By Jimmy Thang on Aug 03, 2017 11:29 pm
Best Cheap Gaming PC Build
Last updated August 3, 2017 Shopping for PC components can be intimidating if you're not up to date on hardware news. Fortunately, we've done the research for you and have put together three tiered builds (cheap, mid-range, and high-end) geared to deliver great gaming experiences. You can certainly build a PC for less than the budget-oriented rig we're recommending here, but it's often a good idea to spend a little more to mitigate serious bottlenecks and avoid harsh compromises. With that in mind, we spec'd out components that will deliver an excellent 1080p gaming experience for less $650. Listed prices reflect time of publish. Click through the gallery to read why we chose our respective components.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 1200
AMD recently released two good budget CPUs with its Ryzen 3-series processors. Unlike Intel's entry-level Core-i3 equivalents, AMD's chips feature four cores instead of two. Four cores is the minimum number of cores we recommend for any respectable gaming PC. That's why we're going with the Ryzen 3 1200 for our processor. It's an affordable quad-core CPU that offers a 3.1GHz base clock and a 3.4GHz boost clock. The CPU is also fully unlocked, which means you can overclock it as long as you have an AM4 motherboard with the B350 or X370 chipset and proper cooling. The same can't be said of all Intel i3 CPUs. Its quad-core architecture makes it VR-ready and provides some future-proofing for games that will be optimized for four cores. It also has four threads; coupled with 8MB of L3 cache and 2MB of L2 cache, this makes it a pretty good chip for productivity, too. And you don't need to worry about spending more on an aftermarket cooler since the CPU comes with AMD's Wraith Stealth solution. Price: $109
GPU: EVGA GTX 1060 Gaming
The Cryptocurrency craze has unfortunately greatly inflated the price of graphics cards since GPUs are so good at mining data, but we were able to find an EVGA GTX 1060 for $220. It's a really good GPU, too. From our testing, it's on par with the GeForce GTX 980, which was Nvidia's $550 flagship graphics card in 2014. In terms of specs, the EVGA variant carries a stock 1506MHz core clock and 1708MHz boost clock along with 3GB of GDDR5 RAM. It's by far the most expensive component in our build and you can argue that it belongs more in a mid-range build, but we think it's worth the investment for a gaming rig considering it should be able to max out most games at 1080p with smooth, playable frame rates. Price: $220
Motherboard: ASRock AB350M-HDV
Since we selected a Ryzen 3 CPU, we'll need an AM4 motherboard to pair it with. We're going with ASRock's AB350M-HDV ATX mobo. At $70, it's the most affordable board we could find that will allow us to overclock our CPU. It also supports DDR4 RAM up to 3200MHz. Finally, it has an M.2 slot, which gives you the option to install super-fast NVMe SSDs. Price: $70
RAM: Patriot Viper Elite 8GB (2 x 4GB) 2800MHz
Any respectable gaming PC should have at least 8GB of RAM, so we're going with 8GB of Patriot's Viper Elite sticks clocked at 2800MHz. Patriot is known for its memory, and these modules in particular are compatible with our Ryzen CPU. We're getting our RAM across two modules, so we can run it in dual-channel mode to get more memory bandwidth. Price: $70
Storage (SSD): Kingston A400 120GB
While solid-state drives are more expensive than hard drives, we couldn't recommend building a system without one, even in a budget-centric rig. As an affordable solution, we're going with Kingston's 120GB A400 SSD. That's not a ton of storage, but it should be enough for the operating system and some of your favorite games and programs. In terms of speeds, it's a SATA III drive that's capable of delivering read and write speeds up to 500MB/s and 450MB/s, respectively. In layman's terms, this will make your PC boot up faster, load programs quicker, and feel much more responsive overall. Price: $55
Storage (HDD): IBM/Seagate Constellation ES 1TB Hard Drive
While we absolutely recommend getting a solid-state drive for at least your boot drive, 120GB isn't going to be enough for all your needs. That's why we're supplementing our SSD with a 1TB hard drive. More specifically, we're recommending the IBM/Seagate Constellation ES drive, which is a 7,200RPM HDD that provides plenty of space for the price. Price: $40
PSU: EVGA 500 B1, 80+ Bronze 500W PSU
Even though we're putting together a budget rig, it's vital that you don't skimp out and buy a cheap, no-name power supply. A PSU that fails can really damage the rest of your components. With that said, we're going with EVGA's 500 B1 PSU. The company is one of the best PSU manufacturers on the market, and its 80 Plus Bronze rating provides safety at an affordable price. Its 500-watt output also offers more than enough juice to power all of our components. Price: $36
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Lite 3.1
Just because our case is under 40 bucks, it doesn't mean that we have to get one that looks ugly or cuts corners on features. Cooler Master's MasterBox Lite 3.1 is built with acrylic glass front and side panels and supports two 120mm fans at the front, a 120mm fan in the back, and has a cutout at the bottom for your PSU fan. The case fits full-length graphics cards and offers front I/O that includes a headphone jack, mic port, USB 3.0 port, and USB 2.0 port. Overall, the case looks pretty sleek as well. Price: $40
Total
The total for our build comes up to $751.92 You can certainly build a PC for less, but this build represents a killer gaming rig that will be able to max out the most graphically demanding games at 1080p with smooth frame rates. It'll also be able to handle VR and plenty of 1440p games as well. It has all the core components you need in a great gaming PC.
