Welcome to the best gaming pc builds for March 2019 for the budgets of $700, $1000, $1500 — each of these builds has performance top of mind while minimizing budget. Play any game out there at the best possible settings and get the most performance per dollar spent on your gaming pc.
- March 2019 Gaming PC Builds of the Month – What’s new?
- Best PC Build for $1500
- Best PC Build for $1000
- Best PC Build for $700
- Additional Gaming PC Peripherals & Components
Introduction to the March 2019 Gaming PC Builds of the Month
The builds in this article are for anyone who wants the best gaming pc build up to date this March 2019 from anywhere between $700 to $1000 and $1500 or anywhere in between. So if you are looking for the best possible pc build this month here you go:
The $1500 gaming pc build is powered by the Ryzen 7 2700K CPU and is paired with an RTX 2070 graphics card. This build will max games out at resolutions of 2K into 4K. The RTX 2070 came out approximately 2 months ago and is quite affordable for a high-end graphics card outperforming a GTX 1080 (a previously high-performing graphics card in this range). If you want to get even more performance out of this build, then we have also included upgrades to an Intel i7 9700K
The $1000 gaming pc build includes an Intel i5 8500 and is now paired with the RTX 2060 graphics card, which makes this build a solid solution for those wanting to game into 2K resolutions. Other changes to the $1000 build this month include a better H370 motherboard addition and a switch to the CORSAIR Carbide 275R pc case.
The $700 gaming pc build and this month the build stands strong. For March 2019 the CPU powering this rig is the Ryzen 5 2600 CPU, and a very capable RTX 580 graphics card, making this a very powerful $700 / budget pc build that will game
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The Best $1500 Gaming PC Build | March 2019
Performance: Game with Extreme settings and High FPS at resolutions of 1920×1080 (1080P) & 2560×1440 (1440p) + good gameplay at 4K
*This PC Build is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 2700K CPU and RTX 2070 GPU — Prefer to use an Intel i7 9700K? Then check out the hardware alternatives below.
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $1500
March 2019 Update: The above pc build is the best possible build you can get for $1500 for gaming, giving you great performance per dollar spent. This build offers the solid power of the Ryzen 7 2700K CPU and is paired with the very new and very powerful RTX 2070 graphics card. This build performs really well at 2K and into 4K resolutions. If you want to get even more performance out of this pc build, then we have also included upgrades to an Intel i7 9700K
For the gaming processor this March, we have the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X CPU, which comes with eight cores and 16 threads and comes with a decent Wraith Prism (with RGB lights) CPU cooler (a great stock cooler,
The graphics card used is an RTX 2070 (an MSI Armor 8G RTX 2070). This card far outperforms a GTX 1080, which you can still purchase and is still a great card (so if you can find one cheaper you can still get yourself one and save a few bucks). The RTX 2070 utilizes GDDR6 memory, which is the new generation of memory and it does have a faster memory speed than either a GTX 1080 or 1080 Ti in some cases.
The motherboard included is an X470 chipset motherboard, the GIGABYTE X470 AORUS ULTRA GAMING mobo. Alternatively, if you have more moola to throw at a motherboard, you could consider the Gigabyte X470 Aorus Gaming 7 Wi-Fi instead, which is more pricey but has more features including built-in wifi and better audio. This motherboard basically has more than most gamers with probably utilize including (see the full list of features at gigabyte.com):
- Chipset AMD X470
- Form factor ATX
- CPU support AMD Socket AM4
- Memory support Dual-channel, four slots, max 64GB
- Sound Eight-channel Realtek ALC 1220
- Networking 1x Intel Gigabit Ethernet
- Ports 1x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 32Gbps/SATA 6Gbps up to 22110, 1 x M.2 PCIe 2.0 x4 16Gbps up to 2280, 6 x SATA 6Gbps, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C header, 8 x USB 3.0 (4 via headers), 8 x USB 2.0 (4 via headers), 1 x LAN, audio out, line in, mic, Optical S/PDIF out
- Dimensions (mm)305 x 244
Included in the best $1500 pc build is 16GB total in memory, a kit of two 8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000MHz RAM — which is plenty for this build and you always have the capacity to add more if need be in the future.
The storage included in the best $1500 gaming pc build is a 1TB Western Digital Blue 3D Nand SSD, which is a high performing, high capacity SSD. The Western Digital has sequential read speeds up to 560MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 530MB/s.
