Tag: PC Builds

We all dream of building our own gaming PC, don’t we? Creating a setup that works perfectly for us, with a state-of-the-art motherboard, cooling system, super-fast CPU, and the ability to run beautiful graphics is the dream.

But for many of us, the high cost of PC components puts this out of our reach. Instead, we are gaming on laptops or old and outdated PCs that are certainly destined for PC heaven. It gets us down, especially when we spend our time drooling over other people’s setups. 

At this point, we would take any improvement on our current setups, yes? So what if we told you there was a way you could game on a PC without spending more than $300? 

Did you do a double-take? We did at first when we added up the costs, but you can create an affordable and powerful gaming PC without needing to break the bank! While you won’t be able to game in 4K, you can enjoy good quality graphics and play most of today’s popular games with ease.

Want to know more? Just keep reading for the PC build that is sure to change your life and a detailed guide about your new gaming PC!

Overview 

When it comes to gaming PCs, we all know that they are expensive. We find ourselves watching video after video of people sharing their builds and mesmerized by their power and performance capabilities. 

But we don’t always need to spend a fortune on them. Whether you are upgrading an older desktop or laptop, this PC build is a fantastic option today.

You can play your favorite games and more than likely enjoy enhanced graphics compared to your current setup! And after reading our guide today, you won’t need to!

So what do you get? Well, we have created this build to run today’s most popular games on lower settings on a 1080P (full HD) monitor.

You can enjoy games in their minimum settings and should be able to stream an HD movie or two, too. To do this, you get a Ryzen 3 34200G CPU that comes with an integrated graphics card.!

You get 8GB of DDR4 memory, which is more than enough to run these games without lag or performance issues.

Remember, poor internet connection can also hinder your gaming performance. There is also 240GB of SSD storage included in the build, which is ample space to store your games and any files you wish to save. 

It’s worth noting that this isn’t tons of memory, but it should still be an upgrade for those on an older laptop! You can also look at upgrading this storage too if needed (more on that later). 

To complete this build, we also included a 500W power supply. There’s plenty of power to add a mid-range graphics card if you have the budget to do so later too! It will power your build easily and have plenty of power for an upgrade later down the line. 

In a few simple steps, you can transform this PC into a mid-range gaming PC! You must accept the limitations of the PC. You won’t be gaming in outstanding 4K quality, but you will still be gaming and in fairly decent quality! For any upgrade ideas, keep on reading as we walk you through that later!

For the budget, this is certainly one of the best PC builds on the market! You can consider used components too if you wish to keep the cost down, but most of these are affordable as new products! 

Sounds like the PC for you? Keep reading to find out what components you need and what you can expect from this affordable gaming PC. 

What do I need?

To build this PC, you will need the following components. Remember, you need all components to ensure your PC operates and runs smoothly. 

• CPU – AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 
• MOBO – ASUS A320M 
• SSD – PNY 240GB 
• RAM – Patriot Viper 8GB 
• PSU – Gigabyte 650W
• Case – Zalman T6 
• ODD – Install O.S. from USB
• OS – Windows 10 (the installation cost of Windows 10 isn’t included in the budget. Don’t worry, we cover this later and some fantastic free options too!)

You can also purchase the PC pre-built if you wish to save yourself the time and hassle! It’s worth noting that the pre-built option is more expensive than building it yourself and tips you over the $300 budget. 

If you do wish to purchase the pre-built PC, though, you can do so here. Remember you will still need to purchase a monitor, keyboard, and mouse separately too. Don’t worry; we have some fantastic recommendations for these coming up soon!

Breakdown 

Those with a bit more time on their hands or just want to know more about the PC they are building, keep reading! We will look at the components included and what you can expect from your new PC! 

Games and framerate

As we mentioned earlier, the graphics on your Ryzen 3 2200G are good enough to run most games on a 1080P monitor, but you will need to run them on lower settings. So what does that mean for you and your games? 

Well, you can expect your new gaming PC to: 

• Run AAA titles (Rise of the Tomb Raider, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, etc.) at ~30FPs on lower settings 
• Run eSports titles (League of Legends, Overwatch, Dota 2, etc.) at ~50-60FPS on medium or higher settings.

