Intel has managed to surprise us with an excellent budget GPU for the first time. With the release, the Arc B580 GPU has quickly become one of the most popular budget graphics cards, delivering superior performance to the RTX 4060 and RX 7600. This allows users to build a solid $1000 gaming build with carefully selected parts.
But what if we could slash $300 while retaining equivalent performance? Yes, it’s possible as there are plenty of great alternatives for every component that wouldn’t impact the performance noticeably. At $700, you could be getting a powerful gaming PC equivalent to PlayStation 5 Pro, while there will be options to upgrade it further.
Without wasting much time, let’s dive into the parts list.
A Quick Glance at the List
Intel Arc B580 Limited Edition: Newegg
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D 8-Core, 16-Thread Desktop... | $249.00 $209.95 | Order On Amazon | |
| ASUS Prime B450M-A II AMD AM4 (Ryzen 5000,... | $89.99 $79.99 | Order On Amazon | |
| CORSAIR VENGEANCE LPX DDR4 RAM 16GB (2x8GB)... | $32.99 | Order On Amazon | |
| Crucial P3 500GB PCIe Gen3 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD,... | $59.99 $38.99 | Order On Amazon | |
| Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 80+ Gold 600W... | $69.99 | Order On Amazon | |
| Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L Micro-ATX Tower with... | $39.99 $36.99 | Order On Amazon | |
| Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE CPU Cooler,... | $38.90 $34.90 | Order On Amazon |
Total Cost ~ $733 (Subject to change)
Summary
To ensure the total cost of our build remains around $700 while achieving the best possible performance, it’s best to invest more in the CPU than in other components. Since Ryzen X3D processors are incredibly great at offering high performance at lower power consumption and price, I chose the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D, based on the Zen 4 architecture. Purchasing a higher-end Ryzen X3D processor isn’t really needed here since we are rocking a budget GPU and will be limiting the CPU capability while wasting more money.
That said, with our choice of Ryzen 5700X3D, the overall PC build cost also reduced dramatically. This is because the AM4 platform comes at a cheaper price than AM5, including the motherboard and memory. An A320 or A520 chipset motherboard would do fine but right now, for a few more bucks, you can secure a B450 chipset motherboard, like the ASUS Prime B450M-A II, which brings more features and also unlocks the the capability of overclocking a CPU even though we won’t be able to do that now with the 5700X3D.
Then we will throw a 16 GB DDR4 RAM kit with 2x 8GB RAM modules clocked at 3200MHz to ensure the system performs optimally, feeding the games and applications how much they require. A 500 GB M.2 SSD from Crucial will store your favorite games and other data while enhancing their boot speed dramatically.
To power the whole system, you may not need more than 500W of PSU but I went with a 600W unit from Thermaltake that is an 80 Plus Gold-rated PSU for better future-proofing. It comes with all the connectors for your components and will ensure reliability and excellent performance under peak load. To close off everything, the MasterCase Q300L will be a cost-effective and lightweight enclosure, which offers plenty of clearance for standard-sized components.
If you are thinking ‘What about the aftermarket CPU cooler?’, then I would recommend the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, which competes against more expensive dual tower air coolers for a price of $35. This will be sufficient for the Ryzen 7 5700X3D and can be used even on higher-end CPUs in the future.
All of this costs just over $700, which you can reduce to less than $700 if you are willing to downgrade the power supply or the case. However, that won’t be a wise decision at the moment as spending another 20-30 bucks will be more beneficial in future-proofing your build.
How to Build a Gaming PC?
Building a gaming PC is fun if you have done it in the past but if you have never done it before, it is still going to be easy, considering we only have the basic parts. Building a PC requires installing the components into their compatible sockets on the motherboard, followed by careful wiring.
I suggest building the PC in this sequence:
- Install the CPU in the motherboard socket
- Install the CPU cooler
- Add memory sticks to the DIMM slots
- Put the motherboard inside the case and tighten the screws (don’t forget to install the I/O shield)
- Install the power supply and storage drive
- Do all the wiring stuff, including the front panel case connections
- Install the graphics card.
This will require you only a single #2 Philips screwdriver and a few zip ties to manage the cables if you don’t want it to look messy. Proceed with the OS installation and other important drivers to ensure you are ready to dive into your favorite games.
Fortunately, we have a full step-by-step guide on building a PC with high-quality images. You can follow those steps exactly as we have listed and you will be done in around an hour.
Things to Consider When Building a PC with Intel Arc B580
Intel Arc B580 may introduce some bugs in some games as the Intel GPU drivers aren’t yet fully matured. They are definitely in a much better position than at the time of Alchemist launch but you may encounter some issues in a few scenarios. Ensure you have updated your GPU drivers to the latest version from Intel’s official website.
The Arc B580 is perfect for 1080p resolution but it can definitely play games at 1440p as well. It’s best to play at 1080p since modern titles may get pretty demanding in highly complex rendering scenes. 12 GB VRAM will be adequate in both scenarios but tweak the settings based on individual games.
For future upgrades, I recommend upgrading the storage capacity by adding another 1 TB SSD and possibly the PC case in case you want a more aesthetically-pleasing and spacious interior. In case you have any more queries, you can let us know in the comments section below.
FAQ
Can I overclock the Ryzen 7 5700X3D?
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is non-overclockable by default and you won’t necessarily need it. Do follow AMD’s guidelines in optimizing the processor performance and download the latest drivers for your motherboard.
Is Arc B580 capable of playing games with Ray Tracing turned on?
It’s something that we don’t recommend. Even though the Arc B580 has ray tracing capabilities, most modern titles won’t be playable, unless you turn on Intel XeSS or AMD FSR.
Should I play at 1440p?
Sure, why not? Afterall, the Arc B580 has shown some good results at 1440p due to having more VRAM than its competitors.