The Included power supply this month is the EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2 80+ Platinum power supply. This is a highly efficient platinum rated PSU that is fully modular, making this a clutter-free PSU.
The pc case has changed this month to an Antec P101 Performance Series case with sound dampening panels. This is a perfect case for those who want a sleek minimalistic case that dampens sounds very efficiently and has plenty cooling.
Upgrade Suggestions | Best $1500 PC Build Upgrade Suggestions – March 2019
| Hardware Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel CPU + Motherboard + Cooler (Performance upgrade) |
Want an Intel Build instead? + Asus ROG Strix Z390-H Gaming ASUS LGA1151 + Simply substitute the $1500 pc build with the above hardware for a higher performing Intel build |
$409.99 + $182.01 + $29.99 |
|
| GRAPHICS CARD UPGRADE |
RTX 2080 GPU: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2080 Windforce 8G Graphics Card, 3X Windforce Fans, 8GB 256-Bit GDDR6, GV-N2080WF3-8GC Video Card |
$699.99 |  |
| CPU COOLER UPGRADE | Purchase a liquid CPU cooler: Corsair Hydro Series Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler H100i |
$138.89 |  |
| STORAGE UPGRADE | PCIe SSD (faster): Samsung 970 PRO Series – 1TB PCIe NVMe – M.2 Internal SSD Black/Red (MZ-V7P1T0BW) |
$347.92 |  |
The hardware upgrades you see above are recommendations for the best March 2019 gaming PC builds $1500 build. The above hardware is for those who have a little more to spend or are wanting ideas of what to upgrade to in the future.
Looking for a higher-performing Intel pc build?
If you want an even higher-performing gaming pc — then you may consider a
If you are going to be serious about 4K resolution gaming, then you should seriously consider an RTX 2080 or 2080ti graphics card, such as the above Zotac GeForce RTX 2080. This may also be helpful with higher refresh rate monitors as well.
The above pc build does include a Solid State Drive (SSD), which is perfectly suited for most gamers and pc builders, but if someone were searching for the fastest and one of the most efficient methods of storage, you could consider a premium PCIe Solid State Drive, such as the Samsung 970 Pro 1TB — one of the best PCIe solutions out there.
If you want more than the included air CPU cooler included in the main build, the above is the Corsair Hydro Series H100i liquid CPU cooler. This cooler would be a substitute for the stock AMD Wraith Prism CPU cooler, should you feel you need it.
The Best $1000 Gaming PC Build | March 2019
Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 (HD) resolutions up to Higher Settings at 2560×1440 (2K)
Powered by the Intel i5 8500 and the RTX 2060 Graphics Card
| Hardware Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Price: | $995 (March 2019) | ||
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8400 Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.0 GHz LGA 1151 300 Series 65W | $184.99 |  |
| Cooler | Included | ||
| Motherboard | $109.99 |  |
|
| Graphics Card
|
RTX 2060: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G Graphics Card, 3X Windforce Fans, 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, GV-N2060GAMINGOC PRO-6GD Video Card | $389.99 |  |
| RAM | $59.99 |  |
|
| SSD | $67.99 |  |
|
| Power Supply | EVGA Supernova 650 P2, 80+ Platinum 650W, Fully Modular, EVGA ECO Mode, 10 Year Warranty, Includes Free Power On Self Tester, Power Supply 220-P2-0650-X1 | $129.55 |  |
| Computer Case | $69.99 |  |
Overview | $1000 Best Gaming PC Build 2019
March 2019 Update: The $1000 pc build is a very worthy gaming pc build for gaming at resolution anywhere from 1080p to 2K with maxed out settings. Included is an RTX 2060 graphics card and this is paired with an Intel Core i5-8400. The motherboard has also been changed this month to an MSI CFX H370
The included gaming CPU this March is the Intel i5 8400. This gaming CPU is a great choice and purchase for the cost. If you have a little more to spend on the CPU, check the alternatives tables below where we include the Intel i5 8600K, which will give you more performance should you think you need it.
