Today, we’re going to show off the best gaming PC build under $700. After our previous article on best Best Gaming PC Under $300 we got a lot of requests to guide you in a little pricy side of PC build. So here you go!
For those who want to break into 1440p and VR gaming with an experience better than anything possible on consoles, read on.
Introducing The Best Gaming PC Build Under $700
The main stars of the show in this PC are seen in its massive storage capacity, the stellar 8GB RX 580, and Intel’s 8th Gen Core i5 processor. Combined, these provide an experience better than what even the Xbox One X is capable of, and you still get the benefit of upgrading down the line if you please.
Let’s go over the specs real quick.
The PC Parts
Case
Fractal Design Focus Micro ATX
A Mid Tower case from Fractal Design with superb airflow.
CPU
Intel Core i5-8400 Processor
An eighth-gen Intel Core i5 processor, perfect for all your gaming needs.
RAM
Patriot Signature Line 8GB DDR4-2666 RAM
An 8GB DDR4 RAM kit from Patriot, featuring a 2666 MHz clock.
Motherboard
ASRock H310M-HDV Micro ATX Motherboard
A basic but high-quality motherboard, perfect for this build.
GPU
MSI RX 580 8GB ARMOR MK2
An 8GB AMD RX 580, which is perfect for high-quality 1080p gaming and 1440p alike.
SSD
Kingston A400 240 GB SSD
A 240 GB boot drive that can be used for your operating system and favorite games.
HDD
Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB HDD
A massive 3TB storage drive that can be used for media, and all the games/files/etc that don’t fit on your SSD.
PSU
EVGA BQ 500W 80+ Bronze Semi-Modular Power Supply
A high-quality, semi-modular, budget PSU from EVGA.
The PC Parts Details
Now, we’re going to go in-depth on each of the components that we’ve selected for this build.
Case: Fractal Design Focus Micro ATX
First and foremost is the Micro ATX version of the Fractal Design Focus, an excellent chassis from the folks at Fractal Design. This is a medium-sized case with a mesh front panel and dual fans for improved airflow, a full side panel window to show off the components inside, and plenty of room for cable management, drive mounting, and even a liquid cooling setup.
In terms of aesthetics, we consider the Fractal Design Focus to be top-tier. It’s not too gaudy and flashy: it prioritizes sleek form and function over “gamer” design choices. The dual intake fans do shine with white LEDs, but these are fairly unintrusive for the most part and still allows the build overall to look professional.
In terms of building experience, we’ve found that this case is very good, especially for first time builders. The ample cable routing holes and cable management compartments are both nice to have, and so long as you use them properly you’ll have a fairly clean-looking build once you’re finished.
The only real downside worth noting is the lack of an included exhaust fan, which is a bit unusual for a case boasting two intakes. If you can’t afford to spend a little extra on an exhaust fan, we recommend simply moving one of the intakes to the back in order to provide a more complete airflow solution.
CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 Processor
The Intel Core i5-8400 is a powerful six-core processor. It’s a part of the eighth-gen Intel Core series, which focuses more on raw core counts than hyperthreading to compete with the latest and greatest from AMD. While the i5-8400 is definitely more expensive than its rival Ryzen processor, we selected it for this build due to Intel’s lead in single-core gaming performance. (If you’d prefer a cheaper price tag and Ryzen, check out our Ryzen alternative build below .)
Once you actually start playing games with this processor (especially CPU-limited games), however, you’ll see why we chose not to compromise here. The Intel Core i5 series has dominated the midrange gaming PC space for about a decade now, and the i5-8400 is no different. If raw gaming performance is your only concern and you don’t plan on Twitch streaming or making YouTube videos, then the i5-8400 is the obvious choice.
RAM: Patriot Signature Line 8GB DDR4-2666 RAM
Our RAM is a humble 8GB DDR4 RAM kit from Patriot. Despite not looking particularly flashy, this RAM actually boasts a slightly higher clock than standard DDR4 (2666 MHz instead of 2400), and the kit is actually two 4GB RAM sticks.
For those of you who don’t know: it’s important to always run RAM configurations in at least Dual Channel, which means two identical RAM sticks running together. This allows them to reach their full clock speed- in this case, 2666 MHz. Without a Dual Channel configuration (ie, if this were just one 8 GB stick instead of 2 GB sticks), RAM speed would be limited to half of its full capacity. (In this case, 2666 would become 1333, which is DDR3-tier speeds.)
