How to Buy a Gaming Computer Under $200

If you want to buy a gaming computer but have a limited budget there are some excellent options. You can buy a pre-built system that has all the basics but also includes a quality graphics card and high speed processor. These PCs are priced under $200 and they offer a good performance level for this price.

Most gaming computers under 200 are based on AMD’s Ryzen processors which are very fast for this price. These are paired with the latest GPUs to deliver great gaming performance. You will need a decent PSU to run these systems though as they tend to be power-hungry. For this price range a 500 Watt PSU should be fine as long as it supports the GPU. For the best performance look for a Ryzen 5 2600x or even better a 2600X that comes with the Wraith Spire cooler since this saves you some money over buying the plain 2600 without the cooler.

A new gaming monitor is an important component for a great gaming experience but many of the most affordable gaming screens on the market offer surprisingly solid performance. They aren’t 4K or offer superior refresh rates but they can easily handle most games at a reasonable resolution. The key for most gamers is to find a screen that has the best cost/performance ratio.

If you are looking to purchase a used gaming pc it is a good idea to search Kijiji eBay or Craigslist for deals. There are often great deals available and you can save a lot of money by finding the right deal.

You can also build your own PC if you have the time and skills. This can be a much cheaper option and it allows you to choose the components that best fit your needs. A custom built computer can be a great way to get the performance you want but it can take some work to learn how to do it.

A $200 CPU may seem like overkill for a gaming machine but there are situations where this can be a very worthwhile investment. If you need a gaming computer for tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, or scientific simulations then a high-performance $200 CPU may be worth the extra cost. The key is to understand your needs and to be aware that a $200 CPU will not be able to run all the latest games at maximum settings. This can be compensated for by purchasing a more powerful GPU and running the game at lower settings. For example, playing a modern game at 1080p instead of 1440p might not make much difference in the gameplay but it will make the games run smoother.