The RTX 2060 graphics card was only
The motherboard included is an MSI CFX H370 Gaming Plus, which is a capable and affordable motherboard with plentiful of features including:
- Intel Turbo USB 3.1 Gen2
- Intel GAMING LAN
- Gaming Device Port
- High-res DisplayPort
- Golden audio jacks
- Gaming heatsinks
- For maximum cooling and performance
- H370 Chipset
- Supports Intel 8th Gen processors
- DDR4 Boost
- Optimized traces and isolated memory circuitry
- Turbo M.2
- NVMe support, up to 32 Gb/s using PCI-Express Gen3 x4, ready for Intel® Optane™ memory
- PCI-E Steel Armor
- Protecting VGA cards against bending and EMI
- Audio Boost
- Optimized gaming audio using best components, with Nahimic
The RAM kit included is a Corsair LPX 8GB DDR4 RAM kit which is enough memory for most gaming pc builds, and you always have the option to upgrade more in the future if need be with the extra couple of slots on the included gaming motherboard.
The storage included is a modest Western Digital Blue 3D Nand SSD 500GB SSD. This SSD is priced really well and is a must for any pc build. You can also upgrade this SSD for a 1TB version or add more later when needed.
The power supply unit (PSU) included is the EVGA Supernova 650 Pw 80+ Platinum PSU. This is enough juice to power this awesome pc build and is a platinum rated PSU, which make it very efficient at doing so.
For the pc case in March, included is the CORSAIR Carbide 275R. This is a very sleek, affordable gaming pc case that does
Upgrade Suggestions | Best $1000 PC Build Upgrade Suggestions 2019
| Hardware Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU + COOLER + MOTHERBOARD UPGRADE |
Add a Better CPU (You will need to include a cooler and compatible motherboard for overclocking) CPU: Intel BX80684I58600K 8th Gen Core i5-8600K Processor + CPU cooler: Hyper 212 EVO + Compatible Motherboard: MSI PRO Series Intel 8th Gen LGA 1151 M.2 D-Sub DVI DP USB 3.0 Gigabit LAN CFX ATX Motherboard (Z370-A PRO) |
$259.89 + $33.37 + $109.99 |
|
| GRAPHICS CARD UPGRADE | RTX 2070: MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDRR6 256-bit HDMI/DP/USB Ray Tracing Turing Architecture HDCP Graphics Card (RTX 2070 Armor 8G) | $509.99 |  |
| RAM UPGRADE | Add More RAM (16GB) – Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3000MHz C15 Desktop Memory Kit – Black (CMK16GX4M2B3000C15) | $108.99 |  |
| CPU COOLER UPGRADE | Corsair Hydro Series H80i v2 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler, Black- Add a liquid CPU Cooler for a quieter, more customized and efficient cooling experience. |
$84.99 |  |
Above are the suggested upgrade ideas for the best March 2019 $1000 gaming PC build, these are recommended if you have a larger budget or want some upgrade suggestions later on when you need an upgrade.
If you wanted to easily upgrade your CPU, you could simply swap for the Intel i5 8600K. The 8600K gives you the potential to further overclock your CPU for a slightly higher cost. You do have to keep in mind though that if you go with the 8600K, you will need to add a CPU cooler (such as the Cooler Master Hyper 212) and you will need a compatible motherboard (such as the MSI Z370-A PRO above) to take advantage of the 8600K’s overclocking potential.
The graphics card upgrade is
Since the $1000 pc build above includes 8GB of RAM, you could bump this up further to 16GB with a kit of Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 3000MhZ RAM if you think you need it. Further, you could also plug in an additional 8GB kit
You could also go with a liquid CPU cooler such as the Corsair Hydro Series H80i V2 in place of the included air cooler already included in the above build above. This could help keep things quiet and a tad cooler when overclocking and it offers a more customize the cooling experience — this could also be used if you decided to go with the Intel 8600K CPU upgrade as it doesn’t come with a cooler.
The Best $700 Gaming PC Build | March 2019
Capability: Game at Smoothly with High settings and FPS at 1920X1080 resolutions in most games.
