September 2018 Best Gaming PC Builds of the Month for $700 $1000 and $1600

September 2018 Gaming PC Builds of the Month ($1500 – $1000 – $700)

Jump to a specific budget build –

September 2018 Best Gaming PC Builds of the Month for $700 $1000 and $1600

September 2018 Gaming PC Builds | What’s New?

Welcome and if you are planning to build your very best gaming pc build, then you have come to the right place. So what’s new this September 2018 — The standard $1500 gaming pc build is actually under $1400 this month, and overall prices have literally not been this good in pc hardware for quite some time. This may be because of the lingering release of NVIDIA’s newer graphics cards and supply finally getting to where it needs to be in the GPU and memory markets. The other two gaming pc builds, the $1000 and $700 one have stayed pretty much the same hardware wise.

Enjoy building your brand new gaming pc this September and if you have any questions feel free to ask them below!


Bookmark our Best Gaming PC Builds for 2018 Page to Keep up to Date With the Monthly Gaming PC Builds, or subscribe here.


Gaming PC Builds 2017 - High End Level

The Best $1500 Gaming PC Build | September 2018

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 GTX 1080 GPU

*This PC Build is Currently less than $1400

Hardware Link Price Image
Processor

AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Processor with Wraith Prism LED Cooler – YD270XBGAFBOX

$324.99 AMD Ryzen 7 2700X for budget $1500 gaming pc build
Cooler *Included: The cpu comes with a Wraith Prism RGB Cooler

Need more cooling? See the hardware alternatives table below.

-Included Wrath Prism RGB Cooler for Gaming PC Build
Motherboard GIGABYTE X470 AORUS ULTRA GAMING (AMD Ryzen AM4/ X470/ USB 3.1 Gen 2 Front Type C/ ATX/ DDR4/ Motherboard) $131.58 GIGABYTE X470 AORUS ULTRA GAMING for budget $1500 gaming pc build
Graphics Card GTX 1080 – Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 Windforce OC GV-N1080WF3OC-8GD Graphics Cards $447.00 Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 Windforce OC for budget $1500 gaming pc build
RAM $154.99
SSD Crucial MX500 500GB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD – CT500MX500SSD1(Z) $99.00 Crucial MX500 500GB for budget $1500 gaming pc build
Power Supply EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2, 80+ PLATINUM 750W, Fully Modular ECO Mode, 10 Year Warranty, Includes FREE Power On Self Tester, Power Supply 220-P2-0750-X1Corsair $139.99 EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2, 80+ PLATINUM for budget $1500 gaming pc build
Computer Case Corsair Carbide SPEC-06 RGB Mid-Tower Gaming Case, Tempered Glass (Comes in White or Black) $89.99
Estimated Price : $1380 – (2018)

 

Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $1500

September 2018 Update:  Going into September, the main draw for the $1500 gaming pc build is that it is way cheaper than it would have been for months. PC hardware is finally taking a step back to where it should be. So what we have here is more like a $1400 gaming pc build, which leaves you with plenty of upgrade room or dollar bills back in your pocket. Overall, the only thing to change this month is the pc case and included is the brand new Corsair Carbide SPEC-06 RGB gaming case.

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X CPU is a part of the 2nd gen of Ryzen chip comes in with eight cores and 16 threads; this makes the inclusion of the CPU a no-brainer. Not to mention, we no longer need to include a CPU cooler as it also comes with a decent Wraith Prism (with RGB lights) CPU cooler. And should you want to upgrade to something like a higher-performing liquid CPU cooler, you now have more funds to do so (see the hardware alternatives tables below).

The graphics card recommended for this gaming pc build is the GTX 1080 (Gigabyte Windforce), which will get you phenomenal gaming results in resolutions anywhere from 1080p, to 2K and even good gameplay at 4K – this graphics card has also dropped in price again this month (perhaps with the anticipated release of newer NVIDIA cards in the coming months).

The motherboard included in an X470 chipset motherboard, the GIGABYTE X470 AORUS ULTRA GAMING motherboard. 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 high-end build is 16GB total in memory, a kit of two 8GB sticks of Kingston HyperX 2400. RAM prices are a tad better now, so don’t be too shy to get what you need. If you do have some extra cash, you could splurge for a better-optimized package of RAM, such as a 16GB G Skill Flare Series 3200mhz kit (~$229).

