Best gaming PC build under $700 in 2024
Built & Tested By Our Team
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Table of Contents
Best Gaming PC Under $700
Building the best gaming PC under $700 was not that long ago considered pointless, thankfully these days, $700 will happily get you a gaming PC more than capable of pumping out some significant framerates at 1080p and above. Is this the best Gaming PC build in the world? No, but then we’re running on a limited budget here, if you want something that can tackle the likes of 4K and beyond, we highly recommend checking out our Best Gaming PC under $2000 guide. That said, you could easily run any modern AAA game title today, at 60fps and beyond with this $700 gaming PC build.
As always, our goal with a build like this is to get you the best possible gaming experience we can, for just $700. Each component is carefully selected by our team of in-house experts, to maximize value and performance, while also ensuring that every part we pick is compatible with the rest of your system, making your build experience flawless. Speaking of, not a fan of the custom-build life? Perhaps just an off-the-shelf pre-built is what you’re after instead?
$700 gaming PC build of the month
This $700 is built to bring you the best possible performance at this price point. The I5-12400F may seem like an odd choice, but its 6 cores and 12 threads are plenty to offer very good gaming performance. Pair that with an RX 6600 for exemplary performance in 1080p, this combination also has the potential to game in 1440p on some less demanding titles. This is all thanks to AMD’s FSR, which renders games at lower resolutions and uses AI to upscale them. We chose to seat these components on the MSI PRO B760M-P, giving you all the connectivity you’ll ever need, along with PCIe Gen 5 storage and GPU compatibility. Our $700 gaming PC is probably the most future-proof PC you’ll find on the market.
Team Red or Team Blue?
So why Intel over AMD? Well honestly, there isn’t a huge amount of difference at this price point, at least, not at the moment anyway. Both AMD and Intel provide some seriously impressive budget options. Whether that’s the Intel Core i5-12400F featured in this build or the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, you’ll be more than set. It is down to preference. If we’re honest, both platforms are great, AMD does slightly pip Intel on its generation of processors and motherboards, but mostly for PCIe 5.0 SSD support, which we’re still waiting for SSDs for in general.
One slight caveat to bear in mind when building an AMD system is that they do prefer higher-spec memory. AMD’s Infinity Fabric (the interconnecting data medium that transfers data between its cores on the CPU) loves higher-frequency memory. There is a cut-off on that however (where the Infinity Fabric disconnects from the memory controller) For 5th gen AMD Ryzen processors and DDR4 that’s 3733 MHz, and for 7th gen Ryzen and DDR5, it’s 6000 MHz. Also remember, if you do opt for an AMD CPU in this build, you have to change to an AMD-compatible motherboard.
The WePC experts that worked on this build
Shaun is a gaming enthusiast and computer science graduate who has been working with computers for the last 15 years. He took a shine to competitive FPS back in the mid-2000s and hasn’t looked back since.
Our prebuilt gaming PC for under $700
ViprTech Rebel RTX 3060 Gaming PC
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 2600
GPU
RTX 3060
RAM
16GB
Storage
512GB
ViprTech Rebel RTX 3060 Gaming PC
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 2600
GPU
RTX 3060
RAM
16GB
Storage
512GB
For those without the experience of building a custom PC or the necessary time to do so, a prebuilt option could be the best way to go. Custom PC companies often bring the advantage of warranties. Not only that, but the manufacturers will fully test your system before sending it. That being said, we always recommend you build your own, but either way; here are our best-prebuilt recommendations.
It’s important to note that all new parts you buy come with warranties themselves, so if ever you receive a defective part, you can always get your money back.
Our Recommended Custom Build Details
- Last Updated - Mar 8, 2024
This $700 1080p Ultra Gaming PC is designed to play anything in its path. Let’s see what makes up the best gaming PC under $700.
Our $700 Custom Gaming PC Build
The $700 price point is that prime sweet spot with custom gaming PCs where you’ll begin to see some impressive performance at 1080p. Combining powerful multi-threaded CPUs and a reliable graphics card will provide you with an exceptional gaming experience. This is the best bang for the buck build by far.
