I'm putting together a gaming PC in the United States and live near a Micro Center. My total budget is about $600, though I could stretch it to roughly $700 if necessary. I need the computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse included. I'd like to play games such as Mortal Kombat, Avatar, Call of Duty, and Gears of War at 1080p and around 144 FPS. What parts or bundles would give me the best performance for this budget?
4 Answers
A lower-cost Micro Center bundle, such as one based on a Ryzen 5 5500, could leave more room for the graphics card. For the GPU, look for used models like an RX 6600, RX 5600 XT, RX 5700, RTX 2060, or RTX 2070. Add an inexpensive 650W power supply, a used case, and a 500GB or 1TB SSD. You’ll likely need to use low or competitive settings to approach 144 FPS, and Call of Duty may require more storage than expected.
That budget is extremely tight for a new system that includes the monitor and peripherals. You’ll probably need closer to $800–$900, especially once you add the graphics card, case, power supply, storage, keyboard, and mouse. A Micro Center CPU bundle could help, but it won’t cover the rest of the build. Used hardware may be the most realistic option.
The 144 FPS target is the main problem, not just the budget. Competitive shooters may reach it with reduced settings, but newer games like Avatar and Gears of War can be much more demanding. A basic keyboard, mouse, and 1080p monitor also consume a significant portion of the budget, so consider saving more, buying peripherals separately, or starting with used parts.
Buying a complete used PC might be better than purchasing every component new. People have managed to build decent systems around $300–$400 from local listings, but it can take weeks of searching and many sellers may stop responding. Only do this if you can test the parts or bring someone who knows what to check.
I agree. Check local used listings, but test everything carefully since there’s always some risk with secondhand parts.