You can build an incredibly powerful PC for $600 that will make your video games look even better and play smoother than today's Xbox One or PlayStation 4 consoles.
Yes, $600 is more than the going rate for a $250 Xbox One and the $350 PlayStation 4. But if you're like me and you like games to look really, really good, there is no substitute for a good gaming PC. Plus, you can use if to run apps that consoles can't for work or fun.
One of the best online resources to find the right parts for the best price is a website called pcpartpicker.com. I went for the $600 price bracket for the best mix of value, performance, and future-proofing components. You could get great performance from a PC that costs around $500, but a $600 PC will easily outlast a $500 PC. Plus, by spending $100 more, you'll get more bang for the buck with newer, better parts.
So, to get a great PC for the best value, I recommend looking for (and actually using) mail-in rebates.
Earlier this year I built my own PC with some of the most powerful and expensive parts you can buy, but the process is nearly identical by finding these parts online and using rebates. So, I went ahead and compiled a list of the parts I'd personally use for a PC with great gaming performance for $600. Check it out.
SEE ALSO: Here's 3 reasons you should build your own PC instead of buying one
The case: Fractal Design Core 1000
You can get a great-looking case for $45 including shipping from the online tech store, Newegg. For this "budget" gaming PC build and the parts you'll be assembling inside of it, it's best to go for a smaller size called "micro ATX."
I've personally used cases from Fractal Design in the past, and I can safely say they are an excellent brand for PC cases.
You can always check out the other cases out there with a design of your choice in the $30-$40 range with pcpartpicker.com.
The processor: Intel Core i5 6400
You can pick up the Intel Core i5 6400 for $183, shipping included, from the online tech store superbizz.com.
The i5 6400 is part of the latest generation of Intel processors, and it supports the latest and super-fast RAM standard, DDR4. Running at 2.7Ghz with a turbo boost up to 3.3Ghz, it'll handle everything you throw at it and ask for more.
That means it'll prevent bottlenecking the performance from the graphics card I'm recommending (below), as well as future graphics cards when you want to upgrade.
It also comes with a cooling fan so you don't need to buy a separate one. While it's not the best solution, the stock cooler will totally suffice for gaming and general use.
The graphics card: Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 470 G1 Gaming 4GB
The Radeon RX 470 is part of the latest generation of graphics card from AMD, and it'll handle games in 1080p with graphics settings turned to high with no problem.
You can pick up the Gigabyte Radeon RX 470 from Newegg for $205, shipping included.
I've personally used the Gigabyte brand, a third-party manufacturer of graphics cards, and I've had no problem with it.
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