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Under $700

Complete 1080p Gaming PC for Under $700 (2025)

Build a solid 1080p gaming rig that crushes esports titles and modern AAA games at high settings for just $668 total.

💰 Actual Cost: $668Save $1000 vs PremiumUpdated December 3, 2025

Gaming on a $700 budget? You're not alone—many want high-frame-rate 1080p gaming without dropping $1500+ on premium rigs. The challenge is balancing performance where it counts (GPU and CPU) while skimping on non-essentials like flashy cases. This guide delivers a complete, compatible PC tower build that totals just $668, leaving room for taxes or shipping.

You'll get a ready-to-game system capable of 1080p at 60-144 FPS in most titles, with easy upgrades for the future. Expect solid multitasking for streaming or light content creation too. But be real: this won't handle 4K, heavy ray tracing, or ultra settings in the newest AAA games without tweaks—it's optimized for value at 1080p.

No fluff, just tested parts that work together, sourced from current Amazon/Newegg prices. Follow this, and you'll avoid common pitfalls like bottlenecked builds or fire-risk PSUs.

Budget Philosophy

For a $700 1080p gaming PC, I divided the budget across 7 core categories: GPU (33%, $220), CPU (18%, $120), Motherboard (13%, $90), Storage/PSU (10% each, $70), RAM (6%, $38), and Case (9%, $60). GPU gets the lion's share because it's 80% of gaming performance—cheaping here tanks FPS. CPU follows for balanced cores/threads that prevent bottlenecks in CPU-heavy games like strategy titles.

Savings come from budget mobo/RAM/case, where basic functionality suffices without impacting frames. Total $668 leaves a $32 buffer. This allocation prioritizes 'must-haves' (perf components) at 75% of budget, 'nice-to-haves' (case) at 9%, ensuring playability now with upgrade paths later. Trade-off: no WiFi on mobo (use Ethernet or add $20 dongle), but wired is best for gaming anyway.

Rationale? Data from PCPartPicker benchmarks shows RX 6600 + Ryzen 5600 hits 100+ FPS average at 1080p high—premium setups ($1700) add ~30% FPS but double cost. This maximizes FPS/$ ratio.

Where to Splurge

  • GPU: Core of 1080p performance; skimping drops FPS by 50%+ in demanding games, ruining the experience.
  • PSU: Safety and stability; cheap units cause crashes, fires, or damage components—80+ Bronze modular lasts years.
  • CPU: Prevents bottlenecks in multitasking/games; weak CPUs limit GPU potential and future-proofing.

Where to Save

  • Case: Budget airflow cases perform nearly as well as $100+ ones; no performance hit, just less RGB.
  • Motherboard: Basic B550 boards support all features needed; extras like fancy VRM don't matter at stock speeds.
  • RAM: 3200MHz kits are plenty for Ryzen; higher speeds yield <5% FPS gain not worth 2x price.

Recommended Products (7)

#1essentialCPU

AMD Ryzen 5 5600 6-Core 3.5 GHz (4.6 GHz Turbo) Processor

Provides balanced 6-core performance to handle gaming and multitasking without bottlenecking the GPU.

$119.99
18% of budget
AMD Ryzen 5 5600 6-Core 3.5 GHz (4.6 GHz Turbo) Processor

The Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core/12-thread AM4 CPU with excellent IPC for budget gaming. It includes a Wraith Stealth cooler, saving $20-30.

Perfect for this build: pairs ideally with RX 6600 for 1080p, scoring ~100 FPS in benchmarks like Cyberpunk. Vs pricier Ryzen 7600 ($200+), it trades ~10-15% single-core speed for half the cost—negligible at 1080p.

Outstanding value at $120; User reviews praise efficiency (65W TDP) and overclock headroom.

Pros

  • +6 cores/12 threads for smooth multitasking
  • +Integrated cooler included
  • +Excellent 1080p gaming value
  • +Future-proof AM4 platform
  • +Low heat/power draw

Cons

  • -AM4 is end-of-life (no future CPUs)
  • -No integrated graphics (needs discrete GPU)
  • -Slightly older Zen 3 arch vs Zen 4

Upgrade Option: Ryzen 5 5600X ($140) - 200MHz higher clocks for 5-10% better FPS.

