Best $700 Gaming PC Build in 2024 [Tested & Reviewed]

If you have a hard time building a gaming PC within $700, you’ve come to the right place.

As a gamer, I know how hard it’s to make the perfect build with a low budget. Hence, I’ve researched budget builds for hours and finally made the best gaming PC for $700.

You’ll get the best value for money built and an upgrade path to turn it into a mid-tier gaming PC.

So read the whole post carefully.

The Best $700 Gaming PC You Can Build Right Now

At a low budget, it’s vital to build the PC in a way that you can upgrade the components and turn it into a better gaming PC over the years.

Hence, the core components like CPU, motherboard, PSU, and primary storage must be high quality and go well with upgraded components in the future. Otherwise, you’d have to replace many components every time you want to upgrade the PC, which will cost more and won’t give you the best value proposition.

The following PC build is done keeping these factors in mind.

So here’s the best $700 gaming PC build:

CPU

Editor’s Choice: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

Specification

Base Clock: 3.8 GHz
Max. Boost Clock: Up to 4.6GHz
Cores: 8
Thread: 16
Socket: AM4
Integrated GPU: Vega 8

Top highlights of AMD Ryzen 7 5700G:

• Faster Zen3 CPU cores.
• Integrated graphics card.
• Excellent power consumption & efficiency.
• Cooler included in the box.
• Value for money.

The core part of any PC is the CPU. So naturally, you’d want to buy the best possible CPU in your budget. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is the best option in this price segment right now.

It is quite a powerful CPU with 8-cores & 16-threads and comes unlocked out of the box. An 8-core CPU is overkill for most modern games, and thus, you can expect outstanding performance from this CPU.

The clock speeds are decent, with a base clock of 3.8 GHz and a 4.6 GHz boost clock. Gaming is mostly single-core dependent, so you’d benefit greatly from the higher boost clock here.

Moreover, it has 16 MB of L3 cache, which benefits your CPU performance.

Considering the GPU prices, sometimes getting your hands on a GPU for a low-budget build is hard. So integrated GPU matters more than ever.

With this in mind, the Ryzen 7 5700G has an integrated graphics card—Vega 8—which performs exceptionally well for an iGPU. It can give an output equivalent to a GTX 1050 graphics card.

Even if you don’t take a dedicated GPU or during an upgrade period, the iGPU can give solid performance in the mid-level games.

Ryzen 7 5700G comes with a Wraith Stealth cooler, which can save you money and allow you to invest the money in other components.

Check out some awesome AM4 socket-compatible CPU coolers supported for your Ryzen 7 5700G processor.

To sum up, in the current PC market, the AMD Ryzen 5700G is the best CPU you can pick for 700-dollar gaming.

Also, check our guide to optimize your CPU for gaming so that you get the maximum performance.

Honorable Mention: Intel Core i5-12400

Many of us prefer Intel processors over AMD CPUs. Seeing the AMD Ryzen processor as our first pick, you don’t need to be upset. Because of that, we also kept an alternate if you want to build an Intel PC.

The Intel processor we choose for our $700 is the Core i5-12400. Its price is almost identical to the Ryzen 7 5700G and appears with Intel UHD 730 integrated graphics card.

Intel i5-12400 comes with 6-core & 12-thread, slightly behind the AMD processor. But the cores and threads count is still sufficient for regular gaming.

You’ll get vast options in the motherboard for the 12th gen i5 processor, and you can go for the i5-12400 for your Intel build.

Motherboard

Editor’s Pick: Gigabyte B450M DS3H WIFI Micro ATX AM4

Specification

CPU Socket: AM4
Compatible Processors: AMD Ryzen 5000 series
Chipset Type: Intel B450
Memory Capacity: 64 GB
Storage: 4x SATA3
Expansion Slots:  PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2

Top features of the Gigabyte B450M DS3H motherboard:

• Micro ATX motherboard.
• Onboard WiFi.
• Supports AMD Crossfire.
• RGB Fusion 2.0 software.

The motherboard is the central hub of the PC, as all the PC components connect via the motherboard. So it’s imperative to get a decent motherboard within the budget.

The Gigabyte B450M DS3H WIFI Micro ATX AM4 is one of the best B450M motherboards that rivals some more expensive B450M motherboards. For such a micro ATX motherboard, it has many features at a low price.

The motherboard has an AM4 socket that supports Ryzen 5000 series. It can handle powerful CPUs with no issue, and if you want to upgrade the CPU in the coming years (for example, Ryzen 7 5800X3D, Ryzen 9 5900X, Ryzen 9 5950X), you can freely do that with this motherboard.

