I'm trying to build a gaming PC with a total budget of about $400–$500. I'm especially interested in the Intel Arc B570, but that GPU would consume more than half of my budget. I'm concerned that the rest of the system might not be powerful enough to let the card perform properly. Should I keep saving, wait for prices to change, choose a cheaper graphics card, or look for a used system instead?
3 Answers
Used hardware is the way to go if you want to stay near $500. Look for a system with a reasonably modern processor, enough RAM, an SSD, and a reliable power supply, then add the graphics card later if the platform can support it. Building entirely from new parts while spending more than half the budget on the GPU probably won’t leave enough money for a balanced system.
Your best value is probably a complete older PC from the used market rather than buying every component separately. Older systems often sell for less as a whole than the combined value of their parts because sellers want to avoid the hassle of dismantling them. You could then upgrade it with the B570 if the power supply, case airflow, CPU, and motherboard are suitable.
A complete new build at this price will be very difficult, especially with current memory and storage prices. The most realistic options are increasing your budget, choosing a lower-cost GPU, or finding a good used system. I wouldn’t count on the market dropping significantly anytime soon.
That makes sense. I’m upgrading from a PS5 because I want more flexibility and generally cheaper game prices, so I’ll focus on finding a used system and checking whether it can handle the B570.