Our storage solution is a Crucial MX500 500GB – which is simply a quality 500GB Solid State Drive (SSD) that comes at a very affordable cost, so don’t be shy to upgrade to the 1TB version should you think you need the space right away.  If you want to get the best of the best in terms of fastest read/write speeds, then you could go with a PCIe SSD, included in the additional hardware recommendations in the table below.

Corsair Carbide SPEC-06 RGB Gaming PC Build

Corsair Carbide SPEC-06 RGB

The included power supply unit (PSU) this month is back to the quality EVGA SuperNOVA 750 P2, 80+ PLATINUM 750W, which is a bump up from last months included PSU in terms of power efficiency.

The gaming pc case included in the $1500 gaming pc build is the brand new Corsair Carbide SPEC-06 RGB – an RGB illuminated case that takes the Corsair SPEC line into a more aesthetic direction with tempered glass and more. This case has two 120mm pre-installed with room for up to six and there is RGB lighting controlled by a three-switch controller allowing you to control the lighting effect.

The Corsair Carbide SPEC-06 RGB specifications (learn more at corsair.com):

  • Beautiful tempered glass side panel shows off your system in style
  • Integrated RGB front lighting adds dramatic illumination to your system, powered by a built-in three-switch controller
  • Versatile cooling options with room for up to six 120mm fans and multiple radiator configurations
  • Ample of room for additional drives with room for up to four 2.5in SSDs and two 3.5in HDDs
  • Builder-friendly with simple and intuitive internal layout

Upgrade Suggestions | Best $1500 PC Build Upgrade Suggestions 2018

STORAGE UPGRADE
Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD – CT1000MX500SSD1(Z)
$182.74 Crucial MX500 1TB for budget $1500 gaming pc build
GRAPHICS CARD UPGRADE Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GAMING OC 11GB Graphic Cards N108TGAMINGOC-11GD $649.99 Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 Tifor budget $1500 gaming pc buildGigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 Ti for budget $1500 gaming pc build
CPU COOLER UPGRADE 
Purchase a liquid CPU cooler: Corsair Hydro Series Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler H100i
$138.78
STORAGE UPGRADE
PCIe SSD (faster): XPG SX8200 480GB 3D NAND NVMe Gen3x4 M.2 2280 Solid State Drive (ASX8200NP-480GT-C)
$139.99 XPG SX8200 480GB 3D NAND for budget $1500 gaming pc build

The hardware upgrades you see above are recommendations for the best September 2018 gaming PC builds $1500 build. That is if you have more cash to spend or want upgrade ideas, here they are.

If you think you’ll want more than the included 500GB of storage, you could opt for the 1TB version of the Crucial MX500 SSD instead for slightly more in cost.

If you want to further increase your overall gaming performance in the $1500 pc build, then you could opt for a GTX 1080 Ti graphics card. This card is recommended to those who first, want to maximize their FPS, and secondly for those who think they will gaming at 4K or doing a lot of Virtual Reality gameplay.

The above pc build does include an 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 XPG SX8200 480GB SSD above.

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.

Gaming PC Builds 2017 - Mid Range Level


The Best $1000 Gaming PC Build | September 2018

Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 (HD) resolutions up to Higher Settings at 2560×1440 (2K)

Powered by the Intel i5 8400/ or 8500 and the RX 580 8GB Graphics Card

Hardware Link Price Image
Estimated Price: $939 (2018)
Processor Intel Core i5-8400

$179.99 Intel i5 8400 for under $1000 gaming pc build 2018
Cooler Included
Motherboard $109.99
Graphics Card

RX 580 8GBXFX Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX Edition 1386MHz OC+, 8GB GDDR5, AMD Graphics Card (RX-580P8DFD6)

*For even greater performance could consider a GTX 1070

$249.99
RAM $97.99 Kingston HyperX FURY Black 8GB Kit for under $1000 gaming pc build 2018
SSD $99.99
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 $121.96 EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2, 80+ PLATINUM 650W for under $1000 gaming pc build 2018
Computer Case $79.99

Overview | $1000 Best Gaming PC Build 2018

September 2018 Update: The $1000 gaming pc build stands strong with the Intel Core i5 8400 and the RX 580 graphics card. This powerful hardware combo produces great gameplay and will max games out at 1080p resolutions and play well into 2K resolutions.

The included processor is the Intel i5 8400. This 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 gives you more performance potential.