Core i5-12400F
Cores:
6
Threads:
12
Base clock speed:
2.50 GHz
Boost clock speed:
4.40 GHz
TDP:
65 W
Core i5-12400F
Cores:
6
Threads:
12
Base clock speed:
2.50 GHz
Boost clock speed:
4.40 GHz
TDP:
65 W
The Core i5-12400F is a true beast of a CPU, packed with some of the best budget tech Intel can fit into a chip of this size. With six cores, 12 threads, and a beefy turbo clock speed topping out at 4.4 GHz, this Alder Lake chip will be more than enough to support your GPU through all the latest 1080p games. All of which makes it the best CPU for our $700 budget-busting build.
MSI PRO B760M-P
Form factor:
mATX
Power stages:
Unknown
PCIe Gen 5:
None
Memory speed:
DDR4 at 4800 MHz
MSI PRO B760M-P
Form factor:
mATX
Power stages:
Unknown
PCIe Gen 5:
None
Memory speed:
DDR4 at 4800 MHz
MSI’s PRO B760M-P is admittedly on the smaller side when it comes to motherboards. For one, it’s built on the Micro-ATX form factor, and you will be placing this into a full ATX tower. Also, the number of ports this motherboard has is somewhat limiting. With that being said, this is definitely the best motherboard for this build.
It’s another area we’d recommend upgrading in the future, or even splashing out a little extra for in the beginning, as the lack of rear I/O ports could limit you later down the line. Alternatively, you could grab a cheap USB hub instead, but bear in mind that this could back up your USB bandwidth and cause slowdowns.
So why pick it for our $700 custom PC Build? A combo of price, and on-board features, easily mitigates that lackluster rear I/O. With support for DDR4 up to 4800 MHz, and 2x M.2 PCIe 3.0 slots, slot in your hardware and you’ll see performance on par with boards 4–5 times as expensive.
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The $700 PC build does not require a CPU cooler as the Core i5-12400F comes with a stock cooler.
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 3200MHz
Capacity
2X 8GB (16GB)
Frequency
DDR4 3200MHz
memory Timing
16-18-18-36
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 3200MHz
Capacity
2X 8GB (16GB)
Frequency
DDR4 3200MHz
memory Timing
16-18-18-36
At this price, the CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16 GB kit is just too good to pass up for our $700 custom PC build. With a frequency of 3200 MHz, and a CAS latency of 16, these sticks will sing through any application you can throw at them. We think this is the best RAM for the money right now.
16 GB of DDR4 is ideal if you’re just gaming at 1080p, however, it’s the one area we’d recommend upgrading later down the line. Fortunately, because the MSI B760M features 4x DIMMs, you could buy a second kit later on, and double your capacity.
MSI RX 6600 Mech 2X
Core Clock Speed
1626MHz base, 2491MHz boost, 2044MHz game
CUDA Cores
1792
Memory Size
8GB GDDR6
Dimensions
235mm x 125mm x 46mm (9.3" x 4.9" x 1.8")
PSU Required
132W
MSI RX 6600 Mech 2X
Core Clock Speed
1626MHz base, 2491MHz boost, 2044MHz game
CUDA Cores
1792
Memory Size
8GB GDDR6
Dimensions
235mm x 125mm x 46mm (9.3" x 4.9" x 1.8")
PSU Required
132W
The RX 6600 is a great choice of GPU to go for at this price range. Of course, neither the latest nor the greatest choice, but when it comes to a budget of under $700, there’s nothing quite like it for bang-for-the-buck performance. It is perfectly capable of running 1080p framerates across the board, and comes with great support from AMD through software updates. In that way, you can still get a great gaming experience out of this GPU, and now as it is an older choice you can extract a lot more value.
Crucial P3 500GB
Interface
PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe
Read/Write Speed
Up to 3,500 MB/s / Up to 3,000 MB/s
Capacity
500GB
Crucial P3 500GB
Interface
PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe
Read/Write Speed
Up to 3,500 MB/s / Up to 3,000 MB/s
Capacity
500GB
We bet you didn’t expect to find an NVMe SSD in the $700 gaming PC build, did you?
There are a variety of standards you can choose from. With generations of PCIe interfaces, sizes, and speeds there is a bit of variety. But even still the Crucial P3 500GB provides a great value choice providing you a fast boot and load times. Although the capacity might be a bit limiting you can expand on it further down the line when required. It’s not the best SSD in the world, but it’s a start.
