Budget PC build under $600 (no monitor)

Hi everyone, I wanted to jump in here and see if I could get some advice on a potential Battlefront build. I’m looking for some configuration recommendations for a budget of up to $1333, roughly +/-$67. I’m actually making the transition from a laptop to a dedicated desktop setup, so I don't have any extremely demanding requirements just yet. I'll be paying in cash, so I'm open to buying from any local retailer. My main use cases will be watching series and movies, as well as playing titles like League of Legends, Fortnite, and PUBG.

Intel Core i7 6C/12T 1600
GIGABYTE GA-AB350M-DS3H
Transcend DDR4 8GB 2666MHz
XFX Radeon RX 590 FATBOY 8GB GDDR5
GIGABYTE SSD 480GB, SATA III, 3D NAND TLC
SilentiumPC Vero L2 500W, 80+ Bronze
Zalman S2, 2x120mm, USB3.0

TOTAL $1443 (-2% with forum discount $1414) Best Buy

They currently have the GTX 1060 6GB for $367 which is an absolute steal, considering the price drops by nearly $200 while performance only dips by about 10% on average.
If I were to post this version, it would probably be better to go with the GTX 1060 instead; that way you could squeeze in 16GB of RAM, an extra HDD, a better motherboard, etc.
It's up to you what you prioritize 🙂

1 * Intel Core i7 1600 - $266
1 * GIGABYTE GA-AB350M-DS3H Motherboard (S.AM4, 4xDDR4, RAID) mATX - $173
2 * G.Skill Aegis 8GB DDR4 3000MHz CL16 RAM - $206
1 * MSI Aero Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 OC GDDR5 1 fan - $366
1 * SilentiumPC Vero L2 500W, 80+ Bronze Power Supply - $116
1 * GIGABYTE 480GB SSD - $133
1 * Zalman T6 Midi-Tower ATX Case - $80

Total: $1341 (-2% = $1314).

This is basically that GTX 1060 + 16GB RAM setup Adam Moore3 was talking about. It lets us squeeze in more memory without blowing the budget. From what I can tell, PUBG lists 8GB as the bare minimum requirements anyway.

Thanks. I’ve noticed a lot of people suggesting the RX 570 lately, and I see an EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 STRIX available at Ekupo right now for the exact same price. Would the GTX 1060 be the better pick here?
Also, would these builds be capable of handling a 144Hz monitor, like an AOC C24G1/24G2U?

darktinker60 said:Thanks. I noticed people are recommending the RX 570 quite a bit too; Best Buy actually has an EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 STRIX for basically the same price right now. Is the GTX 1060 better?
Also, can I run a 144Hz monitor (like an Acer Nitro) on these builds?

Nah, the 1060 is noticeably stronger than the RX 570. You'd need an RX 580 to be roughly equivalent to the GTX 1060.
They're probably just clearing out old GTX 1060 stock, which is why they're so cheap.

Regarding the monitor, you'll be fine. With a GTX 1060, you can push well over 100 FPS in titles like League or CS:GO, but don't even bother dreaming about getting those kinds of numbers in PUBG (not a chance).

Using single-channel RAM is a massive mistake for Call of Duty, especially when you're running an Intel Core setup. If you're playing at 1080p on competitive settings—you know, everything set to low or medium textures—that RTX 3060 should be able to push well over 100 FPS easily.

@Peter Green

The build looks solid, though I think you might have overlooked this specific memory module:

https://www.crucial.com/crucial-pro-16gb-kit-2x8gb-ddr4-3200mt-s/

@darktinker60

That’s definitely a smart pick. You can actually grab it here while it's on sale:

https://www.amazon.com/AOC-24-inch-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B0XXXXXXXX

The only real headache here is that the RTX 3060 only comes with a 6-month warranty since the supplier already went in and patched it up themselves.

David Hall10 said:The only potential issue is that the RTX 3060 only comes with a 6-month warranty since the supplier already repaired it.

That’s why it’s such a steal. 😁I haven't checked myself, but the warranty is actually 18 months, not 6. Honestly, for that price, I think it's perfectly fine.

Honestly, if that's the situation, you’re way better off just hunting down a used RTX 3060 on eBay or Craigslist that still has some leftover warranty.
Try to snag one with dual fans if you can; they run way smoother.

So, does this actually make sense if you're planning to pair it with a discounted graphics card? https://www.amazon.com/AMD-Ryzen-5-1600-Processor/dp/B0742P5L9W

Yeah.

I wanted to share a few more thoughts on my build progress 🙂 I’m planning to pick up an RX 580—likely either the EVGA or the MSI Ventus 8GB version, depending on what’s available at the store—but now I’m stuck on the case. I really want something with some decent lighting 😁 Between the two currently on sale at Micro Center, the Corsair TG4 RGB or the Cooler Master Z7 NEO, which one would you say is the better choice? If there’s anything else in a similar price range, I’d love to hear some recommendations $167 Also, does it actually make much of a difference if I go with 2x G.Skill or 2x Ballistix RAM?

Is there any actual need for more fans beyond the one already mounted on the case?