Best Budget GPU/CPU Combos for FPS Games in 2025

Looking to dominate Valorant, CS2, and Warzone on a tight budget in 2025? These CPU/GPU combos deliver precisely what you need.

Competitive gamers playing FPS (first-person shooter) titles require high frame rates and silky smooth responsiveness. In standard terms, this translates to a consistent frame time graph and strong 1% and 0.1% lows. In 2025, there are many options to choose from, notably from Intel, due to their incredible Battlemage GPU architecture.

This article lists the best CPU and GPU combinations for a seamless gaming experience, also incorporating some future-proofing considerations. If you’re a fan of FPS games and building on a budget in 2025, then we recommend the following:

Note: The opinions shared in this article are based on real-world test cases and thoroughly researched through publicly available data.

Entry-Level Budget GPU/CPU Combos for FPS Games ($300–$400)

FPS titles are generally more forgiving on systems, but as of 2025, they are, in fact, on the heavier side to begin with. The combos mentioned here will do a quick job of these.

Best Value Combo: Intel B570 + Ryzen 5 5600

Excellent for 1080p competitive titles like CS2 and Overwatch 2
Surprisingly consistent frame pacing and low latency
Modern architecture with great driver support
B570 is often available at ~$230 USD when B580 is out of stock
Ensure you enable the Resizable BAR in BIOS. Otherwise, there will be performance penalties.

AMD-Based Alternative: RX 6600 + Ryzen 5 5600

Still very capable in games like Apex Legends and Valorant
More widely available than Intel GPUs
Better driver maturity in older titles
You can find an RX 6600 for a much cheaper rate than buying new, which further reduces upfront costs.

Game-Specific Notes: Valorant players using the RX 6600 and RX 5600 combo can expect around 200–300 FPS, depending on the map and resolution. The game optimization done by the devs is just phenomenal.

Mid-Range Performance Leaders ($400–$500)

Image showing the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 CPU (Image via Amazon)

Upping the budget slightly can get you straight into 1440p territory. As long as you have a 1440p monitor on your buy list, or if you already own one, then the combos below will be optimal for you.

Top Pick Combo: Intel B580 + Ryzen 5 7600

Dominates Valorant, CS2, and Apex at 1080p/1440p
Easily sustains 240+ FPS for high refresh rate monitors
B580 is game-changing at ~$250 MSRP when in stock

AMD Alternative: RX 6750 XT + Ryzen 5 7600

Best raster performance in this range
Solid 1440p high frame rates in Warzone and Overwatch 2
Slightly more expensive but readily available

Game-Specific Notes: Warzone achieves 130–160 FPS on this combo at low 1440p settings. CPU-bound scenarios can be resolved by tweaking background processes.

Upper Budget Winners ($500–$600)

There’s always room for improvement, and that’s why adding a bit more horsepower and future-proofing without going all-in is a good idea. These combos deliver right where you’d expect.

Performance Combo: RX 7700 XT / 9060 XT + Ryzen 5 7600X

1440p high/ultra in all major FPS titles
240–360 FPS in Valorant, depending on settings
240Hz has no problem with this pairing
The 9060 XT has a clear edge in VRAM (16GB), but the 7700 XT can be found at a lower price.

Competitive Boost Combo: RX 6800 (used) + Ryzen 7 7700X

Great value from the second-hand market ($320 for RX 6800)
16GB VRAM is useful for Warzone and future patches
The CPU provides a significant boost in CS2 and future FPS titles.

Game-Specific Notes: CS2 benefits from Zen 4’s IPC and clock speeds, but smoothness can still vary due to Source 2 engine quirks; therefore, matching the monitor refresh rate is crucial.

Game-Specific Performance Considerations

Before building a PC, these game-specific real-world observations will help you make better choices. Please note that the titles mentioned here are played in a competitive scene, meaning the foliage, visual quality, texture, and everything is kept to a bare minimum to spot enemies accurately, which is why these titles are highly CPU-bound. That said, the guidelines below match the best hardware for each title in low-visual, high-FPS competitive settings.

Valorant

AMD CPUs dominate here: Ryzen 7 5700X3D or 7600X hits 300–600 FPS
Users with Intel CPUs often need BIOS/Windows tweaks to stabilize performance

CS2

FPS is easy to push above 300, but frame pacing is inconsistent; this is a source 2 issue.
Input lag/smoothness issues persist even with strong hardware
Ryzen 7600X + RX 6700 XT hits 300+ FPS easily

Apex Legends

Best optimization among modern titles
RX 6750 XT + Ryzen 5 7600 is a winning combo here
If you’re only planning to play Apex Legends, the used market is very compelling.

Warzone

It’s very demanding, especially in towns
Needs at least a 6-core CPU, but an 8-core Ryzen is preferred
GPU usage often underperforms unless paired with a strong CPU (e.g., Ryzen 7 7700X)
Refrain from pairing CPUs below the Ryzen 5000 series or the Intel 9th Gen Core processors.

Overwatch 2

Incredibly well-optimized game
The RTX 4060 Ti or RX 6750 XT/9060 XT will easily hit 240 FPS with competitive settings.
Both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs perform well here

RAM and Storage Recommendations

RGB RAM kits (Image via Luan Gjokaj/Unsplash)

RAM

16GB is fine, but 32GB helps avoid dips in Warzone and Apex Legends
Valorant and Overwatch 2 don’t require more than 16GB

Storage

SSD is essential for all competitive titles
500GB minimum, but 1TB NVMe is ideal for Warzone, Apex, and fast patching

Platform and Upgrade Considerations

AM5 vs AM4

AM4: Great value with Ryzen 5 5600, but it’s a discontinued platform.
AM5: Ryzen 5 7600 offers much longer upgrade potential
AM5 boards cost more but are worth it for future builds

Intel LGA1700

i5-12600KF is decent, but the AMD AM5 options offer a better upgrade path.
Intel’s platform stagnated in late 2024, with less compelling future options
Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200S) is more expensive and is not optimal for gaming

Conclusion

If you’re a fan of FPS games and building on a budget in 2025 then we recommend the following:

Best Pick: Intel B580 + Ryzen 5 7600, incredible frame rates in shooter games.
Budget Entry: Intel B570 + Ryzen 5 5600, with a GPU that can be overclocked and matches the B580 for nearly equal performance.

If you have no other options, you have to choose the RTX 4060; avoiding this one is mainly recommended, as the Battlemage GPUs, if in stock, can provide an unbeatable price-to-performance in the games mentioned above.

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Best Budget GPU/CPU Combos for FPS Games in 2025

Entry-Level Budget GPU/CPU Combos for FPS Games ($300–$400)

Best Value Combo: Intel B570 + Ryzen 5 5600

AMD-Based Alternative: RX 6600 + Ryzen 5 5600