Build the Best $800 Gaming PC - 2023
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Graphics Card | AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT |
| Price: $300 | |
| Processor | Intel I5 12400f with stock heatsink |
| Motherboard | Micro ATX form factor with B660 chipset and built-in Wi-Fi |
| Storage | WD Blue Western Digital m.2 SSD 500GB |
| RAM | Corsair Vengeance black kit rated at 3200 megahertz |
| Power Supply | 650-watt bronze rated power supply by Thermaltake |
| Case | Micro ATX form factor case with three pre-installed RGB fans |
| Optional Extras | Crater custom sleeve power supply cables in pink colorway |
| RGB LED kit |
Graphics Card
The graphics card used in the build is the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT priced at $300.The card’s performance can be compared to Nvidia’s RTX 3060 and TI.
The performance of the card is similar to the 3060 TI, and it performs better than the 3060 in some games.The card can push out at least 240 FPS on a lot of esports titles.
It has three display ports and one HDMI port.
Processor, Motherboard, and Storage
The processor used in the build is the Intel I5 12400f with six cores and a max boost of 4.4 gigahertz.The motherboard used is a Micro ATX form factor with the b660 chipset and built-in Wi-Fi.
The storage used is the WD Blue Western Digital m.2 SSD 500GB.The stock heatsink comes with the processor.The motherboard has two m.2 SSD slots and offers good ports
RAM and Power Supply
The RAM used in the build is the Corsair Vengeance black kit rated at 3200 megahertz.The power supply used in the build is a 650-watt bronze rated power supply by Thermaltake.
All the cables are connected to the power supply.
Case
The case used in the build is a Micro ATX form factor case.The case costs $75 and comes included with three pre-installed RGB fans.
The case has a pink colorway all along the outside and the inside all black.It has one fan in the back and two fans at the front.
Guide Building the PC
The first components to be installed are the motherboard and the CPU.The Intel I5 processor is installed into the CPU socket on the motherboard.
The stock heatsink that comes with the processor is installed next.The 16GB RAM is installed afterward.
The last essential part to be installed is the power supply.The optional extras, including the Crater custom sleeve power supply cables and RGB LED kit, are installed for aesthetics.
Installing RAM and M.2 SSD
RAM sticks go into the second and fourth round slotRAM sticks only go in one way, so line up the indent of RAM with the part of the RAM’s lock that’s not indented
Push down with both thumbs on the sides and levers will clip back upInstallation of M.2 SSD 500 gigabyte Western Digital DriveRemove the heatsink and put the M.2 SSD into the slot and lay it down on the stand
Remove the protective film and put it back into placeStorage installed
Installing Motherboard and Power Supply
Install I/O shield in the caseMake sure the motherboard standoffs inside the case are lined up correctly with all the points of your motherboardInstall motherboard standoffs
Put the motherboard in the case and line up the ports of the motherboard with I/O shield firstScrew in the motherboard to secure it
Slide the power supply into the case with the fan facing downUse the screws included with the power supply to secure it
Custom Sleeve Cables and Cable Management
Install custom sleeve extensions to improve the aesthetics of the buildUse the 24-pin power cable, CPU power cable, and graphics card power cable
Make sure every single one of the cables clips into the extension cables and clip onto the side that has a little thing to hold onBreak down the cables into three groups: power supply cables, case cables, and fan cables
Connect the cables to the motherboardManage the cables to make it clean and organized
Connecting Cables to the Motherboard
Connect the CPU power cable.Connect the graphics card power cable.Connect the case cables (HD audio, USB, jfp1).
Connecting the Fans and Lighting
Provide power to the fans using the Molex power cable.Install the RGB LED strip using the magnetic attachments.Connect the RGB LED strip to the motherboard using the 4-pin RGB header.
Installing the Graphics Card
Remove the first and second brackets.Push down on the second bracket and bend the metal towards the user to avoid scratching the motherboard.
Install the RX 6650xt into the PCI slot and push it until it clips into place.Connect the 8-pin juice.
First Boot Up
Turn on the PC for the first time.The Funko Pop matches the build perfectly.This is a solid build for $800 with great performance.
Benchmarking
| Game | Settings | Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valorant | Resolution: 1080p Graphics: High | Great performance | |
| CS:GO | Resolution: 1080p | Great performance | |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Resolution: 1080p Graphics: High | Great performance | |
| Game Mode: Multiplayer and Warzone 2.0 | |||
| Halo Infinite | Resolution: 1080p Graphics: Medium | Great performance | |
| Preset: Medium | |||
| Apex | Resolution: 1080p FOV: Maximum |
| |
| Fortnite | Resolution: 1080p Vsync: Off Performance mode | Great performance, fun to play | |
| Rainbow Six Siege | Resolution: 1080p FOV: 90 Aspect Ratio: 16×10 | Amazing performance, fun to play |
Performance Test Results
Played Overwatch at full screen 1080p with 103 aspect ratio and dynamic render scale off.Vsync was turned off and graphics quality was set to high with no changes.
Performance was really good and the whole time they were around 300 FPS.