On the connectivity front, you will get onboard WiFi. As for wired Ethernet, you get a 2.5G LAN port. So whether you’re going for wired/wireless mode, the motherboard gets you low latency and high-speed connectivity.

You also get 4x DIMM slots and NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 slots in such a compact motherboard. Upgrading your RAM and storage will be of no issue here.

The maximum memory capacity is 64 GB, and the frequency is 4400 MHz. The motherboard supports dual channel technology, which can extract the best performance from your RAM.

On the other hand, resetting or updating the BIOS is straightforward, and you can overclock the AMD processor anytime.

The rear I/O is pre-installed for your ease. Speaking of rear IO, it has 4x USB 2 Type-A and 4x USB 3 Gen 1 Type-A ports, DVI-Dt, and HDMI.

On the software side, you can access RGB Fusion 2.0, which gives you tons of customizations and tweaks.

Overall, for the price, the Gigabyte B450M DS3H WIFI is the best motherboard that you can get in this price segment.

Alternate Choice: Gigabyte B660M DS3H AX DDR4

When choosing the Intel i5-12400 as your processor, selecting an LGA1700 socket-supported motherboard is essential. And in our price range, the Gigabyte B660M DS3H AX DDR4 is the best option.

The Intel B660 motherboard has 6+2+1 Phases Hybrid Digital VRM with MOS Heatsink. With it, you can install powerful CPUs and upgrade to the 13th gen processor if you want.

The B660 chipset motherboard offers 4x SATA3 and 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots. The built-in WiFi 6 and 2.5GbE LAN port will always keep you connected with the internet world. In the memory section, it offers 4x DIMMs slots, which support up to 128 GB of dual-channel DDR4 RAM.

In the 700-dollar budget range, the Gigabyte B660M DS3H is the best choice for your Intel processor and keeps an option for a future upgrade.

RAM

TEAMGROUP Vulcan Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600

Specification

Capacity: 16 GB
Technology: DDR4
Speed: 3600 MHz
Compatibility: AMD & Intel motherboard

Top highlights of the TEAMGROUP Vulcan Z:

• Dual channel 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 RAM
• 3600MHz frequency.
• Cas latency 16.
• Enhanced heat dissipation.

A faster RAM makes the system snappy and responsive. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G can take advantage of high-speed RAM and supports up to 4000 MHz after overclocking.

It’s also compatible with your Intel i5-12400 processor, so you don’t need to worry about which CPU or motherboard you choose.

The TEAMGROUP Vulcan Z 16 GB has a BUS speed of 3600MHz. It’ll be more than enough for gaming. The timings are also very tight for such a budget RAM. You get C16 latency here.

The high frequency, low latency, and dual-channel configuration will work wonders for your PC. After enabling the XMP2.0, it won’t feel like a budget PC. Rather in day-to-day use, it’ll be as responsive as a mid-tier gaming PC.

To dissipate heat, the RAM uses the integrated black heatsink. High thermal conductive adhesive offers efficient heat management and cools your RAM during heavy usage.

Intel or AMD, no matter what your pick is, you can choose the dual-channel TEAMGROUP Vulcan Z 16 GB and also keep space for the next upgrade.

Storage

Crucial P3 500 GB PCIe NVMe SSD

Specification

Storage: 500 GB
Hard Disk Interface: NVMe
Compatible Device: PCIe NVMe Gen 3.0 drives
Special Feature: Data Recovery Service

Top highlights of the Crucial P3 500 GB PCIe NVMe SSD:

• 500GB storage.
• NVMe interface.
• 33% better performance than the previous generation.
• Sequential read 3,500 MB/s & Sequential write 1,900 MB/s.

SSD is a must in any gaming PC build these days. It ensures fast storage for an overall speedy and responsive gaming system.

The Crucial P3 PCIe NVMe is a popular SSD due to its incredible speed and high-quality components. The solid Gen3 performance is massive for gaming, and it’s rated at MTTF greater than 1.5 million hours for its extended longevity and reliability.

The 500GB capacity is enough to store several games and software. If you need more storage, you can always add more SSD or HDDs in the future.

The high speed of the SSD comes in two ways: the use of the NVMe interface and high-quality NAND flashes and controllers. Among the SSD available in the market right now, the Crucial P3 is one of the fastest. It boasts incredible read-write speeds. The blazing-fast speed will certainly make your gaming PC experience better.

Quick data transfer, reliability, and longevity make Crucial P3 the perfect choice for the 700-dollar budget build.

