Budget Gaming PC Build: Play Cyberpunk 2077 for Just $300
What if we told you that for just $300, you could build a gaming PC capable of delivering smooth 1080p performance in some of today's most popular titles? It might sound too good to be true in an era where high-end GPUs and gaming rigs often cost more than a month's rent, but this build proves otherwise. By combining a second-hand HP Pavilion TG01 with a few strategic upgrades—like a Radeon RX6600 GPU—this setup punches well above its weight class. Whether you're a gamer on a tight budget or someone curious about what's possible with resourceful planning, this guide will challenge the notion that quality gaming requires a hefty price tag.
ETA Prime takes you through the components, upgrades, and performance benchmarks that make this $300 gaming PC a reality. You'll discover how to transform an affordable prebuilt system into a machine capable of running titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom Eternal at impressive frame rates. Along the way, we'll explore the trade-offs, clever cost-saving strategies, and potential upgrade paths to unlock even more performance. If you've ever wondered whether budget gaming can truly deliver, this build might just change your perspective. Sometimes, the best gaming experiences come from working with what you have—and this setup is proof of that. Building a $300 Gaming PC Starting Point: HP Pavilion TG01
The foundation of this build is the HP Pavilion TG01, a compact prebuilt desktop sourced second-hand for $150. This system provides a reliable starting point with the following specifications: Processor: Ryzen 5 3500, a 6-core, 6-thread CPU capable of handling most gaming tasks.
Ryzen 5 3500, a 6-core, 6-thread CPU capable of handling most gaming tasks. Memory: 8GB of DDR4 RAM, sufficient for basic operations but limited for modern gaming.
8GB of DDR4 RAM, sufficient for basic operations but limited for modern gaming. Storage: A 256GB SSD, offering fast boot times but limited space for games and applications.
The HP Pavilion TG01 is a cost-effective option for budget-conscious gamers, offering dependable baseline components in a compact form factor. However, to unlock its full gaming potential, a few strategic upgrades are necessary. Upgrades: Boosting Performance
To transform the HP Pavilion TG01 into a capable gaming machine, several key upgrades were implemented: Memory: An additional 16GB of DDR4 RAM was added, bringing the total to 24GB in a dual-channel configuration. This upgrade enhances multitasking and ensures smoother performance in memory-intensive games.
An additional 16GB of DDR4 RAM was added, bringing the total to 24GB in a dual-channel configuration. This upgrade enhances multitasking and ensures smoother performance in memory-intensive games. Graphics Card: A Radeon RX6600 GPU with 8GB of VRAM was installed. This mid-range GPU is well-suited for 1080p gaming, delivering consistent performance in modern titles.
A Radeon RX6600 GPU with 8GB of VRAM was installed. This mid-range GPU is well-suited for 1080p gaming, delivering consistent performance in modern titles. Storage: An external hard drive was added to supplement the 256GB SSD, providing additional space for game installations and media files.
These upgrades significantly enhance the system's gaming capabilities while keeping the total cost within the $300 budget. The combination of improved memory, a powerful GPU, and expanded storage ensures a smoother gaming experience. $300 Gaming PC That Crushes 1080p Gaming
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Check out more relevant guides from our extensive collection on gaming PC that you might find useful. Gaming Performance: Smooth 1080p Gameplay
This build is optimized for 1080p gaming, and the results are impressive given the budget constraints. By using FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) for performance optimization, the system delivers smooth frame rates across a variety of popular titles: Cyberpunk 2077: High settings with FSR balanced mode yield an average of 76 FPS, providing a fluid gaming experience.
High settings with FSR balanced mode yield an average of 76 FPS, providing a fluid gaming experience. Spider-Man 2: High settings with FSR and frame generation achieve 70-100 FPS, depending on the scene, making sure responsive gameplay.
High settings with FSR and frame generation achieve 70-100 FPS, depending on the scene, making sure responsive gameplay. Doom Eternal: Ultra settings consistently deliver over 100 FPS, showcasing the GPU's strength.
Ultra settings consistently deliver over 100 FPS, showcasing the GPU's strength. Borderlands 3: High settings run at 60-70 FPS, with minor stutters in particularly demanding scenes.
High settings run at 60-70 FPS, with minor stutters in particularly demanding scenes. Oblivion Remastered: High settings average 60 FPS, with occasional dips in complex areas.
While the Radeon RX6600 GPU handles modern games effectively, the Ryzen 5 3500 CPU can act as a bottleneck in newer, CPU-intensive titles. This limitation is most noticeable in games that require significant multi-threading capabilities. Benchmarking: Measuring Performance
To evaluate the system's capabilities, benchmarks were conducted using Geekbench 6 and 3DMark Time Spy: Geekbench 6: Single-core score of 1591 and multi-core score of 6148, reflecting the CPU's moderate performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.
Single-core score of 1591 and multi-core score of 6148, reflecting the CPU's moderate performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks. 3DMark Time Spy: A score of 7574, highlighting the GPU's ability to handle modern gaming workloads effectively.
