Strapped for cash, but need an entry-level gaming PC to run games like Apex Legends, Fortnite, & Rocket League? Then, this $300 gaming PC build will do the trick for you.
What if I told you that, for $300 you could build a decent entry-level gaming computer for 1080P gaming? No, it won’t be a gaming PC that can max out today’s top games. However, for $300 you can put together a system that is capable of running most modern games on lower (and, for some games, medium) settings.
That’s not too bad for that low of a budget. And, this build will not only deliver solid performance now, but it is also set up so that it can easily be upgraded in the future to a system that will be able to max out games on a budget 1080P monitor.
So, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly $300 gaming PC, keep reading to see how you can build one that will exceed your expectations.
Or, you can check out more builds on our Best Cheap Gaming PC Builds guide.
Table of Contents
I. $300 Gaming PC Build Overview
Not everybody has thousands of dollars to spend on a high-end gaming computer. However, the reality is that spending thousands of dollars on a gaming PC isn’t always necessary. And, if you’re someone who currently has a cheap laptop or older desktop that can’t run any of today’s top games, all you probably care about is getting a system that will at least let you play your favorite games.
With the $300 gaming PC build listed below, you’ll be able to run most of today’s popular games on lower settings on a 1080P monitor.
This $300 build comes with an AMD Ryzen 3 3200G APU, a 240GB SSD, and 8GB of DDR4 memory. The 3200G has decent integrated graphics built into it that can handle most games out there on at least minimum settings.
The build also comes with a 500W power supply that will easily be able to power a mid-range graphics card later down the road, when you are ready to upgrade. In fact, this build is really just a couple of upgrades away from being a really powerful mid-range system. But we’ll talk about potential upgrades further down in the post. For now, here is the part list that will help you build a solid gaming PC for under $300:
*NOTE: We’ve also linked to an affordable pre-built gaming PC, too. So, while you’ll get more performance out of the build listed below, if you absolutely don’t want to build a PC yourself, the pre-built desktop we have linked to will serve as a viable alternative.
Part List for $300 PC Build
CPU | AMD Ryzen 3 3200G | |
MOBO | ASUS A320M | |
RAM | Patriot Viper 8GB | |
SSD | PNY 240GB | |
CASE | Rosewill FBM-X2 | |
PSU | Gigabyte 650W | |
ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
OS | Windows 10 |
Grand Total: $270-$330
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**Price includes the parts that make up the tower only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your desktop asking you to activate it.
II. $300 Gaming PC System Breakdown
While we feel that the components listed above will give you the best value for your budget, there are alternative options that you can go with to either cut the price down further or to get more performance out of the system now…
1. What Games Will It Run and What Framerate Can I Expect?
We’ve already discussed how the integrated graphics on the Ryzen 3 2200G are good enough to run most games on a 1080P monitor on lower settings. But, as a clearer picture of what this system is able to do, you can expect it to:
- Run eSports titles (Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch, etc.) at ~50-60FPS on medium or higher settings
- Run AAA titles (like Middle Earth: Shadow of War, Rise of the Tomb Raider, etc.) at ~30FPs on lower settings
If you mainly play competitive eSports games that aren’t super demanding, then the 2200G will have you covered. If you want to play AAA titles, the 2200G will be able to run them at lower settings, but you shouldn’t expect to get a high framerate at 1080P—although, reducing your monitor’s resolution should help there as well.
2. Why Go With A Single 8GB Stick of RAM?
For RAM, we chose a single 8GB stick of DDR4 memory. Rather than going with a 2x4GB kit to utilize dual channel memory, we opted for a single stick of RAM for two reasons:
- It’s cheaper than the cheapest 2x4GB of DDR4 memory
- It will make adding a second stick of RAM much easier
While you may have been told that running your RAM in dual channel configuration will give you more performance than running a single stick of RAM, the reality is that, for gaming, dual channel configurations typically don’t offer a significant performance advantage when compared to single channel configurations. (For proof of this, check out our guide: Single Channel vs Dual Channel vs Quad Channel Memory).
And, since the micro-ATX motherboard in this build only has two DIMM slots, that means if you were to start out with a 2x4GB kit of memory right now, you wouldn’t be able to upgrade to 16GB of memory down the road without having to replace your existing kit.
By going with a single 8GB stick of memory now, all you need to do to get to 16GB of RAM is to add a second identical 8GB Corsair Vengeance stick of memory.
3. What About the High Cost of Windows?
While the price of this build will fall anywhere from ~$270-$330 depending on how the price of the components are fluctuating, this cost only accounts for the tower itself. It doesn’t account for the cost of an operating system, which you will definitely need in order to get the build up and running.