Powered by the Ryzen 5 2600 CPU and a RTX 580 8GB Graphics Card
| Hardware Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Price: | $680.45 (March 2019) | ||
| Processor |
|
$149.99 |  |
| Motherboard | ASUS TUF B450-Plus Gaming Motherboard (ATX) AMD Ryzen 2 AM4 DDR4 HDMI DVI M.2 | $117.77 |  |
| Graphics Card | RTX 580 MSI VGA Graphic Cards RX 580 Armor 8G OC | $216.74 |  |
| RAM | Corsair LPX 8GB DDR4 DRAM 2133MHz C13 for DDR4 Systems 8 DDR4 2133 (PC4 17000) DDR4 2133 | $57.99 | |
| SSD | Kingston A400 SSD 240GB SATA 3 2.5” Solid State Drive SA400S37/240G – Increase Performance | $29.99 |  |
| Power Supply | Corsair CX Series, CX500, 500 Watt (500W) Power Supply, 80+ Bronze Certified | $58.49 |  |
| Computer Case | Fractal Focus G No Power Supply ATX Mid Tower w/Window (Black) | $55.48 |  |
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $700
March 2019 Updates: The $700 gaming pc build include the very powerful budget
The CPU for March 2019 is the Ryzen 5 2600 CPU is a superb value coming in with 6 CPU cores and 12 threads at 3.4Ghz. This is a solid gaming
The graphics card is the RTX 580 8GB (specifically the MSI Armor 8GB RTX 580). This card has so much potential when gaming at 1080p, and you should expect to max out most games at 1080p resolutions.
The
- GPU Temperature Sensing & Fan Xpert 4 Core: Ensures every fan achieves the best balance of cooling performance and acoustics
- TUF Protection: SafeSlot, ESD Guards, DDR4 overvoltage protection, Digi+ VRM, and stainless-steel back I/O for long-term reliability
- Military-grade TUF Components: TUF LANGuard, TUF Chokes, TUF Capacitors, and TUF MOSFETs for maximum durability
- Exclusive DTS® Custom audio: Delivers positional cues to stereo headphones, helping you to pinpoint enemies and action
- Aura Sync RGB: Synchronize LED lighting with a vast portfolio of compatible PC gear
The RAM included is a kit of Corsair LPX 8Gb RAM (the same as in the $1000 pc build) which is enough memory for most gaming pc builds, and you always have the option to upgrade more in the future if need be with the extra couple of slots on the included motherboard.
The storage included is a Kingston Digital 240GB solid state drive SSD. This is a great start in terms of storage speed and capacity and is an increase in storage capacity compared to the $700 pc build in previous months. Is 240GB not enough storage for you? Then add more or save for more in the future (see the hardware alternatives for options).
The included power supply unit in this pc build is the reputable and affordable Corsair CX Series, CX500, with enough juice to power this build and for a good cost for cheap.
The PC case this month is the Fractal Focus G. This case hasn’t been used in this build before and is a unique choice that showcases your hardware aesthetics with style. Check it out and learn more at fractal-design.com.
Upgrade Suggestions | Best $700 PC Build 2019
| Hardware Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Upgrade | AMD Ryzen 5 2600X Processor with Wraith Spire Cooler – YD260XBCAFBOX | $207.99 |  |
| MOTHERBOARD Upgrade | MSI X470GPLUS Performance GAMING AMD X470 Ryzen 2 (Recommended if you go with the Ryzen 5 2600X for smoother overclocking) | $129.56 |  |
| GPU Upgrade | RTX 2060: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming OC Pro 6G Graphics Card, 3X Windforce Fans, 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, GV-N2060GAMINGOC PRO-6GD Video Card | $389.99 | |
| STORAGE UPGRADE | WD Blue 3D NAND 500GB PC SSD | $67.99 | |
The above are upgrades to the March 2019 $700 gaming pc build. That is if you have more to spend than a $700 budget for this gaming pc build, these are some options for you to increase your overall gaming performance. There are some significant upgrades above including the CPU and graphics card – and even further, if you upgrade the CPU you could also upgrade the motherboard for an even more overclocking capability for even more of a performance boost for nothing.
The CPU upgrade suggested is an AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, this could be a slight upgrade in computing power and it overclocks quite nicely (in order to do so, please also upgrade the motherboard).
The motherboard upgrade suggestion is an AMD socketed X470 board — the MSI X470GPLUS Performance GAMING motherboard. This motherboard can further leverage the included Ryzen cpu by providing an easier overclocking experience.
If you are looking the simplest performance upgrade, then you could consider upgrading the graphics card to an RTX 2060 graphics card, which is a fantastic card and is also included in our March $1000 gaming pc build.
You could also increase your storage space by going with a larger capacity 500GB Western Digital 3D NAND SSD. This would be recommended if you think you will need more than 120GB as included in the SSD in the base build above.
Additional Gaming PC Components for March 2019
There are some additional PC components that you may or may not need for your gaming pc build, and below are some suggestions. Such as you may want to add WiFi functionality, which isn’t inherently included in the above builds, and you may not already have an operating system to install on your new pc.
More importantly, you will need to be able to actually interact with your
Gaming PC Peripherals | How will you interact with your PC?
