I'm helping a friend put together a budget-friendly gaming PC for around $400, mainly for playing Fortnite and handling general tasks like homework. I've outlined a potential build on PC Part Picker and I'm planning on getting a used RX 580 from eBay for the graphics. I'm also considering using the stock cooler to keep costs down. If anyone has suggestions for this build, especially for good, affordable case fans, I'd greatly appreciate your input. Thanks!
3 Answers
For case fans, check out Thermalright! They have a solid price-to-performance ratio; you can grab a pack of three fans for around $12. If you want something stronger, Arctic is also a great choice. Overall, your build looks pretty solid for the budget—there's not much to improve unless you're open to used parts.
The RX 580 is getting pretty old, and it’s out of major driver support as of 2023. You might want to consider something newer like the AMD RX 5500 or the Nvidia 1650 if you can manage it. Also, for RAM, going with one 16GB stick now can help with upgrades later. It’s generally slower but adds flexibility! If you’re looking at SSDs, the Patriot P400 Lite is a solid, budget-friendly choice.
Just a heads up, the Q300L case can get pretty hot since the panel design isn't the best. It might be worth looking for a used case in the $20-30 range instead. Also, don't buy the R5 5500 and B450 board at $70 each! You can often find an R5 3600 with a B350/B450 board for around $50-60. And for your SSD, I'd recommend a more reliable and faster option—like the WD Blue. Better performance is worth the small extra cost.
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