A brand new copy of Windows will set you back another ~$100. So, that will take the cost of this build up closer to $400 if you buy a copy of Windows brand new.
However, there are ways around paying $100 for Windows.
Use A Linux-Based Operating System?
You can choose to go with a Linux-based operating system for free. The downside, there, though, is that not all modern games can be run on a Linux-based system.
Buy A Windows 10 Key for Cheap from A Third-Party Marketplace?
The other option to cut down on the costs of Windows is to buy it from a third-party marketplace. Sites like Kinguin.net have Windows 10 keys for as low as ~$30. Some people question whether or not purchasing Windows keys from Kinguin is a good idea or not. I covered the pros and cons of using a marketplace like Kinguin in another guide, Is Kinguin Legit? if you want to read further into it.
Get Windows 10 for Free?!?!
If you absolutely can’t afford to pay for Windows right now, the good news is that you can still install it on your computer and use it without having to buy a key for it. The downside is that without activating Windows, you will be limited in some areas on what you can do with your system.
However, even with an unactivated version of Windows installed on your computer, you can still play all of your games and use your system in a fairly normal manner.
The only real differences between an activated Windows and an unactivated Windows is in some customization options (for instance, you won’t be able to put up a custom wallpaper if you haven’t activated Windows.)
So, in the grand scheme of things, if you’re okay foregoing some of the customization options that require Windows to be activated, you could use Windows 10 for free without ever activating it. And, at the very least, if you can’t afford Windows 10 now, you could still always build your tower and use the unactivated version of Windows for the time being, until you can afford to purchase a key.
4. How to Upgrade This Build
The best part about this $300 gaming PC is that, with just a couple of upgrades, it can go from being an entry-level 1080P gaming PC, to a mid-range gaming PC that can max out pretty much any game you throw at it.
Here’s how I would upgrade this computer to get it to a mid-range gaming computer:
1. The first upgrade I’d make would be to add a mid-range GPU (~$175-$300)
The following GPUs would make for a good upgrade:
- GTX 1650
- GTX 1660
- RX 5600 XT
If it were my system, I’d shoot for either a GTX 1660 or RX 5600 XT. These will be more than enough to handle any game on a 1080P monitor right now and in the coming years. And, the good news is that, you won’t need to upgrade your power supply before jumping up to either of those options.
The provided 550W power supply could even power an RTX 2060 SUPER, RTX 2070 SUPER, or an RX 5700 or 5700 XT.
2. The second upgrade I’d make would be to upgrade to a mid-range CPU (~$150-$300)
The motherboard in this build will support newer Ryzen processors with a BIOS update. The following two options would be nice mid-range upgrades:
You could also check out the older Ryzen 7 2700 or 2700X if you could utilize the extra cores. And, on the extreme end, there’s the Ryzen 7 3700X as well. But, if it were me and I had a moderate budget to upgrade my CPU, I’d look at either the 3600 or the 3600X.
3. The third upgrade I’d make would be to add a second 8GB stick of RAM (~$50)
For the next upgrade, I’d double the amount of RAM in this system by adding a second 8GB stick of Corsair Vengeance LPX 2400MHz memory. This will take you from 8GB to 16GB, which will be more than enough for most scenarios.
4. The fourth upgrade I’d make would be to add more storage (~$50-$150)
The other downside of this build is that it only comes with 240GB of storage to start out. That should be enough to hold over most gamers for a little while and the good news is that adding additional storage is pretty easy. And, so, the next upgrade to make would be to add additional storage.
With all of those upgrades, you’ll now have a very capable mid-range gaming computer that can max any game out on a 1080P monitor. Even before the upgrade from 8GB to 16GB, the system would be able to handle any game you threw at it.
III. Peripherals & Accessories to Go With Your New Gaming PC
Along with your computer, you will also need a keyboard, mouse, and monitor (if you don’t already have them.) If you have a $300 budget to spend on your gaming computer, my guess is that you also have a limited budget to spend on your peripherals.
So, with that being said, here are some picks for some budget-friendly peripherals that will pair nicely with this $300 gaming PC build:
Budget Gaming Monitor Pick
Acer G226HQL |
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/10 |
Budget Gaming Keyboard Pick
Tt eSPORTS |
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/10 |
*Or, if you’d prefer a mechanical keyboard, check out our post on the best mechanical keyboards under $50.
Gaming Mouse Pick
Redragon M711 COBRA |
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/10 |
*For more cheap mouse options, check out our guide on the best budget gaming mice.
Conclusion: A $300 Gaming PC Won’t Blow You Away… But it Will Let You Play Your Favorite Games
No, this $300 gaming computer isn’t going to let you max out a game like Borderlands 3 on a 1440P 144Hz monitor. You probably won’t even be able to run The Borderlands 3 on lower settings on a 1080P monitor with a playable framerate with this build.
