Can You Really Play Valorant on a $130 Budget PC? Here’s the Build & Settings That Work!

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Let’s be real—building a gaming PC on a tight budget in 2025 feels almost impossible. GPUs are expensive, RAM isn’t cheap either, and even entry-level setups can set you back hundreds of dollars. But what if I told you that you could build a fully working PC for around $130 that can run Valorant smoothly?

Sounds too good to be true? Well, this is one of those rare cases where “cheap” doesn’t mean “bad.” If you’re smart with your choices (and okay with second-hand parts), you can actually build a rig that’ll let you jump into Riot’s competitive shooter without dropping your whole paycheck.

Why Valorant Is Perfect for Budget Builds

Valorant is one of those games that was designed to be extremely accessible. Riot Games made sure it could run even on office PCs and laptops. That’s a huge win for us budget gamers.

• Very low minimum requirements
• Well-optimized engine
• Playable on integrated graphics
• Doesn’t require high-end visuals to stay competitive

With the right tweaks and setup, a budget PC can give you a solid 60 FPS experience. Here’s how to build one.

The Ultimate $130 Valorant Budget PC Build (2025)

This build relies heavily on used components you can find on platforms like eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or refurbished sellers.

✅ CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 (4th Gen) – ~$25

Still a strong quad-core chip for its age. Plenty fast for light games like Valorant.

✅ Motherboard: LGA1150 Socket – ~$20

Look for basic H81 or B85 boards. Often bundled with the CPU at a discount.

✅ RAM: 8GB DDR3 (2x4GB) – ~$15

Dual-channel memory is important for iGPU performance. 8GB is the sweet spot for Valorant.

✅ Storage: 240GB SSD – ~$15

SSDs are now cheap and essential. It improves boot time and reduces stutters during loading screens.

✅ Power Supply: 400W (80+ Bronze, if possible) – ~$25

Used or entry-level PSU from reliable brands like EVGA, Thermaltake, or Corsair.

✅ Case: Open Bench or Recycled – $0 to $10

If you’re really on a tight budget, skip the case and build open-frame on wood or an old chassis.

✅ Graphics: Integrated Intel HD 4600 – $0

This is the magic. The built-in graphics on the i5-4570 can actually run Valorant at low settings. No dedicated GPU required!

Estimated Budget Breakdown

Component	Estimated Cost (USD)
Intel Core i5-4570 + Motherboard	$45
8GB DDR3 RAM	$15
240GB SSD	$15
Power Supply (400W)	$25
DIY Case or Used	$0 – $10
Total	~$120 – $130

Pretty insane, right? And remember: this doesn’t include a dedicated GPU, but it still gets the job done for Valorant.

Optimal In-Game Settings for Valorant (Low-End PC)

These settings will give you the best balance of performance and visibility:

• Resolution: 1280x720 (or 1366x768 if your monitor supports it)
• Display Mode: Fullscreen
• Multithreaded Rendering: ON
• Material Quality: Low
• Texture Quality: Low
• Detail Quality: Low
• UI Quality: Low
• Vignette: Off
• V-Sync: Off
• Anti-Aliasing: None
• Anisotropic Filtering: 1x
• Improve Clarity: Off

With this setup, you should expect 60–75 FPS in most situations, even on the Intel HD 4600 iGPU.

What Performance Can You Expect?

• Menu & Lobby: 55–60 FPS
• In-Match (Low Intensity): 65–75 FPS
• In-Match (Heavy Fight): Drops to ~50 FPS but still playable

As long as your system is clean, cool, and not running 100 background apps, performance is surprisingly smooth.

Want More FPS? Consider These Upgrades

If you’ve got a little extra budget (say, an additional $30–$50), here are some killer upgrades:

• GT 1030 (Used): $35 – jumps you to 100+ FPS on medium settings
• GTX 750 Ti (Used): $30 – slightly older, but decent at 1080p low
• RX 550 (Used): $40 – great value low-end GPU for esports games

Throwing in any of these GPUs will drastically improve your gameplay, but the cool part is: you don’t need them to get started.

Tips to Boost Performance (Without Spending Money)

1. Use Windows 10 Lite or Tiny10 – fewer background processes.
2. Disable all unnecessary startup apps.
3. Use ISLC (Intelligent Standby List Cleaner) to reduce stutters.
4. Turn off Windows visual effects (Animations, transparency, etc.)
5. Clean the CPU and apply fresh thermal paste if it’s old.

Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Game on $130!

This build proves one thing: you don’t need a monster PC to enjoy gaming. Valorant’s lightweight design makes it accessible to everyone—even those with a barebones budget. If you’re a student, casual gamer, or just getting started, this build can give you an amazing entry into the world of competitive FPS games.

Gaming doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to be smart.

Got Your Own Budget Build?

Let us know in the comments! What’s the cheapest PC you've used to play Valorant, and how well did it run? Share your experience, and don’t forget to share this article with your fellow gamers who are looking to build on a budget!