Fortunately, this is 8GB of RAM in a Dual Channel configuration, so you have nothing to worry about. You’ll be able to run these RAM sticks at full speed, and the extra bit of RAM speed will actually slightly increase your minimum FPS in games, reducing the severity of FPS drops.
Motherboard: ASRock H310M-HDV Micro ATX Motherboard
We’ll own up to it: this is definitely the most barebones part of this PC.
Fortunately, that won’t have any impact whatsoever on performance. On the Intel side, we aren’t yet at the price range where investing in OC-capable motherboards and CPUs (as well as buying our own coolers) will pay off. In this scenario, a well-built but budget motherboard will do the job just fine, since it has all the essentials we need for a gaming PC and won’t hinder our CPU, GPU, or RAM in any way.
The ASRock H310M-HDV may not win any awards for outstanding RGB lighting or extra features, but it doesn’t need to. Instead, it serves as the backbone of a killer performance-per-dollar gaming PC build, and that’s all that really matters.
GPU: MSI RX 580 8GB ARMOR MK2
The star of the show in the best gaming PC build under $700 is definitely this card. The MSI RX 580 8GB ARMOR MK2 boasts MSI’s excellent cooler design, a generous factory overclock, and a full 8GB VRAM buffer to improve performance in higher-resolution apps. (Higher-resolution apps being games played at 1440p or higher resolutions, as well as VR gaming in general.)
To summarize the RX 580’s performance, we’ll just boil it down like this:
- The 580’s 1080p gaming is far beyond anything modern consoles are capable of, even the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. This means higher framerates, better effects, and more.
- The RX 580’s 1440p gaming is also better than either the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X. Outside of a few select scenarios with the Xbox One X, neither of these consoles run games at actual 4K resolutions. Instead, they usually use 1440p and upscaling to achieve their 4K images. You will need to turn down a few settings to maintain 60 in some games, though.
- In VR, the RX 580 will keep up with all the best VR experiences available on the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. This is far better than PSVR. The Vive Pro and higher-resolution VR headsets like it may need a GPU upgrade, though.
- In native 4K, the RX 580 will struggle at high-to-max settings in most games. Lighter games, especially eSports titles, should work fine at true 4K60, though. In modern games, though, expect 4K30 at low/medium settings.
SSD: Kingston A400 240 GB SSD
The Kingston A400 240GB SSD was our pick for this build, thanks to its excellent price-per-gigabyte. SSDs used to be a lot more expensive than this, but with the market changing, 240 GB SSDs are now possible in budget builds.
While an SSD won’t improve gaming performance, it will greatly improve your general PC usage experience. All you need to do is install your OS and apps on the SSD, and you’ll enjoy the benefit of lightning-fast boot and loading times. You can even fit a few of your favorite games on it, though we recommend only sticking frequently-played multiplayer games on an SSD.
While 240 GB may not seem a lot, it’s a question of quality over quantity. For your operating system, your basic apps, and a few of your favorite multiplayer games, an SSD is the best move. For everything else.
HDD: Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB HDD
The Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 is a 3 TB HDD that serves as our storage drive, and at the time of writing, it’s retailing for right under $60. That is nuts for a 3TB hard drive, and you can even get a renewed version of the drive for ~$50 if the discount has ended by the time you read this article.
With 3 TB of storage space, we’d dare say that you have all the room you could possibly need for your full Steam library and media collection.
PSU: EVGA BQ 500W 80+ Bronze Semi-Modular Power Supply
Last but not least is our PSU, the EVGA BQ 500W.
First up, let’s talk the “Semi-Modular” in the product name. This means that aside from the motherboard power cable, all the other power cables can be removed from the PSU. This is especially useful for Micro ATX and Mini ITX builds, where you won’t have as much room for cable management, and removing cables you aren’t using is the best move.
Aside from the improved building process, you also have the benefit of an 80+ Bronze certification, which means this PSU will be respectably power-efficient and useless excess power than bottom-bin PSUs.
Most importantly, this PSU comes from a reliable manufacturer- EVGA. You never want to buy PSUs from no-name manufacturers, because not only do they generally run loud and hot, they can be outright dangerous to your build. Always buy PSUs from a trusted brand.
What This Build Plays
Let’s start with the biggest darling of the day: Apex Legends.