Graphics Card

Editor’s Choice: MSI GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

Specification

Video Memory: 12 GB
Memory Type: GDDR6
Memory Interface: 192-bit
Output: DisplayPort x 3 (v1.4a) / HDMI 2.1 x 1

Top highlights of the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 12GB:

• NVIDIA’s 2nd generation RTX architecture (Ampere).
• Enhanced Ray Tracing Cores and Tensor Cores.
• Sufficient video memory for heavy gaming.
• Maximum digital resolution of 7680 x 4320.

GPU is a crucial part of any gaming PC. It’s a must for a good gaming experience and a decent frame per second (FPS).

The MSI GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card delivers decent performance for a dedicated GPU. If you’ve read our GPU hierarchy, you’ll see the GeForce RTX 3060 sits perfectly in the mid-category.

It delivers incredible 1080p performance across eSports titles and AAA games. Also, in 1440p, you’ll get an average of 60+ FPS with Ultra settings depending on the game.

Furthermore, NVIDIA’s RTX offers advanced ray tracing and AI technology, revolutionizing how you play a game. It delivers realistic graphics with fast performance and new AI features like NVIDIA DLSS and NVIDIA Broadcast.

And considering the price, that’s excellent gaming performance for a dedicated graphics card.

Alternate Choice: XFX Speedster SWFT309 Radeon RX 6700 Gaming Graphics Card 10GB GDDR6

If you are doing an all-AMD build or want to squeeze the performance of a Radeon graphics card, the RX 6700 is the perfect choice in this $700 budget.

It comes with 10 GB DDR6 memory, which runs at a maximum 2425 MHz clock speed. The price and performance are similar to an RTX 3060. The only place it’s behind is the VRAM capacity.

On the other hand, the RX 6700 offers about a 5-10% performance increase over the RTX 3060. Also, the RX 6700 performed slightly better in our GPU hierarchy test.

The XFX Speedster SWFT309 Radeon RX 6700 performs excellently in 1080p and 1440p gaming. And also capable of playing 4K games at low settings. The AMD free sync boosts gaming performance and gives you a rich experience.

Its massive triple fan can keep it cool when playing GPU-intensive games. And within this budget segment, the XFX Speedster SWFT309 Radeon RX 6700 gives neck-to-neck competition with NVIDIA’s RTX card.

It’s compatible with the AMD & Intel-supported motherboards mentioned above, so you don’t have to worry about choosing the Radeon RX 6700 for your PC build.

PSU

Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600 W 80+ Gold

Specification

Wattage: 600 watts
Efficiency: 80+ Gold
Item Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.9 x 4.8 inches
Item Weight: 5.28 Pounds

Major highlights of the Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600 W 80+ Gold:

• 600W PSU
• 80+ Gold rating
• Non-modular
• Five years warranty

On any PC build, you should never cheap out on a PSU. It supplies power to all the components of the PC. Hence if something goes wrong with the PSU, your whole PC is at risk.

Thermaltake makes reliable budget and high-end PSUs. The Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 is one of their budget offerings from them. For the low price, you can’t go wrong with the PSU.

The PSU has a capacity of 600@. Further down the road, if you want to upgrade the CPU or add a better GPU, you won’t need to change the PSU, as 600W should be enough.

The PSU has an 80+ Gold rating. It ensures that the output wattage of the PSU is consistently above 90%. The internal capacitors and components used are of high quality and reliability.

It’s a non-modular power supply unit, and its high-quality capacitors provide excellent performance and reliability. The low ripple noise ensures stability and keeps performance-critical components such as VGA cards operating reliably for longer.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 has a 120 mm fan which helps to reduce the noise while spinning. Also, you can check out our definitive guide for the most reliable Power Supply units for your newly built PC.

A five-year warranty backs the PSU for your peace of mind. Overall, the Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 is a top choice as a budget PSU with high reliability.

Case

Thermaltake Versa H18

Specification

Motherboard Compatibility: Micro ATX
Material: Tempered Glass, Alloy Steel
Item Dimensions: 15.35 x 8.07 x 14.96 inches
Number of Expansion Slots: 4

Notable features of the Thermaltake Versa H18:

• 1x USB 3.0 and 2x USB 2.0.
• Tempered glass.
• 1x 120mm fans pre-installed.
• Water and air cooling method.

When choosing a PC case, looking at the airflow or thermal performance and aesthetics is essential. You should also note the clearances to make sure your components fit.

Considering these points, the Thermaltake Versa H18 is the best choice for a low budget. It’s compact but has enough clearance for the components, it’s gorgeous, and most importantly, it has decent thermal performance.

The Thermaltake Versa H18 is quite famous due to its clean design. The case looks premium with its modern and minimalist design. The materials used are of high quality.

On the side, you get tempered glass to show off your internals. On the front side, it has blue LED strips, giving your PC an aesthetic look.

Despite being compact, it has good clearance for components. The CPU cooler and graphics card fits nicely inside the casing.

