I've been a console gamer for years and have never built a traditional PC, although I do own a Steam Deck. I'd like an easy living-room setup for playing PC games, but my budget is limited. The system needs to run Windows and be noticeably more capable than my Steam Deck, especially for games such as Baldur's Gate 3 and upcoming AAA titles. I'm not chasing ultra settings, ray tracing, or high refresh rates—1080p on low or medium settings is fine, and even 30 fps is acceptable. My main goal is playable performance without constant tweaking. A compact, understated case would also be ideal since it will sit in the living room. Is a system like this realistic for less than $700, or should I keep using my aging Steam Deck for a while longer?
3 Answers
A used build can come in well below $700. One example using a Ryzen 7 2700, 32GB of memory, and an RX 6600 was built for roughly $350 and managed most games at 1080p around 40–60 fps. Newer hardware would give you more headroom, but you don’t need an expensive high-end system for your stated goals.
For a new-parts build, you may need to be selective with the graphics card and shop sales. An RX 6650 XT is often a strong value near the lower price range, while a used RX 6700 XT can offer even more performance. The 6700 XT generally beats a used RTX 3070 in conventional rendering, though the Nvidia card can be preferable if ray tracing or certain software features matter to you.
Prioritize the graphics card, then build around it with an older Ryzen 5000 system and DDR4 memory. A used 5600-class processor paired with a 3060, 4060, RX 6600 XT, or RX 6700 XT should meet your expectations. Avoid ultra-small proprietary systems unless you’ve checked upgradeability, cooling, and the power supply carefully; a modest micro-ATX case is usually easier to assemble and maintain.
A used RTX 3070 would also be more than capable for 1080p, but I’d compare its price against the Radeon options before buying. The 6650 XT is usually the simpler value choice for this budget.