I'm trying to put together a budget gaming PC build for my friend, who only wants to spend around $400. The main use will be playing Fortnite and doing some homework. I've created a parts list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/r9F4Wc. For graphics, I'm planning to grab a used RX 580 on eBay, and to keep costs down, I'll just use the stock cooler. I'd love to hear any suggestions or improvements you have for this build! Also, I'm looking for recommendations on some affordable case fans, preferably 1 or 2. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Just a heads up, the Q300L case tends to trap heat due to its design. You might want to search for a better option on the used market, ideally for around $20-30. Also, don't overspend on the R5 5500 and B450 motherboard; you can likely score an R5 3600 and B350/B450 board for about $50-60 each used. Finally, consider investing in a higher quality SSD for just a bit more. Arctic fans are great and 1-2 should be enough, just make sure to consider their placement for better airflow.
For budget case fans, you can't beat Thermalright; they have great deals where you can get a set of 3 for about $12. If you want something with a bit more power, Arctic fans are a solid choice too. Overall, your build looks pretty good for the price. The only major improvements would be if you're willing to buy some parts used.
Thanks. I’ll check out the Thermalright fans!
Just a note on the RX 580, it’s getting quite outdated now and driver support ended in 2023. You might want to look into the AMD RX 5500 or an Nvidia 1650 for better performance. Also, consider a motherboard with PCIe 3 support, which is often cheaper than B450 options. Going for 1x 16GB RAM could also be a good move; it's slower, but that way you can easily upgrade by adding another later. For SSDs, I'd recommend the Patriot P400 Lite, it's solid for the price and faster than many cheaper alternatives.
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind! What do you think about this Newegg combo deal? https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails?ItemList=Combo.4814737