At 1080p, this build can max out Apex Legends at 90+ FPS with no issues and maxed-out settings. At 1440p and 4K with high settings and no AA, this build can achieve 60 FPS and 30 FPS, respectively. The 8GB of VRAM in the RX 580 essentially turns it into a midrange 1440p card, as well as a high-end 1080p card: great for gamers who play at higher resolutions.
In other popular modern titles, like Fortnite, this trend continues. 1080p and Ultra settings quickly exceed 60 FPS and start breaching the 90 range. More demanding games, like Monster Hunter: World, sees the game push right around 60 FPS at maximum settings and 1080p. At 1440p, you’ll need to compromise on a few settings (like AA and effects) to maintain 60 FPS, however.
Overall, we think the performance of the RX 580 is fairly strong, and it tends to beat the 6GB GTX 1060 in most benchmarking scenarios. Until the release of Nvidia’s next-gen budget GPUs, RX 580 dominates this price range with an iron fist.
Our Selection Process
The selection process is based on two things:
- Our own years of experience with tech and PC hardware, and
- Observations on what competitors are doing and how we can do it better
Many PC builds right now are boasting an RX 580, but they’re usually doing so alongside an underpowered CPU and a lackluster storage solution. We assembled this build with the goal of ramping up performance just a little bit while dramatically improving general usage, thanks especially to the addition of an SSD to the build. In our opinion, we’ve succeeded in that goal, and we hope you’ll agree.
Recommended Upgrades
FAN:Phanteks PH-F120XP
The only thing this case is missing is an exhaust fan. While you can move one of the two intake fans to the back to have a more complete airflow solution, we also recommend adding this non-LED fan as an exhaust to complete the build. These fans retail for well under $20 on most days (usually close to $15), and they’re fairly quiet and powerful. At this price point, we certainly can’t complain.
GPU: XFX RX 590 Fatboy
For the most part, we don’t really have any upgrade ideas for this build. At least, no upgrade ideas that wouldn’t be better suited by you just checking out our $800 gaming PC build instead.
However, we did want to provide an upgrade option for those who are willing to spend just a little more but don’t want to go as high as $800. That being the case, we recommend putting that extra money toward the XFX RX 590 Fatboy.
The RX 590 is essentially just a souped-up version of the RX 580 already included in this build, and the XFX Fatboy version slaps on a massive cooler and a huge factory overclock. Since our case is already so great for airflow, you’re sure to get a pretty respectable performance boost out of the RX 590, especially if you decide to add your own overclock on top of its factory OC.
Best Gaming PC Build Under $700 – Ryzen Edition
Case
Fractal Design Focus Micro ATX
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
RAM
Patriot Signature Line 8GB DDR4-2666 RAM
Motherboard
ASRock B450M Pro4
GPU
MSI RX 580 8GB ARMOR MK2
SSD
Kingston A400 240 GB SSD
HDD
Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 3TB HDD
PSU
EVGA BQ 500W 80+ Bronze Semi-Modular Power Supply
The eagle-eyed among you have probably already noticed: this is pretty much the same build.
All that we’ve changed is the motherboard and the CPU, but those are actually two very significant changes.
First, we’ve exchanged the CPU with the Ryzen 5 2600, which is AMD’s current-gen response to Intel’s i5 processors. The Ryzen 5 2600 won’t have all the raw gaming performance of the i5 processor, but it will have much better performance in multi-threaded applications. These include things like livestreaming on Twitch and rendering videos for YouTube.
Additionally, the AMD platform as a whole is a lot cheaper. That means that this version of the build is cheaper, and we’ve managed to add an overclocking-capable motherboard. Combined with the surprisingly-strong AMD stock cooler, and you can get a pretty good CPU overclock with this build!
If you plan on gaming and nothing else, we still recommend the main Intel version of this build. However, if you want to diversify a little, save some cash, or just support the underdog, this Ryzen version should be great for you.
Basic Mouse and Keyboard Set
Logitech MK120
This basic mouse and keyboard set is pretty well-built and never costs more than $20. Highly recommended if you’re on a tight budget, though you’ll want to upgrade in the future if you plan on gaming competitively.
AUKEY Mechanical Keyboard
The AUKEY mechanical keyboard will provide a full-mechanical typing experience at a fraction of the price of other mechanicals.
