Cheapest Desktop PC You Can Build Today: Under 20K

Building your own desktop PC is quite a task. This is especially challenging if you aren’t the ‘techie’ kind of person who’s familiar with the “specs sheet” and other technical terminologies.

Thus, let’s make it easier for you to understand the things to consider when buying parts for your DIY desktop build. And, if you’re on a tight budget, sit tight as we dive into our options for the most affordable computer parts available.

This build leans toward the entry-level and should cater mostly to productivity needs and a little bit of gaming on the side. Needless to say, aesthetics may be disregarded as we prioritize affordability.

Details of the Build

First on our list is the CPU. Since we focus on affordability, AMD Athlon 3000G is the most qualified. It is a dual core CPU with four (4) threads integrated with Radeon Vega 3 graphics. This CPU operates on a base clocking of 3.5GHz and can be overclocked up to 4.0GHz which means that you may squeeze out more performance juice out of this CPU.

It usually comes with a wraith cooler, but sometimes the deal may only say “tray type” only which means there’s no inclusion of a wraith cooler or CPU cooler, so make sure you have it to keep the processor from overheating.

Take note that compatibility among the PC parts is of utmost importance. For example, Intel and AMD CPUs each have different “socket” types, the motherboard should be compatible depending on the chosen CPU.

The AMD Athlon 3000G having an “AM4” socket type, I partnered it with the compatible motherboard MSI A320M-A Pro Max. It can support up to 3rd generation of AMD’s Ryzen processors with memory support for DDR4 dual channel (two slots only and 64GB max). Although, the motherboard itself does not support overclocking, and you may consider a B450M variant with higher cost to utilize the unlocked overclocking on Athlon 3000G.

If you’re thinking to get Windows 11 as your operating system for this build, one of its requirements is having the TPM module for added layer of security, and the MSI A320M-A Pro Max has a TPM header built-in, thus a Windows 11 upgrade (from Windows 10) or direct installation is possible on this build.

When it comes to RAM, two 4GB sticks of Kingston Fury Beast 2666MHz (Black) is enough. Athlon 3000G supports up to 2667 MHz of system memory and the chosen RAM is DDR4 compatible boosting performance and stability.

On the next component, which is the Power Supply Unit (PSU), you may not want to be a scrooge on this one as this component delivers the needed power for your PC to function properly. If the PSU is below standard, chances are it could damage your system. I opted to 600W Cooler Master Elite V3 that claims to have over 80% efficiency for less power consumption. It supports PCIe (6 + 2 pin) connectors in case you install a better performing GPU with a compatible CPU—such as the Ryzen line—in the future.

This might lead you to the question, “Why is there no GPU on this build?” Well, the prices of GPUs are still volatile due to higher demand, and probably lower supply, that’s why I chose the AMD Athlon 3000G with integrated graphics already, instead of having to rely on separated GPU and CPU which will certainly jack up our intended budget.

Moving on to drive storage, the Western Digital 240GB SSD as boot drive for your OS is enough. This leads to faster boot up time, more immediate data transfers, and higher bandwidth. For your general storage like media files, documents, and game library, a 1TB Seagate 3.5” Barracuda is plenty for the build. You may add more storage drives in the future since the motherboard can support up to four SATA port, and one M.2 slot.

And lastly, the System Unit (SU) casing. This is purely subjective, but I chose the Silverstone FARA H1M Gaming Chassis which is fit for the micro-ATX form factor of the motherboard. It features a steel honeycomb mesh design up front, suitable for two 120 mm or 140 mm fans, two 120 mm at the top, and the included 120 mm fan at the rear. It has spacious drive bay where two 2.5” and two 3.5” drives can be installed. It has a tempered glass on the side giving you a brief view of your PC internals.

Here’s the PC build at a glance:

Recommendations on the Build

As mentioned earlier, this build leans on to being an entry level, and yes, it can game! Accordingly, you may have to tweak the game settings to the lowest levels. Based on this gaming test, the AMD Athlon 3000G with Radeon Vega 3 graphics can handle triple-A game such as GTAV at 1080p resolution with an average of 40 fps. And if triple-A games are playable, then it is expected to perform pretty well on non-graphically demanding games like Valorant, League of Legends, and the likes.

I should mention that I myself struggled with choosing the preferred CPU for this build. The other compelling alternative choice was the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G with Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. That is a sweet spot for gaming and performance, but it costs double the price of Athlon 3000G. If you can stretch your budget, go for the latter!

Of course, you hold the final decision on what parts should you purchase. Constantly fluctuating prices is inevitable and there could be much cheaper alternatives, or you may tone down the specs like getting a 500GB hard drive or getting a cheaper chassis. With all that said, this build will ultimately serve as your baseline and give you a better grasp on your choices for alternative components.

So, what do you think? Do you have prospective build as well? Comment down below and let us know your thoughts!

Author’s Notes:

This build was based on an under Php20K budget range with prices lifted from PCExpress price list dated February 18, 2022.