Best gaming PC build under $300
Built & Tested By Our Team
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Table of Contents
Build Overview
Building a gaming PC for under 300 dollars can be tough, in fact, it is not recommended. Luckily, thanks to AMD’s range of APUs, it’s actually possible while still achieving some entry-level performance. You need to reign in your expectations when building a PC on a budget like this and if it is at all possible – save a few extra hundred dollars and buy a dedicated GPU, it makes all the difference.
The Ryzen 5 5600G is an “APU” and delivers better integrated graphics than your standard CPUs. While the CPU is fairly strong for the price, the lack of a dedicated GPU may be a problem for some when playing in 1080p. We’ve paired the 5600G with all the compatible hardware it needs, such as the ASRock A520m motherboard, and 16GB of 3200MHz memory.
How we test
We build and test all of the gaming PC builds we recommend, ensuring each of the major components work well together and fit comfortably into the recommended case, with zero clearance issues. The systems/components we review also get a good amount of testing in games – from light to heavy-duty. In the process of testing, we also conduct some benchmarking.
The WePC experts that worked on this build
Seb is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate who has always been passionate and involved in gaming and computers. Ever since tinkering with the family computer and being the tech wizard in the family, he’s had an interest in PCs and all things tech. So while at University build his own computer, became tech support for others and finally found a career working with them daily.
Jack has has a keen interest in computers and video creation for a little over 10 years, and with a professional background in PC building, an education in cyber security and a life long love for gaming,
he really likes to not only play games but to know what makes the PCs driving them tick! The perfect pick for a Benchmarker.
Shaun is a gaming enthusiast and computer science graduate who has been working with computers for the last 15 years. He took a shine to competitive FPS back in the mid-2000s and hasn’t looked back since.
Our Best $300 Prebuilt Gaming PC Recommendations
NSX GAMING 5600G Desktop PC
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
GPU
Radeon Vega Graphics
RAM
16GB
Storage
512GB NVMe SSD
NSX GAMING 5600G Desktop PC
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
GPU
Radeon Vega Graphics
RAM
16GB
Storage
512GB NVMe SSD
You may have gotten this far and have decided you just aren’t quite ready to take the step into custom PC building. And that’s OK! We have found some relevant prebuilt gaming PC options, however, like the build we recommend aiming higher. At the very least, we strongly encourage you to take the leap into PC building, as it’s not going to get much easier than a $300 build. You’ll save money in the long run building your own PCs, and that money you can put into making your PC more powerful.
Our Recommended Custom $300 PC Build
- Last Updated - Sep 17, 2024
This entry-level gaming system is designed to be the best 300 dollar gaming PC money can buy. FPS may not be very high, but this system is as good as it gets for the price.
Our $300 Custom Gaming PC Build
A custom-built PC for $300 is considered entry-level. Without buying second-hand parts, it is nearly impossible to get a dedicated GPU within the budget. If possible, we fully recommend saving an extra 2-300 so you can include a graphics card and play games with fewer issues. This system features AMD’s 5600G. While this isn’t the most impressive CPU out there, its integrated graphics offer some performance for those on the strictest of budgets.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
Speed
3.9GHz - 4.4GHz
Core (threads)
6 (12)
Socket
AM4
Graphics
Vega 7
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
Speed
3.9GHz - 4.4GHz
Core (threads)
6 (12)
Socket
AM4
Graphics
Vega 7
The Ryzen 5 5600G showcases excellent value for money and dominates the competition in this price bracket. The impressive performance makes the 5600G one of the best value-for-money products available today. It comes equipped with Vega Radeon integrated graphics that showcase similar performance to that of the GT 1030. This, in turn, means you have the ability to run low-intensive AAA games at 50+FPS in low/med settings. Perfect for any entry-level PC build. It may not be the best CPU in the world, but it certainly is for this build.
The ASRock B450M motherboard is an entry-level board that offers excellent features at an affordable price point. It’s the perfect starter for any entry-level build and comes equipped with AM4 support, fast RAM support, and the reliability that comes with buying products from this manufacturer. Overall, not one of the best motherboards to ever grace the world but a solid one for gamers.
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This $300 build has no cooler selected because the Ryzen 5 5600G comes with a stock cooler in the box.
Silicon Power Value Gaming RAM 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz
Capacity
16GB (2x8GB)
Speed
3200MHz
Timings
CL16
Silicon Power Value Gaming RAM 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz
Capacity
16GB (2x8GB)
Speed
3200MHz
Timings
CL16
We’ve gone for a Silicon Power DDR4 16GB 3200MHz RAM kit for our $300 build, as it offers excellent performance at a relatively low price tag. It’s pretty much the perfect pairing for the Ryzen APU. With 16GB at your disposal, you are in a great spot to begin with and won’t need to upgrade for a long time.
