Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Selecting the parts for a $500 PC build based on an Intel i3-14100F processor. This computer is constructed and tested in this ExplainingComputers video: youtube.com/watch?v=6NT1LmG3hMo
All of parts for this build are in “Intel PC Build 2025” list in the ExplainingComputers Amazon store fronts, which are here:
Amazon US: amazon.com/shop/explainingcomputers
Amazon UK: amazon.co.uk/shop/explainingcomputers
The individual parts are also as follows:
Intel Core i3-14100F -- Socket FCLGA1700
Amazon US: amzn.to/3F5GVcW
Amazon UK: amzn.to/4i4ozrn
Note that the 14100F must be used with a graphics card, as it has no integrated GPU. However, if you want to build a system with integrated graphics, do not purchase and fit a graphics card, and instead use an i3 14100 CPU.
Gigabyte B760M DS3H DDR4 a MicroATX form-factor board.
Amazon US: amzn.to/3Fp0OMn
Amazon UK: amzn.to/4kDNm7B
Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8 GB) DDR4 3200
Amazon US: amzn.to/4hoEzTX
Amazon UK: amzn.to/41P3efN
Sparkle Intel Arc A310 ECO 4GB
Amazon US: amzn.to/43HKLDc
Amazon UK amzn.to/43Bhg61
Crucial P310 500GB SSD
Amazon US: amzn.to/3FvMod9
Amazon UK: amzn.to/4bKBWdV
Corsair CX550 80 PLUS PSU
Amazon US: amzn.to/3DJs0oo
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3Fk4izN
Gamdias TALOS E3 MESH GamingPC case
Amazon US: amzn.to/43A0BzO (white) or amzn.to/4bKprit (black)
Amazon UK: amzn.to/41Vbk6H
Note that the above are affiliate links, and that as an Amazon Associate I earn a commission from any qualifying purchases you may make.
You may also be interested in these ExplainingComputers videos:
Best Value Ryzen PC Build (the 5600G one)
youtube.com/watch?v=Up4o9QQHJuY
Explaining Motherboard Chipsets
youtube.com/watch?v=psQa3dSk4JY
Explaining SSDs: The Price/Performance Trade-off
youtube.com/watch?v=F8k_XIEhKWo
Explaining PC Power Supplies
youtube.com/watch?v=NQoLFIuJBGQ
All of the ExplainingComputers hardware guides can also be found on this page: explainingcomputers.com/hardware_guides_videos.html
Finally, the online PSU calculators I mentioned -- and which can be used to make sure a power supply is sufficient for a build -- are here:
Coolermaster: coolermaster.com/en-global/power-supply-calculator
BeQuiet!: bequiet.com/en/psucalculator
Corsair: corsair.com/uk/en/explorer/tools/psu/power-supply-calculator
More videos on film and other making, plus retro tech, can be found on my Christopher Barnatt channel: youtube.com/@ChristopherBarnatt
Chapters:
00:00 Titles & Intro
00:42 Build or Buy?
01:49 Integrated or Discrete GPU?
03:54 CPU
05:46 Motherboard
08:54 RAM
10:42 Graphics Card
12:46 SSD
13:43 Power Supply
14:55 Case (& full costing)
17:55 Wrap
#Intel #PCbuild #14100 #ExplainingComputers
Selecting the parts for a $500 PC build based on an Intel i3-14100F processor. This computer is constructed and tested in this ExplainingComputers video: youtube.com/watch?v=6NT1LmG3hMo
All of parts for this build are in “Intel PC Build 2025” list in the ExplainingComputers Amazon store fronts, which are here:
Amazon US: amazon.com/shop/explainingcomputers
Amazon UK: amazon.co.uk/shop/explainingcomputers
The individual parts are also as follows:
Intel Core i3-14100F -- Socket FCLGA1700
Amazon US: amzn.to/3F5GVcW
Amazon UK: amzn.to/4i4ozrn
Note that the 14100F must be used with a graphics card, as it has no integrated GPU. However, if you want to build a system with integrated graphics, do not purchase and fit a graphics card, and instead use an i3 14100 CPU.
Gigabyte B760M DS3H DDR4 a MicroATX form-factor board.
Amazon US: amzn.to/3Fp0OMn
Amazon UK: amzn.to/4kDNm7B
Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8 GB) DDR4 3200
Amazon US: amzn.to/4hoEzTX
Amazon UK: amzn.to/41P3efN
Sparkle Intel Arc A310 ECO 4GB
Amazon US: amzn.to/43HKLDc
Amazon UK amzn.to/43Bhg61
Crucial P310 500GB SSD
Amazon US: amzn.to/3FvMod9
Amazon UK: amzn.to/4bKBWdV
Corsair CX550 80 PLUS PSU
Amazon US: amzn.to/3DJs0oo
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3Fk4izN
Gamdias TALOS E3 MESH GamingPC case
Amazon US: amzn.to/43A0BzO (white) or amzn.to/4bKprit (black)
Amazon UK: amzn.to/41Vbk6H
Note that the above are affiliate links, and that as an Amazon Associate I earn a commission from any qualifying purchases you may make.
