Building a gaming PC for under $800 in 2026 gets you hardware that handles every current game at 1080p 60+ FPS, and many games at 1440p. Component prices have stabilized after the GPU shortage era, and the mid-range market is more competitive than ever. Here is the best build you can put together right now.
The Build: $800 Gaming PC (February 2026)
| Component | Model | Price |
|———–|——-|——-|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5600 | $110 |
| GPU | AMD RX 7600 8GB | $250 |
| Motherboard | MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi | $90 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4-3600 CL18 (2x8GB) | $35 |
| SSD | 1TB NVMe Gen3 (WD SN580 or similar) | $55 |
| PSU | 550W 80+ Bronze (Corsair CV550 or EVGA BQ) | $50 |
| Case | Thermaltake Versa H18 or similar | $50 |
| Total | | $640 |
That leaves $160 of headroom for sales, peripherals, or upgrading to a better GPU like the RX 7600 XT ($300).
Why These Parts?
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 ($110)
The Ryzen 5 5600 is the best value gaming CPU in 2026. Six cores and twelve threads handle every game without bottlenecking GPUs up to the RTX 4070 class. Single-threaded performance is within 5% of the much more expensive Ryzen 7 5800X3D for gaming.
Why not Intel? The cheapest comparable Intel option (i5-12400F) requires a more expensive B660 motherboard and DDR5 RAM for optimal performance, pushing the total build cost higher.
GPU: AMD RX 7600 8GB ($250)
The RX 7600 delivers RTX 3060 Ti performance at a much lower price point. At 1080p, expect 60+ FPS in every game on High settings, and 100+ FPS in esports titles like CS2, Valorant, and Fortnite.
The 8 GB of VRAM is adequate for 1080p gaming in 2026. For 1440p gaming, consider stretching to the RX 7600 XT ($300, 16 GB VRAM) for better future-proofing.
FSR 3 support means the RX 7600 can punch above its weight in supported games. With FSR 3 enabled, 1440p gaming at 60+ FPS is achievable in many titles.
Motherboard: MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi ($90)
A solid B550 micro-ATX board with built-in WiFi, adequate VRM for the Ryzen 5 5600, and all the connectivity you need. It supports NVMe, has 4 RAM slots for future expansion, and has a reliable BIOS.
RAM: 16GB DDR4-3600 CL18 ($35)
DDR4 is the sweet spot for budget builds in 2026. 16 GB in dual-channel (two 8 GB sticks) provides enough for gaming and multitasking. 3600 MHz is the frequency sweet spot for Ryzen 5000 CPUs.
SSD: 1TB NVMe Gen3 ($55)
A 1 TB NVMe SSD is the minimum for a gaming PC in 2026. Modern games are 50-150 GB each, and Windows takes about 30 GB. Gen3 NVMe speeds (3000+ MB/s read) are more than fast enough for game loading times.
PSU: 550W 80+ Bronze ($50)
The Ryzen 5 5600 and RX 7600 together draw about 250-280W under full load. A 550W PSU provides plenty of headroom. The 80+ Bronze rating means acceptable efficiency without paying a premium for Gold or Platinum certification.
Case: Any Budget Mid-Tower ($50)
At this price point, look for mesh front panels for airflow and at least one included case fan. The Thermaltake Versa H18, Cougar MX330-G, and Deepcool CC560 are all solid choices under $50.
Gaming Performance Expectations
Here is what this build delivers at 1080p High settings:
| Game | Expected FPS |
|——|————-|
| CS2 | 200+ |
| Valorant | 250+ |
| Fortnite | 140+ |
| Minecraft (with Sodium) | 200+ |
| GTA V | 90+ |
| Elden Ring | 55-60 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 55-65 |
| Apex Legends | 120+ |
| Helldivers 2 | 55-65 |
| Call of Duty MW3 | 80-100 |
These are estimates based on current benchmark data. Actual FPS varies based on driver version, game updates, and background processes.
Upgrade Path
The beauty of this build is the clear upgrade path:
Year 1: Add another 16 GB of DDR4-3600 ($35) for 32 GB total. This helps with multitasking and future games.
Year 1-2: Upgrade to a Ryzen 7 5700X3D ($200-250 when available) or Ryzen 7 5800X3D for a significant gaming performance boost without changing anything else.
Year 2-3: Upgrade the GPU to a next-gen mid-range card. The B550 motherboard and Ryzen CPU will not bottleneck any GPU up to the RTX 5070 class.
Where to Buy
Best prices in February 2026:
- Amazon for most components (Prime shipping, easy returns)
- Newegg for combos and sales (check r/buildapcsales for deals)
- Micro Center if you have one nearby (in-store pricing is often $20-30 cheaper on CPUs and motherboards)
- eBay for used GPUs (previous-gen cards like RTX 3060 Ti sell for $150-180 and match the RX 7600)
FAQ
Is $800 enough for a good gaming PC in 2026?
Yes. $800 gets you a capable 1080p gaming machine that handles every current game at 60+ FPS. You are not compromising on core components at this budget.
Should I buy a prebuilt instead?
Prebuilts at $800 typically use worse power supplies, slower RAM, and less storage than a custom build. Building yourself saves $100-150 or gets you better components at the same price. Plus you learn how to maintain and upgrade your PC.
Can this build do 1440p gaming?
At medium settings, yes. The RX 7600 handles 1440p at 45-60 FPS in demanding games and 80-120 FPS in esports titles. For comfortable 1440p, upgrade to the RX 7600 XT 16GB.
Is AMD or NVIDIA better for budget builds?
In February 2026, AMD offers better value at the $200-300 GPU price range. The RX 7600 beats the RTX 4060 in raw performance per dollar. NVIDIA wins on ray tracing and DLSS, but at this budget, raw rasterization performance matters more.
What monitor should I pair with this build?
A 1080p 144Hz IPS monitor ($120-150) is the ideal match. The RX 7600 pushes well over 100 FPS in most games, and a 144Hz monitor lets you take advantage of those frames. Look for the AOC 24G2 or ASUS VG249Q1A.
