Building a Budget Gaming PC with a ￡850 Budget: A Detailed Guide

Are you looking to build or buy the best gaming PC for ￡850? It might seem challenging, but with the right components and some insider tips, you can achieve outstanding performance within your budget. In this guide, we will walk you through the best components you can get, from the unusual Intel Xeon E5-2678v3 CPU to the efficient Radeon RX 6600 XT and Kingston A2000 SSD. Let's dive in and explore the possibilities!

1. Choosing the Right Processor: Intel Xeon E5-2678v3

Surprisingly, an Intel Xeon E5-2678v3 serves as an excellent processor choice for gaming and productivity, especially when you consider its cost. This 12-core server processor, salvaged from old servers with registered ECC memory, offers performance comparable to the Amd Ryzen 7 2700. Its quad-channel memory support ensures that you receive double the bandwidth of standard dual-channel setups, making it an invaluable asset for multitasking and high-performance gaming. At the time of writing, the cheapest bundle available, including free delivery, starts at ￡205. This is an incredible deal considering the quality-performance ratio.

2. Efficient Cooling: Generic 6 Heat Pipe Dual Tower Cooler

When it comes to cooling, you don't always have to spend a fortune. A generic 6 heat pipe dual tower cooler from Aliexpress, costing around ￡17.50, is an excellent choice. This cooler supports both LGA 2011 and AMD stock coolers, making it versatile. While it may lack the build quality of high-end brand coolers, its performance is more than satisfactory for gaming and daily use. This cooler, paired with the Xeon E5-2678v3, ensures your PC stays cool and performs optimally.

3. Selecting the Graphics Card: Radeon RX 6600 XT

A budget-friendly yet powerful graphics card is essential for any gaming PC. The Radeon RX 6600 XT stands out as the cheapest current-generation card that provides exceptional performance at 1080p resolution. It closely matches the RTX 3060's performance at 1440p and 4K, though it is slightly slower in ray tracing. For overall performance, it offers similar levels to the Radeon RX 5700 XT or the RTX 2070 Super, but with a slight decrease in 4K performance.

4. Storage Solutions: Kingston A2000 1TB SSD

Storage is another crucial aspect of your build. The Kingston A2000 1TB SSD combines cost-effectiveness with reliability. It uses TLC NAND and DRAM cache, ensuring consistent performance even as the drive fills up. This SSD is the cheapest 1TB option, making it an ideal choice for both gaming and daily use.

5. Completing Your Build: Bitfenix Nova Mesh SE and EVGA BR 600W PSU

Your gaming PC needs a solid case and power supply unit (PSU). The Bitfenix Nova Mesh SE is one of the most budget-friendly ATX cases on the market. Featuring decent fans and a mesh front panel, it ensures good airflow and aesthetics. For the PSU, the EVGA BR 600W is a well-regarded mid-range model, offering a substantial amount of power for a PC that won't exceed 600W in total.

6. Putting It All Together: PC Part Picker and Costs

To help you compare costs and build your PC, I utilized a PCPartPicker cost breakdown. After manually inputting the component prices, the total came to ￡837.23, with the cooling and graphics card selected reflecting the options I mentioned earlier. While the specific motherboard and RAM were not included due to the custom build nature, this setup still falls well within your ￡850 budget.

By combining these components, you can achieve a PC that not only meets but exceeds your expectations. The Intel Xeon E5-2678v3, along with the other mentioned components, forms a budget-friendly yet high-performance gaming machine capable of handling demanding games and applications without breaking the bank.