How to Build a Gaming PC for $300

Building a gaming PC doesn’t have to break the bank. With a budget of around 300, you can create a system that can play games like Fortnite, CS:GO, GTA V, and others. Though 300 is a small budget, by making smart decisions with used or refurbished parts and optimizing for performance where it matters the most, you can create a gaming PC that offers good performance for light to moderate gaming. In this guide, I am going to take you through what to expect in the parts, how much they will cost, and what you can play with this budget PC.

Why Build a $300 Gaming PC?

Affordability is important to many players. A gaming PC that costs $300 is ideal for:

Casual gamers who play esports titles or older AAA games.
Beginners who want to experiment with PC gaming without making huge first financial commitment.
Upgraders who plan to improve their system over time.

This build is more than capable of running well-known games at 1080p with respectable frame rates, even though it won’t run the newest AAA games at ultra settings. Additionally, you can always update parts like the GPU, RAM, and storage later.

The $300 Gaming PC Build

Here’s a description about components you’ll need, along with their approximate prices. To keep prices down while maintaining respectable performance, I’ve concentrated on a combination of new and secondhand parts.

1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200G ($80)

The AMD Ryzen 3 3200G is a fantastic choice for a budget gaming PC. It’s a quad-core processor with integrated Vega 8 graphics, meaning you can game without a dedicated GPU initially. This saves money and allows you to add a GPU later for better performance.

Price: $80 (used or on sale)
Why It’s Great: Integrated Vega 8 graphics can handle light gaming, and the CPU is powerful enough for everyday tasks.

2. GPU: Used NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti ($80)

If you want better gaming performance, a dedicated graphics card is a necessity. The GTX 1050 Ti is a budget option that can run 1080p games at medium quality for most games.

Price: $80 (used)
Why It’s Great: It’s energy-efficient, doesn’t require external power connectors, and delivers solid performance for its price.

3. RAM: 8GB DDR4 3000MHz ($25)

8GB of RAM is the minimum for gaming in 2023, but it’s enough for most esports titles and older games. Look for a dual-channel kit (2 x 4GB) to maximize performance.

Price: $25 (used or new)
Why It’s Great: Affordable and sufficient for light gaming. You can upgrade to 16GB later if needed.

4. Motherboard: A320/B450 Chipset ($50)

A budget motherboards like A320 or B450 is perfect for this build. It has suitable functionality for a simple gaming PC and works with the Ryzen 3 3200G.

Price: $50 (used or new)
Why It’s Great: Affordable and reliable for budget builds.

5. Storage: 240GB SSD ($25)

An SSD is a necessity for fast boot and rapid game loading. A 240GB SSD will be enough for your OS and a couple of games. You can add a larger HDD or a SSD later for more storage.

Price: $25 (used or new)
Why It’s Great: Improves system responsiveness and load times.

6. Power Supply: 450W 80+ Bronze ($30)

A secure power supply is crucial for any PC build. A 450W 80+ Bronze PSU is enough for this system and makes space for further improvements.

Price: $30 (used or new)
Why It’s Great: Affordable and efficient for a budget build.

7. Case: Basic ATX Case ($20)

You don’t need a fancy case for a budget build. A basic ATX or Micro-ATX case will do the job as long as it fits your components.

Price: $20 (used or new)
Why It’s Great: Keeps costs low while protecting your components.

Total Cost: $300

Here’s a quick summary of the build:

Component	Product	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 3 3200G (with Vega 8)	$80
GPU	Used GTX 1050 Ti	$80
RAM	8GB DDR4 3000MHz	$25
Motherboard	A320/B450 Motherboard	$50
Storage	240GB SSD	$25
Power Supply	450W 80+ Bronze PSU	$30
Case	Basic ATX Case	$20
Total		$300

Tips for Building a Budget Gaming PC

Buy Used Parts: Check eBay, Craigslist, or local PC part stores for deals on used components.
Start with Integrated Graphics: If you can’t afford a GPU right away, use the Ryzen 3 3200G’s Vega 8 graphics and add a GPU later.
Upgrade Over Time: Start with 8GB RAM and upgrade to 16GB later. Add more storage or a better GPU as your budget allows.
Watch Tutorials: YouTube is a great resource for step-by-step PC building guides.

It’s possible to build a gaming PC for $300, when you can shop smart and put performance first where it counts most. This build is perfect for casual gamers or those looking to get into PC gaming without spending a lot of money. While it won’t handle the latest AAA games at ultra settings, it’s more than capable of running esports titles, older AAA games, and indie games at 1080p.

Games You Can Play on This PC

A lot of games can be played at 1080p with proper frame rates on this $300 gaming PC. Here’s what you can expect:

Esports Titles

Fortnite: 60+ FPS at medium settings.
CS:GO : 100+ FPS at high settings.
League of Legends: 100+ FPS at high settings.
Valorant: 100+ FPS at high settings.

Older AAA Games

GTA V: 50–60 FPS at medium settings.
The Witcher 3: 40–50 FPS at low to medium settings.
Skyrim: 60+ FPS at high settings.
Rocket League: 60+ FPS at high settings.

