This budget build is for those looking to get up and running with a PC capable of gaming and streaming for as little money as possible. I’m constantly updating this kit to make sure all the components selected are giving you the best bang for your buck, hitting that sweet performance spot at a brilliant price point.
All the products included have detailed descriptions justifying why I think they are ideal for someone looking to get into streaming with a high performing setup without breaking the bank. Although prices shown are in US Dollars, all amazon links will automatically take you to your local amazon store, so you can see the component in your local currency.
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Part List
CPU
The Intel i5-12400 features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base frequency of 2.5 GHz boosting up to 4.4 GHz. For it’s price, it packs plenty of performance, and will get decent framerates out of even the most CPU intensive games. The 12400 also offers significant overclocking opportunities which is why we’ve paired it with a ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO cooler.
I’d definitely still recommend using the NVENC encoder that comes as part of the latest NVIDIA graphics cards to handle all of our stream encoding, leaving the CPU free to handle running the game and any other required software.
- 6 Cores and 12 Processing Threads
- 2.5 GHz up to 4.4 GHz Boost
- Unlocked for Overclocking
CPU Cooler
The Freezer 34 eSports DUO from ARCTIC has been well renowned for several years now as an aftermarket cooler for it’s great cooling performance and relatively quiet operation.
With two powerful, pressure-optimised BioniX P-fans the cooler should allow for a modest overclock on any unlocked processor. The cooler is fast and easy to install and the mounting system is compatible with both Intel and AMD sockets.
- Improved heat dissipation through 54 cooling fins
- Fast and easy to install
- Two BioniX P-fans working in push-pull mode to increase airflow
Motherboard
Motherboards aren’t the most exciting part of a build, but you do need to ensure that the one you choose is compatible with all your other components.
For the Intel i5-12400 you’re going to need a B660 chipset motherboard.
This is a Micro ATX board, meaning it’s smaller than your typical ATX board, but has been included as it’s also cheaper. It still features 4x DDR4 DIMM slots for an optional memory expansion and high speed M.2 connections for faster storage.
If you’d prefer to use an ATX board, just make sure it’s compatible with the B660 chipset.
- 4x DDR4 DIMM slots
- Dual NVME PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2
- Fast Networking 2.5GbE LAN
Memory
When streaming, you’re likely to have a few applications open simultaneously that will require some memory.
Thankfully RAM prices have been dropping over the last few months, so a 16 GB kit (2x 8 GB sticks) is ideal for streaming and gaming together.
If you’ve used the motherboard from this build you’ll have 2 free slots left afterward if you ever did want to push to 32 GB, but it’s really not necessary unless you are editing video daily or performing some other RAM intensive tasks.
- DDR4-3200, 288-Pin, CAS Latency CL16 (16-18-18-38) at 1.35V
- 42mm module height
- Available in 5 different colors
Storage
You’ll definitely want to be running Windows, and some key applications from an SSD in this build, and with a little more in your budget I’d recommend getting an M.2 drive. “What’s the difference between M.2 and a traditional SSD drive?” I hear you ask. Essentially, M.2 drives operate directly through the PCIe interface whereas traditional SSD drives use SATA which is slower. So your M.2 drive will be fast (like really fast!).
Since everyone’s storage needs are different, feel free to choose something with more/less capacity and a further mechanical drive should you need it. I’ve recommended a 1 TB drive in this build which should allow plenty of space. It can easily be paired with a mechanical hard drive with a higher capacity for you to store your stream VODs and other media on.
- Up to 2,100MB/s Read, 1,700MB/s Write
- Available in a range of capacities (250GB-2TB)
- Ideal for systems with limited space
Since mechanical harddrives are much cheaper per GB than SSD’s or M.2 drives, it can be worthwhile getting a large mechanical drive for your build to store your stream VODs and other media on. This 2 TB drive from Seagate is still pretty quick at 7200 rpm and is well renowned for it’s reliability.
- Rock-solid reliability built on over 20 years of BarraCuda innovation
- Multi-tier Caching technology for increased performance
- Up to 220 MB/s maximum sustained data transfer rate
Graphics Card
The RTX 3060 is currently one of the best price for performance cards on the market, being able to easily achieve high framerates for all games at 1080p, and even at 1440p for some well optimised games like VALORANT or Fortnite.
Since it is based on NVIDIA’s new Ampere architecture, I’d recommend you take full advantage of the new NVENC encoding chips built into them for streaming. This takes a massive workload off your CPU so you can achieve higher framerates in-game.
To learn more about using the NVENC encoder for you stream, watch my video (shown right) on how it compares to x264 encoding and how you should be using NVENC for your stream.
- Real Boost Clock: 1882 MHz; Memory Detail: 12288 MB GDDR6
- Real-Time ray tracing in games for cutting-edge, hyper-realistic graphics
- Dual Fans Cooling offer higher performance cooling and much quieter acoustic noise
Case
Cases are largely personal preference, so feel free to shop around for something you prefer aesthetically. Just make sure that it fits your Motherboard size (ATX or Micro ATX) and the length of your Graphics Card.
The Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower case sports a tinted tempered glass side panel. It can fit full-sized Graphics cards, includes both USB-C (3.2 Gen 2) and USB-A (3.2 Gen 1) front panel ports, as well as a PSU shroud and a number of cable management holes and tie-offs to help your build look cleaner. It’s also available in both black or white finishes.
- High-airflow front panel delivers massive airflow to your system
- Two included 120mm Corsair AirGuide fans
- Innovative cable management to keep your build tidy
Power Supply
The most important thing with a power supply is that it’s a well-reviewed product from a trusted brand. It may be tempting to save some money and pick up one of the cheaper power supplies that are available, but this is what is providing power to every component in your build. If it fails there’s a good chance it could cause some damage to the more expensive components.
EVGA are well known for their reliable and efficient power supplies and this one is 550 W which is easily enough for this build and it’s efficiency is rated at 80+ Bronze certified.
Another great feature of this PSU is that it is fully modular, meaning you only have to plug the cables in that you require. This helps keep the inside of your PC free of clutter since you aren’t having to deal with all the extra cables that you get with a non-modular power supply. Also, if you wanted to upgrade to custom cables in the future, a fully modular power supply allows you to do this.
- 80 PLUS Bronze certified, with 89% efficiency or higher under typical loads
- Fully Modular to reduce clutter and improve airflow
- EVGA ECO Intelligent Thermal Control System eliminates fan noise at low to medium loads
Monitors, Peripherals and Streaming Accessories
In the future, we will be adding buyers guides for monitors, peripherals and streaming accessories too. If you want to be among the first to hear when we launch those guides, sign up to our newsletter.
Got a little more in your budget? Be sure to check out our professional and ultimate streaming builds as well.
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