For those that play competitive eSports games that aren’t too demanding, then you are covered! But for those playing AAA titles, you will need to run them at lower settings.

It means you won’t get a high framerate at 1080P, but reducing your monitor’s resolution can help here and ensure you still enjoy your gaming experience. 

Why 8GB of RAM?

We have opted for a single 8GB stick of RAM instead of a 2x4GB kit in this build. Usually, these are used to utilize dual-channel memory but are expensive.

We opted for the single stick to keep the cost down and also leave you with space to add a second stick of RAM should you choose to upgrade your PC at any point! 

While some argue that running RAM in dual channel configuration offers better performance than a single stick, it doesn’t offer a significant change in performance to justify the cost here. 

As your motherboard only has two DIMM slots, adding a dual RAM means you can’t upgrade to larger RAM in the future without replacing your kit. The single stick of RAM provides you with the space you need and still leaves room for an upgrade if you want one later!

What about Windows?

The $300 budget we gave ourselves only applied to the build of the PC tower itself, meaning you still need to pay for an operating system. You will need one to ensure your PC runs correctly, but they aren’t cheap! 

These days Windows can set you back almost a third of what you paid to build the PC! While plenty of people suck it up and pay the fee, we can share ways around it that we can share with you now. 

Linux 

You can abandon Windows altogether and instead use a Linux-based operating system. It’s free to install and run, making it a cheaper option for many on a tight budget. 

However, not all modern games run on a Linux-based system. In the future, we might see it change and run more games,  but at present, you are limited with what you can play on a Linux-based operating system.

It’s worth doing your research beforehand to check that your games will run before installing Linux as an operating system. 

Third-party options 

Another way to keep your cost low is to purchase Windows from a third-party marketplace. Some sites sell a Windows 10 key (the activation code you need to install and run Windows) for a fraction of the price. 

It’s not everyone’s ideal solution and does pose some risks, but it’s an option to consider if you want Windows without paying the hefty price tag. 

Windows for free 

For those that cannot afford to pay for Windows either directly or through a third-party site, you can install Windows for free! You can install the operating system and use it on your computer without buying the activation key. 

It’s a welcome relief to many, but not without its flaws. You will be limited with what you can do, mainly when it comes to your customization options. So if you can live without a customized wallpaper, you can use Windows 10 for free on your computer! 

There is often a watermark on the bottom of the screen, too, and innovations to enter your key and purchase the operating system, but after a few days, you tend to forget about them!

Can I upgrade the build? 

As time goes on, your budget might increase, you might enjoy PC gaming more than you realized, and be considering upgrading your machine. What’s great about this budget PC is that it can be upgraded easily!

With just a few small upgrades, you can take your entry-level gaming PC and turn it into a mid-range gaming PC that can max out virtually any game you play! 

Sounds like a dream? Let’s take a look at four ways you can upgrade the PC if you want to. 

1. Add a mid-range GPU 

At present, your GPU is integrated into your CPU. While that is fine for now, an integrated GPU will never perform as well or fast as a dedicated graphics card. For gamers, this should be your first upgrade to your PC! Adding a GPU will allow you to run more demanding graphics and should allow you to play games in higher settings.

You want one that can handle any game on a 1080P monitor and ideally have enough power to do this for a few years to come! Opt for ones that also use the same power supply, so you won’t need to upgrade this too! 

Fantastic options are: 

• RX 5600 XT 
• GTX 1660
• GTX 1650 

We would go for either of the top two, but any of the three will be a welcome addition to your PC, and you are likely to notice a difference when gaming!

2. Upgrade your CPU 

The processor is a vital part of your PC, so upgrading it is sure to enhance your gaming PC! You will need to check that any new CPU is compatible with your motherboard beforehand to receive the necessary BIOS updates. 

For mid-range updates,  we recommend the following two CPUs: 

• Ryzen 5 3600
• Ryzen 5 3600X

You could also check out older Ryzen models if you wish, especially if you can make use of their additional cores. You could also look at the Ryzen 7 3700X, but this model might be overkill in your current gaming PC. 

