You might be considering updating your PC right now because this is the time of year when AMD, Nvidia, and Intel introduce their brand-new processors and graphics cards. Due to the shortages of semiconductors, searching for PC parts used to be a nightmare, but these days, stores are eager to get rid of their excess inventory. Therefore, now is the ideal moment to buy some parts at a discount.

Even yet, creating a PC parts list might be challenging, especially if you have to account for a limited budget. It can be alluring to spend your money on a flashy new graphics card, but you should give priority to the parts that will make the biggest differences for your PC and allow you to expand it effectively in the future.

Additionally, keep in mind that you also need to budget for a monitor, mouse, keyboard, software licencing, and other peripherals in addition to the PC itself.

Motherboard and processor

The basic components of your system are the motherboard and central processing unit (CPU). Before a CPU becomes a system bottleneck, it can handle numerous generations of graphics cards. But it doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money on a CPU; there are lots of great options for under $200. A great discount may be found on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 CPU. This six-core CPU costs approximately $135, but if you buy it used, you can get it for less than $100.

The $110 MSI PRO B550M-VC mATX motherboard, for example, has AM4 sockets and can accommodate the Ryzen 5 5600. WiFi, Bluetooth, PCIe 4.0 slots, and easy it can fit in the majority of cases because an ITX board takes up so little room. If you choose a different motherboard and don’t want to buy a separate adapter, make sure it includes a WiFi and Bluetooth chip on board.

Any components you purchase should be compatible with one another. The size and fit of all processors from the same generation will be the same. For instance, a motherboard with an LGA 1700 socket will support any CPU from the 12th generation of Intel. Additionally, check sure the motherboard will fit inside the computer casing. The three main types of PC cases are ATX, microATX (mATX), and small ITX (ITX). The biggest is ATX (think full-size towers),ITX is the smallest, and (usually small enough to sit on a small desk).

The Ryzen 5 5600’s only drawback is that there aren’t many ways to update it. AMD processors will need an AM5 motherboard socket starting with the Ryzen 7000 series of CPUs this year.

Although it costs $200, the Intel Core i5-12400 is a decent Ryzen 5 5600 substitute from Intel. If you intend to upgrade anytime soon, it requires a motherboard socket that supports both Intel 12th and 13th generation processors, LGA 1700.

Furthermore, LGA 1700 motherboards are compatible with both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, however AMD AM4 motherboards only support DDR4 memory, and AM5 boards only support DDR5 memory

Coolers

Compared to the more powerful processor lines like the Intel Core i7 or i9, midrange CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 5 and the Intel Core i5 don’t require as much cooling. Consuming less energy is always a good idea because it benefits the environment, your power source, and your electric bill.

Your processor’s temperatures will be kept considerably below the maximum recommended temperature with the help of a cheap, dependable air cooler (the thermal junction). Due to its low profile, the Cooler Master A71C 38.99 CFM CPU Cooler, which costs about $25, fits in most cases. For that Gamer with a Capital G aesthetic, it even features RGB. The Noctua NH-L9i and the Scythe Fuma 2 are two additional fantastic coolers worth checking out.

Memory

• A RAM kit in detail
• Source: Getty Pictures
• Despite being the most recent standard, DDR4 RAM still provides excellent performance and value.

For RAM, CAS (Column Address strobe) latency should be as short as possible (sub-20 for DDR4), and rates above 3200 MT/s have declining rewards for common uses like gaming or office productivity. For $50, you can buy a lot of memory for your money with the Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory kit.

Their modest profile also works well with the majority of CPU coolers, and when mounted, they shouldn’t run into any obstructions. (Tip: To ensure that your new RAM runs at 3200 MT/s rather than the 2166 MT/s Windows default, remember to enable XMP in your BIOS settings.)

visual cards

When creating gaming PCs, graphics cards receive the most attention of any computer component, and for good reason: they have the biggest impact on your gaming performance and are most likely to cause bottlenecks. Most games can be played with high graphics settings at 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second (fps) or more with a $300 to $500 graphics card (usually 1440p 60fps).

Nvidia and AMD are the two main producers of graphics processing units (GPUs), which are essential to graphics cards. Nvidia is the way to choose if you want excellent ray tracing performance and you want to utilise supersampling technology (DLSS). A new Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU will set you back approximately $360.

If you don’t care about ray tracing, AMD’s last-generation GPUs, however, generally deliver more frames for your money. Similar in price to Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics cards, AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT GPUs deliver 14% higher fps in non-ray traced games.