The Best $900 Gaming PC Build in 2021

Written by Branton

Last updated Nov 7, 2021

best gaming pc build 900 dollars

Looking to build yourself the best $900 Gaming PC possible? This might just be it. Featuring an AMD R5 3600, a brand new RX 5700, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and 500GB of pure SSD storage; you’ll be gaming comfortably for a long time!

Building a gaming PC with around $900 gets you something that will run the majority of the newest games on ultra settings in 1080p without an issue and will also deliver very decent 1440p performance, depending on the game 60fps shouldn’t be an issue in 1440p.

This powerful PC is going to put you ahead of the game by giving you way more performance than you’re paying for. But, keep in mind that the price is for just the tower, if you need other peripherals or an operating system, those will be counted separately from the price listed below.

Have a question? Ask me in the comment section! 

prebuilt budget gaming pc

$900 Prebuilt Gaming PC Option

Skytech Archangel

Not feeling the DIY approach? Just want the best prebuilt gaming PC under $800 that’ll work right out of the box? Have no fear, The CyberPowerPC Extreme is here. It comes fully assembled with Windows already installed. The only thing left for you to do is plug it in and turn it on! 

With that in mind, here’s a good prebuilt alternative with similar (not the exact same) specs and pricing as the DIY build found on this page.

  • CPU: AMD R5 3600
  • GPU: GTX 1650
  • RAM: 8GB DDR4 RAM (3000MHz)
  • Storage: 500GB SSD
  • Connectivity: WiFi + Ethernet | 1 x HDMI, 4 x USB 3. 1 Gen1 Ports, 2 x USB 2. 0
  • Comes with Windows 10 Home (64-bit) installed
  • Comes with a keyboard + mouse
  • 1-year parts + labor warranty | Free lifetime tech support

The Best $900 Gaming PC Build

Updated: October 24th, 2021
masterbox q300l computer case

Case

Thermaltake Versa H18

mATX tower with a tempered glass side panel. Comes with 1x 120mm fan, 1x front USB 3.0 + 2x USB 2.0 + 3.5mm audio jacks.

amd ryzen computer processor

CPU

AMD R5 3600

6-core/12-thread 3.9GHz 2nd generation AMD Ryzen CPU. Comes with a Wraith Stealth CPU cooler.

gigabyte computer motherboard

Motherboard

MSI B450 Gaming Plus Max

AM4 socket ATX motherboard running the B450 chipset. Equipped with 5x USB ports, 6x SATA, and 1x M.2.

amd gaming graphics card

GPU

Gigabyte RX 5700 XT Gaming OC

8GB GDDR6 graphics card, 4 display outputs, amazing 1080p and good 1440p performance!

patriot signature computer memory

RAM

Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB

2x8GB sticks of 3000MHz DDR4 RAM. Adding more ram is completely possible!

computer power supply

PSU

EVGA 550 BQ 80+ Bronze

Fully-modular 550W 80+ Bronze power supply. Comes with a 5-year warranty.

250gb solid state drive

Storage

Kingston A400 480GB SSD

480GB SSD with 500MB/s read and 450MB/s write speeds.

The tools you need:

That’s really all you need to assemble your new desktop. All of the mounting hardware and cables will come with the parts listed above. The only time you might need something extra is if you’re modifying the build on this page.

    HOW TO BUILD YOUR PC…

    Super Simplified Build Steps:

    1. Install the power supply into the case
    2. Install the processor (CPU)
    3. Seat RAM in the motherboard
    4. Mount the CPU cooler (don’t forget thermal paste if you’re not using a stock cooler!)
    5. Insert the motherboard’s rear I/O plate into the case’s rear I/O slot
    6. Mount the motherboard in the case (get your i/o ports through and use the middle standoff as a guide)
    7. Plug your graphics card into the motherboard
    8. Install storage drives
    9. Plug all power and data cables in where they’re required (storage, case, motherboard, graphics card, etc)
    10. Turn your PC on
    11. Install your OS
    12. Install and update ALL drivers
    13. DONE!

    Complete Build Breakdown

    When you’re picking parts to build yourself a gaming PC there are a lot of considerations to keep in mind. Do you plan on upgrading it in the future? Do you just want what you can get now, or do you want to eventually overclock your processor? Each path potentially poses a lot of new considerations if your goal is effectively balancing price vs performance.

    But, why do all that when you could have me do it for you?!


    Case: Holding everything together is the Thermaltake Versa H18 micro-ATX case. It gives you lots of options for expansion in terms of added storage, or a more intensive cooling profile.