By Mat Elfring on Aug 03, 2017 02:06 am
The written works of Stephen King have been adapted numerous times, including movies, television series, and mini-series. With The Dark Tower about to hit theaters--which is based on King's book series of the same name--we're taking a look at all of the films based on the author's works and ranking them according to their score on IMDb. Mini-series and television series will not be included nor are sequels that don't have stories based on King's work--sorry, Children of the Corn franchise. Believe it or not, there are more than 40 films, so click to the right to get started with number 46. If you want to skip ahead to the top 10, click here.
46. Trucks (1997)
Much like King's film Maximum Overdrive, Trucks tells the story of automobiles coming to life and killing people. This was the second time King's 1973 short story "Trucks" was adapted into a film. IMDb rating: 3.9
45. The Mangler (1995)
A machine that folds laundry becomes possessed by a demon, and it goes on a killing spree. The film is based on a 1972 short story of the same name, which was later included in King's 1978 collection Night Shift. IMDb rating: 4.0
44. Cell (2016)
A phone signal plunges the world into chaos, and a man traverses the apocalyptic landscape in order to reunite with his son. The movie is based on King's 2006 novel of the same name. IMDb rating: 4.3
43. Graveyard Shift (1990)
An old mill becomes infested with rats, and the employees discover something horrifying hidden in the basement. The short story the film is based on came out in 1970. IMDb rating: 4.8
42. Quicksilver Highway (1997)
Quicksilver Highway contains two one-hour stories. One of those stories is based on King's 1992 short story "Chattery Teeth." IMDb rating: 4.9
41. Mercy (2014)
A mother and her two children are tasked with taking care of their grandmother, who has mystical powers. Mercy is based on the 1984 short story "Gramma," which was later included in King's collection Skeleton Crew. IMDb rating: 5.0
40. Sleepwalkers (1992)
A couple of werecats, who are apparently mother and son, head to a small town to find a virgin to feed on. Sleepwalkers was the first original feature written by King for the big screen. IMDb rating: 5.2
39. Riding the Bullet (2004)
A man hitchhikes to a hospital to visit his dying mother, but he's picked up by a sinister stranger. The movie is based on the novella of the same name. "Riding the Bullet" was King's first ebook. IMDb rating: 5.2
38. A Good Marriage (2014)
A husband and wife have lived happily together for 25 years, until one day when the wife discovers a sinister secret about the man she married. The film is based on the novella of the same name, which was published in the collection Full Dark, No Stars in 2010. IMDb rating: 5.2
37. Desperation (2006)
A bad cop arrests a group of people and throws them in jail. They quickly find out there's an evil, supernatural element to the officer. Based on the 1996 novel of same name, this TV movie first appeared on the USA network. IMDb rating: 5.3
36. Maximum Overdrive (1986)
In Maximum Overdrive, machines--such as semi-trucks with Green Goblin's face attached to the grill--come to life and start killing people. Much like #47 on this list, this film is based on the short story "Trucks." In addition, this is the only film Stephen King directed. IMDb rating: 5.4
35. The Lawnmower Man (1992)
The Lawnmower Man movie follows a man who is turned into a genius through the usage of computers. The original "Lawnmower Man" short story was first published in 1975. This film is an adaptation in title only, and King famously sued New Line Cinema to have his name removed from the film. When New Line failed to do so for the home video release, the company was found in contempt of court and had to pay King $10,000 a day until it was removed, on top of the $2.5 million in damages the writer received. IMDb rating: 5.4
34. Dreamcatcher (2003)
A group of friends go camping and slowly come to realize that they're not alone, as parasitic aliens terrorize them. The movie is based on the 2001 novel of the same name. King wrote it while recovering from a 1999 car accident; the author said he does not like the book and wrote it while using Oxycotin. IMDb rating: 5.5