Indie and Less Demanding Games

Minecraft: 60+ FPS at high settings.
Stardew Valley: 60+ FPS at max settings.
Among Us: 60+ FPS at max settings.

Games You Can’t Play on This PC

While the $300 gaming PC with the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G (Vega 8 integrated graphics) is capable of running many games, there are certain types of games it will have difficulty with or outright cannot play smoothly. Here are some games that won’t run properly or can’t be played on this budget build:

1. Latest AAA Games

The Ryzen 3 3200G’s Vega 8 integrated graphics are not powerful enough to handle the latest AAA games, especially those with demanding graphics and high system requirements. Examples include:

Cyberpunk 2077: Unplayable at 1080p, even at the lowest settings.
Hogwarts Legacy: Difficult to run even at 720p low settings.
Starfield: Requires a dedicated GPU and won’t run on integrated graphics.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022): Unplayable at 1080p.
Resident Evil 4 Remake: Vega 8 graphics cannot handle the demands.
Forza Horizon 5: Difficult to maintain playable frame rates, even at low settings.

2. Graphics-Intensive Open-World Games

Open-world games with large, detailed environments are particularly demanding. While some older open-world games (like GTA V) can run at low settings, newer titles will struggle:

Red Dead Redemption 2: Unplayable on Vega 8 graphics.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Requires a dedicated GPU.
Horizon Zero Dawn: Struggles to run even at 720p low settings.
Far Cry 6: Too demanding for integrated graphics.

3. Ray-Traced Games

Ray tracing is a graphics technology that requires a dedicated GPU with hardware support (e.g., NVIDIA RTX or AMD RX 6000 series). Since the Ryzen 3 3200G lacks ray-tracing capabilities, these games won’t run:

Minecraft RTX: Requires an RTX GPU.
Control (with Ray Tracing): Unplayable without a ray-tracing GPU.
Cyberpunk 2077 (with Ray Tracing): Requires an RTX GPU.

4. VR Games

Virtual reality (VR) games are extremely demanding and require a powerful GPU and CPU. The Ryzen 3 3200G and Vega 8 graphics are not capable of running VR games:

Half-Life: Alyx: Requires a dedicated GPU and VR headset.
Beat Saber: Unplayable on integrated graphics.
Boneworks: Requires a high-end GPU.

5. High-Refresh-Rate Esports Titles

While the Ryzen 3 3200G can handle esports titles like CS:GO and League of Legends at 60 FPS, it difficult to achieve high frame rates (100+ FPS) needed for competitive gaming:

Valorant: Can run at 60 FPS but struggles to hit 100+ FPS.
Apex Legends: Struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 1080p low settings.
Rainbow Six Siege: Playable at low settings but not ideal for competitive play.

6. Next-Gen Console Ports

Games designed for next-gen consoles (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) are too demanding for the Ryzen 3 3200G:

Spider-Man: Miles Morales: Requires a dedicated GPU.
God of War (PC Port): Struggles to run even at 720p low settings.
The Last of Us Part I (PC Port): Too demanding for Vega 8 graphics.

7. Simulation and Strategy Games with High System Requirements

It can be challenging to run some simulation and strategy games on this budget gaming pc because they require a lot of CPU and GPU power:

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020): Unplayable on Vega 8 graphics.
Cities: Skylines (with large cities): Struggles due to CPU and RAM limitations.
Total War: Warhammer III: Requires a dedicated GPU for smooth gameplay.

8. Games with High VRAM Requirements

The Vega 8 integrated graphics share system memory and have limited VRAM (typically 2GB). Games that require more VRAM will struggle:

Call of Duty: Warzone: Requires at least 4GB VRAM.
Battlefield 2042: Requires a dedicated GPU with 4GB+ VRAM.
Elden Ring: Struggles due to high VRAM and GPU requirements.

What Can You Do to Play These Games?

If you want to play the games listed above, you’ll need to upgrade your system. Here are some suggestions:

Add a Dedicated GPU: A used GTX 1650, RX 570, or RX 580 can significantly improve performance.
Upgrade the CPU: A more powerful CPU like the Ryzen 5 5600G or Ryzen 5 3600 will help in CPU-intensive games.
Increase RAM: Upgrade to 16GB for better performance in modern games.
Save for a Better Build: If possible, save up for a mid-range gaming PC with a dedicated GPU.

While the $300 gaming PC with the Ryzen 3 3200G is a great budget option for light gaming and older titles, it is difficult with modern AAA games, ray-traced titles, and VR games. If your goal is to play the latest and most demanding games, you’ll need to invest in a more powerful system. However, for casual gamers or those on a tight budget, this build is a solid starting point that can be upgraded over time.

With a little patience and some savvy shopping, you can create a budget-friendly gaming PC that delivers great value for money. Happy building!

How to Build a Gaming PC for $300: Budget-Friendly and High Performance

Why Build a $300 Gaming PC?