$550 Build Guide
The reason why $550 is the price for our cheapest build template is because with the current market pricing, I don’t recommend any New Parts Builds below this price point. You could potentially dip down around a $500 build with an RTX 3050 6GB, but I’d rather not recommend that and instead go with an RX 6600 for way better value. If you want to build a PC for less than $550, then I’d strongly consider purchasing a used GPU, and potentially more used components.
The Ryzen 5 5500 is pretty much the single best option for a CPU at this build price range. It’s almost always available between $80-$100, and it’s almost as fast as the Ryzen 5 5600. If you can’t find it available, then I would first recommend buying on on Ali Express. If that’s not an option, then consider spending more money for a Ryzen 5 5600.
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I do not really consider any Intel CPUs at this price point. The Intel i3 12100F isn’t a bad idea, but I like the 5500 more for this price range. Keep in mind that you’ll need a different motherboard if you go with Intel than what I have listed.
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CPU Cooler: Go with the stock cooler that comes included with the Ryzen 5’s. It is good enough for the price range of this build.
There is always a few options between the $70-$80 price point. You’re specifically looking for a B450 mATX board, and I’d highly recommend getting one with 4 RAM slots that way you can upgrade your RAM capacity in the future. If you absolutely need built-in WiFi, then try to find a board that has one. The two models almost always available are the ASUS Prime B450M-A II (no WiFi) and the ASRock B450M/AC R2.0 (WiFi).
Any 2x8GB DDR4 kit clocked at 3200MHz or higher will work. I would recommend trying to find one with a CL rating of 16 or less if possible, but not required. Also be sure to get one that includes a heat spreader, not the PCB-only type of sticks. T-Force Vulcan Z 2x8GB 3200MHz kit is usually the most affordable option, as well as the G.Skill Ripjaws V 2x8GB 3200MHz kit.
Prices of storage have gone up recently, and might continue to do so. Right now for a PCIe Gen 3 NVMe 1TB drive we’re looking at around $60. SSD pricing usually stays very “grouped up” so there’s usually a lot of models around the $50 mark. I typically use the Silicon Power A60, Patriot P310, or the Teamgroup MP33.
Here you’re looking for the cheapest RX 6600 which delivers amazing 1080p gaming performance for the money, and you can’t go wrong with any of the models. The ASRock Challenger D is typically the cheapest model, followed by the PowerColor Fighter.
For a Ryzen 5 5500 and RX 6600, you don’t need a lot of wattage, so a 450W unit will do. You’re specifically looking for a model that’s ranked Tier C (or higher) on the PSU Tier List. If you think you’ll upgrade your components in the near future, it’s probably a better idea to buy a unit with higher wattage now though. The 2 models available the most often are the MSI MAG A550BN and the Apevia Prestige 600W.
The case selection is always personal preference, but one of the best models for this price range is the Sama ARGB-Q5-BK. It comes preinstalled with 3 ARGB fans, and it’s one of the cheapest cases available that’s full of fans, regardless of RGB. The DIYPC ARGB-Q3 v2 is another affordable mATX option if you prefer the “fish tank” design. It also includes 3 ARGB fans and has a dual-chambered design.
Last updated: August 6, 2024