I'm pretty clueless when it comes to PC building. Any advice would be super helpful!
4 Answers
If you're really set on building, I think you need a bigger budget to get something functional. Otherwise, a prebuilt PC or a laptop could be a more straightforward solution for what you need.
A cheap laptop could work, but keep in mind they tend to have worse performance compared to similarly priced desktops and are hard to upgrade. A PC is typically a better investment for your needs, especially if you can find some used parts.
Finding a good deal on second-hand parts in your area is your best option. You might be able to score some decent components without spending a fortune.
Honestly, you're going to struggle with that budget if you want a build that can game or do video editing. You might be looking at around $400-$500 to really make it worth your while. Check out this [build I found](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/CpRkyW) for about $450; it should run most games at 1080p at 30fps but it's not gonna handle anything too demanding. For something more robust, a $530 build with a dedicated GPU is what you should aim for.
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