Introduction: Building a Beastly PC for under £500
Are you looking to build a powerful gaming PC without breaking the bank? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process of building a “beastly” PC for under £500. We’ll cover all the components you’ll need and provide suggestions for the best options at every price point.
So, if you’re ready to embark on this exciting journey and create a PC that can handle even the most demanding games and applications, keep on reading!
Table of Contents
1. Processor (CPU): The Heart of Your PC
2. Graphics Card (GPU): The Powerhouse of Gaming
3. RAM: More is Always Better
4. Storage: Speed and Capacity
5. Motherboard: The Backbone of Your PC
6. Power Supply Unit (PSU): Don’t Skimp on Wattage
7. Case: Style and Functionality
8. Conclusion: Tips for Making the Most out of Your Build
9. FAQ: Everything You Need to Know
1. Processor (CPU): The Heart of Your PC
The processor, or CPU, is the central processing unit of your PC. It’s responsible for executing and controlling most of the operations that take place on your computer.
When looking for a processor that can handle demanding tasks such as gaming and video editing, you’ll want to prioritize clock speed and the number of cores. The higher the clock speed, the faster your CPU can process data. And the more cores a CPU has, the more tasks it can handle simultaneously.
Our top pick for a CPU in this price range is the AMD Ryzen 3 3100. It has a base clock speed of 3.6GHz and four cores, making it perfect for multitasking and demanding applications. And at just under £100, it’s an excellent choice for budget gaming builds.
2. Graphics Card (GPU): The Powerhouse of Gaming
The graphics card, or GPU, is the component responsible for rendering images and videos on your computer. And for gamers, it’s one of the most important parts of their build.
When looking for a GPU, you’ll want to prioritize the amount of VRAM (video RAM) and the clock speed. VRAM is essential for running games at higher resolutions and textures, while a higher clock speed means smoother gameplay and more FPS (frames per second).
Our top pick for a GPU in this price range is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650. It has 4GB of VRAM and a base clock speed of 1,485MHz, making it perfect for 1080p gaming. And at around £150, it’s an excellent choice for budget builds.
3. RAM: More is Always Better
RAM, or random access memory, is the component responsible for storing data that your CPU needs to access quickly. And when it comes to gaming, more RAM is always better.
Most games recommend at least 8GB of RAM, but we suggest going with 16GB. This will ensure that your PC has enough memory to handle multitasking and demanding games.
Our top pick for RAM in this price range is the Crucial Ballistix 16GB kit. It has a speed of 3,200MHz, which is perfect for Ryzen CPUs. And at around £65, it’s an excellent value for its performance.
4. Storage: Speed and Capacity
When it comes to storage, there are two types to consider: HDD (hard disk drive) and SSD (solid-state drive). HDDs are slower but have higher capacity, while SSDs are faster but have lower capacity.
For a gaming PC, we recommend going with an SSD for faster loading times and improved performance. And for capacity, we suggest going with at least 500GB to ensure you have enough space for the OS and your favorite games.
Our top pick for storage in this price range is the Kingston A400 480GB SSD. It has a read speed of 500MB/s and write speed of 450MB/s, making it a speedy and reliable option. And at around £40, it’s an excellent budget-friendly choice.
5. Motherboard: The Backbone of Your PC
The motherboard is the backbone of your PC, and it’s responsible for connecting all the components together. When looking for a motherboard, you’ll want to prioritize compatibility with your CPU and RAM, as well as the number of expansion slots it has.
Our top pick for a motherboard in this price range is the MSI B450M Pro-M2 Max. It’s compatible with Ryzen CPUs and has four RAM slots, allowing for a maximum capacity of 64GB. And at around £60, it’s an affordable and reliable option.
6. Power Supply Unit (PSU): Don’t Skimp on Wattage
The power supply unit, or PSU, is responsible for providing power to all the components in your PC. And when looking for a PSU, you’ll want to prioritize wattage and efficiency.
We recommend going with a PSU that can deliver at least 80% efficiency and a wattage of 500 to 600 watts. This will ensure that your PC has enough power to handle demanding applications and future upgrades.
Our top pick for a PSU in this price range is the EVGA 600 BR. It has a wattage of 600 watts and an 80+ Bronze efficiency rating. And at around £60, it’s a great value for its performance.
7. Case: Style and Functionality
Last but not least, the case is where all your components will be housed, and it’s also an opportunity to show off your customization skills. When looking for a case, you’ll want to prioritize functionality, cable management, and style.
Our top pick for a case in this price range is the Thermaltake Versa H18. It has a tempered glass side panel, a PSU cover, and excellent cable management options. And at around £50, it’s a great mid-range choice.
Conclusion: Tips for Making the Most out of Your Build
Now that you have all the components you need to build a beastly PC for under £500, here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your build:
– Make sure to install your components correctly and securely.
– Always apply thermal paste to your CPU before installing the CPU cooler.
– Cable management is crucial for airflow and aesthetics.
– Keep your PC clean and dust-free by regularly cleaning your components and fans.
– Don’t forget to download the latest drivers for your components for optimal performance.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know
Q: Can I use this build for video editing and other demanding applications besides gaming?
A: Absolutely! This build is powerful enough to handle most demanding tasks with ease.
Q: Can I upgrade this build in the future?
A: Yes! This build has plenty of room for upgrades, and you can easily swap out components as needed.
Q: Do I need to buy additional fans for this build?
A: It depends on your case and your personal preferences. Most cases come with pre-installed fans, but you can always add more for optimal airflow.
Q: Can I overclock my CPU or GPU with this build?
A: Yes, both the Ryzen 3 3100 and GTX 1650 are capable of being overclocked for even better performance.
Q: Do I need to buy a Wi-Fi adapter separately?
A: Yes, if you want to connect to Wi-Fi, you’ll need to buy a separate Wi-Fi adapter or choose a motherboard with built-in Wi-Fi.
In conclusion, building a beastly PC for under £500 is entirely possible with the right components and a little bit of know-how. So, go ahead and embark on this exciting journey and unleash the power of your new machine!
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