You may also be interested in these ExplainingComputers videos:
Best Value Ryzen PC Build (the 5600G one)
youtube.com/watch?v=Up4o9QQHJuY
Explaining Motherboard Chipsets
youtube.com/watch?v=psQa3dSk4JY
Explaining SSDs: The Price/Performance Trade-off
youtube.com/watch?v=F8k_XIEhKWo
Explaining PC Power Supplies
youtube.com/watch?v=NQoLFIuJBGQ
All of the ExplainingComputers hardware guides can also be found on this page: explainingcomputers.com/hardware_guides_videos.html
Finally, the online PSU calculators I mentioned -- and which can be used to make sure a power supply is sufficient for a build -- are here:
Coolermaster: coolermaster.com/en-global/power-supply-calculator
BeQuiet!: bequiet.com/en/psucalculator
Corsair: corsair.com/uk/en/explorer/tools/psu/power-supply-calculator
More videos on film and other making, plus retro tech, can be found on my Christopher Barnatt channel: youtube.com/@ChristopherBarnatt
Chapters:
00:00 Titles & Intro
00:42 Build or Buy?
01:49 Integrated or Discrete GPU?
03:54 CPU
05:46 Motherboard
08:54 RAM
10:42 Graphics Card
12:46 SSD
13:43 Power Supply
14:55 Case (& full costing)
17:55 Wrap
#Intel #PCbuild #14100 #ExplainingComputers








![Best Value Ryzen PC Build
Ryzen 5 PC build, with a total cost of £234 / $270 + case and PSU (June 2023 prices).
All components used in this build are listed under “Ryzen PC Build” on the ExplainingComputers Amazon storefronts:
US Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/explainingcomputers
UK Storefront: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/explainingcomputers
Alternatively, the components for my 5600G build, or an alternative 7600X build, are listed below. Note, as listed, that for the 5600G build you need DDR4 RAM, and for the 7600X you need DDR5.
FOR 5600G BUILD:
Ryzen 5 5600G:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3CSZpZO
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3PxXelV
Gigabyte A520M S2H:
Amazon UK https://amzn.to/42qneCu
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3qvac9y
An alternative is the MSI A520M-A PRO Gaming: https://amzn.to/3PrHMrA
Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/43qsCqS
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3Cem4iQ
16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 RAM (2x8GB):
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/43C6Srq
Amazon.com: https://amzn.to/3qwvXFZ
An alternative is the Patriot Viper Steel kit (Amazon US): https://amzn.to/3XCTSQQ
FOR 7600G BUILD:
Ryzen 5 7600X:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/46pFSO9
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3JCVT9X
Gigabyte A620M S2H motherboard
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/44a2OiA
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3XsLO4X
[A620 motherboards from other manufacturers could be used].
Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/43qsCqS
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3Cem4iQ
Kingston Fury Beast / Renegade 16GB DDR5 RAM (2x8GB):
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/434mGmj
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/42ZilAM
Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from any qualifying purchases that you may make if you click on the above links.
Also note that the above information has been carefully checked and, like the video, is provided in good faith. But you are always advised to check what you purchase before ordering, and in particular to check that any processor and RAM you order is compatible with your motherboard. You can do this by visiting the web page for the motherboard.
Zorin OS is available from:
https://zorin.com/os/
X-Plane is available (in both a demo and paid version) for Linux, Mac and PC from:
https://www.x-plane.com/
Other videos referenced during the build were:
Explaining Motherboard Chipsets:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psQa3dSk4JY
Explaining PCIe Slots:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrXwe21biJo
Explaining USB: From 1.0 to USB4 V2.0:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PctX3kcTj5U
Explaining PC Front Panel Connectors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBJJj3FB2P8
Explaining PC Power Supplies:
Will post in July or August 2023. :)
Zorin OS 16 (includes OS installation):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTMBFtl_xs4
PC BIOS Settings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezubjTO7rRI
IMPORTANT:
Since I made this video, I have read a report of a theoretical security risk in the firmware updater included in many Gigabyte motherboards, including the one in this build:
https://eclypsium.com/blog/supply-chain-risk-from-gigabyte-app-center-backdoor/ However, no exploitation of this risk has been reported, and Gigabyte have issued an advisory with a BIOS update fix: https://www.gigabyte.com/Press/News/2091
I have personally also disabled “APP Center Download” in the BIOS, which stops the updater running. I would advise doing this as follows:
Press “Del” on the Gigabyte splash screen on boot to enter the BIOS.
If it says “Easy Mode” at the top of the screen, press F2 to enter “Advanced Mode”.
Go to “Settings” (top menu, third across) and click on “IO Ports”.
Click on “APP Center Download and Install Configuration”.
Double click the “APP Center Download and Install Configuration” orange bar, and set to “Disabled”.
Click on “Save & Exit” (top menu, on the right) and then “Save & Exit” and select “Yes”.
Sorted. The firmware updater with a potential security risk is now disabled.
For additional ExplainingComputers videos and other content, you can become a channel member here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbiGcwDWZjz05njNPrJU7jA/join
More videos on computing and related topics can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/@explainingcomputers
You may also like my ExplainingTheFuture channel at: http://www.youtube.com/@explainingthefuture
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:53 Selecting Components
05:08 Motherboard Specification
10:36 Fitting the APU & Cooler
14:37 Fitting the RAM & SSD
17:20 A Metal Skin (installing in the case!)
21:47 5600G in Action (some tests)
24:37 Things to Come
#Ryzen #PCbuild #Ryzen5 #explainingcomputers Best Value Ryzen PC Build](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Up4o9QQHJuY/mqdefault.jpg)