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This $300 build has no GPU selected because the Ryzen 5 5600G acts as both a CPU and a GPU.
Patriot Memory P310 480GB
Speed
Up to 1.7GB/s Read
Capacity
480GB
Interface
NVMe
Patriot Memory P310 480GB
Speed
Up to 1.7GB/s Read
Capacity
480GB
Interface
NVMe
Ideally, you would want more storage space but to achieve the $300 budget – this 480GB SSD is the perfect fit. This will make your entry-level PC and the various applications installed load reasonably fast and it will give you a serious boost in general performance over your older HDDs.
AeroCool CS106
Form Factor
Mini-Tower (mATX)
Motherboard Compatibility
Micro ATX/mini-ITX
Maximum GPU Length
286mm
Dimensions
199 x 353 x 340.6 mm (W x H x D)
AeroCool CS106
Form Factor
Mini-Tower (mATX)
Motherboard Compatibility
Micro ATX/mini-ITX
Maximum GPU Length
286mm
Dimensions
199 x 353 x 340.6 mm (W x H x D)
The AeroCool CS106 PC Case isn’t going to win any awards for style, but this entry-level case keeps everything within budget. If you ever upgrade your PC to feature a dedicated GPU you may want to upgrade your coase. In the meantime, you will need to purchase a single 120mm fan for entry-level airflow within the system, however, this will not run hot so it isn’t crucial – just good practice.
Thermaltake Smart 500W 80+ White Certified PSU
Thermaltake Smart 500W 80+ White Certified PSU
A Thermaltake 500W PSU is more power than required for this PC, however, it gives you headroom to bring a lowe power-dedicated GPU into the mix. To meet the budget, we had to go for a non-modular, White-rated option but it is reliable and from a regarded brand. If you are curious to know which PSUs we recommend overall, you can find them on our best gaming power supplies page.
Our $300 Custom Gaming PC Build
What Games Can This $300 Custom Gaming PC Run?
This build will provide 60FPS in all competitive online titles, however, if you are looking to play more demanding titles, then you would have to look at the $500 build to achieve 60FPS and above. Additionally, the dedicated graphics card and a more powerful CPU would allow you to raise the graphical settings and resolution in all titles. Looking at demanding single-player games such as The Witcher 3, you would be looking at 30FPS at 900p, but well-optimized titles like Forza Horizon 4 allow for 50FPS at 1080p and still look incredible even on Very Low graphical settings.
Things To Consider
What you get for your $300
One of the main goals for the $300 custom build was to create a gaming PC that could handle some gaming in the short term. The idea behind an entry-level PC such as this is that you upgrade and save for a dedicated GPU later down the line – further boosting your in-game experiences. AMD’s APU range makes this far easier than it used to be. The 5600G is the best APU we could go for and remain under budget, but that wasn’t a bad thing. By opting for an APU, we no longer had to worry about the cost of a dedicated GPU. This means we could bolster other areas of this build like memory.
Let’s be honest, you aren’t buying this build to play AAA games in 4K/ultra settings, you’d have to invest in something like a $2000 gaming PC to do that. This build is tailored towards low-intensity games such as CS2, Fortnite, and Overwatch. The APU should be able to give you 60+FPS on these games on low-medium settings. One of the main things you need to consider at the start of your custom PC build journey is your budget. A lot of people come to us expecting to splash $300 on a custom build that can smash 4k games at 100fps. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Our $300 build has been custom-designed to play less intensive esports titles. Understanding the limitations of your budget at the start will save you time and frustration in the long run.
It’s worth mentioning that Amazon prices do fluctuate regularly. So, this means the builds might not always be under the intended target. Don’t worry, though; we check the builds daily to make sure the most up-to-date and best-value products are being selected.
Non-Gaming Performance
Another key area to consider is the non-gaming side of a PC build. A large number of gaming enthusiasts will design a build around both gaming and workstation tasks. You’ll be glad to hear that we’ve done the same. This build can handle small workload tasks thanks to its multi-threaded performance. Simple video editing and photo editing should be more than achievable, albeit slow. If you’re looking to stream, then you’d be better served with one of our premium builds instead.