These results confirm that the system is well-suited for 1080p gaming, though the CPU's limitations become apparent in multi-threaded applications or highly demanding games. Power and Cooling: Efficient and Reliable
The system's power and cooling setup is designed to handle its components efficiently. A 400W 80+ Platinum power supply ensures energy efficiency and reliability, with the GPU drawing approximately 100W during gaming sessions. Standard cooling solutions maintain safe operating temperatures, even under extended loads, making sure stable performance during long gaming sessions. This balance of power and cooling contributes to the system's overall reliability and longevity. Upgrade Path: Unlocking More Potential
To address the CPU bottleneck and further enhance the system's performance, upgrading to a Ryzen 5 3600 is recommended. This processor offers 6 cores and 12 threads, significantly improving multi-threading capabilities and allowing the GPU to operate at its full potential. Affordable options for the Ryzen 5 3600 can be found on platforms like eBay, making it a practical upgrade for budget-conscious gamers. This upgrade would not only improve gaming performance but also enhance the system's ability to handle demanding applications. Cost Efficiency: Finding Affordable Components
The success of this build relies heavily on sourcing used components at competitive prices. Platforms like eBay and local marketplaces are invaluable for finding deals on prebuilt systems, GPUs, and other upgrades. With patience and strategic bidding, you can secure high-quality hardware without exceeding your budget. This approach makes gaming PCs accessible even for those navigating the challenges of high GPU and console prices. By focusing on affordability and performance, this build demonstrates that gaming on a budget is achievable with the right strategy.
Media Credit: ETA PRIME Filed Under: Hardware, Top News
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Unwittingly, I've been part of the casual pile-on that happens when we forget that public figures are real people. I leave the chat room feeling a little more open-minded, if not quite ready to join the sports team. The finer details of Johnson's day What is your morning routine? I get up around 4.30am, waking naturally. I measure my body temperature through my ear and then do three minutes of 10,000 Lux light, because I wake up before the sun. That sets my circadian rhythm and mood. I do a pre-workout food mix, work out for an hour, then sauna for 20 minutes, and I'll wear a red-light therapy cap for six minutes for hair growth. I'll then do hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a pressurised chamber. Then breakfast. And then I'm ready for the day. How many supplements do you take? About 40: basic things such as vitamin D, E, glycerin, magnesium, as well as some advanced things like creatine and calcium alpha-ketoglutarate. How much water do you drink a day? At the moment I'm doing a 'sauna protocol': 20 minutes every day at 200F [93C]. In that session I sweat 18oz, with 34 milligrams of sodium per ounce. So I consume around 96 ounces [2.8 litres] of liquid per day that I put potassium, magnesium and salt in. Why do you lead a vegan diet? If you follow the evidence, you can arrive at the place where you see that a plant-based diet produces some of the best outcomes for longevity. The only non-plant-based thing I do are collagen peptides supplements. What is your typical daily diet? I consume 2,250 calories a day, which is about 10 per cent caloric restriction. That includes 130g of protein, 206g of carbs, 101g of fat. I find my protein in legumes (lentils, edamame, chickpeas), pea and hemp protein, and from collagen peptides. There are also small amounts in things such as cauliflower and broccoli. I also consume a lot of olive oil. I put it in my protein shakes and vegetables. What do you do before bed? My bedtime is 8.30pm. So I typically work until about 7.30pm, and then I have an hour wind-down routine. I turn the screens off, I'll read a book, wash my face and teeth and hang out with my family. It's meant to be time that transitions you from work mode to relax mode. You want to eat your final meal of the day at least four hours before bed. And exercise in the evening is bad for you. I also journal, so that when my head hits the pillow I'm not thinking about my day. What's the most important step in your longevity routine? All bad habits make your heart rate increase. And all the good habits make it decrease. So the goal is to lower your heart rate to 55 and then 50 before bed. If you have a low resting heart rate, you get a good night's sleep. You can check your heart rate if you have a wearable [device]. Lie down on your pillow, take a few breaths and calm yourself down, and then look at your heart rate. If it's 60 beats per minute, your goal in life now is to lower it to 55 and then to 50. How do you limit environmental pollutants? I'm very mindful of air quality at home. We have almost no plastic anywhere – no cutting boards, containers and kitchen tools. I test my water every month looking for contaminants. And I test all of my food. I found it was so hard to control for heavy metals, so I started manufacturing my own food. Why do you use night-time erections as a marker of health? Sleep is the number-one performance-enhancing drug in the world, and night-time erections are something both males and females experience [clitoral tumescence for females]. It's a natural physiological process, and when the body's not getting enough sleep it stops having them. If you're not having night-time erections your body has shut down critical functions. Does your life make romantic relationships more difficult? It is sometimes difficult from the point of view of co-ordinating schedules. Does your son follow your lifestyle? I've instilled in him these basic principles about health and wellness, and he's a wise kid. What exercise do you do? I do an hour in the gym every day and one-to-three HIIT (high-intensity interval training) sessions per week. I also do zone 2 (exercising at a low-to-moderate intensity, targeting a heart rate between 60-70 per cent of your maximum), such as light jogging, rowing, cycling and elliptical training. What longevity treatments have you stopped doing? I stopped taking rapamycin, which was one of the more promising drugs in anti-ageing. We found the side effects weren't worth the trade-off. Shortly afterwards, a paper came out saying it actually increases the speed of ageing. What in the health world are you excited about right now? I'm excited that the social and cultural norms are changing around health. Being healthy is becoming a status and power symbol.
