It's possible to put together a decent PC for around $500, and that includes mouse and keyboard, and this build is ideal for anyone who only needs to do a few tasks on Windows. If you don't play games on the desktop and just want a cheaper computer for office work, this is a build for you.
You'll struggle to build a PC capable of 4K gaming for the price of an Xbox One X
Build your own PC for less than $500
Take a look at our suggested build below. Note that you aren't required to pick each part we recommend, but the components in the list below will work well alongside one another.
| Component | Our ideal pick | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Case | Corsair Carbide SPEC-04 | $39.99 |
| PSU | EVGA 500 W1 | $29.99 |
| Motherboard | MSI Pro Series Intel B250 | $55.01 |
| CPU | Intel Core i3 7100 | $99.99 |
| RAM | Patriot Viper 3 Series 8GB | $54.99 |
| Storage | WD Blue 250GB SSD | $69.99 |
| OS | Windows 10 | $79.99 |
| Total | $429.95 |
If you have $500 to spend, this leaves you with around $70 for other accessories, such as a mouse, keyboard, Wi-Fi adaptor, and a DVD drive (should you require one). We haven't taken into account hooking up a TV or monitor in this build. Take a look at the mouse and keyboard options below for a few places to start.
- AmazonBasics Wired Keyboard and Wired Mouse Bundle - $14.99
- Logitech MK520 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo - $33.65
- Microsoft Wireless Desktop 850 keyboard and mouse - $20.99
There you have it. We put together a PC running Windows 10 for less than $500 without additional, hidden costs. It won't power you through games, because you have no GPU, but it will be able to handle most tasks you can throw at it, should you only require a PC to browse online, communicate with friends and family, and send email.
Over to you ...
Got your own build ideas or want to make an alteration to our suggestions? We're always looking for good feedback and advice, so sound off in the comments.
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