I've been using a laptop for a while, but I'm considering switching to a stationary PC for schoolwork and some light gaming. My primary question is whether I can get better performance from a budget PC build (preferably well under $500, ideally around $200) compared to my current laptop. Right now, my laptop handles schoolwork, gaming, and other activities well enough, but I want to improve my gaming experience, especially for playing Minecraft with shaders and other graphics-intensive mods. I'm okay with buying used parts as long as they're functional. I've never built a PC before but have been doing research and plan to watch instructional videos before I start. I'm curious about how much I can achieve for such a low budget, and I'd appreciate any recommendations for finding cheap parts or suggested components for an affordable build. Here are my laptop specs: **Host:** Inspiron 14 7440 2-in-1, **CPU:** Intel Core i5 120U, **GPU:** Integrated Intel Graphics, **Memory:** 16GB, **Display:** 1920x1200 @ 60 Hz.
1 Answer
Going used is your best bet! Check out places like Facebook Marketplace for deals on parts or complete setups. A friend of mine built a decent PC for around $250-$300 with a good graphics card and lots of RAM. Consider finding a 'donor' PC to salvage parts like the case or power supply; it can save you a lot of money on essentials.
What do you mean by a donor PC? Sounds interesting!