Can I Build a Decent PC for $200-$550?

It’s going to be tough to build something playable for under $550. Your best bet would be to explore used options, since brand new parts just don’t give you good value at that price. You might end up with something semi-decent if you can find the right deals.

You won't really find a decent new setup for that price, but with a bit of patience, a well-picked selection of used parts could get you something that plays esports titles well. Just gauge what you want to play and shop smart.

Given the current market, I’d recommend checking out used OptiPlex models on eBay. You can pick one up pretty affordably and then upgrade the GPU later, which can really boost performance without going over budget.

I have to say, expecting a ‘good’ PC at under $550 is pretty unrealistic unless you're lucky. If you’re mainly into esports or older AAA games, there's potential with some used parts, but be prepared for compromises.

Honestly, with that budget, you won’t get a ‘good’ PC, but possibly a decent one if you hunt for deals. Just make sure to look at used components. You're probably looking at things like a Ryzen 3000 series or Intel's 10th/11th gen processors paired with something like an RTX 20 series card, or maybe even an RTX 3060.