Best Budget Gaming PC for a decent 1080p Gaming Experience = Console Killer

This is our attempt at building the best budget gaming PC for a decent 1080p gaming experience, without destroying your bank account.

[phoenixwing]

didn't add in the cost of the operating system.
Edit: I also don't see the cost of a monitor either.

[nowitzki2004]

You can plug it into the TV. and get Windows 10 keys for about $30

[_LarZen_]

If they assume people will use a TV then they need to add the cost of a decent gaming controller. And what shady webpage can you buy Win10 keys for $30?

[AuditorGamer]

True. Can anyone actually comment on the specs? I want to get into PC gaming but don't know where to begin! Thanks!

[Death]

@Auditor,

The specs are all outdated. I would never build a PC like this since you would be building something already "old". The GTX1050 used is a "budget" card with budget specs. You would be better off getting a cheap PC in store and throwing a GTX1070 at it.

[Dee_91]

Win 10 for $30? where?!
120gb will probably last me a month tbh

[QUIMICOMORTAL]

and it will make your tv look like shit! and you will need a wireless controller, and an anivirus to clean all the crap your "30dollar windows key will inlcude" and all of that wont let you play any aaa exclusive this year!

So hardly a console killer, more like a reminder of why it is cheaper and more confortable to play on console, plus the current exclusives...(except xbone)

[Agent-86]

To all questioning the cost of WIndows 10 keys, they are VERY CHEAP to buy at reputable key sites. I've bought numerous codes over the years and have yet to get "burned" by a bad code. I bought Win10 Home Retail Edition for $21....the site also has the OEM version for just $8. I wanted the retail version so I can put it on future builds, but $8 per build is still a damn good deal.

No problems with the key and the OS works perfectly. People who think you can get a virus from a key code are delusional. The software is downloaded from MS regardless of where you buy the code....it is only used for authentication. The same goes for game codes: buy the key, redeem key on Steam, Origin, etc., authenticate, and download/install.

Anyways, if interested, here is where I got my Win 10 key:

https://psngames.org/downlo...

Also, this site shows numerous listings for Windows 10 for under $20:

http://cheapdigitaldownload...

[Lon3wolf]

No one factors in the cost of a TV for console prices either.

[_LarZen_]

That's true. The difference tho is that most people have a TV. And most people use a monitor for PC usage. That said more and more are starting to use a gaming PC as a HTC/console experience connected to a TV.

But then the price of a game controller and wireless keyboard mouse solution must also be added as you must have both.

[Lon3wolf]

@_LarZen_

Funnily enough I use my monitor for both console and PC gaming :D

[BeOpenMinded]

When I used TV to game, which I did. I sometimes would want to use the PC for office work. I didn't want to do that on the screen. That's just me

[Princess_Pilfer]

Do you add the cost of a TV to a console?

Linux is free/ You can get Widows 7 Ultimate for under 10 USD on ebay

You can play with a keyboard and mouse just fine on the couch (you can buy a desk or platform for about 20 USD, or you can make one for half that in lumber) If you're really cheap you can just put the keyboard in your lap and the mouse on a cardboard box beside you.

A wired controller, if you want one, is ~15 bucks but again, you don't need one. (in fact the desk is a better investment, not all games can be played with a controller but basically all of them work on kb/m, even if it's not ideal for some)

It's also not counting the cost of PSN to play online, which PCs do for free, and (so far) has added 200 USD to the price of that PS4, making it a 600 USD machine. (that frequently fails to even manage 1080p and almost never manages 60fps, I might add.)

Have I covered all the common arguments?

[_LarZen_]

No PC gamer who wants to play new AAA games installs Win7 or Linux. Except some diehard nerds that is. But we are not adding them to this are we?

Cant play with a mouse and keyboard in the couch. Are you crazy? Have to tried? No PC gamer with any care for his/her arms would do that.

EDIT: No Mcguyver solutions.

[JasonKCK]

Reach for the sky!

[Princess_Pilfer]

Actually a lot of PC gamers are still using Windows 7 Ultimate. Performance wise, it's very, very close (often slightly better) but without the privacy concerns.

No, I'm not crazy, and yes, you can. In fact I do. I sit crosslegged on the couch with the keyboard resting on my knees. I used to use one of those adjustable TV dinner desk things but it broke when I moved. That's not a "mcgyver solution" it's a plain old solution.

[zuul9018]

@Larzen
I prefer win7 over 10. I wouldnt say im a diehard nerd, but i guess judging people you dont know is a cool thing to do.
I also use my keyboard on my lap, mouse next to it. I do use my old wired 360 controllers sometimes too.