Below are some quick notes on how you can go about choosing the right gaming pc peripherals for your gaming pc build. Do note that included are limited options, but are definitely valid recommendations and examples of what you should be looking for.
Gaming Keyboards
You can use pretty much choose any keyboard you want, as these can sometimes be entirely preference based,
Below are a couple of examples of some great gaming keyboards:
| Keyboard Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyboard Example One | Logitech G513 RGB Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with Romer-G Linear Keyswitches (Carbon) | $129.99 |  |
| Keyboard Example Two | HyperX Alloy Elite RGB – Mechanical Gaming Keyboard | $139.99 |  |
Gaming PC Mice
Gaming mice are probably the easiest of the peripherals to purchase as
See below for a couple of gaming mice examples, the first is the Proteus, which I have loved for years and the second is a solid budget example.
| Mouse Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mouse Example One | Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum RGB | $49.95 |  |
| Mouse Example Two | Logitech G300s Optical Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse | $19.99 |  |
Gaming PC Monitor
The main thing to keep in mind is that when choosing the right monitor to take note of the resolution and the refresh rate, as these are important performance indicators. The higher the resolution and the higher the refresh rate will require higher-end gaming hardware.
For example: In the gaming pc builds of the month you could get something like a 1920×1080 resolution monitor at 60Hz for the $700 pc build. For the $1000 build you could get a 1920×1080 resolution monitor at 120hz, or a 2460×1440 resolution monitor at 60h. And for the $1500 gaming pc build, you could get a 2560×1440 resolution monitor at 120hz or a 4K resolution monitor at 60hz for the $1500 pc build.
One last thing to keep in mind is that monitors with G-Sync are best suited for builds using an NVIDIA graphics card and monitors with Freesync are best suited for monitors using AMD graphics cards.
Below you’ll find several examples of monitors of various resolutions and refresh rates:
| Monitor Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor (2560X1440 at 155Hz) | Dell S2719DGF 2560 x 1440 Resolution with 16:9 Aspect Ratio, 1ms Response time | $399.99 |  |
| Monitor (2560X1440 at 60Hz – Widescreen) | LG 25UM58-P 25-Inch 21:9 UltraWide IPS Monitor with Screen Split | $169.99 |  |
|
Monitor (4K at 60Hz) |
Acer Predator XB281HK bmiprz 28-inch UHD (3840×2160) NVIDIA G-SYNC | $527.82 |  |
| Monitor (1920×1080 at 75Hz) | $99.99 |  |
|
| Monitor (1920×1080 at 144Hz) | ViewSonic XG2401 24 Inch 1080p 1ms 144 Hz Gaming Monitor with FreeSync | $199.99 |  |
Operating System | What will you run Your Gaming PC Build With?
You will need an operating system (OS) for your gaming pc build. If you don’t already have one laying around, then you’re going to have to purchase a standard OS such as Windows 10 or check out some other free alternatives that you could consider. Keep in mind that it is recommended to purchase Windows online or as a USB stick and install it that way as optical drives are not included in any of these builds and nor would you generally need one for any modern gaming pc.
Included below is a USB copy of Windows 10, which is probably what most people need. I have also included two other operating systems that are both currently free – so could be worth the time trying out. Ubuntu is a Linux based operating system and is open source. The last OS is SteamOS, which is also a Linux OS being developed by Valve Corporation.
| OS Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 | Microsoft Windows 10 Home USB Flash Drive | $109.99 |  |
| Ubuntu (Linux OS) | Ubuntu – Desktop | Free (open source) |  |
| SteamOS | SteamOS – “Build your own Steam Machine” | Free |  |
Network Card/USB | Add Wireless Internet to Your PC Build
Not all gaming pc motherboards have wifi, in fact not many do unless you are willing to purchase a more expensive board. So if you want wireless internet (wifi), then you will need to either purchase a wireless PCIe card or USB dongle. Whichever you choose is up to you, but essentially a wireless PCIe card plugs directly into your motherboard and usually has antennas that come out of the back of your PC case, and a USB dongle simply plugs directly into your PC case via a USB port.
Here are a couple examples:
| Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCIe Card | TP-Link TL-WN881ND N300 PCI-E Wireless WiFi network Adapter card | $24.42 |  |
| USB Adapter | Linksys AE1200 Wireless-N USB Adapter | $15.99 |  |
March 2019 Gaming PC Builds of the Month Overview Video
*Coming soon