The clean design philosophy also stays true inside. The case has a PSU shroud and cable routing kits and channels. It allows you to hide and manage cable clutters and achieve a clean and beautiful build.

Thermals are of no issue here. Though the case is designed especially for water cooling, air cooling doesn’t lead to bad temperatures. The front and bottom air intakes have air filters to keep dust away. In the future, if you upgrade the CPU, you can replace the budget air cooler with a beefy AIO for the best thermal performance.

In summary, you get a modern-looking clean PC case with decent thermals and a premium build.

Why Did We Pick This Build?

The $700 budget range is quite a tricky one. The budget is neither great for a heavy gaming build nor a cheap one for an ordinary daily build.

You can tweak the components, create a superb build to fulfill your gaming desire and keep an option to upgrade in the future.

Keeping the target in mind, we chose the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G as our primary processor. It’s a fantastic 8-core & 16-thread CPU within the $200 mark and provides the out-of-the-box overclocking ability.

For our secondary choice, we’ve picked the Intel i5-12400—a 6-core & 12-thread processor—and may give you the option to save at around $20.

We could’ve picked the 13th gen Intel i5-13500 by spending around $18 more than the R7 5700G. It will give a considerable performance boost, but on the other hand, increasing the expense in the motherboard segment.

But, if you want a more future-proof CPU, spending some extra penny shouldn’t hurt you much.

Now coming to the next component, we’ve chosen the Gigabyte B450M DS3H motherboard for our AMD Ryzen 7 5700G processor and Gigabyte B660M DS3H for the Intel i5-12400.

The Gigabyte B450M DS3H is a ready-to-use motherboard for the Ryzen 5000 series and can hold your upgraded CPU or memory in the future.

As an alternative, the Gigabyte B660M DS3H can perfectly accommodate your 12th gen Intel i5 processor and up to 128 GB of memory. Also, it keeps room to upgrade the i5 processor to a 13th gen in the future.

Now, keeping the overclocking in mind, we’ve picked the TEAMGROUP Vulcan Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4 memory which runs at 3600 MHz bus speed. Your R7 5700G can support up to 4000 MHz, so why just tie up the performance at just 3200 MHz?

For the Intel i5 processor, the TEAMGROUP Vulcan Z is equally compatible. Its dual-channel technology lets you quickly speed up the process and transfer your data.

Like the other PC components, good and faster storage is equally important. And to meet the requirement, there’s no better option than Crucial P3 PCIe NVMe SSD under $25.

The 500 GB storage is enough to hold your Windows, essential files, and all your necessary games. Also, with just a few more bucks, you can add one more SSD or HDD to accommodate your gaming library.

To run modern games with satisfying graphics, we can’t think about anything besides a dedicated GPU. While making this $700 build, we had to balance sufficient VRAM capacity and get the latest ray tracing technologies.

By researching all the options, we’ve prioritized the MSI GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. The RTX 3060 can run games at 1080p max settings and 1440p medium. And the 12 GB memory capacity is more than enough to play modern games.

Alternatively, you can pair the XFX Speedster SWFT309 Radeon RX 6700 GPU with your AMD processor to build an all-AMD PC. The 10 GB graphics card’s performance and price are nearly identical to an RTX 3060.

The 2nd generation RTX and RDNA 2 technology makes the RTX 3060 and RX 6700 perfect under the $300 price range.

There’s no question of a good PSU to supply the power in all components. And within this budget, it can’t be any better than getting an 80+ Gold-rated power supply.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600 W 80+ Gold is a famous brand and incredibly reliable for its massive efficiency. The estimated wattage of the above build is 320W.

With almost 2x capabilities, you’ve enough room to upgrade the CPU or GPU and use the power supply unit as a future-proof component.

Last but not least, appearance is crucial to give the PC an aesthetic look and give yourself mental peace every time you look at the PC tower.

Ultimately, most people forget to keep a budget for a suitable casing. But for us, it wasn’t the case. Even with the limited budget, we’ve picked a casing with tempered glass and LED strip, and the model is none other than Thermaltake Versa H18.

It’s a widely popular mid-tower PC case with a minimalistic and clean look and provides all your input/output options at the front.

Assembling the PC components in the casing concludes the building of a $700 gaming PC. It will undoubtedly be powerful in this range, serve you well and fulfill the requirements in the upcoming years.

As always, you can’t buy things at a fixed amount. Sometimes you need to spend some extra money to get a good thing.

Even if the price goes a little over your seven hundred dollar price range, it might be wiser to spend some extra cash to make it more beneficial and future-proof.

Information Disclaimer: As tons of product snoops in the market continuously, we update our list when necessary.