We UPGRADED the $69 Gaming PC and it ROCKS!
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Check out the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX Headphones at dro.ps Buy the be quiet! Silent Base 801 on Newegg: lmg.gg This Gaming PC is the best value budget build you can make under $200 - with Intel CPU and RAM from Ebay! Perfect for Fortnite! Buy PC Parts on Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us Buy Dell Optiplex on Best Buy (PAID LINK): shop-links.co Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Our Affiliates, Referral Programs, and Sponsors: linustechtips.com Get Private Internet Access today at geni.us Linus Tech Tips merchandise at designbyhumans.com Linus Tech Tips posters at crowdmade.com Our Test Benches on Amazon: amazon.com Our production gear: geni.us Twitter - twitter.com Facebook - @LinusTech Instagram - @linustech Twitch - twitch.tv Intro Screen Music Credit: Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com Sound effects provided by freesfx.co.uk
The video starts by recalling the previous installment where a Dell Optiplex was adapted into a playable gaming PC on a tight budget. The hosts set a bold goal: to undercut the typical inexpensive gaming PC price while achieving solid 1080p gaming performance on medium settings. They estimate that a current-gen build worthy of the budget category lands around 350 to 400 dollars, so they target a total under $200 by reusing bargain parts and upgrading selectively. The plan involves swapping core parts that would normally force a full rebuild, while keeping costs down and acknowledging the risk of buying used hardware. They also introduce a quieter case and improved general usability as part of the upgrade, signaling a shift from a noisy compact rig toward something more practical for long sessions. The episode frames the upgrade as a test of bargain hunting, testing multiple GPUs, and balancing CPU limits to maximize value rather than chasing raw absolute performance.
Topics · technology · gaming · budget-build · pc-hardware · diy · affordable-tech · computing
Questions answered
- What was the target price range for a current-gen budget gaming PC according to the video?
- The hosts estimated that a current-gen budget gaming PC worth building would be around 350 to 400 dollars, and they aimed to undercut that by using bargain parts to keep total costs very low.
- Which components were identified as the core upgrades to maximize price-to-performance, and why?
- The team focused on upgrading the graphics card first to improve frame rates, since the original 650 was a bottleneck. They also upgraded the CPU later to a quad-core to address CPU bottlenecks and improve performance in CPU-bound games.
- Did swapping in an SSD improve the system’s usability, and why was it done before benchmarking?
- Yes, installing an SSD dramatically improved system responsiveness and everyday usability. It was installed before running benchmarks to avoid wasting time waiting on the old hard drive and to ensure tests reflected a more realistic, usable machine.