For those on a moderate budget, stick to the two Ryzen 5 models we suggested, and you are sure to enjoy a faster and more powerful PC! 

3. Add more RAM 

It’s an affordable upgrade to make, but adding a second 8GB of RAM will provide you with more than enough memory for your gaming needs! While most games run at 8GB of RAM, we can expect this to change as time goes on and technology advances. 

Upgrading now saves you the hassle down the line and allows you to run games with ease. 

4. Add more storage 

Your build currently has 240GB of storage, which some see as a downside. Yes, it will hold most games for a while, but at some point, those low storage messages will flash on your screen. Thankfully, adding storage is easy and doesn’t cost too much either. 

Just check beforehand that your new storage is compatible with your current build, and you are good to go! SSD storage is a fantastic option, but you can get away with HDD if needed. 

Once you have made these upgrades, you will be left with a mid-range gaming computer. It should handle and max out any game on a 1080P monitor without even upgrading the RAM! 

Why not treat yourself to an upgrade when you have some more money to spend on your PC? Those with a slightly higher budget could purchase these upgraded options straightaway if they wanted, but this will drive the overall cost of your budget gaming PC up. 

Added extras?

Now that you have built your computer, you will need some added extras to go along! Remember, all we did was build the PC itself, so you need to purchase a monitor, mouse, and keyboard if you don’t already have them. 

If, like with building the PC, you are on a tight budget, you can still pick up some good quality extras that will complete your gaming station! Remember to measure your desk space first to ensure that you have plenty of space for them. 

For those on a budget, we recommend the following: 

Monitor –  Acer SB220Q 

It’s affordable, full HD, and features an ultra-thin frame to allow for more viewing space of your games! You can tilt the screen too and enjoy plenty of colors, brightness, and fast refresh rates! 

The monitor is well-paired to the performance your gaming PC can realistically offer you too. 

Mouse –  Redragon M711 Cobra Mouse 

Again, it’s affordable and perfect for gaming! The RGB lights give it a high-end look, and its options and the included software allows you to enhance your gameplay! You can adjust and customize the mouse to suit your needs. 

It’s compatible with various software and operating systems and comes with a 6-inch cable and USB connection. 

Keyboard – Thermaltake Tt SPORTS

The affordable keyboard features a color-changing LED backlighting and aunty-ghosting membrane to enhance your gaming experience. The anti-spill design is a nice added feature and allows you to game with peace of mind. 

It’s not too loud either, so your frantic clicking shouldn’t keep anyone up! You can adjust and customize the keys, too, as you would with more expensive keyboards. It also doubles as a nice keyboard to type on if you use your PC for work. 

Final Thoughts

And just like that, we have come to the end of your gaming PC journey together. As you can see, it is possible to build a gaming PC on a tight budget, but you need to be realistic about what it can do!

Yes, you won’t be able to play some high-demanding games like Borderlands 3 and enjoy outstanding quality, but you will be able to run non-demanding games. 

For avid gamers or fans with a tight budget and who are in dire need of an upgrade, this is music to your years! Remember that you will need to adjust the settings on your games, and you can enjoy a mid-range computer and basic gaming station. 

What are you waiting for? Get your upgrade started now!

Planning on building a gaming PC? What if we told you that you could build one right now that maxes out the latest games at 1440p and all you have to spend is $1,200?

Granted, trying to find any of the high-end graphics cards at reasonable pricing may be a challenge right now, so we’ve done our best to research the best possible alternatives without compromising quality, power, and performance.

The gaming PC build that you’re about to see might be the best gaming PC you’ll ever see, at least for the $1,200 price range. And with all these great games coming from the gaming industry, there’s no better time to build than now.

Without further ado, let’s get on with the build.

CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme – The Best Gaming PC (Prebuilt)

If you’re not up to DIY building a powerful gaming PC, you might as well go the prebuilt route. For this one, we’re going to show you one of the best prebuilt gaming PCs.

