Ultra-Low Budget PC Build Idea (thoughts?)
Posted by Specialist-Dance-239@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 44 comments
Ultra-Low Budget PC Build:
P.S. I’m using DDR3 because I ain’t paying these absurd RAM prices
Shipping is included in the listed prices
All of these prices are up-to-date (mostly taken from ebay)
Used parts are ensured working w/ free return policies
- - -
Used Intel Xeon E5-2695 v3 - $7.45 (Most CPUs from this era are dirt cheap now lol)
Thermalright Assassin King 90 CPU Cooler - $30
X99 Motherboard LGA 2011-3 Micro-ATX (Chinese DDR3 Model) - $56.32
Used 32GB (4x8GB) ECC DDR3 Memory 1600MHz - $30 (For that quad channel babyyy!!!)
Used 512GB NVME SSD - $46.15 (Yes this model has an M.2)
Used RX Vega 56 - $90
Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L Case - $40
MSI MAG A650BE PSU - $49.50
- - -
Total: $349.42
Obviously there’s not going to be a CPU upgrade path, and DDR3 is outdated, but for what it is, especially right now, it’s pretty good I think 😄
Thoughts?
IlikeJG@reddit
IMO it's really just not worth it to try to build a PC like this unless you can find bargain bin used prices for all the stuff.
Have you thought about trying to buy a used prebuilt PC? That might be the cheapest option for something like this but it's always a risk.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Neh, I like building my computers, and typically you end up paying more than if you just bought the parts yourself. Not always, there are exceptions, but I doubt there's anything even remotely decent on the pre-build side until around $700. This build is much less, and a fun experience.
onetrickrook@reddit
You can buy a prebuilt with rtx 2070 for about $500 or less
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
I'm looking and I see a few, but a lot of them for under $600 look sketchy, don't have pictures of it even powering on, no return policies, etc. I might be able to get a lucky snag on something here, but I'm not keeping my hopes up.
DarvinostheGreat@reddit
Always love seeing people making builds like this. Awesome.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Thx < 3
defaults-suck@reddit
What exactly is the use case for this PC? Retro gaming or Linux/PLEX server?
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Some gaming here and there. But the games I play are like Warframe, Amnesia, some Apex, nothing crazy. I usually mess with the settings in my games for medium-high, which works fine with a PC I have with comparable hardware.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
I will probably consider using linux on it, but I don't really have to play just Retro games, just nothing RT.
WherePoetryGoesToDie@reddit
So you may have an issue here, I think.
Windows 10 support, including security patches, ends this October. Your PC does not support Windows 11. Without the regular security updates that come with Windows 11, you will be a prime target for malware. When OSes get outdated, you don't even need to do stupid shit online to get infected; often, just the connection itself is enough to draw bad actors.
So no problem, right? Just install Linux, it's come leaps and bounds gaming-wise thanks to Proton. But does Apex or Warframe have Linux-compatible versions, or require Windows-native anti-cheat software?
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Warframe runs fine on Linux, Apex might not, but I can live with that lol. Most every single player experience runs fine on Linux though. You can also still unofficially install Windows 11, compatible or not through Rufus as far as I'm aware. Either way it's not an end of the world situation.
WherePoetryGoesToDie@reddit
The main issues with Rufus IMO are
Possible security update blocks that sort of defeat the entire point of jumping through hoops to install W11 on non-supported machines in the first place,
Possible driver conflicts, and
It actually doesn't solve a key online gaming issue, where several popular games have anti-cheat solutions that check for TPM and Secure Boot at the system level.
If these don't bother you (or you'll just migrate to Linux gaming when the time comes), yeah, it looks like you have a tidy little setup. I feel like you can get a better GPU than the Vega 56 for another $50 tho, like a used RX6600?
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Maybe. The cheapest I'm seeing anywhere right now is $250 new and a little under $175 used for the RX6600. I might find some better deals on RX 5700 (or XT if I'm lucky, but the Vega 56 isn't so much slower that I'm worried about it. I'll definitely snag one up if I see a good deal tho! 😃
WherePoetryGoesToDie@reddit
The issue with Vega is that it has driver issues, part of the whole debacle that led to AMD's poor driver reputation. RDNA more or less fixed all that, specifically RDNA 2 and up.
This is less of an issue on Linux, because open-source drivers.
Also wow, I wasn't aware the 6600s were going for $175 now. Last I checked you could grab 'em pretty easily for like $120 or less.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Yeah seriously lol! I had a computer a long time ago with a Vega 64 in it. Besides it being a power hungry gremlin, I didn't have any driver issues on Windows. Though I doubt I would, I'm not playing super modern games lol.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
I'm pretty sure there will come a day that I will regret sticking with Windows 10 as long as I have, but I'll cross that road when I get there.
defaults-suck@reddit
DDR3 and Vega for gaming is good for games from 10 years ago but not anything remotely modern, say the last 3-5 years.