Logitech G403
The Logitech G403 is just a genuinely good gaming mouse. It doesn’t look particularly flashy, but it has Logitech’s high-end sensor, and that’s all that really matters.
Sound
Budget Headset: AUKEY GH-S4 Scepter
If you don’t have a headset, headphones, or a microphone, we’d recommend this budget AUKEY headset to get you started out. Its sound quality is surprisingly acceptable, as is its voice quality. You’re welcome to browse for higher-end options if you like, but if you don’t know where to start…here is great.
Budget Speakers: Logitech Z313
If you don’t have any speakers and don’t like wearing headphones much, this will be a lot better than any built-in monitor/TV speakers. Despite the cheap price tag on these Logitech speakers, they provide surprisingly solid sound quality and bass.
Display
Now, let’s talk monitors. Below, we’re going to provide two options: a 144 Hz monitor to prioritize smoothness, and a 4K monitor to prioritize visuals.
144 Hz Gaming Monitor: ViewSonic XG2401
If you’re invested in eSports or playing games competitively, then a 144 Hz monitor is the right pick for you. You’ll need to turn down settings to achieve the framerates necessary to enjoy this monitor(Hz corresponds to the FPS a screen can display), but once you do you’ll enjoy a buttery-smooth gaming experience unlike anything else.
IPS Graphics Monitor: HP VH240a
If you aren’t interested in playing competitively, than an IPS monitor that prioritizes visual fidelity and color reproduction is where you want to start. IPS monitors boast superior colors and viewing angles, which makes them ideal for immersive gaming experiences.
And again, if you want to browsee a better monitor here there other high-end budget monitors for your gaming experience.
Getting Your Operating System
If you’re worried that you’ll have to spend an extra $100 or so for an operating system, don’t be! There are other options.
Windows 10
Windows licenses are the bane of PC builders everywhere, since they tend to be pretty expensive. However, you can actually use unactivated Windows 10 without many meaningful downsides. While you won’t be able to change your desktop background, your gaming performance won’t be affected, and not much else will be, either. Click here if you want to do this– you can always buy a license later.
Ubuntu Linux
If you’re fairly tech-savvy, want to save money, and don’t mind jumping through a few hoops…you could always install Linux instead. Ubuntu Linux is a completely-free desktop OS that receives constant security updates, and it’s the most well-supported of all Linux distributions. If you’re going to use Linux, it’s always best to start with Ubuntu.
How To Build
The hard reality of PC building guides is that…well, written PC building guides aren’t very helpful. You need illustrations at least, but better than illustrations is following a detailed video walkthrough, like the one we’ve embedded above. This up-to-date building video, alongside your component manuals (mainly your case manual), should be all the guidance you need for assembling this PC, even if you’re a first-timer.
If you aren’t able to build on your own, we recommend the following options:
- Having a PC gamer friend help you through the building process
- Taking your components to a shop and paying them to assemble it for you
- Taking a look at our prebuilt alternative below, so long as you’re willing to make some sacrifices
Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $700
PREBUILT: HP Pavilion Ryzen 5/RX 580 edition
If you simply can’t build this PC or have someone else do it for you, don’t run out of hope. There is actually a surprisingly-decent prebuilt option in this price range: namely, the HP Pavilion Ryzen 5/RX 580 Edition. The observant among you will notice that this is seemingly identical to our build above, but there’s a bit of a catch.
First and foremost, this uses the cut-down version of the RX 580. It has 4GB of VRAM instead of 8GB, which means it won’t be able to play as well at higher resolutions, and even 1080p games with ultra texture detail may struggle on this card. This is an unfortunate downside, but one that can’t be overlooked.
Aside from the RX 580 downgrade, there is also a downgrade to RAM speed and storage capacity. A single 1TB HDD doesn’t compare to a 3TB HDD and a 240 GB SSD, especially not in terms of boot times, loading times, and overall responsiveness.
If you’re willing to accept these downsides, then we recommend this prebuilt without reservations. Even at 1080p, you’ll still be getting a higher level of graphical fidelity and customization than anything possible in console gaming, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters.
Conclusion
And that’s it!
We hope you enjoyed our $700 gaming PC guide, regardless of which option you went with. We did our best to make sure that PC gamers are getting the best for their money in this price range, and we hope that you’re satisfied with our efforts! Comment below and let us know if you need assistance with our builds, or have any other questions!