Not a mcguyver solution or a mcgruber solution, just using your brain. You sure seem to know a lot about what PC gamers CAN and CANT do.....

[Nintendo4Lifex]

Have never once paid full price for psn. Got 15 months for 40 bucks. Also the 6 free games and 4 free on Xbox on top of the savings which add from 10% to 20% done pay for it after two or three game purchases.

[vallencer]

1. No you don't add the cost of a tv to consoles because...well you already have one. There are a lot of people who prefer a monitor with a set up over a tv.

2. Linux is garbage for gaming and you know it. You're just throwing it in here to help keep cost low. Just checked your windows 7 pricing. The reality is those keys that are under 10 bucks probably are not legit keys.

3. Needs to be a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse to do anything comfortably so you have to add that cost in there. Never seen a desk for 20 dollars. Just checked amazon and a few other websites all for 50 plus. The lap trays are also 50 plus.

4. How has ps+ added already 200 to the cost of a ps4? It's 60 bucks a year and if you wait to buy it during christmas you can get it for even cheaper. Sure it's free on the pc but not that expensive for consoles. Also you're adding that to the price of the pro. Most people will get just the regular ps4 for 250. So even if we add your crazy argument of another 200 its' still only 450.

Try harder. Seriously. Not saying you can't build a good pc for cheap but consoles will always be cheaper in every aspect. Budget pcs aren't good pcs for gaming. They are mediocre at best.

[Vedo]

You can get Windows 10 Pro 64bit for less than 5 pounds. This guy sold 7000 of them. I bought one 1+ year ago, Windows is activated, no issues at all.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/G...

[morganfell]

"Have I covered all the common arguments?"

No you haven't covered the argument for people that are desperate to maintain the relevance of a device with no exclusives and that can easily be outrun by older PCs. A device that will hardware irrelevant the day it launches because a PC running the very same titles will come off the starting line so fast they won't even realize its gone. No amount of logic will suffice here. No point and counter point will help people so determined for one moment of what they see is glory. Laughable really because it is games that make hardware relevant. Exclusive games. They want to play the power card, but they want to pretend the winning hand isn't sitting across the table from them..

[Princess_Pilfer]

1: So? What do I care what "lots of people prefer?" You can buy a moniter for your PS4 too if that's what you prefer. That doesn't mean we add the cost of a moniter to the PS4.

2: Depends entirely on the computer and the game. You can run the games in a VM and old games are easy to brute force if the VM or WINE isn't enough for you. Also, if you think they aren't legit, find another seller. Windows 7 isn't expensive, and (as with games) people can have keys lying around for any number of reasons.

3: No you don't. Both my KB and Mouse are wired.

4: You didn't look very hard. 19USD
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360...

5: There are a couple ways we can do this. If you want to compare that PC to the PS4 Pro, that PC is about the same price (in fact it's slightly cheaper after counting PS+ for this year.)

If you want to compare the PC to the PS4 then yeah the PS4 is cheaper than that PC right now. But of course the PC has more than double the power.

If you really wanna go that route, you can pick up a GTX 970 for ~45 USD off ebay, an i3 6100 for ~110 a gigabyte mobo for ~25, a 500gb hdd for 35, 8gb of ram for 55 and a 400w power supply for 25 and a case for 30.. All told ~320 dollars, meaning it's 20 dollars more than PS4+ 1 years of PS+.

The 970 is ~100% more powerful than the PS4s gpu. The 2500k is *miles* ahead of the Jaguar.

No, you're flat out wrong. budget PCs are excellent at 1080p gaming. The 970 (and 1050 depending on which example you're using) will manage 1080p/30 fps maxed settings in basically everything (the PS4/Xbone usually don't run at maxed settings) and will frequently manage a fairly consistent 60 if you do like turn down AA. Budget PCs aren't good at 1440 or 4k gaming, but 1080p is right in the wheelhouse of the parts you'll be picking up for a budget PC. That's what they're built for. It's only "bad" compared to much more powerful PCs, they'll still outperform consoles and look better while doing it.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

So what is the cost? All I see in the total cost is: R7,443 or less? I am assuming that is a typo.... so curious is this $443 or less or $1,443 or less....if it's the later then it's a failed comparison as xbox one and PS4 are now both sub $299 regularly.

Also can we not finally acknowledge the biggest thing almost EVERY pc gaming is greater than console article never mentions? And that would be the average gamer with a nice home theatre set up doesn't want the giant PC case all these "uber" rigs seem to use for the entertainment space. Build out some pc's that have the same form factor & size as a PS4 slim or xbox one s and then show me that cost comparison to get me thinking they are on the same level not some 2ft tall case that can't slide into anything cause its too tall and generates too much heat.

