With $700 we’re getting into what we call the mid-range section of gaming PC builds and because of that, the capabilities also increase. You’re looking at a more than respectable rig that will be able to run the latest AAA titles in both 1080p and 1440p with very little compromise in terms of graphical quality. Additionally, due to the AMD nature of the build, it is very flexible, so you can upgrade it to a high-end 4k build later down the line. 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 increased performance of the Ryzen 5 3600 compared to lower-priced CPUs is what makes this build shine. The 6 cores and 12 threads give this the processing power to handle all the AAA gaming you require and the CPU itself has been fine-tuned to achieve 100+ FPS in the most current games. It also comes with a base clock of 3.6GHz but a huge overclock capability of up to 4.2GHz boosting performance to max levels. The wraith spire fan included is also a surprisingly effective cooling solution so no need to go out and purchase additional cooling power.
The MSI B450M PRO-VDH Max is a popular choice in most of our gaming PC builds due to supporting Ryzen third-generation processors. Not only this, it is also fantastic value for money and doesn’t skimp on the materials used. It has steel PCI-e slots and high-quality audio capacitors for HD sound. Furthermore, DDR4 RAM boost technology provides a clean signal, improving stability and overall performance for your memory.
Corsair’s Vengeance range is another of our gaming PC build staples due to the high-quality nature of all Corsair’s products and the memory speed. This time we’ve opted for the 3200MHz variation as it matches perfectly with the Ryzen 3600x detailed above. Additionally, we think two 8GB sticks should be enough to cope with the stress and anything more would be a little overkill.
XFX has featured in both our $600 and now $700 builds and for very good reason. The RX 500 series of graphics cards they have made are some of the best bang for your buck out there and with the RX 590 Fatboy Core Edition, it’s another step up in terms of its capabilities. It features 8GB of GDDR5 memory so keeping up with the most visually demanding AAA titles won’t be an issue along with the dual dissipation fan system, they’ll be no overheating. This is also a VR ready graphics card so if you are looking to hook up your preferred VR headset, you can enjoy your virtual environments with this $700 gaming PC.
For the storage solution, we’ve chosen an SSD and more specifically, WD Blue’s 500GB variant. This internal SSD provides a little more performance over the more traditional externally mounted SSD, featuring over 4 times the speeds. The incredibly small form factor is also another plus over the SSD standard, allowing you to neatly slide it into your build without having to mount it on the case. You can also check out our other budget gaming PC build pages such as our $500 & $600 builds.
Phanteks cases are some of the most well-made cases around today. They’re built with high-quality metals and plastics, coupled with arguably better aesthetics than some of the more higher priced cases out there. The Phanteks Eclipse P360X is another of their successes sporting a sleek black look and unique exterior design with integrated RGB Lighting and 120mm cooling fan. There is also a full-length tempered glass side panel which is impressive for the price you’re going to be paying. It’s a fantastic value for money piece of kit, perfect for housing your new gaming PC build.
This non-modular power supply from Thermaltake does the job for this gaming PC build. It has a high-efficiency rating of up to 86%, offers great cooling with an ultra-quiet 120mm fan and because its Thermaltake, you know its a trusted brand. The high-quality components used to protect it against any capacitor explosion and leakage thus showcasing the reliability of this PSU.
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 $700 rig is performing.
- Fortnite – 1080p/60 and 1440p/60 should both be possible, but you will need to turn down settings for the latter.
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – PUBG on 1080p/60 at high settings looks fantastic, but 1440p will require some compromises.
- Monster Hunter: World – MHW well at 1080p and high settings, but 1440p/60 will require some graphical setting reduction.
- League of Legends – League of Legends is a lightweight eSports title, 1440p60 or 1080p144 should be easy.
- Dota 2 – Same as above.
- Overwatch – Ultra settings @ 1440p should net at least 60 FPS on average, but if you want higher frames, turn settings down and go down to 1080p.
- Rainbow Six: Siege – Siege should be easy to pay at 1440p and high settings, with around 60-70 FPS. 1080p will be much more stable, though.
- Warframe – Warframe should be fine with 1440p and 1080p at high settings- at 1080p, you might even push 144 FPS!
- Grand Theft Auto V – GTA V is playable at 1440p medium settings and 1080p high/max settings.
- Team Fortress 2 – TF2 is a CPU-heavy title, but this build is more than well equipped to handle it. 1080p should be a breeze, and with the right settings should even push 144 HZ. 1440p at 60FPS shouldn’t be a problem, either.
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 gaming PC build gives you enough power to enable a silky smooth 1080p and 1440p gaming experience while coming in at a very reasonable price. Due to the slight step up over the $600 console killer PC build, the improved components give you a boost in terms of performance and the actual visual architecture of the rig making it that much more appealing. 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!