Introducing the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme, the best prebuilt gaming PC that you can find for the $1,200 price range. Here’s a look at the specs, which is more or less similar to the builds that we’re about to list down:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-11600KF
• GPU: RTX 3060 12GB
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 RAM
• Storage: 500GB SSD + 1TB HDD

The CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme comes with Windows 11 64-bit installed, along with 1-year parts and labor warranty and lifetime tech support. Of course, there are other prebuilt gaming PCs out there that are within the same price range as the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme.

First $1,200 Gaming PC Build

The core concept of the first gaming PC build is to ensure that all possible future upgrades are to be done within the next 3 to 5 years. We’ve done research on how to best futureproof your new PC.

For these specs, you can always upgrade some of the other components when you see fit. Maybe you want more RAM, higher SSD storage capacity, or you want to add large storage drives for storing video content.

A Breakdown Of The Gaming PC Build

This $1200 gaming PC build is a good combination of the AMD Ryzen R5 processor along with a Zotac RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC. This DIY build is more than capable of giving you 1440p gaming experiences, or even at 4K resolution without breaking a sweat.

Take note that the price of the DIY build is only for the CPU only. You’ll still need to purchase an operating system, a monitor, and gaming peripherals if you don’t have them yet.

Case – NZXT H510i

First off, we have the NZXT H510i, a decent mid-tower ATX case and considered a decent upgrade from the S340 casing. The NZXT H510i comes with everything you need, from the mounting hardware and the inclusion of 2 pieces of 120mm fans. The case itself can support both AIO and custom liquid cooling systems, accommodating radiators up to 280mm.

This is also a personal recommendation as I own a H510i Elite myself. The tempered glass has always been a favorite of mine because I can see the RGB insides of my unit.

CPU – AMD R5 3600

We’re not cutting corners with the build, so you’re getting the AMD R5 3600 processor, which is a 6-core and 12-thread monster with a boost clock speed of up to 4.2GHz across all cores. This is also an unlocked CPU, meaning you can overclock this beast without issue.

We’re only going to utilize the AMD R5 3600’s stock cooler because it’s decent enough for what you want to achieve here and that’s for intense gaming. But if you want to overclock, you’ll need to set up a liquid cooling system or AIO liquid cooling system maximize its processing power without blowing it up.

Motherboard – MSI B450 Tomahawk Max

The MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX is our motherboard of choice for this build. This is an ATX sized, B450 Chipset, and AM4 Socket motherboard. It has all the slots you need for the other components in this build, as well as more room for potential upgrades.

You have multiple USB 3.1 ports, M.2 NVMe slot in case you want to add SSD storage, 6x SATA ports, and 4 RAM slots. You also have on-board RGB with Crossfire GPU support and integrated 7.1 audio. Unfortunately, there’s no integrated WiFi in this motherboard, so you’ll need an adapter.

Graphics Card –Zotac RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC

For the graphics card, we’re getting the 12GB RTX 3060, which is a powerhouse for 1440p and 4K gaming experiences. The Zotac RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC provides solid performance for the price you’re paying and with solid stock cooling.

However, you’ll be hard-pressed to know that the Zotac RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC is one of the more difficult graphics cards to find in stock right now. A decent graphics card alternative would be an RTX 2080 (Non-Super edition) that can give you the same 1440p and 4K experience as the Zotac RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC.

RAM – Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB

For this PC, you’ll only need 16GB of RAM and we’re giving you the Corsair Vengeance LPX, which is 2x8GB sticks of 3000MHz RAM. With the motherboard, you’ll have room for future upgrades for RAM if you want to expand the RAM capacity further. If your purpose for this PC is to do more than just play your favorite games and you want to take advantage of the multi-threading powers of the Ryzen processor, consider adding another pair of Corsair Vengeance LPX for a total of 32GB of RAM.

But not everyone will probably add another pair of RAM because 16GB is decent enough for 4k and 1440p gaming.