The included graphics card is an AMD RX 580 graphics card, of which you should expect to play pc games phenomenal at resolutions of 1080p and great into 2K. If you have a little more to spend and want to invest in what will guarantee you the most performance in terms of your dollars spent, then you could consider a GTX 1070 (see the hardware upgrades table below).

The motherboard included in the $1000 gaming pc build is the MSI Z370 GAMING PLUS CFX, which is fully compatible with the included Intel i5 8400 CPU and comes with the following specifications (learn more at MSI.com):

  • Supports 8th Gen Intel® CoreTM / Pentium® Celeron® processors for LGA 1151 socket
  • Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 4000+(OC) MHz
  • Lightning Fast Game experience: 1x TURBO M.2, Intel Optane Memory Ready.
  • AUDIO BOOST: Reward your ears with the studio-grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experience
  • DDR4 Boost: Fully isolated, shielded and optimized DDR4 PCB design to give your DDR4 memory a performance boost.
  • GAMING LAN, powered by Intel®: The best online gaming experience with the lowest latency and bandwidth management.
  • MULTI-GPU: With STEEL ARMOR PCI-E slots. Supports 2-Way AMD Crossfire
  • VR Ready: Best virtual reality game experience without latency, reduces motion sickness
  • Military Class 5, Guard-Pro: Latest evolution with high-quality Japanese components for best protection and efficiency
  • In-Game Weapons: Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost, WTFast
  • EZ Debug LED: Easiest way to troubleshoot
  • Click BIOS 5: Award-winning BIOS with high-resolution scalable font, favorites, and search function
  • GAMING CERTIFIED: 24-hour on- and offline game and motherboard testing by eSports players
CORSAIR CARBIDE 275R gaming pc build

Corsair Carbide 275R

The RAM kit included is the affordable kit of Kingston HyperX Fury 8Gb 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 motherboard.

For storage, this gaming pc build uses a Crucial MX 500 500GB SSD. This is an upgrade from previous months as the cost for this SSD is really cheap right now.

For the second month in a row,  the $1000 gaming pc build is using a CORSAIR CARBIDE 275R, which comes in your choice of white or black. The Carbide 275R is a minimalistic designed pc case with an edge to edge tempered glass. The specifications of the Carbide 275R include versatile cooling, expansive storage space, direct airflow path cooling and built-in cable routing (to learn more visit corsair.com). The Corsair Carbide 275R is a newer case as of 2018 as a budget-friendly pc case and has had great reviews all around — check our the Toms Hardware review: Corsair Carbide 275R Tempered Glass Case Review: Clear Winner?

Upgrade Suggestions | Best $1000 PC Build Upgrade Suggestions 2018

CPU UPGRADE Add a Better CPU (This one can be overclocked for further performance. *Note: You will need to also purchase a CPU cooler): Intel BX80684I58600K 8th Gen Core i5-8600K Processor $250.91 Intel i5 8600k for under $1000 gaming pc build 2018
GRAPHICS CARD UPGRADE GTX 1070: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 SC GAMING ACX 3.0 Black Edition, 8GB GDDR5, LED, DX12 $412.88
RAM UPGRADE  Add More RAM (16GB) – HyperX Kingston Technology Fury 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 2400MHz DRAM $154.99
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.
$94.99 Corsair Hydro Series H80i v2 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler for under $1000 gaming pc build 2018

Above are the suggested upgrade ideas for the best September 2018 $1000 gaming PC build, these are recommended if you have a larger budget or want some upgrade suggestions later on.

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).

If you want this biggest bang for your money spent in terms of performance, then you could consider going straight for a GTX 1070 graphics card. This could max those games out in 2K resolutions without a problem, which will enable higher frame rates in more demanding games.

Since the $1000 pc build above includes 8GB of RAM, you could bump this up further to 16GB with a kit of Kingston HyperX Fury RAM.

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.

Gaming PC Builds 2017 - Entry Level

The Best $700 Gaming PC Build | September 2018

Capability: Game at Smoothly with High settings and FPS at 1920X1080 resolutions in most games.

