reddeadplace.com – When it comes to gaming PCs, not everyone needs or wants to drop $2,000+ on a high-end machine. A mid-range gaming PC is the sweet spot for most gamers: it offers excellent performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming, providing smooth frame rates and the ability to handle most AAA titles on high settings, all without breaking the bank. Whether you’re upgrading your old rig or building a new one from scratch, a mid-range gaming PC can give you the best of both worlds — power and affordability.
In this article, we’ll break down the essential components of a mid-range gaming PC build for 2024 and offer a carefully curated recommendation that balances performance, future-proofing, and cost. Let’s dive in!
Why Go for a Mid-Range Gaming PC?
Mid-range gaming PCs represent an ideal balance between performance and cost. They’re designed to run modern games at high settings with smooth frame rates, offering a gaming experience that’s significantly better than entry-level systems, but without the steep price tag of high-end builds.
This kind of build is perfect for:
- Gamers who want to enjoy 1080p and 1440p gaming at high settings.
- Content creators looking for a powerful system for streaming or editing without breaking the bank.
- Enthusiasts who want great performance at a reasonable price, but don’t necessarily need the absolute cutting-edge hardware.
Recommended Components for a Mid-Range Gaming PC Build (2024)
Here’s a recommended setup for a well-rounded mid-range gaming PC build. We’ll focus on components that deliver solid gaming performance, while also keeping an eye on price-to-performance ratios for long-term value.
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i5-13400F
Why it’s great:
The CPU is the backbone of any gaming system, and for mid-range gaming, you want something that can handle modern titles and multitasking without a hitch. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and the Intel Core i5-13400F are both excellent choices.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (6 cores, 12 threads, base clock: 3.7GHz, boost clock: 4.6GHz)
- Intel Core i5-13400F (10 cores, 16 threads, base clock: 2.5GHz, boost clock: 4.6GHz)
Both processors provide great gaming performance, with the Intel option offering more cores for tasks like streaming and multitasking. The 5600X is known for its strong single-core performance, making it a fantastic choice for gaming.
Price:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X: $180 – $200
- Intel Core i5-13400F: $220 – $240
2. GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
Why it’s great:
The GPU is the heart of any gaming rig, and the RTX 3060 or RX 6700 XT are both excellent choices for 1080p and 1440p gaming.
- NVIDIA RTX 3060: Offers ray tracing capabilities and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), which helps boost performance in supported games. It’s perfect for ultra settings at 1080p or high settings at 1440p.
- AMD RX 6700 XT: A solid competitor to the RTX 3060, offering excellent rasterization performance and better VRAM (12GB GDDR6). While it lacks NVIDIA’s proprietary technologies like DLSS, it’s a powerhouse for 1440p gaming.
Both cards offer excellent performance, with the RTX 3060 having the edge for ray tracing and future-proofing, while the RX 6700 XT provides more VRAM for demanding textures at higher resolutions.
Price:
- RTX 3060: $350 – $400
- RX 6700 XT: $400 – $450
3. Motherboard: MSI B550-A PRO (for Ryzen) or ASUS TUF B660-PLUS (for Intel)
Why it’s great:
Choosing the right motherboard ensures stability and compatibility with other components. The MSI B550-A PRO and ASUS TUF B660-PLUS are excellent mid-range motherboards that offer PCIe Gen 4 support (for future GPU upgrades), plenty of I/O ports, and solid build quality.
- MSI B550-A PRO: Supports PCIe 4.0, great VRM cooling, and features a sleek design.
- ASUS TUF B660-PLUS: Offers robust build quality with excellent power delivery and supports Intel’s latest 12th-gen CPUs, plus Wi-Fi 6 options.
Price:
- MSI B550-A PRO: $110 – $130
- ASUS TUF B660-PLUS: $130 – $150
4. RAM: 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3600MHz
Why it’s great:
16GB of RAM is the sweet spot for gaming in 2024. It allows for smooth multitasking, gaming, and content creation. 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3600MHz is the most cost-effective solution for speed and stability.
- Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3600MHz: Known for reliability and solid performance.
- G.SKILL Ripjaws V 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3600MHz: Another solid choice with great compatibility.
Price:
- Corsair Vengeance LPX: $50 – $60
- G.SKILL Ripjaws V: $55 – $65
5. Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Why it’s great:
An SSD will drastically improve load times and system responsiveness compared to traditional hard drives. A 1TB NVMe SSD is the sweet spot for a gaming PC, offering enough storage for the OS, your favorite games, and a few large applications.
- Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB NVMe: Fast read/write speeds and excellent durability.
- Western Digital WD Black SN850 1TB: Another high-performance option with great speeds for gaming.
Price:
- Samsung 970 EVO Plus: $80 – $100
- Western Digital WD Black SN850: $90 – $110
6. Power Supply: Corsair CV650, 80+ Bronze
Why it’s great:
A reliable power supply is crucial to ensure stable operation and protect your components from power surges. The Corsair CV650 is a cost-effective, reliable choice with enough wattage for a mid-range build.
- Corsair CV650: 650W, 80+ Bronze certified, great value for the price.
Price:
- Corsair CV650: $45 – $60
7. Case: NZXT H510 or Phanteks P400A
Why it’s great:
A good case should offer solid airflow, cable management, and a clean aesthetic. The NZXT H510 and Phanteks P400A are both excellent choices in the mid-range category, offering great airflow and easy assembly.
- NZXT H510: A clean, minimalist design with good cable management and airflow.
- Phanteks P400A: Great airflow with mesh front panel and solid build quality.
Price:
- NZXT H510: $75 – $100
- Phanteks P400A: $80 – $90
Mid-Range Gaming PC Build Recommendation
Based on the components discussed, here’s a well-rounded mid-range gaming PC build:
| Component | Recommended Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel i5-13400F | $180 – $240 |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6700 XT | $350 – $450 |
| Motherboard | MSI B550-A PRO (for Ryzen) / ASUS TUF B660-PLUS (for Intel) | $110 – $150 |
| RAM | 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3600MHz | $50 – $65 |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD | $80 – $110 |
| Power Supply | Corsair CV650, 80+ Bronze | $45 – $60 |
| Case | NZXT H510 or Phanteks P400A | $75 – $100 |
| Total | $890 – $1,175 |
Conclusion
This mid-range gaming PC build is designed to deliver fantastic 1080p and 1440p gaming performance while staying within a reasonable budget. The combination of a powerful CPU, a capable GPU, and fast storage ensures that you’ll be able to enjoy modern games at high settings with smooth frame rates.
Whether you’re a casual gamer, a content creator, or someone who just wants great performance without the high-end price tag, this build will serve