[Princess_Pilfer]

No, not 1443, 443. I can manage the same thing for only slightly more, watch.
https://pcpartpicker.com/li...

PSN alone has cost someone who bought a PS4 in 2013 200 dollars.

BTW, that computer is 13x12x16. So it is a bit over cubic foot. For reference, the PS4 is 10x2x12, you shouldn't have trouble fitting such a thing into an entertainment center.

And for the record, anywhere you couldn't fit that computer you *also* don't want to put your PS4 because you're gonna run into heat problems that will wear out your system faster and/or cause throtteling (which you may or may not notice as inconsistent framerates or the dynamic resolution lowering itself to prevent that) Computers (PCs, laptops, phones, video game consoles, ect) should always have a lot of exposure to airflow if you're doing anything demanding (like running a game,) and never be run in an enclosed space that they'll heat up.

[zuul9018]

@princessPilfer Right on! I got the same CPU and MB. But i got a GTX 960 only 2gb graphics card. Also still using the stock cooler that came with the 6100. Would you recommend that fan? I dunno why ive waited like a year to put one in but it hasnt been too noisy for me and i havent seen signs yet of overheating.

[Princess_Pilfer]

@zuul9018
I honestly couldn't tell you. On an I3 I'm not really worried about heat, the stock heat sync is fine, the fan is just in case. Also noise isn't an issue because my PC is under my TV half a room away, so it'd have to be like a 747 engine for me to hear it over whatever else is going on.

Unless you're gonna overclock (I don't think that mobo is one of the ones with a bios that lets you) then you can save yourself the money.

[MadLad]

Do you add in the cost of a television when talking console gaming? How about the price of online, which is fair, being that that is included into the value of PC gaming with it being free out of the gate.

[bluefox755]

Didn't add any costs for anything. There are almost no prices in this terrible article.

[ocelot07]

@AuditorGamer keep with the specs posted but change the cpu to a ryzen 1500x and the motherboard to a ryzen compatible motherboard and maybe change the 1050 to a 1060. The system posted will cost about £400 if you change the cpu to 1500x and the motherboard and the gpu to a 1060 it will come to about £570.

As for windows just do what most people do and buy a oem licence key from a dead system on ebay. Been doing this my self since Windows Xp don't think I have paid more than £15 for a Windows key.

[WheatBread]

shut up

[GameBoyColor]

Little something people dont know, you can download the trial version of win10 and it is exactly the same as the full version.

[ShawnardAgain]

Kinguin windows 10 keys are cheap

[bmf7364]

Kinguin offers Windows 10 for $30. Grey market? Yes. But Windows shouldnt be $100. Even then, SteamOS is a good linux alternative for a gaming rig's OS, even as a temporary because it's free but the library's limited. If SteamOS is opted, any controller/TV will work because SteamOS is essentially Steam Big Picture Mode.

[The_Kills]

When did consoles start bundling monitors/TVs? I'll buy one if you can show me the link.

[phoenixwing]

@above people asking about online

I don't pay subs for online play on my console. My comment history backs up this claim. I play single player games or ones that don't require ps plus on my ps4.

[ASBO-5]

"Console Killer" oh lord i damn near fell out of my chair laughing so hard!

[ABBAJESUS]

1080 TI can do over 10 teraflops... Scorpio only 6 xD

[ShawnardAgain]

1080ti's can suck my Sli 1070's. :)

[frostypants]

Yes, and a 1080 TI would cost more than this entire rig. This is about price to performance.

[xtheblackparade]

Title almost insinuates there will be no compatability issues or failing parts!

[JunMei]

Whatever the extra costs are, PC always makes back the investment with the cost of software.

Also, PC is the ONLY system with 20 years of backwards compatibility.

[Princess_Pilfer]

It's closer to 40 actually. The apple 2 had games in 1977, 40 years ago, and it's not even the first PC.

Oh, also, *technically* not true. The fat PS3 (the one that plays PS2 games) has backwards compatibility to 1994 and it ceased production (and likely got it's last AAA game) this year, giving it 23 years of backwards compatibility.

[Nintendo4Lifex]

Many games cannot be played on the latest windows. Especially physical ones. Don't give me that load of bs!

[zuul9018]

Compatibility mode is your friend.
Also for those real old ones many have patches that fans make so you dont even need compatibility mode.
Google helps.

[Princess_Pilfer]

they can be run in a virtual machine, it's just more work.

