I'm looking to replace my aging 2016 gaming laptop, which is honestly showing its age after almost a decade. My budget is $446, and I've heard building a PC could get me a better performance. I'm not very knowledgeable about this, so I really don't know what to expect. The performance I'm aiming for is similar to being able to run games like Dark Souls III and Sekiro without major issues, but unfortunately, my laptop can't handle Elden Ring at all. I may also need to include a monitor in my budget since I don't have one. I hope to maybe score a monitor for free, but I'm not counting on it. Can anyone give me insights on what kind of build I can expect within this price range?
4 Answers
Honestly, just keeping an eye on the used market is your best bet. A reliable option might be buying an old office PC and then adding a second-hand GPU to it. Channels like 'RandomGaminginHD' on YouTube have budget builds you can follow. You can often find a decent second-hand graphics card and a used Dell Optiplex as a starting point.
For that budget, you're likely looking at used parts to make it work. Searching platforms like Facebook Marketplace for older pre-built systems could be a good route. I've seen decent builds, like one with an RTX 2080, go for around $500—something worth checking out! You won't get top-of-the-line components, but you can find something that plays FromSoftware games well.
You're really going to need to scrape some used parts for this. I built mine with older parts, and it runs great for the cost! Aim for something like a Ryzen 5 1600 CPU paired with a decent B450 motherboard, and definitely think about a solid-state drive (SSD) for speed. Monitors can be found cheaply too—another reason to go used.
For sure! I've even found monitors at thrift stores for under $50. You'd be surprised by the deals you can score if you look around.
If all else fails, I’d say wait a bit longer and save up more. A good pre-built system is going to blow a $446 budget considerably, especially if you include a monitor. You might find it more worthwhile to invest a bit more for something that'll last you longer.
That's a reasonable point. I definitely want something that's not just a temporary fix, so I’m open to taking the time to save a bit more.
Totally agree! I also recommend checking out videos from 'Budget Builds Official' for additional ideas. Finding a good second-hand office PC and shoehorning a low-profile graphics card could be an efficient way to stretch your budget.