Gaming and Content creation are both resource-intensive activities, but with the right setup, you can easily achieve both without breaking the bank. If you’re looking to build a budget gaming PC that can handle modern titles and also help you run a YouTube channel, it’s important to balance performance, efficiency, and cost.
In this article, we’ll explore the best budget-friendly components for a gaming PC that can handle multitasking, gaming at 1080p (and some 1440p), and running video editing software for YouTube content creation. Let’s dive in!
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Key Features:
- 6 Cores / 12 Threads
- Base Clock: 3.7 GHz, Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz
- Great performance for both gaming and content creation
- Highly efficient architecture
Why This CPU?
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is an excellent budget option for gamers and content creators alike. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, making it capable of handling multitasking (like gaming, streaming, and video editing) with ease. It offers superior gaming performance, with higher frame rates in most titles, and can run programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or OBS Studio without bottlenecking.
2. GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Key Features:
- 12GB GDDR6 VRAM
- DLSS & Ray Tracing Support
- Supports 1080p and 1440p gaming
- Great for video editing acceleration (CUDA cores)
Why This GPU?
The RTX 3060 offers fantastic performance for its price point. It is a solid choice for gaming at 1080p and 1440p, offering high frame rates even with the most demanding titles. Additionally, the card’s CUDA cores can speed up video editing tasks, making it an excellent option for YouTubers who need faster rendering times for 4K or 1080p video editing.
If you’re considering streaming as well, the hardware encoding on the RTX 3060 will allow you to stream with minimal performance impact.
3. Motherboard: MSI B550-A PRO
Key Features:
- ATX form factor
- Supports PCIe 4.0
- Dual M.2 slots and 6 SATA ports
- Reliable build quality for a budget price
Why This Motherboard?
The MSI B550-A PRO motherboard is a solid choice for anyone looking to build a budget gaming PC with future-proofing in mind. With support for PCIe 4.0 (for future GPUs and NVMe storage), the B550-A PRO ensures you won’t have to upgrade your motherboard for several years. It also provides enough I/O and expansion slots to connect all your gaming peripherals, storage, and external devices for streaming and video production.
4. RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz
Key Features:
- 16GB capacity
- 3200MHz speed
- Low-profile heat spreader
- Reliable and durable performance
Why This RAM?
For gaming and content creation, 16GB of RAM is the sweet spot. It’s sufficient for modern gaming, multitasking, and video editing. Corsair Vengeance LPX is a great budget option with good performance at an affordable price point. The 3200MHz speed offers solid memory bandwidth, and the low-profile heat spreader ensures that the RAM won’t interfere with larger CPU coolers.
5. Storage: Kingston NV2 1TB NVMe SSD
Key Features:
- 1TB capacity
- NVMe PCIe Gen 3.0 interface
- Sequential Read/Write Speed up to 3500/2800 MB/s
Why This Storage?
For gaming and video editing, fast storage is essential. The Kingston NV2 offers great value with its 1TB capacity and NVMe speed. The SSD will dramatically reduce loading times for games and video editing software, and the fast read/write speeds make it ideal for handling large video files, rendering, and exporting. With 1TB, you’ll have plenty of space to store both games and YouTube videos.
If you need more storage for raw video footage or games, consider adding a secondary SATA SSD or a larger HDD for archival storage.
6. Power Supply: EVGA 600 W1, 80+ WHITE 600W
Key Features:
- 600W power output
- 80+ White efficiency
- Reliable and affordable for entry-level builds
Why This Power Supply?
The EVGA 600W1 offers enough power to handle the CPU, GPU, and peripherals without overpaying for unnecessary features. While not the most efficient power supply on the market, it is reliable, budget-friendly, and perfect for a gaming PC that won’t require extreme power consumption.
7. Case: NZXT H510
Key Features:
- Mid-Tower ATX case
- Minimalistic design
- Good airflow and cable management
- Tempered glass side panel
Why This Case?
The NZXT H510 is a sleek and affordable ATX case with good airflow and cable management options. It has ample space for all your components, easy-to-route cables, and excellent build quality. The tempered glass side panel allows you to showcase your build while keeping everything neat and organized. Plus, the H510 is compact, making it ideal for smaller spaces.
8. Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Key Features:
- Reliable cooling performance
- 4 heat pipes
- Quiet operation
- Compatible with most Intel and AMD sockets
Why This Cooling Solution?
For the Ryzen 5 5600X, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO is more than sufficient to keep temperatures in check during gaming and video editing sessions. It’s quiet, efficient, and widely regarded as one of the best budget CPU coolers available.
9. Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Key Features:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Wide compatibility with software and games
- Regular updates from Microsoft
Why Windows 10 Home?
While there are free operating system options like Linux, Windows 10 Home is the go-to choice for gamers and content creators. It supports all gaming platforms (Steam, Epic Games Store, etc.) and is compatible with all video editing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and OBS Studio. Windows also provides better driver support for GPUs and peripherals, making it the most stable choice for gaming and productivity.
Total Estimated Build Cost
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X – ~$288
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 – ~$370
- Motherboard: MSI B550-A PRO – ~$276
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz – ~$63
- Storage: Kingston NV2 1TB NVMe SSD – ~$55
- Power Supply: EVGA 600 W1, 80+ WHITE 600W – ~$35
- Case: NZXT H510 – ~$70
- Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO – ~$35
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home – ~$100
Conclusion
Building a gaming PC that can also support your YouTube channel doesn’t need to cost thousands of dollars. With this budget build, you’ll get a system capable of running modern games at 1080p and 1440p, handle multitasking for streaming, and efficiently process video editing for YouTube. The components listed provide a good balance of gaming and content creation performance, ensuring that you’re ready for everything from gaming to producing high-quality videos for your channel.
With this build, you’re investing in a system that can grow with you, allowing you to upgrade parts over time as your channel and gaming needs expand.