33. Children of the Corn (1984)
A couple find themselves stranded in a rural town which is home to a cult comprised of kids that kill anyone over the age of 18. King wrote the short story this film is based on back in 1977. The story--which has the same name as the film--was first published in Penthouse. IMDb rating: 5.6
32. Sometimes They Come Back (1991)
A man returns to his hometown and is haunted by the ghosts of teenagers that bullied him as a child. The movie, which originally aired on CBS, was based on a short story wrote in 1974 of the same name. IMDb rating: 5.7
31. Thinner (1996)
An overweight attorney is cursed to lose weight, until there's nothing left of him. Thinner is based on a novel of the same name, published in 1984. At the time, King published it under the pen name Richard Bachman, as publishing more than one book a year by a single author was a literary taboo. IMDb rating: 5.7
30. Dolan's Cadillac (2009)
In Dolan's Cadillac, a man's wife is murdered in Las Vegas by a mobster, and the man seeks revenge. The short story the movie is based on first appeared in King's newsletter in monthly installments during the winter and spring of 1985. IMDb rating: 5.7
29. Big Driver (2014)
In Big Driver, a novelist is assaulted and left for dead. She goes on a mission to get revenge on her attackers. The novella of the same name was published in King's collection Full Dark, No Stars in 2010. This made-for-TV movie first aired on the Lifetime network. IMDb rating: 5.7
28. The Dark Half (1993)
An author's alter ego wants to take over his life. This story was a response to King's outing as author Richard Bachman, a pseudonym he wrote under. The novel, which shares the same name as the film, was published in 1989. IMDb rating: 5.9
27. Carrie (2013)
In Carrie, a young girl with telekinetic abilities gets revenge on those who bullied her in school. This is the second adaptation of King's first published novel, also titled Carrie, which was released in 1974. IMDb rating: 5.9
26. Creepshow 2 (1987)
The Creepshow anthology series contains numerous stories, and King's 1982 short story "The Raft" was adapted for this film. IMDb rating: 6.0
25. Firestarter (1984)
A telekinetic couple--who received their abilities during a medical experiment--have a child, and she turns out to be able to control fire with her mind. Firestarter is based on the 1980 King novel of the same name. IMDb rating: 6.0
24. Cujo (1983)
In Cujo, a family's St. Bernard dog contracts rabies and terrorizes a small town. The movie is based on the 1981 novel of the same name. IMDb rating: 6.0
23. The Night Flier (1997)
In The Night Flier, a reporter is on the trail of a serial killer who travels by plane and is suspected to be a vampire. The short story, which shares the same name, was first published in 1993 in the anthology Prime Evil: New Stories by the Masters of Modern Horror. IMDb rating: 6.0
22. Needful Things (1993)
In Needful Things, a new shop opens up in a small town, with something for everyone in town; however, the shop owner requests something different than cash and soon, the whole town is in total chaos. The movie is based on the 1991 novel of the same name. IMDb rating: 6.2
21. Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)
The anthology horror film contained an adaptation of King's 1977 short story "The Cat from Hell." IMDb rating: 6.2
20. Cat's Eye (1985)
Cat's Eye is an anthology of three horror stories. Both "Quitters, Inc." and "The Ledge" are adaptations from King's Night Shift collection. The third story--"General"--was written by King specifically for the movie. IMDb rating: 6.2
19. Silver Bullet (1985)
A peaceful town is terrorized by a werewolf. Silver Bullet is based on the 1983 novella titled Cycle of the Werewolf. IMDb rating: 6.4
18. The Running Man (1987)
A man who is wrongfully accused of a crime must compete in a game show where the loser dies. The 1982 novel of the same name was published under King's pseudonym Richard Bachman. IMDb rating: 6.6
17. Secret Window (2004)
