# Budget PC Build: Full Parts Lists for Every Budget

Updated September 30, 2026. Prices checked September 30, 2026.

Pick a budget and get a complete parts list that fits together, with Amazon prices checked every night. In 2026 memory and SSD prices pushed the cheapest new gaming PC close to $1000, so every page tells you plainly whether new parts fit its budget today, and what to do with that money if they do not.

## Builds by budget

| Budget | Current total | Parts list |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | $670 (closest new-parts build, over budget) | https://pcbuildsheet.com/budget-pc-build-under-500/index.md |
| $800 | $986 (closest new-parts build, over budget) | https://pcbuildsheet.com/budget-pc-build-under-800/index.md |
| $1000 | $986 | https://pcbuildsheet.com/budget-pc-build-under-1000/index.md |
| $1500 | $1,451 | https://pcbuildsheet.com/budget-pc-build-under-1500/index.md |
| $2000 | $1,947 | https://pcbuildsheet.com/budget-pc-build-under-2000/index.md |

## FAQ

### Is it cheaper to build or buy a PC?

**The parts list is $64 cheaper; the prebuilt has a faster graphics card (RTX 5060 Ti 8GB vs RX 7600 8GB).** That compares our $1000 parts list at $986 with the cheapest brand-name gaming prebuilt we track at $1,050, both at the last price check.

### Is it cheaper to build a PC anymore?

**At $1000 our parts list is cheaper than any brand-name gaming prebuilt we track.** Below $1000, new parts with a graphics card do not fit today. RAM and the SSD make up 27% of our $1000 list at the last price check.

### What is a good budget PC?

**One with its own graphics card and 16GB of RAM in two sticks.** Today the cheapest list like that is our $1000 build at $986.

### Is $700 enough for a gaming PC?

**Not with new parts and a graphics card today.** The cheapest such build costs $986. Our $800 page shows what to do with $650 to $899 instead.