Although it can be daunting at first, building a PC is quite a simple process. It's also more affordable than ever before, and the knowledge you get from doing it is invaluable.
We've compiled a list of parts for building a high-end gaming PC that'll handle most PC games at high frame rates. Our build costs less than $1,500, and it's more powerful than most gaming desktops. It's important to note that this price doesn't account for the operating system or any required peripherals. Be sure to check out our picks for our favorite gaming mice and mouse pads, keyboards, headsets, controllers, and monitors.
There are a lot of different routes you can take when building a computer from scratch, and it all comes down to budget. You can always consider getting more affordable parts, or splurging instead on faster components that are better suited for virtual reality.
To extend the life of your machine, we recommend building a PC that can handle the most demanding games out right now. Just plan to upgrade your graphics card in 2 years, and your CPU and motherboard in 4 years.
The processor, or central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of your computer. It carries out all the tasks that you tell the computer to do. A higher clock speed means your computer carries out commands faster, while having more cores means it can carry more commands simultaneously.
This six-core Ryzen processor from AMD is a speed-demon. Ian Cutress, a senior editor at AnandTech described this CPU as a “great all-round chip that hits high marks in practically every benchmark,” adding that it can keep up with games at both low and high resolutions.
Considering its combination of price, cores, and performance, we think it's hard to pass up.
The motherboard is one central hub that connects all your components together.
We've selected a midrange board that provides exceptional performance with a wide array of ports and slots. It's loaded with features at an affordable price, and it's powerful enough to overclock our AMD processor pick to 4,200 MHz. Not to mention, it also is equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
The graphics card, or GPU, is a processor specifically designed to handle graphics. It’s one of the most important — and most expensive — parts for building your own gaming PC.
The ROG-STRIX-RX5700XT-O8G GPU performs admirably with its 2035 MHz boost clock rate. The card pushes over 60 FPS with ease for 4K video, and even some games at 1440p. It's capable and powerful enough to handle most virtual reality games and experiences. This GPU shines — and even has built in RGB lighting, but we wish it were more affordable.
The hard drive (HDD) stores all of your data, including your operating system, games, documents, music, and movies. Compared to your computer's RAM, which is essentially short-term memory, the hard drive is your computer's long-term memory. It stores the stuff you want to open and access throughout the lifetime of the PC.
We think you should get this solid state drive (SSD) from ADATA. It's affordable, fast, and easy to install. Not only that, but it's equipped with 256-bit encryption for keeping your data safe. The drive is capable of reaching read and write speeds of 3,500 MB/s and 3,000 MB/s, respectively. The SSD is available with up to a gigantic 2 TB of storage, be we think 500 GB will suffice for most users.
As previously stated, RAM is basically short-term memory. It stores data your computer needs to access and helps your computer run multiple applications at a time. Although you can get by with 8 GB of RAM, we think you should opt for 16 GB instead.
The i5 7600K CPU and the MSI motherboard we recommended support the latest generation of random access memory (RAM), called “DDR4.” This DDR4 RAM from Corsair is a best-seller on Amazon. It’s fast and will nicely complement your machine.
Almost all CPUs come with a heatsink and fan that keep your CPU from overheating. We recommend getting an aftermarket CPU cooler for better performance. If you plan to overclock your gaming PC, you'll definitely want a cooler.
This affordable model from Cooler Master has a life expectancy of 40,000 hours, and it provides well-balanced cooling with minimal noise.
It's important not to skimp on your power supply unit (PSU). If you do, you're at a greater risk of frying all your parts. This power supply from Corsair has an bronze-certified rating, meaning it's one of the most efficient PSUs you can buy. It has both over- and under-voltage protection, over-current and over-power protection, and short-circuit protection.
After spending so much time and money picking out and buying all your hardware, it's easy to overlook software. You'll have to buy a Windows 10 product key for your gaming PC if you don't have one already.
You can either buy a flash drive that has the operating system on it or pay to download Windows 10 instead. Don't forget that students and employees of certain companies can get a license for cheaper! Check your eligibility for a discount by logging in here.
Your gaming computer's case is more than just looks. A capable case will protect your machine and keep it cool. It'll have good airflow, several easy-to-access ports, and cable management. Plus, it won't be too loud.
These traits are all offered by this minimalistic and modern-looking case from NZXT, which is available for a reasonable price under $100.
Brandon CarteSenior Electronics EditorBrandon Carte has been the technology editor at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been covering the latest gadgets and scouring the internet for the greatest deals; His tech reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com and USA Today.
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