A brand-new assembled computer is the cost of a small island somewhere. If you don’t have tens of thousands of dollars to splurge, choose to build your own computer instead. For $1000, you can get yourself an incredible gaming PC. Here, we will walk you through the entire process briefly.
Choosing the hardware
First things first, you need to assemble the component that will go into building your gaming PC. We are rooting for a machine that can handle games played on a 1440P monitor. It should also start you off on 4K gaming as well. What do you need to build it? Here is what Boost Hardware recommends:
Processor – Intel Core i5-8400($179)
You have myriad options here. You can go with Intel CPUs or choose any of the Ryzen series. In this guide, we will go with the Intel Core i5-8400 for ($179).
Motherboard – ASUS ROG Strix B550-E-gaming ($253)
You don’t have to go crazy here. As long as you have the right socket type, you should be good. For our gaming PC, we will choose the Asus ROG Strix B550-E-gaming ($253).
Graphics card – Gigabyte GTX 560 TI OC 900MHZ ($215)
This is perhaps the most expensive component for a gaming PC. Let’s settle for the Gigabyte GTX 560 TI OC 900MHZ 1GB which retails at$215.
RAM: – the GeIL Super Luce RGB Sync 8GB DDR4 for $79)
Although 16GB is said to be the minimum RAM for a gaming PC, you can also get away with 8GB. We choose to go with the GeIL Super Luce RGB Sync 8GB DDR4 for $79).
Storage – Addlink S70 512 GB NVMe SSD ($77) and the Adata Ultimate SU800 128GB boot drive ($79)
Fast and reliable storage is not a compromise. Our budget lands us at the Add link S70 512 GB NVMe SSD hard drive ($77). We also added the SSD: Adata Ultimate SU800 128GB boot drive for $79 since it is affordable and easy to install.
Power supply – Corsair VS650 ($50)
With everything you have selected above, you can tell how much power you need for your machine. The Corsair VS650 ($50) is powerful enough for the task.
Case – Fractal Design Core 3000 ($65)
Both the power supply and the case are not resource-hungry compared to the rest. For our project, The Fractal Design Core 3000 ($65) will not disappoint.
Total Price- $997.
Building the PC
- Install the case: Get rid of hand screws and slot the power supply unit in the slot provides.
- Prep the motherboard: Assemble all the components that go to the motherboard on a flat surface.
- Install the CPU: Line the processor on the triangle and corners located at the centre of the motherboard. Slide it into the socket without forcing it in.
- Place the cooler in place: The CPU should have a fan and a heatsink. Find the four spring-loaded pins from where the cooler is held and line them up with matching holes on the motherboard and press them down in place.
- Place the RAM: Slide the first memory to the socket that is near the CPU and the next one in the third slot.
- Fix the case: Now that the motherboard, CPU, and RAM are ready, put them in place. The secret is to match the screws and the standoffs and screw them together. Next, hook up the reset and power buttons, case speaker, LEDs, audio and USB ports, and fans. Be sure to label everything to avoid trouble.
- Install the drives and graphics cards: Screw the hard drive into the case either facing towards you or away. For the graphics card, locate the card slot on the motherboard (it should be labeled), unscrew the covers, and place the graphics card on the board.
- Power supply and cables: Insert the PSU in its spot at the bottom of the case and screw it in. Lastly, plug all the power cables in their respective locations.
A gaming PC doesn’t have to be expensive. Not when you know where to get the parts and build your own. If you cannot afford to splurge, consider going this route.