Power Supply – EVGA 650 B5 80+ Bronze

The EVGA 650 B5 80+ Bronze is a modular power supply that’s reliable enough to power the RTX 3060 and its bigger brothers. Because it’s a modular PSU, you don’t have to worry about unused cables. Just plug everything that you’re using into the EVGA 650 B5 80+ Bronze and you’re good to go.

Storage – Samsung 860 EVO 500GB

Much like having a 16GB RAM is more than enough for a great gaming experience, you only ever need 500GB of SSD storage to skip out on those long load times. You can also opt to add more, especially with the NVMe slot that this build’s motherboard has. All you need to do is buy the drives and plug them in yourself.

Second $1200 Gaming PC Build

The second gaming PC build is for the Intel fan boys as it utilizes a 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor and still allows you to play your favorite games at 1440p and 4k resolution easily.

We also consider this as the best $1200 gaming PC for its futureproof qualities, processing power and overall aesthetics.

A Breakdown Of The Gaming PC Build

Case – Phantex Eclipse P400A

If you want a spacious and stylish case, the Phantex Eclipse P400A is a solid choice. The case dons a classic all-black color with tempered glass panel and a stylized front panel. It doesn’t have those fancy RGB fans attached to it that you usually find in a prebuilt PC, but it’s a non-issue. You can easily customize the fans if you want to by buying RGB ones instead, or add in RGB led strips.

The Phantex Eclipse P400A comes with 2 pre-installed fans, which help with the overall airflow and heat dissipation. After all, you’re going to be running an RTX 3070 on this build and your processor doesn’t have a stock CPU cooler. But regardless, you shouldn’t have any heating issues here (unless you overclock).

There’s also enough room on the Phantex Eclipse P400A to accommodate an EATX motherboard and for the other bigger GPUs in the market. The panel contains all the Power Button, Reset Button, 2x 3.0 USB ports, and a controller for the fan speed.

CPU – Intel Core i5-10600KF

Don’t underestimate the Intel Core i5-10600F just because it’s a Core i5 processor. It’s still a powerful processor with six cores and 12-threads. The base and max frequency is at 4.1GHz for base and 4.8Ghz boosted. It’s also an unlocked processor so you can overclock it much like the AMD processor listed above.

For multi-core performance, you probably still want the AMD Ryzen processor but as far as gaming experience is concerned, the Intel Core i5-10600F is a beast in itself that can’t be beat at the $200 price tag.

This processor has everything you need to play most games (the latest AAA games and possibly future releases) at the highest settings possible, enjoy VR immersion, or multi-task various programs. The only downside here is that there’s no stock cooler that comes with the Intel Core i5-10600F, so you’ll have to adjust your budget to get an aftermarket cooler.

Motherboard – MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus

The MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus is one of the best motherboards within the $200 price range. This motherboard does not support overclocking features and there aren’t any Thunderbolt ports included, but it’s not a bad motherboard all in all. There are other choices out there within the same $200 price range if you want to do some overclocking.

But for the build we have, the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus is decent enough to provide you with everything you need to house these components. The MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus has a 6-layer PCB and stable power system that should run your processor as smooth as possible. The BIOS itself can be navigated with ease and you’ll be able to unlock your RAM’s full potential without any difficulty.

Other notable features include Twin Turbo M.2. slots, pump fan support, 2.5G LAN, and reinforced graphics card slot. Sadly, there’s no integrated WiFi. If you want integrated WiFi, we suggest the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge, but it might cost you extra.

If you can’t find stocks of the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus, there are more options such as the MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk and the Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Elite. Note that they’re about $20 higher than the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus, but it’s completely negligible at this point.

This motherboard does not PCI 4.0 but it should be capable of handling 11th generation Intel processors, so you could upgrade this build from a 10th generation Core i5 to an 11th generation Core i5 (or i7).

The MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus is a solid choice for a motherboard for this build and it should fit your budget without forcing you to spend more money on unnecessary components.

CPU Cooler – Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition

We mentioned that the CPU for this build does not have a stock CPU cooler, so you’re going to want to purchase one.

