The Best $500 Home Office PC Build – January 2023
Maximum Office Productivity for the Minimum Price!
Looking to build the best possible home office PC for around $500? No problem! This guide lists all the parts you’ll need to put together a balanced computer that has the power to handle any office task. And luckily, while low-cost video cards are nearly extinct, this office PC’s built-in video means you can get your system up and running without wasting a dime!
This Month’s Build, Powered by AMD
For January 2023, the $500 Home Office PC Build continues to feature AMD’s budget-friendly Ryzen 5 4600G six-core, 12-thread processor. It offers tremendous value versus Intel’s similarly-priced CPUs, particularly because its built-in graphics is much faster.
Also on board are 16GB of RAM and a 512GB PCIe-based solid-state drive, which is lightyears ahead of the hard drives you’ll find in most off-the-shelf office PCs. The $500 Home Office PC Build is housed in a compact micro-ATX case and powered by a 430W power supply, which provides plenty of headroom for big upgrades.
Perhaps the best thing about this build is that it offers plenty of opportunity for upgrades down the line thanks to the roomy interior, industry-standard components, and capable power supply. We’ve listed some of our top recommendations for upgrades, including a hard drive and gaming-grade video card, later in this guide!
The DIY vs. Pre-Built Question
In addition to the DIY PC build we profile in this guide, you may wish to consider the pre-built PC we list as an alternative, even if you are committed to building your own PC. Why? Well, the answer is simple: OEMs get great pricing on components and Windows software, translating to excellent overall value for the home or small office PC user, especially if you don’t have extra time to spare to build a PC.
Parting Thoughts
Need to accessorize your new Home Office PC? Just scroll down to the end of this guide for our top picks, or check out our dedicated Monitor Buyer’s Guide, Speaker/Headset Buyer’s Guide, and Wireless Networking Buyer’s Guide!
Note that this guide provides direct links to Amazon or Newegg in the US, and our Amazon links will auto-convert for readers in the UK, Canada, and the EU. with automated substitutions where required. If you decide to purchase any of the products we list, please use the links provided, which helps support continued development of these guides.
The Pre-Built Option
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The Home Office Desktop –
Acer Aspire TC-1760-UA92
$550Wow, just wow! This is a revelation! For around $500, the latest Acer Aspire will no doubt be a PC you can use for years to come. It’s equipped with the Intel Core i5-12400 six-core, 12-thread CPU that boosts up to 4.4GHz, a sizeable 12GB of DDR4 memory, a huge, fast 512GB SSD, an 8X DVD, next-gen 802.11ax wireless networking, Bluetooth 5.2, and even a cutting-edge USB 3.1 Type-C port.For around the same price as the DIY builds we spec out below, this one comes ready to go out of the box, includes a mouse and keyboard, as is actually faster that our DIY build!
The DIY Option
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CPU –
AMD Ryzen 5 4600G w/ Vega Graphics
$104 The Guru’s TipThis CPU comes with a capable cooler in the box.
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Motherboard –
Gigabyte B550M DS3H AC
$110 The Guru’s TipThe motherboard's video HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 ports can both run 4K monitors, meaning you can hook up two huge monitors simultaneously!
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Memory –
Patriot 2x8GB Viper Steel DDR4-3200
$49 The Guru’s TipThe speed of this kit will accelerate not just the CPU, but the built-in GPU as well.
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Solid-State Drive –
Silicon Power 512GB NVMe
$30 The Guru’s TipGiven that most 250GB drives cost the same or more than this one, it's an easy choice!
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Case –
Thermaltake H17
$52 The Guru’s TipLow-cost cases sell out quickly as manufacturers prefer to focus on higher-priced models. So grab this if you can!
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Power Supply –
Thermaltake Smart 430W 80+
$30 The Guru’s TipThis is an exceptional deal coming from a major, trusted manufacturer!
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Operating System –
Windows 11 Home USB
$139 The Guru’s TipWindows 11 took a while to arrive at retail after launching as an update for existing users, but now that it's here, it's what you want on your new system!
Optional Products
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Hard Drive –
Seagate BarraCuda 2TB
$50 The Guru’s TipUsing an SSD for the operating system and main applications, along with a hard drive for data, provides an incredibly-responsive user experience along with plenty of storage capacity.
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Video Card –
Gigabyte Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4G
$170 The Guru’s TipEquip your office system to game with this compact yet powerful graphics card - it will fit perfectly in this system!
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The Basic Wireless Keyboard/Mouse Combo –
Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo
$28 The Guru’s TipThis combo uses a single tiny USB receiver to connect both peripherals!
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The 24-inch Small Office Monitor –
Sceptre E248W-19203R
$100 The Guru’s TipTo use the built-in speakers, connect the monitor to your PC with an HDMI cable, or alternatively a VGA cable plus an analog 3.5mm cable.
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The Basic PC Speakers –
Creative Pebble 2.0
$19 The Guru’s TipTo connect these, you'll use a 3.5mm cable for audio and USB for power, both to your PC. No connection to the wall required!
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Webcam –
Logitech C920x Pro HD Webcam
$70 The Guru’s TipWe advise you not to buy any Logitech webcams from third-party sellers. They are likely to be used or counterfeit.
Total Cost: $514
The Pre-Built Option
The DIY Option
- CPU – AMD Ryzen 5 4600G w/ Vega Graphics ($104)
- Motherboard – Gigabyte B550M DS3H AC ($110)
- Memory – Patriot 2x8GB Viper Steel DDR4-3200 ($49)
- Solid-State Drive – Silicon Power 512GB NVMe ($30)
- Case – Thermaltake H17 ($52)
- Power Supply – Thermaltake Smart 430W 80+ ($30)
- Operating System – Windows 11 Home USB ($139)
Optional Products
- Hard Drive – Seagate BarraCuda 2TB ($50)
- Video Card – Gigabyte Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4G ($170)
- The Basic Wireless Keyboard/Mouse Combo – Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo ($28)
- The 24-inch Small Office Monitor – Sceptre E248W-19203R ($100)
- The Basic PC Speakers – Creative Pebble 2.0 ($19)
- Webcam – Logitech C920x Pro HD Webcam ($70)