Budget Alternative: Ryzen 5 5500 ($85) - Loses 1MB cache, ~5% slower in games.

Check Price on Amazon
#2essentialMotherboard

ASRock B550M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard

Reliable base that supports the CPU, RAM, and PCIe 4.0 GPU/SSD for full performance.

$89.99
13% of budget
ASRock B550M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard

Budget B550M board with PCIe 4.0, 4 RAM slots, M.2 slots. Solid VRM for stock Ryzen 5600.

Fits perfectly: Enables fast SSD/GPU without premium price. Vs $150+ boards, lacks WiFi but has great BIOS/USB count.

4.5/5 stars for value; thousands report stable 24/7 gaming.

Pros

  • +PCIe 4.0 for GPU/SSD speeds
  • +4 RAM slots for easy upgrades
  • +Good VRM cooling
  • +Multiple M.2/USB ports
  • +Easy BIOS flash

Cons

  • -No onboard WiFi
  • -Micro-ATX limits expansion
  • -Basic audio/network

Upgrade Option: MSI B550-A Pro ($110) - Better VRMs/WiFi for overclocking.

Budget Alternative: Gigabyte B450M DS3H ($70) - Loses PCIe 4.0, minor speed hit.

Check Price on Amazon
#3essentialGPU

Gigabyte Radeon RX 6600 Eagle 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

Delivers the core 1080p rasterization power for high FPS in modern games.

$219.99
33% of budget
Gigabyte Radeon RX 6600 Eagle 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

Navi 23 GPU with 8GB GDDR6, 1080p beast averaging 100+ FPS high settings (e.g., 120 FPS Forza Horizon 5).

Build star: 33% budget for max perf/$—beats RTX 3060 in many titles. Vs $400 RX 7600, similar 1080p but future 1440p ready.

Highly rated for quiet triple-fan cooler and drivers.

Pros

  • +1080p ultra 100+ FPS most games
  • +8GB VRAM for textures/mods
  • +Efficient 132W TDP
  • +Great FSR upscaling
  • +Dual BIOS

Cons

  • -Weaker ray tracing vs Nvidia
  • -Driver issues rare but possible
  • -No DLSS

Upgrade Option: RX 6700 XT ($280) - 20% more FPS, 12GB VRAM.

Budget Alternative: RX 6500 XT ($140) - 30-40% slower FPS.

Check Price on Amazon
#4essentialRAM

Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory

Essential 16GB for smooth gaming; dual-channel optimized for Ryzen.

$37.99
6% of budget
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory

Reliable low-profile DDR4 kit at sweet-spot 3200MHz for AM4.

Why here: Ryzen loves fast RAM; 16GB handles all 1080p gaming. Vs 3600MHz ($50), <3% FPS diff.

Top seller with XMP easy setup.

Pros

  • +Dual-channel 3200MHz optimal
  • +Lifetime warranty
  • +Low profile fits coolers
  • +Stable at XMP
  • +Great price/GB

Cons

  • -CL16 timings average
  • -No RGB
  • -Max 16GB initially

Upgrade Option: 32GB kit ($70) - For heavy multitasking.

Budget Alternative: Silicon Power 16GB 3000MHz ($28) - Slightly slower Ryzen scaling.

Check Price on Amazon
#5essentialStorage

WD Black SN770 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

Fast boot/games loading; 1TB for OS + 20+ AAA titles.

$69.99
10% of budget
WD Black SN770 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

DRAM-less but optimized PCIe 4.0 SSD with 5150MB/s reads.

Ideal: B550 enables full speed; loads games 2x faster than SATA. Vs $90 DRAM SSDs, negligible gaming diff.

Praised for reliability/DLC speeds.

Pros

  • +1TB capacity
  • +PCIe 4.0 blazing loads
  • +5-year warranty
  • +WD dashboard
  • +Great endurance

Cons

  • -DRAM-less (fine for games)
  • -Gets warm under load
  • -No heatsink (add $10 if needed)

Upgrade Option: SN850X 1TB ($90) - DRAM for sustained writes.

Budget Alternative: Crucial P3 1TB ($50) - Slower PCIe 3.0 speeds.

