Hey everyone! I'm still in school and don't have much money to spend, so I'm hoping to get my hands on a gaming PC and a monitor without breaking the bank. My budget is strictly under $450, and while I know I won't get the most powerful machine, I need something that can handle games like Fortnite, Apex, and maybe even Roblox, preferably allowing me to record while I play. I was eyeing the STG Auburn PC bundle, but the bad reviews really turned me off. If you have any suggestions or tips for getting an affordable rig, I'm all ears!
5 Answers
Avoid STG Auburn! They often take old office PCs, slap them in a new case, and people think they’re getting a new machine. Make sure to check the specs carefully; many of the parts will be outdated and might not even have current support from manufacturers.
Learning about PCs can save you a lot of money, so definitely do your research! Understand prices, and you'll be able to find better deals on used parts. I recommend asking for advice before you make any purchases, to avoid getting scammed or overpaying.
Honestly, if you want to keep gaming affordable, consider combining new and used parts. Workstation computers are sometimes sold off cheap when companies upgrade. Grab one of those, install a new SSD and a decent graphics card, and you could have a solid gaming machine for less!
Just a heads up, it might be tough to record and play at good quality with that budget. A lot depends on where you live, but generally, $450 is not enough for a solid gaming rig that also lets you record without issues.
For your budget, I'd suggest looking at second-hand parts. New components can be pricey, and you might end up with integrated graphics which won't perform well for gaming. Consider getting a used Ryzen 5 3600x CPU paired with an AM4 motherboard and DDR4 RAM. For the graphics card, something like a GTX 1660 Super or RTX 3060 should work fine for 1080p gaming and streaming. It won't be a powerhouse, but it'll handle your games reasonably well and let you record!
Also, keep an eye out for giveaways or sites that offer gifted PCs! You never know what you might find.
Great point! The 3060 is quite robust for the price, especially if you plan to stream in 1080p. Just remember, you can always upgrade your system later!
Where can I actually find used PCs? Any suggestions?