Best PC Build for Playing Minecraft Under $500

Ryzen 5 3400G
Ryzen 5 3400G (Image credit: Windows Central)

Minecraft is a global sensation, and part of the appeal of this beautiful game is that it can run on pretty much anything with a processor. This is especially true for the Bedrock Edition, though the original Java Edition (only available on PC) also doesn't require much horsepower under the hood. If you're on a tight budget or just don't want to overspend on a custom PC for the kids to enjoy Minecraft, we've put together a list of parts that will become a quality PC for less than $500.

Building a Minecraft PC for less than $500

The parts above should have no issue working together — the motherboard should ship with the latest BIOS that works with the Ryzen 5 3400G CPU — but there are some extra parts you might need to invest in. This will technically push the build past $500, and if that's an issue, you might have better luck browsing our collection of best pre-built PCs for Minecraft.

An OS is required, and Windows 10 will add around $140 if you're buying new. You can also move a Windows 10 license to a new PC to save money. If you don't have a monitor, check out these budget PC monitors that will fare well with Minecraft.

You might also want to add a dedicated graphics card if you're looking to play other games and have the budget. Be sure to check out our collection of the overall best graphics cards for plenty of great options. As for keyboard and mouse, we also have some recommendations. Browse our roundup of the best gaming keyboards and the best gaming mice for a ton of great hardware.

And finally, don't forget about the game of choice. Minecraft Bedrock Edition costs about $27, though might be eligible for a free copy of Minecraft if you're a longtime owner of the Java Edition.

Cale Hunt
Contributor

Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.