You can consider a $900 custom PC build as the lower end of the mid-range bracket. Here, your options are usually limited, but the beauty in a custom PC build is putting up a configuration that punches well above its weight class, so to speak.
That’s what we’ve set out to do with this custom PC build. It’s a borderline budget build that comes packed with high-end performance using the right parts and sniping the right deals.
Do note that the prices were taken at the time of writing and they might change without prior notice, but in that case, the build wouldn’t go up in budget too much and likely still won’t break $1,000.
Moreover, this custom PC build is free of compatibility errors so you can just buy them, wait for them to be delivered, and build straight away. The $900 also doesn’t include delivery fees, the mouse and keyboard, and the monitor or other peripherals.
RELATED: Best $800 Custom PC Build in 2022

AMD Ryzen 5 7600
PROS
- High max boost
- Good efficiency
- Impressive value
- Wraith Stealth cooler is included
- AM5 platform means you can easily upgrade in the next five years or so
- Plenty of power for gaming
CONS
- Wraith Stealth cooler isn't ideal for 100 percent CPU usage as it will throttle
Specs:
- 6 Cores and 12 processing threads
- AMD “Zen 4” architecture
- 5.2 GHz Max Boost
- AMD Wraith Stealth cooler included
- AM5 platform
Of course, it being a mid-range build, we have to settle for Ryzen 5. However, this is a current-gen Ryzen 5, meaning you’ll be on a platform that will be relevant for the next half-decade or more, complete with DDR5 RAM goodness and the latest Zen 4 architecture features.
As for gaming performance, you’ll find this one highly competitive with its Intel i5 counterparts in the same generation. You also don’t have to worry about the cooler since it comes with a stock Wraith Stealth cooler.

PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
PROS
- Matches the more expensive RTX 3070 in stock performance
- High VRAM, great for future-proofing
- Cheap price
- Great for 1440p gaming
- Awesome value
- Manageable temperatures
CONS
- Not great for ray tracing
- Shroud looks meek, uninspiring design
Specs:
- Video Memory: 12GB GDDR6
- Game Clock: 2424MHz / Boost Clock: 2581MHz
- Memory Clock: 16 Gbps
- Stream Processor: 2560
- Memory Interface: 192-bit
Thanks to AMD’s fine wine philosophy, the RX 6700 XT from the last generation is now on the same level as NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3070 when previously, it was barely better than the RTX 3060 Ti.
And what better way to enjoy those late gains than by coupling it with a semi-budget build? You can find a lot of RX 6700 XT cards for cheap now (a lot cheaper than RTX 3070), so it’s the automatic choice.

MSI PRO A620M-E
PROS
- Cheap price
- 6400+ MHz max RAM overclock
- Gen4 PCIe M.2 slots
- Impressive value
CONS
- Limited RAM slots
- Limited M.2 slots
- Bare VRM
- Barren aesthetics (subjective)
Specs:
- Supports DDR5 Memory, Dual Channel DDR5 6400+MHz (OC)
- Lightning Fast Game experience: PCIe 4.0 slots, Lightning Gen 4 x4 M.2
- AM5 platform
- mATX form factor
Here’s where you can feel our cost-cutting for the build the most. It can’t be helped, otherwise, we’d have to go too over budget. Still, you’re not exactly going to be overclocking much so you’re stuck with stock performance for your RAM and CPU. This is adequate as far as cheap motherboards go.
The VRMs are bare, there are only two RAM slots, and there’s only one PCIe NVMe slot (it’s Gen4 though). However, that price is unbeatable and you won’t really see any improvement in performance if you upgrade to a more expensive motherboard. For reference, this motherboard can handle up to a Ryzen 9 7950X.

TEAMGROUP Elite Plus DDR5 16GB (2x8GB) 4800MHz
PROS
- Cheap price, almost unreal
- Dual-channel
- Comes with a heat spreader/cover at its price point
- Lifetime warranty
- Has a white variant
- Great value
CONS
- Slightly higher latency comapred to more expensive modules
Specs:
- 4800MHz speed
- CL40 latency
- 16GB (2x8GB) dual-channel
- Unbuffered Non-ECC 1.1V
Here’s another cost-cutting involved though it’s not really that much of an inconvenience as TEAMGROUP is a solid RAM module manufacturer.
Their RAM’s price is nearly dirt cheap for a DDR5 and you still get entry-level DDR5 speeds which are usually enough. There’s a white variant if you prefer that, and don’t expect any RGB at this price point.

Crucial P3 Plus 1TB PCIe Gen4
PROS
- Cheap price
- Durable
- Fast read and write speeds
- Has a cover
CONS
- No heat spreader
Specs:
- NVMe (PCIe Gen4 x4)
- 5000MB/s sequential reads
- 1.5 million hours of longevity
- Backward compatibility with Gen3
Good news! No cost-cutting is involved here. This is one of the best Gen4 M.2 SSDs you can buy and thankfully, it’s on sale right now so it’s a lot more affordable compared to the slower Gen3 models (which is ironic).
It’s 1TB which is almost necessary because our motherboard for this build only has one M.2 slot. That’s adequate space for about a dozen good and graphically-demanding PC games installed simultaneously.

Cooler Master MWE Gold 650 V2 Full Modular
PROS
- Gold efficiency ensures minimal power wastage
- Long warranty
- Fully modular
- Black cables
- Reasonably-priced
- Doesn't look too crude
- Semi-fanless operation
CONS
- Black cables could be better
Specs:
- 650W
- 80+ Gold Efficiency
- Fully modular
- 120mm HDB Fan
- 5 Year Warranty
You don’t cost-cut or cheap out on your PSU, so here’s a good Cooler Master MWE Gold 650 V2 unit. You can expect it to reliably supply your RX 6700 XT’s power needs without a hitch.
As a cherry on top, it’s actually fully modular so building in your budget case shouldn’t be too hard. And as far as its reputation goes, it’s one of the best in its class.

DeepCool MACUBE 110
PROS
- Minimalist and stylish design
- Beautiful side panel door
- Has a PSU shroud
- Free rear fan
- GPU holder
- Reasonably priced
- Spacious for its size
- Magnetic dust filter at the top
CONS
- Front panel intake is questionable
- A bit of flex and wobble
- Metal feels thin
Specs:
- mATX form factor
- Free rear intake fan
- GPU holder
- Transparent tempered glass side panel
It’s hard to find stylish cases at this price point, especially if we’re aggressively cutting costs for other components to accommodate our more powerful ones. Still, Deepcool didn’t disappoint with its MACUBE 110 model.
It’s one of the most aesthetically-pleasing cases below the $70 budget range. It’s got a nice tempered glass side panel with a lovely opening mechanism and a minimalistic and monolithic front panel. Overall, it looks great, especially for a borderline-budget build.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Are custom PC builds worth it?
If you're willing to learn and experiment or want to be treated as the computer guy in the future, then yes, it's worth it. And being able to save a lot compared to buying prebuilt is also worth it. -
What kind of performance can you expect for this custom PC build?
You can max out most games or run them at a combination of ultra or high for the next our or five years. Ray tracing is another story and while the RX 6700 XT can handle it, it's still subpar ray tracing performance compared to NVIDIA. It's better to just turn it off.