    The H18 comes with a total of 3x front USB ports as well as 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks. It’s also boasting a tempered glass side panel and a full PSU shroud. The compromise being it only comes with 1x 120mm fan – 1 is pretty much good enough for this build, but you might want to add 1 more.

    There are A LOT of other cases that would work for this build, I really suggest that you take a look at some other options just in case you can find one that you like more! If you need some suggestions, check out what I consider the 5 best mATX cases!


    CPU & Cooler: AMD’s R5 3600 is a complete beast when it comes to gaming, streaming, and pretty much anything else. With a sub-$200 price tag, the R5 2600 simply cannot be beaten in terms of price vs performance.

    It’s loaded with 6 cores and 12 threads that’ll operate at a modest 4.2GHz by default. Since the R5 3600 fully supports overclocking, you could easily squeeze out even more performance if you don’t mind spending some time testing.

    The R5 3600 comes with a good CPU cooler if you’re not pushing your CPU too much or overclocking. Upgrading to a larger air cooler would be recommended if you’re going to overclock. 


    Motherboard: The MSI B450-A Pro Max ATX motherboard is a great choice at this level that’s loaded with all of the features you might need for an AM4 socket build like this; including 6x USB ports, 6x SATA ports + 1x M.2, integrated audio, 2 case fan headers, room for 4 sticks of RAM, a built-in ethernet controller and lots of room for future expansion.

    The B450 chipset does support CPU overclocking, which means you’re free to crank up the power on your R5 3600 assuming you have adequate cooling.


    Graphics Card: AMD’s new RX 5700 and its 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM is a complete and utter powerhouse when it comes to 1080p gaming – it’s also capable of tackling 1440p without a problem while pushing 60fps in most games.

    Gigabyte’s RX 5700 Gaming OC is absolutely no exception. It runs quiet, cools great, has 4x display outputs (3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI), and easily fits inside almost any case with ease. It’s very capable of 1440p 60fps gaming in any game out there and it can easily support VR headsets like the Vive or Rift.


    RAM: 16GB of RAM is the perfect amount for a gaming PC at this level. With that in mind, this build is running 2x8GB sticks of Corsair Vengeance LPX at 3000MHz. This leaves you with lots of room for future expansion and if you wanted to run more than 16GB that’s completely possible – when you do upgrade try to stick to the same speed as your RAM will automatically change its speed to match your slowest stick.


    Power Supply: EVGA’s 550 BQ fully-modular power supply is a good, reliable, power supply. It’s rated to 80+ bronze and comes with a 5-year warranty + 24/7 technical support from EVGA. Being fully-modular, you don’t have to worry about hiding unused cables – you just plug in what you’re using and leave everything else in the box. 


    Storage: When it comes to storage, there’s a Kingston A400 480GB SSD in this build by default. Beyond that, you can easily add up to 3 more drives based on what the motherboard will support. All you’ll need are extra SATA data cables and the additional drives themselves.

    Peripherals

    If you don’t already have the base peripherals like a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and some kind of audio, you’re definitely going to not only want these things, but need them. Below we’ve featured an awesome product to represent each of the fundamental extras that you might need!

    Picking the best monitor for your usage is often very subjective, beyond the basic specs you should be looking for that is. With such a wide array of different designs and price points, it pays to do some research. That’s why I put together this guide on how to pick the best monitor for gaming!

    Even more important than picking a good monitor is picking a good chair. If you can’t get comfortable because you’re using a bad chair, you’re simply not going to enjoy your gaming sessions as much as you should be. To ensure you can get the most out of every session, I put together this in-depth buyers guide of all the best gaming chairs!

    gaming keyboard

    Monitor

    ASUS VS247H-P 23.6″

    23.6″, 1080p 60Hz, 2ms response time – Great for gaming

    gaming keyboard

    Keyboard

    Redragon K556 RGB

    A good full sized mechanical keyboard with RGB backlighting and a very attractive price point. 

    gaming mouse

    Mouse

    Logitech G502 Hero

    One of the absolute best gaming mice you could buy. The G502 is a tried and true platform that’s only been improved to where it’s at now with the HERO. 

    gaming headset

    Headphones

    HyperX Cloud 2

    The HyperX Cloud 2 headset is undeniably one of the best you could own. They use audiophile-grade headphones with a high-quality detachable microphone. 

    Operating System 

    The operating system you pick should be based on your necessities, or how much extra cash you have lying around. If you need something that works right out of the box with very little tinkering required, Windows is what you want, but keep in mind that it’ll cost around $100 to go this route.