Upgradability And Future-Proofing your $300 build
Another area to consider when building your PC is future upgrades. Let’s be honest; a PC won’t last you forever. At some stage, you will need to upgrade its components. Making sure you limit the number of products that need updating when that day comes is a major part of the hardware selection process. Luckily, we’ve already done that for you. This build comes with an up-to-date motherboard, which is perfect for future upgrades. The case is also a solid option that will allow for GPU and additional storage capacity upgrades, as well. Of course, you can upgrade to another AM4 CPU with ease, but if you want to switch to AM5 or Intel, you’ll have to get a new motherboard and most likely memory – so just bear that in mind.
- Last Updated - Sep 17, 2024
Upgrade Options for $300 Custom Gaming PC
We know that this build isn’t supposed to be forever, so we’ve outlined a solid upgrade path for you to follow. Below are our most recommended upgrade options that will boost your in-game performance exponentially. The products below are fully compatible with the above build and can be swapped out with no ramifications. It’s worth mentioning, that you may have to change the PC’s power supply if you want to install a dedicated GPU. The PSU we have in place was the bare minimum to get the build going and keep us below budget.
Remember, the upgrades will increase the base price of your custom build.
We know that this build isn’t supposed to be forever, so we’ve outlined a solid upgrade path for you to follow. Below are our most recommended upgrade options that will boost your in-game performance exponentially. The products below are fully compatible with the above build and can be swapped out with no ramifications. It’s worth mentioning, that you may have to change the PC’s power supply if you want to install a dedicated GPU. The PSU we have in place was the bare minimum to get the build going and keep us below budget.
Remember, the upgrades will increase the base price of your custom build.
MSI Gaming Radeon RX 7600 Mech 2X
Core Clock Speed
1,720MHz base, 2,695 MHz OC boost, 2,280 MHz game
Stream processors
2,048
Memory Size
8GB GDDR6
Dimensions
235 x 125 x 47 mm
PSU Required
500W
TBP
165W
MSI Gaming Radeon RX 7600 Mech 2X
Core Clock Speed
1,720MHz base, 2,695 MHz OC boost, 2,280 MHz game
Stream processors
2,048
Memory Size
8GB GDDR6
Dimensions
235 x 125 x 47 mm
PSU Required
500W
TBP
165W
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Cores
8
Threads
16
Max boost speed
4.5GHz
L3 Cache
96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)
TDP
105W
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Cores
8
Threads
16
Max boost speed
4.5GHz
L3 Cache
96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)
TDP
105W
Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Dual Tower CPU Cooler
Item Dimensions LxWxH
5.31 x 5.91 x 6.5 inches
Brand
Noctua
Cooling Method
Air
Compatible Devices
Desktop
Noise Level
24 dB
Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Dual Tower CPU Cooler
Item Dimensions LxWxH
5.31 x 5.91 x 6.5 inches
Brand
Noctua
Cooling Method
Air
Compatible Devices
Desktop
Noise Level
24 dB
be quiet! Straight Power 11 Platinum 750W
Wattage
750W
Certification
80+ Platinum
Modular?
Yes
be quiet! Straight Power 11 Platinum 750W
Wattage
750W
Certification
80+ Platinum
Modular?
Yes
Operating System & Peripherals
Note: These will raise the price of your build!
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Building Tips
That’s pretty much everything you need to know about the custom build and the hardware it comes with. One thing we haven’t really discussed, however, is the physical building of this PC. If you’re new to the PC building game, then I would recommend checking out our 12 Mistakes that Every Newbie PC Builder Makes article. Furthermore, our 15 Common Questions About Building a PC should answer the most frequently asked questions first-time builds have.
Below are some of our best building tips for new and old builders alike.
FAQs
How long will the $300 build last?
In terms of physical longevity, we’ve seen PCs last 10 years depending on the build quality, how much it’s used, and the conditions in which it is kept. Although, 10 yours is not a guarantee. If we’re talking relevancy, it’s already lagging behind the industry baseline in terms of processing power. You might want to look into upgrading to a dedicated GPU as soon as possible.
Is the $300 build worth it?
The $300 build has many applications, you might just be starting out, or want to give this PC as a gift to someone who is just starting out, either way, this PC build has its uses. If you’re a seasoned PC builder looking to replace a rig on the cheap then we might recommend you wait and save up a couple hundred more dollars to get yourself a dedicated GPU. Dedicated GPUs make all the difference when it comes to gaming performance, and you’ll absolutely thank yourself later.
Closing Thoughts
We’ve done our best to stick within the strict set price boundaries and still provide a PC that offers an immersive gaming experience. Remember, this build isn’t going to blow anyone away with incredible graphics. It will, however, provide first-time gamers with the opportunity to play low-intensive games without breaking the bank.