Hardware Link Price Image
Estimated Price: $695 (2018)
Processor

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Processor (with Wraith Spire Cooler)

*Consider upgrading to the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (*see upgrades table below for details)

$149.99
Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-AB350-Gaming AMD RYZEN AM4 B350 SMART FAN 5 HDMI M.2 SATA USB 3.1 Type-A ATX DDR4 Motherboard $79.99 GIGABYTE GA-AB350-Gaming AMD RYZEN AM4 B350 $700 gaming pc build 2018
Graphics Card GTX 1060 (3GB): EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB GAMING, ACX 2.0 (Single Fan), 3GB GDDR5, DX12 OSD Support (PXOC) Graphics Cards 03G-P4-6160-KR $215.04
RAM Kingston HyperX FURY Black 8GB Kit (2x4GB) 2133MHz DDR4 Non-ECC CL14 DIMM Desktop Memory (HX421C14FBK2/8) $97.99 Kingston HyperX FURY Black 8GB Kit (2x4GB) 2133MHz $700 gaming pc build 2018
SSD Kingston Digital, Inc. 120GB A400 SATA 3 2.5 Solid State Drive $28.99 Kingston Digital Inc 120GB $700 gaming pc build 2018
Power Supply Corsair CX Series, CX500, 500 Watt (500W) Power Supply, 80+ Bronze Certified $57.01 Corsair CX Series, CX500, 500 $700 gaming pc build 2018
Computer Case MasterBox 5 Mid-tower Computer Case – BLACK $66.76

Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $700

September 2018 Updates: This month the $700 gaming pc build stays exactly the same — the  cpu has stayed as the Ryzen 5 1600, and even though this is a good cpu, you do have the option to further upgrade to the newer Ryzen 5 2600 CPU – but you will have to spend a tiny bit more to do so, such as you could use the included B350 motherboard and do a BIOS upgrade or also upgrade the motherboard to an X370 board to enable further overclocking (see the hardware upgrade table below for more details).

As stated, the CPU for the 2018 $700 PC build to a Ryzen 5 1600, this is an upgrade from the previous months included cpu, which was the Ryzen 5 1400. This is a fantastic choice, but you could also consider a newer Ryzen 5 2600.

For the graphics card, we have a GTX 1060 3GB graphics card, which is a great GPU that provides you with awesome 1080p performance. If you need to further boost your graphics performance you could consider and RX 580 graphics card as you see included in the $1000 gaming pc build.

For the motherboard, we had to include a new one to accommodate the inclusion of our Ryzen CPU, we have an included an AMD B350 chipset motherboard — the GIGABYTE GA-AB350-Gaming. This motherboard is perfect for the included build included in the above under $700 gaming pc build as is, however, if you did have a little bit more to spend, I would consider an upgrade to an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 CPU and an AMD X470 chipset motherboard; that way you could leverage the power of a better cpu and overclock quite easily.

The RAM included is a kit of Kingston HyperX Fury (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 120GB solid state drive SSD. This is a great start in terms of storage speed and capacity, however, if you do think you’ll need more storage right away, you could consider a 256Gb or larger SSD as well — or heck throw in another Kingston 120GB SSD for another $30 or so.

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.

The pc case has also changed this month to the Cooler Master MasterBox 5. I have always loved this pc case for its quality and simplicity for such a budget-friendly case. The MasterBox 5 is built for enthusiasts and makes for easy building and expansion for anything from a basic build to DIY water cooling. Learn more about the Masterbox 5 at coolermaster.com.

Upgrade Suggestions | Best $700 PC Build 2018

CPU Upgrade  *Newer more powerful CPU Upgrade:  AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler $165.99
+ MOTHERBOARD Upgrade *If upgrading to a Ryzen 5 2600 this motherboard will provide much better overclocking potential and works right out of the box:

MSI X470GPLUS Performance GAMING AMD X470 Ryzen 2

(if using the GIGABYTE GA-AB350-Gaming you may need to upgrade the BIOS for compatibility with the Ryzen 5 2600)

$129.99
GPU Upgrade  RX 580 8GB: XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX Edition 1386MHz OC+, 8GB GDDR5, AMD Graphics Card (RX-580P8DFD6) $249.99
STORAGE UPGRADE Samsung 860 EVO 250GB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-76E250B/AM)
$74.99 Samsung 860 EVO 250GB $700 gaming pc build 2018

The above are upgrade ideas should you have more to spend than the allotted $700 for this gaming pc build. There are some significant performance 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.

The CPU upgrade suggested is newer AMD Ryzen 5 2600, which is currently only about $15 more than the included AMD Ryzen 5 1600 — although you may want to 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 cpu upgrade by providing an easier overclocking experience. Do keep in mind that if you upgrade the CPU to the AMD Ryzen 5 2600, you can still use the GIGABYTE GA-AB350-Gaming motherboard, but it may require a BIOS upgrade.