    When it comes to getting access to the widest range of compatible programs, games, etc, Windows is your best bet. There are a few options available, but the one you’ll want to consider first is Windows 10. It’s the only OS that supports DirectX 12, and you’re definitely going to want DX12 as it becomes used in more and more games.

    For the more frugal or privacy concerned users, a Linux based O/S like Ubuntu might just do the trick. Linux has been dubbed the “most secure” operating system when it comes to spyware, etc, so if that is a concern, it’s just another reason to grab a free copy of Ubuntu.

    When it comes down to actually installing your OS, you basically have 2 options. Either do it from a DVD/CD or create your own bootable flash drive loaded with an OS installer. In my opinion, the first option is a lot easier, but you’ll need to grab the DVD drive I have listed above.

    window 10

    Windows

    Windows 10

    The most recent version of Microsoft’s operating system, Windows 10 is your best bet for across-the-board compatibility. 

    ubuntu linux

    Linux

    Ubuntu

    Ubuntu is a great, open source operating system rooted in Linux. It’s known as one of the most user-friendly and easiest to learn. 

    WiFi

    Since the motherboard in this build does not have built-in WiFi (most don’t) you will need a WiFi adapter if you plan on using a wireless internet connection. That said, if you have the option to run a wired connection, do that instead because it will be faster & more reliable.

    Since there are tons of options available when it comes to picking a WiFi adapter, it can be a little confusing at first; but don’t worry because I’m going to help sort that out… Or, at the very least, I’m going to try to make it as simple as possible.

    Basically, if you have a newer router/modem, chances are it’s on the AC protocol and supports both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands – perfect. If it’s older, it might be on the N protocol which is a little slower than AC, but your modem/router might still be new enough to be “dual band” and support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. This is the first thing you want to figure out – search the model number which will be stamped somewhere on it if you’re unsure what you’re running.

    Next, it’s basically just a matter of matching numbers with numbers and letters with letters. If you have a dual band (2.4GHz + 5GHz) modem on the AC protocol capable of 1300Mpbs, you want a dual band AC1300 adapter. 

    internal wifi adapter

    Internal WiFi Adapter

    TP-Link Archer T6E

    A good internally mounted (PCIe) AC1300 WiFi adapter. Make sure your build has enough room!

    external USB wifi adapter

    External WiFi Adapter

    Netgear A6210-100PAS

    A reliable AC1300 USB WiFi adapter. Capable of operating on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

    Conclusion

    When everything is said and done, this machine is a beast and it will absolutely dominate any game you decide to play in 1080p 60-100fps+ (way more in most games) and it’s also going to do well in 1440p @ 60fps. Whichever route you go, you can rest assured that this build has the power to handle it effectively.

    If you came here looking to build the best $900 gaming PC that will last you into the future of modern games, you’ve found the right build. This beast features quite a bit of upgrade potential and a lot of raw power, so what are you waiting for? 

    3.8 9 votes
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    Branton
    Branton
    September 8, 2021 9:42 pm

    Just beware, graphics cards are really expensive right now, so your PC will cost way more than the price posted above. We are working on finding alternative graphics cards.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    August 18, 2021 12:46 am
    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    August 18, 2021 12:45 am

    <a href=”https://www.gamingpcideas.com/”>gamingpcideas</a>

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    July 25, 2021 5:11 pm

    in switzerland it cost 1150 CHF

    GAMING UAE
    GAMING UAE
    July 11, 2021 9:38 pm

    Where can buy best <a rel=”noopener” href=”https://www.gaminguae.ae/product/mid-range-gaming-pc-with-16gb-ram-oc-and-1tb-hdd/” title=”Mid-Range Gaming PC in UAE, 16GB RAM OC Gaming PC in UAE, Gaming PC in UAE”>Mid-Range Gaming PC in UAE, 16GB RAM OC Gaming PC in UAE, Gaming PC in UAE</a> Visit now https://www.gaminguae.ae/product/mid-range-gaming-pc-with-16gb-ram-oc-and-1tb-hdd/

    Nathan
    Nathan
    March 23, 2021 4:10 am

    The gpu is at least 800 alone. I dont know if prices went up or what?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    March 25, 2021 6:26 am
    Reply to  Nathan

    They did. A lot of people say that bitcoin miners are buying thousands of graphics cards, which is driving the price up and the stock down.

    Branton
    Branton
    September 8, 2021 9:00 pm
    Reply to  Anonymous

    Yes they are, Graphic cards are really expensive right now, so the price of your PC will be higher than posted above.

    FART
    FART
    March 4, 2021 9:18 am

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