We like low cost builds. We like elements that provide nice worth. So when AMD launched its Athlon 3000G final November, we instantly needed to get our palms on the $50 processor.
At launch, the 3000G undercut Intel’s most cost-effective Pentium by $15—a notable financial savings on this ultra-budget house. This 2-core, 4-thread half additionally comes unlocked, that means you may overclock it for a bit of further efficiency. And if that weren’t sufficient, you may play video games with simply this chip, because of its devoted Vega 3 graphics cores.
Overall, you may put collectively a modest however dependable machine for simply over $300, without having to scour for used elements. We really constructed this PC for our YouTube channel: You can watch the movies of our expertise within the embeds under.
For how you can construct your individual 3000G system—plus real-world information on the way it’ll carry out—maintain studying.
Parts listing
Current road costs listed in parenthesis. Scroll to the desk under for hyperlinks to the particular elements we propose.
Processor
- Athlon 3000G, $50 MSRP ($55)
When we final challenged ourselves to build a $300 PC, we targeted purely on the flexibility to finish on a regular basis duties, like shopping the web or getting ready easy paperwork for work and faculty.
What a distinction three-and-a-half years make. Even although the 3000G relies on older Zen structure—regardless of the numbering scheme of its identify, this chip does not share the tech present in AMD’s newest Third-generation Ryzen processors just like the 3600 and 3700X—its overclockability and its devoted graphics cores give it an edge over its important competitors on this worth vary, the Intel Pentium G5400. Being capable of work and recreation on a single chip whereas paying much less outweighs the G5400’s slight benefit in CPU-based duties. In different phrases, its all-rounder standing makes your cash go a lot additional.
True, its predecessor, the Athlon 200GE, largely paved the way in which already. The 3000G is however an replace to the 200GE, and sports activities solely a modest bump in efficiency. Still, along with the small clock-speed enhance, the 3000G has a less expensive listing worth ($50 vs. $55) and helps overclocking.
Motherboard
- Basic choice: AM4 socket with A320 chipset ($53)
-or- - Ideal choice: AM4 socket with B450 chipset ($70)
Outside of sale durations, the most affordable motherboard you may get is one with an A320 chipset, probably the most stripped-down of all of the chipsets. This will prevent probably the most cash, however bear in mind that taking this route negates one of many 3000G’s key options—help for overclocking.
In order to squeeze out that further little bit of efficiency, each your chip and your motherboard should help CPU overclocking, and A320 mobos don’t. (They do, nonetheless, help overclocked RAM, so you may transcend the 3000G’s inventory help for 2667MHz pace RAM.)
Most A320 motherboards even have simply two slots for reminiscence (RAM). That means for those who plan to later enhance the quantity of RAM you might have, it’s essential to make one among two less-than-optimal decisions: You purchase a set of two DIMMs now to get the most effective efficiency and substitute each sooner or later with a higher-capacity set. Or you go together with the identical capability in just one DIMM and nerf your system.
We as an alternative advocate ready for a sale to deliver down a B450 board into the $60 vary, as these boards will help CPU overclocking and normally have 4 DIMM slots for RAM.
Memory
- 8GB DDR4-3000 [2x 4GB DIMMs] ($48)
For reminiscence, we’re making two necessary decisions to assist your 3000G’s efficiency: First, choosing a dual-channel configuration by buying two 4GB DIMM sticks as an alternative of a single 8GB DIMM. Dual-channel permits extra information to cross between the RAM and the reminiscence controller on the identical time, boosting system efficiency.
Second, we’re going with 3000MHz pace RAM. You might shave off just a few {dollars} by going with slower RAM, nevertheless it’s not value it. The longer you intend to make use of this machine, the higher off you’re with sooner RAM, as Ryzen processors reply properly to sooner RAM. (So for those who see a deal on DDR4-3200 or increased for the same worth to 3000MHz, snatch that up quick!) Equally necessary: Since built-in graphics should depend on system reminiscence for loading recreation belongings, its efficiency is affected by the pace of the RAM you select.
In brief, sooner is best, and 3000MHz is an efficient, reasonably priced baseline for a machine like this.
Storage drive
Given the affordability of solid-state drives lately, we predict a 512GB SATA SSD is a strong compromise between a considerable amount of cupboard space and sooner learn/write instances. Sure, hard-disk drives provide extra room for a similar worth, however they drag in pace. SSDs make techniques with modest {hardware} really feel blazing quick.
But what about video games with big installs? Well…those which are 50GB+ are typically probably the most punishing, graphically intense—not the sort you’ll be taking part in on this method immediately, if in any respect. For titles like Metro Exodus and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, you must punt these over to a game-streaming service like Nvidia’s GeForce Now in an effort to play them.
Power provide
An influence provide of this wattage is greater than what’s wanted—however we’re recommending one between 450W and 500W in order that your system has room to develop down the highway. If you later need to choose up a devoted graphics card (or get gifted one by a beneficiant good friend), you may set up it with out having to purchase a complete new energy provide to accommodate the improve.
Also you’ll want to get an influence provide from one of many main distributors (EVGA, Seasonic, Cooler Master, Corsair, and so forth) with an 80+ effectivity ranking at minimal—higher is 80+ Bronze. Don’t skimp in your energy provide, as utilizing a top quality PSU saves you from complications and the necessity to substitute fried elements.
Case
- Micro-ATX or ATX case ($47)
Simple, fundamental, and straightforward to construct in—we’ve chosen to spend a bit of bit extra for a dependable case from a recognized (and well-liked) model.
You might go a bit of cheaper, however the layouts aren’t all the time very best. We’re erring on the aspect of a construct that gained’t frustrate you to tears (particularly if it’s your very first time). There’s room for enlargement, too.