CORSAIR 3000D AIRFLOW
Form Factor
ATX Mid Tower
Motherboard Compatibility
ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Maximum GPU Length
360mm
Drive Bays
2x 2.5", 2x 3.5"
Dimensions
462 x 230 x 466
CORSAIR 3000D AIRFLOW
Form Factor
ATX Mid Tower
Motherboard Compatibility
ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Maximum GPU Length
360mm
Drive Bays
2x 2.5", 2x 3.5"
Dimensions
462 x 230 x 466
CORSAIR’s latest chassis, the 3000D, flew well under the radar when it first launched. But it’s without a doubt one of the best budget PC cases you can buy right now, even given the prestigious 4000D a run for its money. But with that being said, you can opt for the 4000D for a small additional cost.
It’s aesthetically pleasing, has good airflow all around, supports ATX motherboards, and fairly sizable GPUs, but doesn’t take up the entirety of your desk either.
This affordable PSU from EVGA comes with excellent levels of efficiency. If you don’t get a certified PSU you seriously run the risk of endangering the build and potentially your investment.
The EVGA 600-watt option it offers both excellent reliability and decent efficiency, with semi-modularity, and will run your system for years without issue.
Our $700 Custom Gaming PC Build
Things to consider
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $300
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $400
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $500
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $600
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $800
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $1000
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $1500
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $2000
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $3000
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $5000
What you get for your $700
The more you move down the price ladder, the more the value matters. You can’t just spend an extra $50 on a flashier memory kit, or $100 on a more potent cooling solution, what you’re looking for is the best bang for the buck for all of your hardware put together. Despite the budget limitations, we have managed to create the best custom PC build that we could for $700. One that’s easy to put together, performs at the highest levels at 1080p, and doesn’t break the bank in the process. Of course, compromises had to be made, but we’ve made sure that the impact on gaming wherever possible is minimal to non-existent.
One area we have had to compromise on is storage space, specifically with the SSD. Ideally, we recommend updating this later down the line. That being said, there is still plenty of room for your operating system and favorite games to get you started. This mid-level PC can not only handle the lat best games at 1080p with ease but on top of that, looks the part!
Despite that $700 price tag, you will get some awe-inspiring gaming performance from this gaming PC. This custom PC handles 1080p gaming in max settings with most titles. In our testing, we saw all of our game benchmarks, sit steadily above the 80 fps mark across the board. Admittedly some titles were below that average of course, Hogwarts Legacy, was one, along with CyberPunk.
The Intel Core i5-12400 isn’t the absolute monster that its 14th gen younger sibling is, but it is more than potent enough for this build, coming complete with six cores, and 12 threads. Its hyper-threading grunt makes it ideal for any workload, whether gaming or otherwise, you’ll be all set. Combine that with 960 GB of PCIe 3.0 Western Digital M.2 goodness, and this custom PC will be sailing.
As mentioned, the $700 custom gaming PC used to sit at the lower end of our mid-level builds but due to the current market, it has slipped further down. An important area for your consideration is the cost, as a gamer, you need to ensure that the PC meets your requirements. This gaming PC will perform at 1080p resolutions and despite what some may think, won’t be smashing 4K any time soon. You may want to think about our $800 PC and above for anything higher. It is worth noting that due to Amazon’s price fluctuations, the build price can sometimes change. We do our best to ensure we keep this build as close to $700 as possible, with regular updates.
Upgradability and Future-Proofing
Future upgrades will always be in the back of a PC builder’s mind. How easily upgradeable a PC is, thanks to our choice of components, this PC will be very easy to upgrade when the time comes. While making compromises to get this PC within that $700 target, we left room for future improvement. While these components may not be the newest releases, they still offer excellent gaming performance that will last you for years.
If you were to upgrade anything on this build it would be to a larger storage solution or a newer CPU. Remember, any upgrade will enhance performance but it will bring extra costs.
Overclocking on a $700 budget
Overclocking your PC can give you a free increase in performance. Boosting your clock speed or overclocking RAM has been shown to give you that little extra. Of course, when overclocking a CPU you bring about extra heat, so consider adding a CPU cooler to your basket to keep things chilled.
This $700 gaming PC features fast RAM but, unfortunately, RAM kits don’t come at these speeds out of the box, so you will need to overclock them in the BIOS. Luckily motherboard manufacturers have made the RAM overclocking process significantly easier to do in the BIOS.
How easy is it to build a $700 PC?
