**A $400 Gaming PC: Can It Compete?**

Hey, guys, this is Austin. Recently, Ken went out and found a surprisingly good $700 gaming PC that was pre-built from a big box store. So, that got me thinking, what happens when you want to spend $400?

I've built a lot of custom gaming PCs, and the math is really simple. You're almost always getting better price to performance when you build it yourself versus buying a pre-built. However, things have been changing lately, and this $330 Lenovo is a great example of that.

**The Pros and Cons of Pre-Built Systems**

One of the nice things about a pre-built system is that you at least do get some accessories. So, this looks like a keyboard, and while I'm sure it's not going to be particularly high quality, it's better than nothing. And especially if you don't have any accessories right now, something like this will get you off the ground.

Now we have the computer itself. Something that's a little bit interesting about this guy is that it's considerably smaller than most desktops. Because of that, as you'll see a little bit later, it does limit some of our upgrade options. So, it might not look like much, but this guy has some potential.

**The Specs**

It's powered by a Core i3-7100, paired with four gigabytes of RAM, and a one terabyte hard drive. And that might not sound too impressive yet, but with one major upgrade, I think it can actually handle some pretty decent gaming. This is the NVIDIA GT 1030. Typically lower-end graphics cards just don't make a lot of sense, but the 1030 is surprisingly good, and with a $70 price tag, it puts the entire price of this build at $400.

**Can It Run Games?**

A few Windows updates later, the system is alive. So, yes, it might not look ideal right now, we actually have some decent specs inside. That Core i3 is clocked at a pretty impressive 3.9 gigahertz. And while the GT 1030 might not be the most powerful graphics card around, it should definitely be able to handle some pretty decent gaming.

Our first game is going to be CS:GO. Now it should be no surprise that this system is easily able to handle it. Even on high settings at 1080p, you're going to get anywhere between 110 and 140 frames per second. Sure, it might not be the most competitive thing in the world, but I would say this qualifies as playable.

Next we have Rocket League. Now this is another game that isn't particularly demanding, but it actually looks pretty good running here on the $400 system. So at 1080p on high settings, we're doing anywhere between 50 to 60 frames per second.

**The Verdict**

So if we would've actually gotten the correct GT 1030, which is about half an inch smaller, it would fit no problem. However, with this one, not so much. So normally, I would try to cut out a little bit of the metal just so it would be able to clear. But the problem is because this system is so small, the hard drive is literally right here up against the lip.

So what do you guys think about our franken monster for $400? Let me know in the comments below and I will catch you on the next one.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Hey, guys, this is Austin.Recently, Ken went out and founda surprisingly good $700 gaming PCthat was pre-built from a big box store.So that got me thinking,what happens when you want to spend $400?I've built a lot of custom gaming PCs,and the math is really simple.You're almost always gettingbetter price to performancewhen you build it yourselfversus buying a pre-built.However, things have been changing lately,and this $330 Lenovo isa great example of that.One of the nice thingsabout a pre-built system isthat you at least do get some accessories.So this looks like akeyboard, and while I'm sureit's not going to beparticularly high quality,it's better than nothing.And especially if you don'thave any accessories right now,something like this willget you off the ground.And now we have the computer itself.So something that's a littlebit interesting about this guy,is that it's considerablysmaller than most desktops.Because of that, as you'llsee a little bit later,it does limit some of our upgrade options.So it might not look like much,but this guy has some potential.So it's powered by a Core i3-7100,paired with four gigabytes of RAM,and a one terabyte hard drive.And that might not soundtoo impressive yet,but with one major upgrade,I think it can actually handlesome pretty decent gaming.This is the NVIDIA GT 1030.Typically lower end graphics cardsjust don't make a lot of sense,but the 1030 is surprisingly good.And with a $70 price tag,it puts the entire priceof this build at $400.Which I think actually mightjust be able to challengeKen's $700 system.Well at least when youconsider price to performance.So open this guy up andone of the main issuesis that it only supports alow profile graphics card.Which just so happens to fitperfectly with our GT 1030.So I think the only thingwe're gonna have to do here,is just move the WiFiantenna out of the way.But beside that it prettymuch should be good to go.And with that we have thegraphic card installed.So, as I'm looking inside herethere actually is some upgradability.So on top of the graphics card,you can't easily put anotherfour gigs of RAM in here.And while it does have aone terabyte hard driveto start with, on the bottomthere actually is a slotfor an M.2 SSD.So if you wanted to spendanother, say, 30, $40 on RAMand maybe another $80 on an SSD.For less than $500 you'regetting a pretty decent system.(record scratching)So if we would've actuallygot the correct GT 1030,which is about half an inch smaller,it would fit no problem.However with this one,(banging)not so much.So normally, I would tryto cut out a little bitof the metal just so itwould be able to clear.But the problem is becausethis system is so small,the hard drive is literatelyright here up against the lip.So if I did that, basicallyI would have to pull outthe hard drive.This ones like literallya half an inch to big.So, can we just do the rest of the videowith the computer case open?Can we just, can this justbe the rest of the video?Cuz it's not gonna closeanymore than that (laughs).A few Windows updates laterand the system is alive.So well yes, it mightnot look ideal right now,we actually have some decent specs inside.That Core i3 is clockedat a pretty impressive 3.9 gigahertz.And while the GT 1030 might not bethe most powerful graphics card around,it should definitely be able to handlesome pretty decent gaming.So our first game is going to be CS:GO.Now it should be nosurprise that this systemis easily able to handle it.Even on high settingsat 1080p, you're gonnaget anywhere between 110and 140 frames per second.Now sure it might not bethe most competitive thingin the world, wheresome systems can run itat 300, 400 frames but Iwould say this qualifiesas playable.You know, if can actually find someone.I can just plant the bomb.That's also an option.Next we have Rocket League.Now this is another game thatisn't particularly demanding,but it actually lookspretty good running hereon the $400 system.So at 1080p on high settings,we're doing anywhere between50 to 60 frames per second.Next, we have Middle-earth:Shadow of Mordor.As I almost get killed (laughing).So this is a slightly older game,however even on low settings,I think it looks pretty decent at 1080p.And we're getting a pretty solid55 to 60 frames per second.So if we would've gotten thecorrect size graphics cardfor our case, I think actuallywould be looking pretty good.And what's kind of impressive is what kindof price to performanceyou're actually gettingout of this guy.If you were going tobuild this system today,it would cost you around $450.And that's not includingstuff like the optical driveor WiFi card.Now mind you, if I wasgoing to build this systemfor $400, I would probablymake a couple of adjustments.Like drop the Core i3 for a Pentiumand maybe consider a slightlyfaster graphics card.But considering that we're $400 inand didn't have to build anything,besides not being able to close the case,it's not bad.If you guys wanna seehow Ken was able to getan even better deal on a pre-built system,definitely be sure to gocheck this video out here.But what do you guys thinkabout our franken monsterfor $400?Let me know in the comments belowand I will catch you on the next one.