Building a $500 Intel Gaming PC - 2023
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Play Enlisted for FREE on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PS5: enplay.link Follow the link to download the game and get your exclusive bonus now. See you in battle! It’s only been 9 months but AMD and Intel have both launched new processor lines. How far will our $500 go if we want to use the latest CPU technology in a new Budget Gaming PC? Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com
Promos
Check out the Parts of this $500 Rig: Intel Core i3-13100F CPU: geni.us ASRock B660M-HDV Motherboard: geni.us Patriot Viper Elite II DDR4 3200MHz CL18 8GBx1 RAM: geni.us Intel 670p 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD: geni.us DIYPC F2 Micro-ATX Case: lmg.gg Enermax CyberBron 500W 80+ Bronze PSU: lmg.gg ASRock AMD Radeon RX6600 Challenger D GPU: lmg.gg Buy an ID-COOLING SE-214-XT CPU Cooler: geni.us Buy a Thermalright Assassin X 120 SE CPU Cooler: geni.us Buy a Vetroo V5 CPU Cooler: geni.us Buy a SURALLOW NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super GPU: geni.us Buy a Gigabyte Radeon RX6600 Eagle GPU: geni.us Buy a Seagate ST500DM002 500GB Hard Drive: lmg.gg Buy a Seagate ST1000DM003 1TB Hard Drive: lmg.gg Buy a Gioneda 257GB NVMe M.2 SSD: lmg.gg Buy an AMD Ryzen 5 7600 CPU: geni.us Buy an AMD Ryzen 5 5600 CPU: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Some CPU Cooling Options: pcpartpicker.com Intel system as built: pcpartpicker.com An AMD AM4 Option: pcpartpicker.com ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► LTX 2023 TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW: lmg.gg ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► EQUIPMENT WE USE TO FILM LTT: lmg.gg ► OUR WAN PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 0:40 Processor 2:07 Motherboard 2:48 Memory 3:42 Storage 4:35 Case 5:54 Cooling 9:47 Don't try this at home... 10:55 Halo Infinite 11:56 Doom Eternal 12:58 CS:GO 15:25 Outro
LTT walks through building a $500 Intel-based gaming PC in 2023, balancing modern CPU features with a strict budget. The video kicks off by noting how inflation shifted the buying power for a budget build, comparing the Core i3-13100F against AMD’s Ryzen 7000 and AM4 options, ultimately arguing that the Intel option remains the most viable for this price point. The host explains why they chose a B660M-HDV motherboard from ASRock, highlighting features like six USB ports, dual M.2 slots, and overclocking support on a budget-friendly platform. RAM is discussed with a single 8GB Patriot Viper Elite 2 stick, a deliberate move to keep costs under control while preserving upgrade paths later, illustrating the trade-offs involved in budget planning. Storage is based on a reliable Intel 670p 512GB NVMe SSD, chosen for durability and performance consistency rather than just capacity, with the expectation that cheaper drives would eventually be added if needed. Finally, the video wraps the hardware discussion with case and cooling choices, explaining why the DIYPC F2 was selected purely for price, and how the Enermax CYBERBRON 500W power supply was chosen for safety and compatibility, despite higher cost compared to sub-$20 options. The host then demonstrates gaming performance across Halo Infinite and Doom Eternal, offering real-world impressions to complement the synthetic numbers, and concludes that the $500 setup remains a strong starting point for budget gamers. A key moment is their reflection on how upgrades could shift the total price toward $600, underscoring the thin line between frugality and capability in budget builds.
Topics · budget_build · pc_hardware · gaming_performance · tech_reviews
Questions answered
- Why was the Intel Core i3-13100F chosen for a $500 build over AMD alternatives?
- The i3-13100F offers modern platform features like PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 support at a low price, making it the most viable option for keeping total cost under $500 while still enabling a current-generation CPU.
- What storage did the builder select and why?
- They chose the Intel 670p 512GB NVMe SSD for reliability and strong performance, arguing that durability and quicker load times justify the cost over cheaper drives.
- How did the build address RAM and upgrade paths on a tight budget?
- The builder used a single 8GB RAM stick to stay within budget, with a plan to upgrade to dual-channel 16GB later when prices are friendlier, avoiding early over-commitment that would push the total price higher.
- What GPU option did they settle on and what alternatives were discussed?
- They selected the ASRock Challenger D RX 6600 for about $200, noting it is newer and generally faster than a GTX 1660, while also discussing secondhand options like 2080s and 1080 Ti for higher performance with warranty caveats.