A successful writer is accused of plagiarism by a strange man, while the writer's life falls apart. The novella this movie was based on--Secret Window, Secret Garden--was published in 1990 in Four Past Midnight, which contained a collection of King's stories. IMDb rating: 6.6
16. Pet Sematary (1989)
A family moves into a new home, which is near a cemetery that can bring the dead back to life. Pet Sematary is based on a 1983 book of the same name. IMDb rating: 6.6
15. Christine (1983)
A boy falls in love with a car he purchased, but the automobile has a supernatural element to it and a jealous streak. The Christine novel was first published in 1983. IMDb rating: 6.6
14. Apt Pupil (1998)
A boy blackmails an elderly neighbor--who is a World War II criminal--into telling him stories from concentration camps. Apt Pupil is based on a 1982 novella which was published in Different Seasons. IMDb rating: 6.7
13. 1408 (2007)
An author who specializes in debunking the paranormal spends the night at a hotel filled with terror and the supernatural. The short story "1408" was included in the 1999 audiobook collection Blood and Stone. IMDb rating: 6.8
12. Creepshow (1982)
The anthology movie, Creepshow, features two tales based on King's short stories: "Weeds," also known as "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill" published in 1976 and "The Crate," published in 1979. The other stories included in the film were originals by King written specifically for the movie. IMDb rating: 6.9
11. Hearts in Atlantis (2001)
A man returns home after his friend passes away and remembers his younger years with him, during a time when their lives were changed. The movie is adapted from the stories "Low Men in Yellow Coats" and "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling," which are included in the book Hearts in Atlantis, published in 1999. IMDb rating: 6.9
10. No Smoking (2007)
A man with an addiction to smoking is offered a way to be cured, but it's through unusual means by a mysterious organization. The movie is based on the short story "Quitters, Inc." from King's 1978 collection Night Shift. IMDb rating: 7.1
9. The Dead Zone (1983)
A man wakes up after being in a coma and finds he has psychic abilities. The Dead Zone is based on a 1979 novel of the same name. IMDb rating: 7.2
8. The Mist (2007)
A fog containing monstrous terrors rolls over a town, and residents are trapped inside a grocery store, trying to stay alive. The movie is based on a novella that first appeared in 1980's horror anthology Dark Forces. Currently, a television series based on the story is airing on Spike TV. IMDb rating: 7.2
7. Carrie (1976)
A bullied girl releases telekinetic terror on her abusers during prom. This is the first adaptation of King's novel, which was released in 1974. IMDb rating: 7.4
6. Dolores Claiborne (1995)
A reporter travels to a small town where her mother was arrested for murder, and while talking to her, she learns of traumatic secrets from her past she had previously blocked out. Dolores Claiborne is based on the 1992 novel of the same name. IMDb rating: 7.4
5. Misery (1990)
In Misery, an author crashes his car and is rescued by a fan, who turns out to be a bit too fanatical and won't let him leave. The novel the film is based on was published in 1987. IMDb rating: 7.8
4. Stand by Me (1986)
Stand by Me is a coming of age story about four boys who find a dead body. This movie is based on the 1982 novella The Body. IMDb rating: 8.1
3. The Shining (1980)
A family is put in charge of taking care of a hotel during the winter, and the father loses his mind, thanks to supernatural influences. The Shining is an adaptation of King's 1977 novel of the same name. Over the years, he has been very vocal about Stanley Kubrick's film, calling it a poor adaptation. IMDb rating: 8.4
2. The Green Mile (1999)
Prison guards in charge of death row have their lives changed by an inmate with a supernatural gift who's accused of murder. The Green Mile is based on King's serial novel, which was published in 1996. IMDb rating: 8.5
1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
A man is wrongfully accused of murder and spends his life in prison. This movie is based on the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. IMDb rating: 9.3
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