You don't have to use the most recent version of windows, or you can dual boot and use windows 10 and windows 7.

It's also not a load of BS at all. If I decide I want to play a game released on the apple 2 in 1979, I can do it with my current PC.

[MrCrabPuss]

Nope, youre wrong sonny.

[frostypants]

Kinda sorta. Some DOS games are a bitch to run in modern Windows. Contrary to popular belief, PC HAS changed quite a bit at the OS layer.

[WickedLester]

Ughhh, so where is the total price?

[Princess_Pilfer]

Where is the total price for the PS4 after you factor in the yearly PSN subscription for online play?

[WickedLester]

No I'm literally asking, what is the total price for this budget PC? The article doesn't tell us.

[Nintendo4Lifex]

With the 6 free games and the monthly 10 to 20% off there is no cost!

[Princess_Pilfer]

Oh, sorry hon. The article lists it at 443 usd.

If you include a Mouse and Keyboard (they didn't) ~460 USD.

If you include a copy of windows 7 ultimate off ebay (instead of using a free OS, of which there are many) ~465USD.

[SamPao]

wth. Mouse, keyboard and OS for 23USD, gimme a break hahahaha

[Princess_Pilfer]

Mouse and Keyboard: 14 USD
https://www.amazon.com/Amaz...

Windows 7 64 bil Ultimate 10.85 USD
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Win...

SteamOS
Free

[SamPao]

Thats some cheap stuff you got there, price and quality wise. I hope nobody buys that to play games, better off with a nice, sleek ps4. That actually runs the games always and it good quality.
If you are short on money, buy it used :)

[WickedLester]

Meh, no thanks. All that and it still doesn't play Horizon, Uncharted, The Last of Us, Ratchet and Clank, and God of War. I'll stick to my PS4 until the PS5 launches.

[Allsystemgamer]

@ultr

Uh. Why are you laughing? Do you know how to use the internet? You can get cheap mkb for under $10.

[zuul9018]

@ ultr i got a great mouse on ebay for 1.99 shipped from china free. I could prob look it up if you really want proof, but the point is its great no rough signs or anything. Lights up (if youre into that, im not) has side buttons and looks sleek.
Then again i take care of my stuff (take apart and clean my controllers every couple months).
Not sure how you can say theyre cheap quality wise if you dont own them though.
@wicked lester you'd be surprised by what emulators can do i can definitely say that the pc in this article can play rachet and clank. Probably better than the ps4 actually. (Not dissing the ps4 on that)

[vallencer]

But you're talking about using your pc on the tv. There is no way in hell anyone is using a wired mouse a keyboard for tv pc use. Don't even act like it. It will be a wireless one they need and those are not an extra 20 bucks. The reality is no matter what budget pc you build it will still be more expensive than a console. Sure by the time you need to upgrade your pc and your ps4 will be at the same price, or xbox one. Then what? You budget your pc again just so you can upgrade it another 2 years from now? I saw the budget pc you built and its laughable. 8 gbs of ram isn't going to get you far for gaming. There are a lot of games coming out now that require 8 or more for even the minimum. 16 gigs of ram is the amount you want to have at least. When you're running your games there are still other processes in the background running. Also an i3 processor??? Should just spend 50 more bucks and get an i5. It'll last you longer and is faster. Hell the processor that you have can't even run the witcher 3. The 2011 i5 processor is the minimum for the game and is still faster than the i3 from 2015 that you listed. If you added 8 more gigs of ram and an i5 processor then the build would be decent. Hell it'd even be just good. But the build you have is just not good. It's super mediocre at best.

[zuul9018]

@vallencer
I literally use a wired mouse and wited keyboard with my tv....
As for the 8 gbs of ram, very cheap and easy to add more. Could you list 2 games that require more than 8gb though? Also you can press ctrl+alt+del and close processes you dont need (ex.jusched (java update scheduler))
That processor can indeed run witcher 3 as i have the same one and it does run witcher 3, 3.7ghz.... google "witcher 3 i3 6100" theres plenty of videos of it played... you dont need to OC it or anything.
Are you just saying random stuff?

[InKnight7s]

Total price with hdmi, win10, keyboard, mouse (controller)? + time spent for these to equip and install? :) console ps4 as example takes 2 min to equip and operate the system and maybe even playing some game until the game done installing ;)

[Allsystemgamer]

A pc takes at most an hour to build.

You forgot to factor in the HOURS of updates you NEED to install on the PS4.

And how does plug and play work as an advantage exactly? You can have a pc built with games installed before the PS4 even download ONE update for ONE game.