This case was cheaper firstly of the yr, however element costs have risen given present world provide chain points. But even at a $40 road worth, you’re getting an honest funds case.
Operating system
Linux works nice as a fundamental working system—and you may’t beat its price ticket. The caveat, after all, is that this selection solely works for individuals who can get by with out particular Windows-only merchandise (i.e., free options like OpenOffice and even Google Docs and Google Sheets are enough to your wants).
For assist in deciding which taste of Linux to put in, take a look at our guides on best distros for beginners and getting started with Linux. After you’re up and working, test our listing of the best free, open-source software and best Linux games to fill out your system.
If you may’t hand over Windows simply but (Linux help in software program and video games is extra restricted), you’ll need to look into acquiring a Windows license for cheap.
Keyboard and mouse
- Basic wired 104-key keyboard ($9)
- Basic wired 2-button mouse ($8)
We are going ultra-basic right here, but when the secret is frugality, this duo will get the job executed. Later on, you may improve to one thing extra snug (like a keyboard with mechanical switches or ergonomic gear). For now, these transmit human enter, and that’s ok.
Monitor
You might spring for an inexpensive 1080p monitor ($90 most instances yr spherical, and decrease throughout Black Friday), however why try this when folks improve to extra badass panels and provides away completely good older 1080p screens totally free? (It’s simpler than coping with electronics recycling.) Check Freecycle, native swap websites, and Craigslist to see what’s on the market.
TIP: When you’re out grabbing free screens, get two—one 1080p for regular work and shopping, and one 720p (if potential) for gaming. Games will look crisper on a display that matches the decision you’re taking part in at. Plus, having two screens is nice for productiveness usually.
Bonus improve
Dedicated graphics card
Throwing in a devoted graphics card undoubtedly shoots this PC previous the $300 mark, however for a complete of about $440 (or a bit much less for those who catch the RX 570 4GB on sale) to your complete system, you may play video games at 1080p on Medium to High settings.
That’s fairly a lift to such a bit of machine, because the Vega 3 graphics within the 3000G hit 720p Medium at best possible. You’ll be on par with current-generation consoles for about the identical worth as these machines’ MSRP, however with much more versatility (and sometimes cheaper video games, for those who’re seeking to fill out your backlog of older titles).
Final price
*Prices correct as of 5/7/2010.
Prices fluctuate day by day relying on gross sales, so that you would possibly have the ability to get this nearer to a flat $300 by timing your purchases properly. (We recommend signing up for Newegg’s daily deals newsletter, or monitoring Reddit’s buildapcsales subreddit to seek out bargains.) On the entire, road costs have been steadily ticking up, doubtless as a result of impact of the pandemic—our authentic construct for YouTube really price lower than $300 on the time.
Once you might have the elements in hand, all that’s left is to construct the machine. If you need assistance placing it collectively, check out PCWorld’s extensive PC building tutorial, in addition to our tips about common PC building mistakes and 7 things we learned once we built our first PC. All that data will maintain the method clean crusing.
Performance
AKA: But can it run Crysis?
After we constructed our personal $300 Athlon 3000G system, the number-one query we bought was, “But can it run Crysis?” (The long-standing, perennial meme amongst PC players.) So we examined it.
Longer bars point out increased efficiency.
The reply is sure.
You have to purchase the model from GOG (and never Steam) to keep away from 32-bit vs. 64-bit OS nonsense and leap straight into the sport, however our $300 PC handles it superbly. (As you would possibly count on, provided that the sport is sort of 13 years previous.)
I additionally fired up a handful of different video games to see what else our latest gaming PC might run, starting from 2014’s Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor to this yr’s Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
Longer bars point out increased efficiency.
As anticipated, this machine pushes to 720p and no additional—and sometimes issues should be dialed right down to their lowest graphical settings. It hit a wall on AAA video games going again about 4 years (Rise of the Tomb Raider), and even struggled some with new indie-ish titles (Ori and the Will of the Wisps). I hadn’t anticipated the graphics choking on Ori, particularly within the extra graphically demanding areas of the map. (The body charges dip even decrease, into the 25fps vary, after I visited the Luma Pools.) However, Ori doesn’t mean you can alter graphical presets, solely the decision.
For a $300 PC, although, these outcomes are fairly dang good. Will you place up numbers near these of buddies who spent $1,200 on their PCs? No, after all not. But for those who get grief from different folks for having a system like this, ignore them. You get to play video games.
Should you be surrounded by jerks who gained’t let up in your selection in PC elements, inform them to hush up or put up the money for a strong discrete GPU, like a 4GB RX 570. For that further $120, your system will make an enormous leap to 1080p on High to Ultra settings.
Longer bars point out higher efficiency.
While pairing this graphics card with such a modest CPU does constrain its efficiency, you continue to get a lot of oomph from the RX 570 on this construct. Despite the GPU’s older expertise (Polaris structure launched in 2016), it handily takes on trendy AAA titles.
If a discrete graphics card isn’t an choice, test if GeForce Now helps the newer AAA video games you need to play. The game-streaming service presents another strategy to run these resource-intensive titles, and it even has a free tier. (You simply get booted after an hour of playtime, with the flexibility to right away queue up once more for an additional session.) We discovered the expertise completely acceptable for single-player campaigns, even in shooters.
We named our system “Lil’ Sprout”—different folks may even see it as a potato, however we predict it has life in it.
Overall, we got here away from this construct impressed by its gaming efficiency. Don’t let anybody deride its modest {hardware} and name it a potato—it’s bought loads of life. Especially for those who’re intelligent about how you can put it to work.