If you are looking the simplest performance upgrade, then you could consider upgrading the graphics card to an RX 580 8Gb GPU, which should enable quality PC gaming performance well over 1080p resolutions.

You could also increase your storage space by going with a larger capacity Samsung 860 EVO SSD or even the 500GB oneThis 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

There is a lot more 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 wireless internet functionality, which isn’t inherently included in the above builds, and you may not already have an operating system to install on your new rig.

Furthermore, you will need peripherals such as a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. For suggestions for these please head over to the Gaming PC Peripherals page.

Operating System | What will you run Your Gaming PC Build With?

You will need an operating system (OS) for your gaming pc build and 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 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. 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 $119.99  Windows 10 for best gaming pc build 2018
Ubuntu Ubuntu – Desktop Free Ubuntu Logo
SteamOS SteamOS – “Build your own Steam Machine” Free Steam Operating System OS

 

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 $19.08  TP-Link TL-WN881ND N300 for best gaming pc build 2018
USB Adapter Linksys AE1200 Wireless-N USB Adapter $18.70 Linksys AE1200 Wireless-N USB for best gaming pc build 2018

September 2018 Gaming PC Builds of the Month Overview Video

Comments 8

  1. Hi there,
    I saw the 1000 dollar build and wanted to get it. But the 1000 dollar build turned out to be 1800 dollars ((1600 euro’s)) I live in The Netherlands and here parts are way more expensive. For example the intel core i5 8400 your site says is 179 dollars costs me 345 dollars in the Netherlands. So I was wondering if you had any tips for me on how to get cheaper parts or if there is any way for me to get a gaming pc that wouldn’t cost me that much.

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Post
      Author

      Hi Bernie,

      Wow the costs really are inflated over there! I suggest you check out this article here: https://newbcomputerbuild.com/newb-computer-build/build-a-gaming-pc-with-monitor-keyboard-and-mouse-under-500/

      While it may be a bit on the lower end in terms of cost, you’ll get the idea. In terms of saving costs you could obtain certain hardware used. Such as a PC case, you could save costs by using an older one that support standard motherboard sizing (ATX) or purchase a used one. For the $1000 build specifically, to cut costs and keep performance, you could go with a used PC case, a smaller SSD (256GB or 120GB), a more affordable PSU of similar wattage (such as a EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G1). You could also downgrade just a tad to a GTX 1060 graphics card instead.

      I hop this helps!

  2. Hi,
    I am planning on building my first gaming pc and I have researched all the parts individually, but I do not know how to make sure that they are all compatible with each other. I’m pretty sure they’re good, but I don’t want to accidentally buy the wrong thing. Could you give me your opinion? Here is the link for my gaming setup amazon list: http://a.co/fGRUjmh .

    1. Post
      Author

      Hi Sarah,

      Not a problem, the hardest part really is making sure you know everything will work well together.

      First, the SSD you chose comes with mounting brackets, which isn’t needed as your case will comes with the hardware required to plug the ssd in, so do search for an alternative 1TB SSD as you can get one for cheaper. You’re using a Ryzen 5 2600, which requires a socket AM4 motherboard and is supported by the B350 chipset you have already chosen in your motherboard, so you are good there. And the graphics card you chose will work as well. The only thing I’m questioning is your monitor, as it is a high refresh rate and I’m not sure you need a 144hz monitor for this particular setup. It is a good monitor, I’m just not sure your build with maximize it’s use, so you could save some bucks going with a 60Hz monitor instead (totally up to you though!).

      Please let me know if you have any further questions, but overall your build does work as it is!

        1. Post
          Author

          I would say you would have to at least get a GTX 1060 graphics card, but it still won’t be able to do too too much over 60fps in games maxed out, but it will max most games out at 1080p 60fps no problem. So this would further maximize the use of that monitor. Or if you wanted to go even further, a GTX 1070, but then you’d probably want a bigger power supply and better cpu to keep up which significantly increases the build cost. Although it may make sense to instead go with a monitor like a BenQ GL2760H 27 inch 1080p, that way you’ll at least get a larger monitor for less.

  3. Post
    Author
  4. Just bought the Corsair Spec-o6 and 750w power supply through your links. for little more $ than the Gigabyte mobo, i found ASUS Prime X470-Pro and the Gigabyte Aorus gaming 5 wifi. are these better Motherboards in your opinion? or can you link to a better mobo if I had say $30 more budget please?

Leave a Reply