To help you assemble the best PC build for gaming or productivity that you can get, we've created recommended parts lists for every budget: from a super-cheap sub-$500 system to an affordable sub-$1,000 build to a $4,000+ dream machine for those with deep pockets.

Building a budget gaming PC can be just as much fun as building a high-powered monster. If you’re careful with the components you buy, it can be surprisingly powerful, too. In this guide, we’ll break down what you need to build the best $500 gaming PC that can play just about anything at 1080p if you’re happy to tweak the settings a little.

Below, we’ll show you how to build a gaming PC for under $500, or even under $400 using parts available from major U.S. retailers today. Please note that the prices we list were current when we wrote this, but may go up or down slightly by the time you read this.

Below you'll find three gaming PC builds, starting from a sub-$900 build to an all-out overkill rig at over—maybe it's best you don't know—fine, $4,000. All the hardware in this guide are parts I'd pick if I were building my own PC, and using our expert reviews to guide me.