Building the best gaming PC for under $1,000 is a daunting prospect, especially for the inexperienced builder. But don’t worry, with some research and a basic understanding of PC components, it’s possible to build a great machine without breaking the bank. We’ll provide some advice to help you build the best gaming PC for under $1,000.
First, focus on the processor, as this is the main component of a gaming PC. The best processors that are available for under $1,000 are either Intel’s 9th Gen Core i5 or AMD’s Ryzen 5. Both offer great performance and can power 1080p gaming with ease. Then, choose your Motherboard, Memory, and Graphics Card. For these components, look at brands such as MSI, Gigabyte, Asus, Corsair and EVGA. For Motherboard and Memory, aim for at least 8GB of RAM and a quality B450 or B460 motherboard.
When it comes to the graphics card, again aim for brands such as MSI, Gigabyte and Asus. A GTX 1660 Super or RX 5600 XT are great cards to pair with a 9th Gen Core i5 or Ryzen 5 processor and will be able to power many games at 1080p. Now that you have the major components sorted, you need to look at the other parts of your build. Starting with the Case, make sure you choose something that is good looking and has plenty of space for cooling and Cable management. Brands such as Bitfenix, NZXT and Corsair offer quality cases that can fit within your budget.
Next, you’ll need to consider the Power Supply and Storage. Aim for a quality branded power supply of at least 500W and if possible, get one with the 80+ Bronze rating. You won’t need anymore than 1TB of storage so SATA SSDs are your best bet here. Finally, you’ll need to pick a cooler and a monitor. Air cooler’s such as the Hyper 212 Evo or the Cryorig H5 offer a decent amount of cooling for your CPU, and for monitors, look for brands such as AOC, Acer and Asus that offer 1080p G-Sync options.
Now that you have the basic knowledge of what components you should be looking at to build the best gaming PC for under $1,000, you can start your build. If you’re worried about putting it all together, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials available that can help you along the way.
Important Components
Choosing the right components is the key to building the best gaming PC. You’ll need to research and read reviews before making any decisions. Make sure to pay attention to key specs such as clock speeds, core counts, and TDP. High-end processors such as the 9th Gen Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 offer excellent performance at a reasonable price, making them ideal for gaming PCs.
Graphics cards are also an important component. Mid-range cards such as the GTX 1660 Super or RX 5600 XT offer great value and are capable of running the latest games at high settings. Power supplies and cooling should also be high on the list when it comes to prioritizing your components. 500W PSUs with an 80+ bronze rating are good for a gaming PC and air coolers such as the Hyper 212 Evo or Cryorig H5 can keep your processor cool.
Storage should also be taken into consideration. While 1TB is plenty of space for gaming, an SSD is highly recommended for faster load times. If you have the budget, aim for an NVMe SSD for the fastest speeds. Finally, for monitors, aim for brands such as AOC, Acer, and Asus which all offer great gaming displays at 1080p.
Putting It All Together
Once you have all the components, you’ll need to put them together. There are plenty of tutorials online, but if you’re not confident with building a PC, consider getting some help. YouTubers such as Linus Tech Tips and Bitwit offer great tutorials on how to put a system together so it may be worth taking a look if you’re new to the process.
Installing the CPU, GPU, and RAM are the first components you’ll need to install. With a little research you can figure out how to install these components. Once done, move on to the Motherboard. Installing the power cables from the power supply to the Motherboard will require some skill. After that, you’ll need to be careful with the wiring to keep everything looking neat. The hard drive and cooling can also be a little tricky when it comes to wiring so make sure you take your time.
If you’re still feeling a bit uncertain, you can always find help on Reddit or YouTube. There are plenty of people willing to help, who are more than happy to guide you through the process. It’s also worth taking a look at the official manuals for each component, as these can be very helpful when it comes to installation.
Test and Use
Once all of the components are installed, it’s time to test and make sure everything is working as it should. In most cases, the BIOS will automatically detect all of your components and boot into Windows without any problems. However, if you come across any errors, it’s important to diagnose the source so you can address the issue.
Once it’s all up and running and you’ve been able to stress the components, you’re ready to start gaming. You can also take a look at overclocking and other settings if you want to squeeze out a bit of extra performance. There’s also a wealth of tools available that can help you tweak the system for better performance.
Future Upgrades
If you ever feel like your gaming PC needs a bit of an upgrade, there are plenty of options available. You can upgrade the processor, graphics card, storage and RAM depending on the number of slots on your motherboard and the overall budget. Upgrading the storage is a great way to boost your PC’s performance, as an SSD offers significantly faster speeds than traditional hard drives.
If you’re looking to get more power for gaming, then there are a few options available. You can upgrade the graphics card, or even consider opting for a dual-graphics card setup. The latter can be expensive, but it’s the best way to get the most out of your PC. Finally, if you’re serious about gaming, then it may be worth investing in an overclocking-capable motherboard and a decent aftermarket cooler.
Conclusion
Building a gaming PC on a budget of $1,000 can be a daunting prospect, but it doesn’t have to be. With some research and a basic understanding of PC components, you can build a system that offers great performance and won’t break the bank. You can also consider future upgrades if you ever feel like your gaming PC needs a bit of a boost.
