I'm looking to put together a budget PC build. Currently, I'm working with a laptop that has 4GB of RAM and a Celeron N2806 processor. I'm considering a Ryzen 5 3400G, and I might start with 8GB of RAM instead of 16GB due to budget constraints. Since I'm not very experienced with building PCs, I would appreciate any advice or tips you can provide!
6 Answers
Definitely go for an 8GB DDR4 stick, preferably at 3200MHz so it’s optimized for the Ryzen. When you're ready to upgrade, make sure any additional RAM matches those specs. You could snag used ATX motherboards that support AM4 for around $100, and a decent PSU that’s 650W should be under $100 as well. Cases can be found pretty cheap too; anywhere from $20 to $200 depending on style.
Just to summarize, for your budget build: aim for a decent Ryzen 5 3400G (should be around $100), 8GB RAM at 3200MHz, and a 650W power supply. All in all, you should be looking at about $350 to $500 for the whole setup. Good luck!
What’s your actual budget for this build? Knowing that can help narrow down some good options for you!
If you're really tight on budget, have you thought about just getting a console? With around $400, you might find yourself stuck with outdated parts in the PC market. But I get that a PC serves different needs than a console, especially for more personal projects.
For a decent GPU, I'd recommend looking into the RTX 20 series, like the 2060. It’s more modern than the GTX 10 series but still fair for 1080p gaming on medium-high settings. With the Ryzen 5 3400G, those GPUs can handle light gaming well! But honestly, putting a bit more into RAM is crucial for multitasking—maybe aim for at least 8GB DDR4 to start.
I'm aiming for around $400.