However, you will be able to run more non-demanding games on lower-to-medium settings. And, the key there is that you will be able to run it. For a lot of gamers who are stuck with older laptops or desktops that can’t run modern games, just being able to run newer games would be a huge upgrade. And, really, that’s who this build is for: people who have an extremely tight budget, but who just want to be able to play mostmodern games.
This system also has a simple upgrade path to becoming a solid mid-range gaming computer, too. So, it will not only work well for right now, but it will also give you plenty of potential for the future as well.
Yeah says
Can this pc be connected to a tv?
Yeah says
Can you run roblox with this build without any lag?
Cian Daly says
I’m not very good at computer stuff, or technology in general. Thanks to you I now have a basic understanding of pc’s. I’m very grateful for all the help you’ve given me in learning about pc’s.
Richard Elkins says
I would have included as baseline or upgrade going to an M.2 storage over cabled SSD.
Biery says
Can you stream gameplay on this build
Biery says
Will you be able to run fortnite on this build
Finn says
Yep! I built this built recently and I have played Fortnite on this build very smoothly and easily at low settings.
Winston Chambers says
what does fortnite run at
Mike says
unable to locate the aerocool cylon case in canada. what case would you recommend as replacement?
Ryan says
could i run rdr2 with a 1080p monitor and this desktop?
Kewin says
Nop, not even close
You can play League of Legends with 100+ fps
Victor Savage says
It was a good guide. I didn’t select these parts due to the cost, and but the benchmarks helped me find sufficient parts to build a PC at only $350 after taxes. I managed to get expanded and faster storage by getting an ADATA Ultimate SU650 480GB on sale for only $64.99. I also decided on a ASRock A320-HDV r4.0 MOBO since it was a bit more compatible with the APU and it was a cheaper board. Of course, I went with the same APU chip because it’s still the best bang for your buck on the market, even if you’re not willing to do the digging.
I also went with a different PSU and Case. I chose the RAIDMAX Vortex ATX404 WB Mid Tower because it’s a much better cooling case, and when I finally found it at $36.99 (avg price $65) it was a no brainer! Since I already had a Raidmax Case, I decided to get a Raidmax PSU and got a Raidmax Hybrid 2 RX-530SS 530W. This should compete with your build, and allow for the same modest level of upgrades. And if I may, the upgrades I recommend most are a GPU and a second stick of RAM when you can do it.
Cord management for my build wasn’t difficult, but it may be for first time builders if you’re not used to mapping your case out. The run was quiet, cool, and it handled my favorite games. It also ran a few modern games I don’t play but my friend does (I’m not into the most demanding games so we just tested them). I would recommend this guide for first time builders, but I also recommend you shop around and research similar products. You may get slightly better performance at the same price or lower.
Ayman says
Could it allow medium graphical settings for Forza Horizon 4 at 720p?
Victor says
Definitely. This APU is able to handle most games on mid settings with a 1080p monitor, so a less demanding display should be fine.
Nishant KR says
Thank you for the guide, and I’m subscribed to your YouTube channel.
Ivan says
Why are you using Gigabyte B450M motherboard in this build? It’s not so cheap.
Jarsy says
I can’t build a PC really at all, can u post a tutorial maybe?
Lifeisoutthere says
https://techguided.com/best-gaming-pc-under-300-dollars/
Hello. Reading article with interest. But surprised section on OS didn’t mention the obvious. Chances are a diy has an older pc with a keyed OS. Instructions on how to transfer that key to the newer system along with quick transfer of apps and data would be useful. The old unit gets a lean Linux for NAS use for instance.
richard bernard says
Hello, is there a guide on how to put all of these parts together?
OkieKid71 says
Bought all the recommendations and built it for my daughter. All went well and it works well enough for her to play Fortnite and Minecraft.
John says
Do you need to update the bios for ryzen 3 2200g?
theo says
hello, this build seems awesome! however? do you think it would be able to run photoshop?
Emerald says
I use a Windows 7 laptop which I’ve upgraded to a Windows 10, and running Photoshop on it is pretty good. It lags very minimum, but other than that, I think it’ll run great on a PC
Marco says
This is a very nice article! Just one question…I am thinking of buying the parts using your links but I don’t actually know how to build a pc. For the sake of the beginners reading this, do you have an article on how to actually build a pc?
Donald Robinson says
Hi this is Mr air time20.I would to get a gaming computer for 300$.Because now days computer is too much.I’m saying up my money to get in the future unit I saw this website.So I was wondering with the gaming computer can I also do web designer in work on the computer? Be im a web designer in a youtuber.So plz email at [email protected]