Best specs for building a gaming computer

So where does this leave our build recommendations? Here, we're going to be realistic based and put in rough prices for GPUs based on what we've seen from eBay resellers, which appears to be the most reliable way to get a GPU.

Whether or not you want to reward scalpers is up to you. Also note that we don't include the cost of an operating system, because you can get Windows 10 for Free or Cheap.

Nor do we include the price of peripherals such as the best gaming monitors , best gaming keyboards or best gaming mouse.

You can always save your pennies for a future GPU upgrade. It's a decently priced DDR kit from a reputable brand. There are a lot of decent budget case options. Without a discrete GPU, this will be plenty. To get a discrete GPU in here, you're going to have to go with something low-end and possibly even used.

Thanks, component shortage! With this card and the Core i, you should be able to play most games at medium to high settings and p, though you may need to turn some settings down. Again, we picked the Gigabyte BM motherboard for its price, but it offers a nice selection of ports, including USB 3.

And it supports PCIe 4. For the case, we've boosted up slightly to the Phanteks Eclipse P, which also features tempered glass and a partially steel construction. That's hard to swallow at this point, but with the GPU market as it is, it's something to consider. You could upgrade to a Ryzen 7 G and spend some of the money you would on a GPU on a nicer case, more storage or other nice-to-haves until you have room to add a discrete GPU. Again, this isn't ideal, but we have to be realistic in the chip shortage.

Our case is the Corsair D, an attractive steel and plastic ATX mid-tower with a tempered glass window. It includes two mm case fans and can fit a mm radiator in front or a mmcooler up top. It provides excellent gaming performance and strong multi-threaded productivity speeds. Even veteran builders can struggle with getting everything to fit right while keeping an eye on important details like airflow.

Somehow, Zotac has been able to do just that. The Zotac Zbox Magnus One delivers an incredibly compact gaming PC that's loaded with all the performance you need for competitive gaming. Whether you're trying to game at p and p with high frame rates or 4K with stunning graphics, you'll find this rig up the task.

Plus, it's got plenty of storage for your favorite games. All of that comes in a chassis that takes up less than a third of a cubic foot.

It's perfect if you're looking to pack a ton of power within a small space. If you're ready to throw down some serious cash for one of the most capable gaming desktops money can buy, there isn't really a much better option than the Alienware Aurora Ryzen Editon R Not only will you be able to enjoy true 4K 60fps PC gaming, but you'll also be able to squeeze out quality ray tracing effects from this gaming desktop's GPU without having to greatly sacrifice frame rate.

Of course, those are just the base specs. Dell allows for some seriously impressive upgrades, including a bump to the core Ryzen 9 X and up to GB of memory. With all this graphical and processing power, the Alienware Aurora is easily capable of providing a solid gaming experience and could also serve as a solid video production machine.

Alternatively, this gaming desktop could easily serve as a streaming PC without any noticeable hit on its gaming prowess if you max it out. High-end gamers will be able to get a lot out of this highly customizable machine. If you prefer a gaming PC with a more unassuming design, the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition puts powerful gaming hardware into a sleek-but-simple chassis, so no one will know you're not using it for work.

The case is surprisingly compact, but it still boasts four USB 3. What's more, you get a tool-less design similar to the Alienware Aurora for super easy upgrades. There are 3 PCIe slots to add graphics cards, sound cards, and more to even further customize your machine. Want a gaming PC that will make people do a double-take? The Maingear Turbo might be the one to do just that.

This compact PC may look fairly unassuming given its small stature and muted design, but a quick peek through the tempered glass side panel will show off what makes this machine purr. Therefore, you'll have tons of performance potential with 12 cores and little worry over overheating. This combination of hardware will let your compact PC handle just about any gaming demands you have for it, including smooth 4K gaming.

This machine is also customizable, so you can pick and choose what it comes loaded with. Consoles have had the advantage over gaming PCs for their ability to easily slot into media centers and TV stands. This has made them an easy addition to living rooms for gaming, but the MSI Trident 3 turns the tables. The MSI Trident 3 comes in at just 3. A PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, the RTX inside will offer up great visuals. In fact, whereas building your own PC was always more cost-efficient than buying a similarly-specced prebuilt gaming PC, with the shortages it is now more affordable to purchase a prebuilt system.

The reason for this is that companies that supply prebuilt desktops are able to purchase their components in bulk, which allows them to acquire those components at prices that are still reasonable. If you do want to build your own system, though, you could opt to search the used market eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.

The reality is that, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the two processor options are going to provide similar in-game performance. But, if your main aim is pure gaming performance, it is best to just choose the option that comes with a lower pricetag and, that includes the cost of a compatible motherboard, as well. On the flip side, though, for the same amount of money, you can build or buy a PC that offers more performance and better cooling. So, whether or not you should get a laptop or a desktop will come down to how much you value the mobility of a laptop.

If you need a mobile system that you can take with you on the go, sacrificing a little bit of performance for the mobility that a laptop provides is probably your best option. For starters, certain titles are only available on consoles. As I mentioned earlier, though, if you love playing games with your friends and they all game on a console, it might not be worth it for you to start playing games on a computer. Regardless of the advantages that computers offer over a consoles, its always more fun to game with your friends than it is to game alone.

These systems are updated with the top components at the best prices on a regular basis. If the lists contain components that are out-of-stock or if the price is higher than listed, either search for similar replacement components or use the comment form below to ask for advice on alternative options.

As of right now, if you want a new gaming PC, your best bet is to check the used market for a video card, or look at a pre-built gaming PC instead of building your own system. You can get an extreme video card.

You can utilize a processor with eight cores and threads which will really help you with stuff like video rendering and image editing. And, you can leave yourself with a ton of options for upgrading in the future. RGB lights, more storage, dual video cards, etc. This is an extreme 4K gaming computer that can easily handle virtual reality and can serve as a powerful workstation as well. You can check out our guide on the best full tower cases for more options. Click here for the most up-to-date pricing.

However, you can still install Windows 10 for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your screen asking you to activate it. This system is powerful enough to handle any game on max settings on a P monitor. Because, this system will be overkill for a standard P 60Hz monitor. This build comes with the following parts:. The only difference? It has plenty of storage for your needs and it has enough space to allow you to upgrade in the future as well.

At this price range, you will be able to put together a machine that will be able to handle games on P Hz monitors , or Hz monitors. You can also expect your computer to stay relevant for a long time and you can be sure that you have high-quality parts all throughout your build.

That means along with a great processor and excellent video card , you will also get a high-end motherboard and a well-built power supply.

Overall, this is the perfect gaming PC for anyone who is looking to max out titles on a P Hz monitor, or even a higher P resolution monitor, too. Again, this system should be able to handle titles at 4K resolution as well. If you need help picking out parts for your build, leave your questions below! Your email address will not be published.

I was wondering if there was any guide or video you would recommend for the 4 product; MasterCase H? Any help would be much appreciated. Unfortunately I notice that every graphics card is not in stock for the same reason that Xbox Series X and PS5s are near impossible to get.

It says 1, ,but to build it yourslef the totoal cost in barely under a thousand. Am I missing something. Lemme help you out there. But the i-9 K is, luckily. Another problem is the storage.