The $600 gaming PC we’re going to be detailing has coined the name ‘console killer’ due to being comparable to the retail value of current-gen consoles but outperforming them in every way. You’re going to be looking at a rig that provides full 1080p gaming in all the latest AAA titles and some less graphically intensive games in 1440p at the compromise of those high frame rates. Although this is a great machine for $600, the components we’re detailing can be changed for more powerful selections, so if you do want to improve the performance after a few years, it is definitely a possibility. Unfortunately, due to various factors, the prices of the hardware listed fluctuate daily. We aim to update all of our builds as much as we can to ensure they are as close to the specified build price as possible.
- Last Updated - May 26, 2021
Build Details
The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is almost the perfect CPU within this price range, it’s not only fantastic value for money, but also has the power to back it up. It comes with 6 cores and 12 threads coupled with a base clock of 3.4GHz which should give you the processing power you need to run those all-important games with top frame rates, at 1080p. Overclocking is also possible up to 3.9GHz, giving you that extra boost for high demanding games.
An affordable gaming motherboard that supports 3rd generation Ryzen processors is somewhat hard to come by. Luckily, MSI has created a B450M motherboard that isn’t just that but one of such high quality. As well as the components being at the highest standard, MSI has incorporated their DDR4 RAM boost technology, producing the cleanest signal for maximum reliability and speed.
Good quality RAM is a necessity in any gaming PC and Corsair’s Vengeance rage is some of the best around. The Vengeance LPX 3200MHz that we’ve gone for here provides the optimal speeds for Ryzen’s 2600 CPU and with two 8GB sticks, there should be plenty of power to cope with even the highest demanding AAA titles.
Without a powerful graphics card, this machine would fall flat when trying to compete with current-gen consoles. XFX has created an XXX edition of their RX 580 cards which has been developed with the latest Polaris architecture and 4th Gen GCN graphics cores. Because of this, the RX 580 GTS XXX edition showcases similar performance compared to more expensive variants posting high frame rates in graphically demanding games. In addition, XFX has been able to implement OC+ functionality, allowing it to be pushed that bit further for maximum gaming capacity.
Having fast storage to house all of your games is absolutely essential and this SSD can do just that. It has blazing-fast read/write speeds of up to 3400/2180MB/s and according to some users, can even exceed these. While SSDs are a little lackluster in storage compared to HDDs, this Seagate Barracuda 510, is going to be net you 512GB of space to store a variety of games as well as your operating system.
With this being predominantly a gaming PC you’re going to want a case that offers a clean, sleek look but also having that little bit of flair to make the aesthetics pop. Corsair, being one of the most well-known brands for gaming products, produce a Carbide series of cases that do exactly what we’re looking for. The 175R that we’ve chosen for this build has a full length tempered glass side panel to showcase your internal components, alongside a backlit logo through the internal RGB fan. The RGB fan itself is fully customizable and compatible with motherboards from well-known brands such as ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI for enhanced RGB synergy.
This Thermaltake Smart power supply offers a great 80+ certified efficiency rating ensuring brilliant performance under typical workloads. 500 watts is also the perfect amount required for the XFX graphics card we have chosen. Moreover, it features a 120mm ultra-quiet cooling fan, providing excellent and intensive airflow at low noise levels. This PSU is, unfortunately, non-modular which some regard as a negative, however, we think there are some key advantages to non-modular. You’re going to be paying that little bit less and there are fewer detachable wires, thus decreasing the electrical resistance. You can also check out our other budget gaming PC build pages such as our $400 & $500 builds.
What Games Can This PC Run?
With any gaming PC you’ll want to know what games it can run and what FPS you’re likely to be expecting. The list below shows off some of the more graphically intensive games as well as some popular ones for you to get an idea of how this $600 rig is performing.
- Fortnite – Due to the optimized nature of this game, 1080p at high/max settings shouldn’t be a problem. However, when trying 1440p, you’ll have to make significant graphical compromises to achieve 60FPS.
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – PUBG is more than playable on max settings at 1080p and at 1440p on low/medium.
- Monster Hunter: World – MHW is easily playable at 1080p and high settings with this but as with most AAA titles, graphical settings will need to be reduced to achieve 1440p.
- League of Legends – As League of Legends is a fully optimized, esports ready game this gaming PC runs it with ease on 1080p and very well even on 1440p
- Dota 2 – Similar to League of Legends, Dota 2 posts good FPS in both 1080p and 1440p on max settings
- Overwatch – Overwatch can definitely be played in 1440p at 60FPS with high settings and over 100FPS in 1080p.
- Rainbow Six: Siege – Siege shows similar results to Overwatch in terms of performance and should have no problems playing it in both 1080p and 1440p.
- Warframe – Warframe runs excellently at both 1080p and 1440p with no compromises.
- Grand Theft Auto V – You’re looking at high settings for GTA V in 1080p and a potential push to 1440p at 60FPS on medium settings.
Building Tips
With this being a more entry-level build, you may be new to the whole PC building scene, so we’ve detailed a few tips and tricks to help you succeed. If you’re a more experienced builder you can skip this section, or potentially brush up on some techniques you might not have heard of.
Use Anti-static Equipment
Electrical components are fragile at the best of times so taking care when building is essential. However, what many don’t consider is the effect static electricity can have. If a static discharge occurs, it can damage your components beyond repair, which then means a whole lot of wasted money. You can avoid any potential component damage in a couple of ways, with the most common being; using an anti-static mat for your components and wearing an anti-static wristband when assembling.
Prepare your toolkit in advance
You’re going to want to get your tools ready because you don’t want to start to assemble your rig and not be able to due to not having the correct equipment. There aren’t masses of tools you need to successfully assemble a PC but what is essential, is a screwdriver with multiple bits. There are a few screws that are needed to secure both the components and assembling the case itself. These can usually be fitted using the same Phillips bit, with the most common being #2. However, make sure you have a #1 and #3 just in case.
Essential Software
Operating System
Now you have your fresh new build, you need some operating software to actually use the machine. There is no disk drive in this one so you may be wondering ‘how am I going to install my operating system?’ well, it can actually be installed via USB. Whether you go with Windows or Linux, you will have to download the respective files onto a spare USB and plug it in when booting.
Graphics Card Drivers
You want to be looking at the highest resolution possible and that means ensuring you have the latest graphics card drivers installed. This is vital in your new build as you could be stuck with stock drivers that are not only out of date but give you a sub-optimal resolution. Go to the maker of your graphics card website which in this case is Nvidia, and find the correct drivers.
Antivirus Software
You’re going to want to protect your PC from any attacks, so installing antivirus software is a must-have. There are a variety of providers with different levels of protection but if you’re just wanting a piece of free software, we recommend Avast. Avast’s antivirus protection is the most basic you can get, but for free, there’s no complaining from us.
Web Browser
Choosing the web browser that caters to all your surfing needs is always down to personal preference. We would recommend either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as these are the fastest browsers out there, and the most widely used across the world. Some argue that while Chrome is the fastest browser out there, it does utilize a lot of memory, so choosing Firefox could be the way to go if you feel the same.
Conclusion
This console killing gaming PC will be at home in any setup with its visually pleasing RGB lights and high-quality components. It also provides the goods when it comes to performance, showcasing high FPS in most, if not all of today’s AAA titles. Coupled with the opportunity to boost the resolution to 1440p at respectable frame rates, for the price, there’s almost no reason to not build this gaming PC. If you did end up building this rig, enjoy your new PC! Be sure to check out our other articles if you have any issues or want to explore different options!