[zuul9018]

Ever built your own sir? Its kinda rewarding. Also you dont need win 10, i still prefer 7 and have downgraded from 10 twice after it annoyed me.
Time spent to equip & install? Install the parts sure, but equip? As in plug in the mouse and hdmi(or w/e connection) cable? 9 seconds?

[InKnight7s]

Honestly not but i know whatever any PC gamers says you cant build pc as cost as console and perform better or even equal.

[GameBoyColor]

win10 trial, same as the full version and free with a watermark.

[MadLad]

*Returns to his almost 4 year old PC with over 600 games; all looking and playing better than the console counterparts, and for cheaper*

[bluefox755]

I generally do most of my gaming on PC, but this year I've found myself spending the majority of my time on my PS4, with games like Persona 5 and Horizon. Don't get me wrong, I like playing games on the better hardware, but there haven't been that many multiplats lately that have really stuck out for me. I wish I was a bigger fan of FPS games.

[TheDivine]

Everyone knows you can run Windows 10 for free right? You only pay for it if you want to activate it and yes you can activate it for cheap. Not worth factoring the price into builds IMHO.

[plmkoh]

The objective of getting into PC gaming is NOT to match console budgets. Priorities are different because the games you play are different.

[ninjahunter]

Pretty much the build I would recommend to anyone looking for an entry level PC that will play anything. SSD is a bit questionable though, there are some games bigger than that. If your on a super hard budget you could definitely shave off $50-$100 going for some lower quality parts (Mobo,psu,case,SSD).

[BeOpenMinded]

Interesting article, I don't think it should have been a versus console thing

[zuul9018]

No it shouldnt have, but i assume they knew that would generate more clicks.

[TheColbertinator]

Pointless article.

Also I got a Windows 10 key for $15 last year for a relative's laptop. Be patient and you'll find good deals all over.

You can technically also build a desktop that is more powerful than Scorpio and Pro for around $500-$600 so long as you get parts that match well.

[Aarongilbert065]

My problem with pc gaming is building a pc. I just dont know where to start:(

[Gh05t]

There are so many videos on how to build a PC on YouTube it's not even funny. Also you could spend $5 on a PC build magazine (what I did to build my first PC when YouTube didn't exist)

[GameBoyColor]

Good place to start is looking up build vids and guides. Then going to pcpartpicker.com to find the best and compatible parts for your need and budget. Here is some parts I put together for budget with great all around performance https://pcpartpicker.com/li... After that is the toughest part, getting it all together, but after the initial confusion it's pretty smooth sailing. Then you just sit there and install the drivers and maybe do a bios update(which you should on ryzen).

You don't have to buy win10 btw which is why I didn't include it, the trial is the same thing and free.

[nowitzki2004]

Youtube and Google?

[Bigpappy]

Which console will it kill?

[zb1ftw777]

PC wouldn't be a console killer even if you could buy a top range for the same price.

PC games suck.

[soulsx]

But gta v on ps4 and xbox one run game not on hight setting but very hight / hight at locked 30 fps

[KillBill]

Needs an OS, Fan, power supply, cables, K+M,

[C-H-E-F]

uhhh budget pc < ps4 pro cost to perf. ratio

[frostypants]

You're never going to match the $-to-performance ratio of the Sony/MS consoles, as they sell close to cost and they have massive cost benefits due to volume that you won't get buying your own hardware piecemeal. I've said it before...unless you're going to drop at least $700 or so on a PC, really, just don't bother. I game on a PS4 and a PC I built (the most recent of 10 or so), and frankly had I spent much less on the latter there'd be little reason to have it. This one comes to around $450...i.e., a total waste of money IMO. Just get the console.

[MadLad]

Nobody trying to be taken seriously will ever say that you'll get the same performance at cost when talking PC build and, say, the PS4.
That said, I've noticed console-only players highly dramatize the cost difference between the two. I built a gaming PC almost 4 years ago for around $1200 that goes toe-to-toe with console performance today. Most of the time still outperforming to a fair degree.
You can build the same thing today for about half the cost.

You can obliterate probably even the Scorpio near the $800 mark or so.

So there lies the question.
Would you like to drive a Lambo, or a Civic?
Both are quality vehicles, but you obviously get a lot more with the former, but at a cost.

When comparing PC gaming to console gaming, however, it's more like getting Lambo performance for around the price of two Civics.
That extra few hundred goes a long, long way in terms of gaming performance on PC. And, well, I feel it's more than worth it. This is my hobby. I spend hours a week gaming.

Why settle for decent?

[QUIMICOMORTAL]

Except it doent have any 2017 aaa exclusive! how much for those?