I wouldn't spend money right now on anything other than an AM4 Ryzen 5000 series platform. It's still actively being supported with bios/driver updates and new X3D CPUs as possible upgrade paths. Something like this entry level build from PCPartPicker : https://pcpartpicker.com/guide/fQscCJ/entry-level-amd-gaming-build
PCPartPicker Part List
sw04p@reddit
Would it be overkill to pair this build with a 5070ti?
defaults-suck@reddit
Yeah it probably wouldn't make sense from a price to performance standpoint. If you really just want more Vram while staying in a sub-$1k build, I would look at the Radeon 9060 XT 16GB model. These two have 3 fans so will have slightly better thermals than the 2 fan models.
PCPartPicker Video Card Comparison
Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-05-15 23:34 EDT-0400
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Probably very overkill lol. It might be able to push something like a RX 7600 XT or RTX 4060, and that might still be pushing it in a lot of games lol
Live-Juggernaut-221@reddit
Classic buildapc. Just double your budget bro!
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
So I can spend the money to just barely get onto a modern platform and spend the rest on RAM? When RAM prices come down, I can consider it, but it's really not within my budget until then. I can't suddenly double my paycheck to go alongside the doubled budget. One day I'll get there!
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
I thought about going the AMD route, and eventually I will, but $800 doesn't appear out of thin air for me. Spending <$400 is much more realistic for me, and this build is right around the kind of performance I need for anything I play lol. Thx for the advice though! 😃
The_Machine80@reddit
Unless your playing solitaire and minesweeper your just goin to get laughed at for saying ddr3.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
It doesn't make a huge difference when you're not playing games that require all of the extra bandwidth. Most games run fine lol. I get where you're coming from, but sometimes you gotta work with whatcha got. Anyways, DDR3 is still pretty much dirt cheap, so it's a win for me 😄
The_Machine80@reddit
Again im guessing you have a phone right? You can cast your phone to a screen.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Are you asking me to benchmark or what??
The_Machine80@reddit
No
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
If you're meaning like, "at that point, just play on your phone", I'm rocking a Google Pixel 6a, pretty sure this PC would be like 10 times faster bare minimum lol
The_Machine80@reddit
Im rocking a s25 that obliterates any ddr3 pc. Even your phone is close to this ps2 gen pc. Upgrade your phone and dont waste the money. This is a novelty pc which is absolutely fine if money is no issie and you wanna build novelty pc. If your building cause thats all you can afford its a complete waste of 350 bucks.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Yeah... I think you're pretty out of touch with the reality for a lot of people lol. Totally glad you can burn $800 on a phone, but this build is fine man. We can agree to disagree, but your attitude toward a low-mid range PC build shows me how little you know about these parts lol.
The_Machine80@reddit
Ok
Destructo-Bear@reddit
Nice! Only change I would make is to keep an eye out on Facebook marketplace for a 1080 or 2060 super. I've seen those in my area for $80-100.
Great build.
I build a 10th Gen Intel/2060 super machine last week for $362, but I kind of cheated because I flip PCs as a side hustle so I harvested a lot of parts from my flips that I already profited on, so I basically had a $0 PSU, CPU, case, and 16gb RAM. My budget was basically mini itx motherboard, GPU, a used 1tb nvme, and a low profile noctua cooler. Everything else was leftover parts from my side hustle
Calm_Income6781@reddit
2060 super is probably the best value card right now
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
My only worry is that eventually VRAM will become an issue, unless I can find one of those 8Gb ones, but they're not as great of a deal from my experience looking for them.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Y'know, and I really should, but I just enjoy the minimal driver install on AMD. It's also got something to do with how powerful I feel overclocking with the Vega cards lol
Arles1976@reddit
Heck you stuff look way better than my Emergency build , I found a Dell Studio xps 430mt , “from 09”
The thing had a bad ps and With a few upgrades worth 35 dollars including 16GB memory and 600 ps , That thing is a killerfuck on Fortnite Oh I added a GPU I had 1080 8gb, and honestly I had fun even got that thing to my nephew and the guy is better than me at playing , also is good for editing small videos , See everything has its purpose
MagicPistol@reddit
Might be better off just finding a deal on a used laptop/PC?
I just picked up a dell g3 laptop yesterday for only $120. Specs are core i5 10300h CPU, 16gb ddr4 ram, 500gb SSD, GeForce 1650 ti. The battery was trash, but I just replaced it with a new aftermarket for $40 today. Planning to redo the thermal paste tomorrow when my tube of mx-7 arrives.
Not bad for $160. Gonna give it to my nephew for his middle school graduation gift so we can play online together lol.
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
I mean I'm missing out on some single-core performance if I go my way, but the Vega 56 is WAY faster than the 1650 ti. But that's super sweet!!
MagicPistol@reddit
Yeah, the vega 56 is not a bad card. I actually had one a long time ago.
_ae82_@reddit
Wow. Thats a great deal.
Live-Juggernaut-221@reddit
Make sure it doesn't need registered ddr3
Specialist-Dance-239@reddit (OP)
Yeah, that was one of my concerns. From what the reviews say, it works fine, but I'm still gonna ask the seller to make sure.
Calm_Income6781@reddit
I would go Nvidia 1070