First-time builders should always consider how difficult it is to build a PC. Generally speaking, the PCs on the lower end of the budget spectrum tend to be easier to build as they contain fewer complex components. With this in mind, we carefully selected a beginner-friendly PC case that simplifies the whole process. The case is from a manufacturer you can trust and one that has building and cable management as a primary concern. The case does a good job of hiding cables with little fuss on your end, however, for those that wish to spend time on it, there is plenty of room to create something excellent.
Our recommended CPU comes with a stock cooler as standard. These stock coolers will handle your cooling efficiently and reliably. The stock coolers come with thermal paste pre-applied, saving you a job. That being said, we recommend you purchase some aftermarket thermal paste to replace it. Replacing the thermal paste will often bring better thermal performance and provide you with lower operating temps, you will need to replace it in future intervals.
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- Last Updated - Mar 8, 2024
Upgrade options
The $700 PC build already has the power to deliver a 1080p gaming experience, topping at least 60FPS on ultra settings, however, this is a custom PC build. There’s always room to ascend to an even higher level of computing power by making a few tweaks to the component list. Below are what we consider to be the absolute best upgrade options for the current $700 PC build. The upgrades have been chosen based on their performance, price, aesthetics, and overclocking ability.
The $700 PC build already has the power to deliver a 1080p gaming experience, topping at least 60FPS on ultra settings, however, this is a custom PC build. There’s always room to ascend to an even higher level of computing power by making a few tweaks to the component list. Below are what we consider to be the absolute best upgrade options for the current $700 PC build. The upgrades have been chosen based on their performance, price, aesthetics, and overclocking ability.
Intel Core i5-14600K
Cores:
14 (6+8)
Threads:
20
P-Core Speed:
5.3GHz (boost) 3.5GHz (base)
E-Core Speed:
4.0GHz (boost) 2.6GHz (base)
DDR5 support:
Yes @ 5600MHz
TDP
125W base 253W PL1 & PL2
Intel Core i5-14600K
Cores:
14 (6+8)
Threads:
20
P-Core Speed:
5.3GHz (boost) 3.5GHz (base)
E-Core Speed:
4.0GHz (boost) 2.6GHz (base)
DDR5 support:
Yes @ 5600MHz
TDP
125W base 253W PL1 & PL2
Crucial MX500 2TB
Read/Write
560/510 MB/s sequential, 95K/90K random
Capacity
2TB
Interface
SATA 6.0 Gb/s
Crucial MX500 2TB
Read/Write
560/510 MB/s sequential, 95K/90K random
Capacity
2TB
Interface
SATA 6.0 Gb/s
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070
Base clock:
1,920 MHz
Boost clock:
2,475 MHz
Memory Size:
12 GB
Memory clock:
21 Gbps
TBP:
200W
Product Dimensions:
267 x 134 x 51 mm
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070
Base clock:
1,920 MHz
Boost clock:
2,475 MHz
Memory Size:
12 GB
Memory clock:
21 Gbps
TBP:
200W
Product Dimensions:
267 x 134 x 51 mm
Operating System & Peripherals
If you’re buying the best $700 dollar gaming PC, you may already have a number of these things. However, we understand if you don’t, so we’ve written up this section in case you need anything within.
NOTE: These will raise the price of the build!
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Building Tips
Building your own PC isn’t that hard. All you need is the right information along with a comprehensive guide (both of which are easier to come by than ever before) and you should be able to successfully build your first PC without any worries.
We know the struggle that first-time builders have, this is why we’ve compiled a comprehensive list that covers exactly what newbie builders should avoid doing, along with a list of questions you might have when building a computer.
FAQs
How long will the $700 build last?
In terms of relevancy, it should last for about 3 – 5 years. In terms of physical longevity, we’ve seen PCs last well over 10 years if kept in good condition and built properly to begin with. We can’t guarantee that it will last that long, but we can guarantee it will play 1080p games with ease and serve you well for a few years to come.
Is a $700 PC worth it?
Yes absolutely, not too long ago, there was no argument for the $700 PC as we just weren’t seeing the value in a $700 rig. Now, thanks to the likes of the RX 6600, we can build an affordable, upgradable, budget gaming machine with ease.
Closing Thoughts
This was our in-depth guide to building the best gaming PC for under $700. If you have followed this guide closely, you can now enjoy your AAA games in high detail at 1080p. This gaming PC is more than capable of playing VR games and should provide you with some decent FPS numbers with limited graphics settings. Of course, at this price point, compromises have to be made. But you are getting a flexible, upgradable rig that should serve you well for the next few years to come.
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