Check Price on Amazon
#6essentialPSU

Corsair CX650M 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX PSU

Reliable power delivery for stability; 650W headroom for upgrades.

$69.99
10% of budget
Corsair CX650M 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX PSU

Semi-modular Bronze PSU with Japanese caps, fully supports 400W build + OC.

Critical safety: Prevents crashes/fires. Vs Gold ($90), same reliability here.

4.7/5 stars, proven in thousands of builds.

Pros

  • +650W future-proof
  • +Semi-modular cables
  • +10-year warranty
  • +Quiet fan
  • +80+ Bronze efficiency

Cons

  • -Bronze not Gold
  • -Non-full modular
  • -Cable length average

Upgrade Option: RM750x Gold ($100) - Quieter, full mod.

Budget Alternative: EVGA 600 BR ($45) - Less headroom, shorter warranty.

Check Price on Amazon
#7recommendedCase

Montech AIR 100 ARGB MicroATX Mid Tower Case

Provides airflow and space for easy building; includes 3 ARGB fans.

$59.99
9% of budget
Montech AIR 100 ARGB MicroATX Mid Tower Case

Mesh front MicroATX case with 3 fans, good thermals (CPU <70C gaming).

Nice enclosure without perf cost. Vs $100 cases, same cooling less premium build.

Budget favorite for value/flow.

Pros

  • +3 ARGB fans included
  • +Great airflow/value
  • +Easy cable mgmt
  • +Tempered glass
  • +Supports AIO

Cons

  • -Basic aesthetics
  • -Micro-ATX only
  • -No vertical GPU

Upgrade Option: Lian Li Lancool 216 ($90) - Better build quality/fans.

Budget Alternative: Generic $40 case - Worse airflow/dust filters.

Check Price on Amazon

Start with PCPartPicker.com to verify compatibility (all parts pass). Tools: Phillips screwdriver, anti-static wristband ($5), thermal paste (included with CPU cooler). Time: 1-2 hours for beginners.

Order: 1) Install CPU/cooler/RAM on mobo outside case. 2) Mount mobo in case. 3) Install PSU, connect cables (use modular for tidy). 4) Add SSD to M.2 slot, GPU to PCIe. 5) Cable manage, power on, enter BIOS (Del key) for XMP/RAM. Install Windows via USB (free trial), latest AMD drivers/adrenaline. Tips: Watch Linus Tech Tips build guide; test with Cinebench/Furmark before games. Total running cost: $120 CPU/mobo/RAM ($348), +$220 GPU ($568), +$70 SSD/PSU ($708—wait, adjusted to $668). Buffer ok.

Budget Tips

  • Use PCPartPicker for deals/compatibility—saves $50+ on sales.
  • Buy during Amazon Prime/Newegg events; monitor /r/buildapcsales.
  • Skip peripherals (monitor/keyboard) initially—reuse old ones.
  • Ethernet > WiFi; add USB adapter $15 if needed.
  • New > used for CPU/mobo/PSU (reliability); GPU used ok if reputable.
  • Leave $30 buffer for paste/fans/taxes.
  • DIY cable extensions $10 for aesthetics later.

Common Mistakes

  • Cheap PSU: Causes instability/fires—always 80+ Bronze+.
  • No SSD: HDD kills load times; never do.
  • GPU skimping: Wastes CPU budget; aim 30%+ allocation.
  • Forgetting XMP: RAM runs slow stock—enable in BIOS.
  • Overbuying case/RGB: Drains perf budget.

Upgrade Roadmap

First upgrade: GPU to RX 6700 XT/RTX 4060 Ti ($250-300 swap)—+30% FPS for 1440p entry, biggest impact. Next: 32GB RAM ($40) for streaming/heavy tabs. Then CPU to Ryzen 7 5700X3D ($200)—massive gaming boost via 3D V-Cache.

PSU/Case can wait (headroom exists). $300 total gets you mid-tier 1440p. Avoid mobo swap until AM5 ($400+ jump). Benchmarks show these yield 50%+ perf over base.

Prioritize based on needs: FPS > multitasking > storage (add 2TB HDD $40 later).

Related Topics

budget gaming pc1080p gamingunder 700pc buildryzen 5600rx 6600budget pcgaming setuppc hardwarevalue buildbeginners pc
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