We recommend Cooler Master Hyper 212 comes with RGB lighting. If you’re into the whole RGB backlighting thing, this is a great choice of an aftermarket cooler. It’s considered by enthusiasts as one of the rare but slightly more affordable and effective coolers out there. It’s not the best one but it’s enough to cool the Intel Core i5-10600KF processor.

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition with RGB lighting is smaller and installation is easy. Its aesthetics is a good mix of a solid black with some RGB backlighting, so it’s one of the right components for those who’re particular about minimalist aesthetics too.

Their cooling performance is no laughing matter as the Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB provides an excellent cooling solution to the CPU, so your frame rate is more or less stable at all times. However, the noise can become too overwhelming especially when you’re carrying out heavy tasks (e.g. video rendering or 3D editing).

Graphics Card – EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 XC3 BLACK GAMING

For the GPU, we’re going to have to recommend the EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 XC3 Black Gaming. This GPU is considered by many as “stronger than the RTX 2080Ti” at half the price. The EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 proves itself to be the best value graphics card in the market.

It may not be as powerful as the new RTX 3090, the EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 is still a powerful GPU and could play most games at the highest settings possible at either 4K or 1440p.

You could argue that you could just settle for the RTX 3080 because the futureproofing is a lot better than the EVGA GeForce RTX 3070, but we’re talking about best value graphics card here and is perfect for those who have to follow a strict budget for their new PC build.

The EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 has 8GB of VRAM with a boost clock of 1.73GHz, so it can definitely play most games at the ultra or highest settings, including Crysis.

RAM – Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB)

Similar to the first PC, we’re satisfied with our choice of RAM and that’s the Corsair Vengeance LPX. Corsair is a reliable and trustworthy manufacturer and has proven itself to be one of the best manufacturers for the right components for building a new PC.

Again, you don’t really need anything more than 16GB unless you really need more RAM speed for purposes other than gaming. If you have to upgrade, go for a pair of 8GB RAM as opposed to getting just one stick of 16GB of memory. The former is what builders would consider a fail-safe option. In case one stick fails, you still have 8GB for back up as opposed to losing the entire stick of RAM.

Power Supply – Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 600QW 80+ Gold

To power all of the components on here, you’ll need the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1. It has enough wattage for this build, while providing you more room for upgrades in the future. The Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 has an 80+ gold certificate, which is to assure people that this is not going to give up anytime soon.

The quality of life features are also impressive. One worth mentioning is the fluid dynamic bearing fun that provides lower noise levels than the other PSU brands out there for the same price. It also has short circuit and over voltage protection, so you don’t have to worry about your other components getting fried when the next power surge hits.

However, the Thermaltake Toughpower GX1 is a non-modular PSU, so you’ll have to put in some work for managing the excess cables.

SSD – Western Digital Blue SN550 1TB

The first build only had 500GB of storage, but for this one, we’re going all out with 1TB of SSD storage. This is a must-have for gamers who just want all of their games to have little to no loading times.

NVMe SSD’s are still faster than the SATA III SSDs, so if you need a quick boost of load time speed for many games, the Western Digital Blue SN550 should suffice. But note that not all SSDs, or NVMe SSDs, are made equal. Some brands are faster than the others, but Western Digital still comes close to performing as good as Samsung and Kingston brands. But if you really want the top of the line SSDs, go for the Samsung 970 EVO Plus.

Can These Builds Handle 4K Gaming?

There’s no doubt here that any of the builds we listed, or the prebuilt PC that we mentioned, can handle 4k gaming without any problem. The gaming performance of both these builds is excellent and they’re both capable of handling 60FPS for games, albeit you’d have to decrease the graphics settings a little if you’re going for 4K.

Even at ultra settings and 4k resolution, you should be hitting about 50FPS on average for many games, and you shouldn’t even experience a huge dip in FPS for most AAA games.

For what it’s worth, the two builds we listed here are more than capable of playing many games, demanding or not, at 4K resolution or at 1440p even and hitting close to 60FPS or higher for older game titles.

What About VR and Streaming?

These PC builds can definitely handle VR and Streaming, maybe even 4k streaming without any difficulty. As for VR, you only need the bare minimum specs of a PC to run VR games, but the builds we have on here are far from bare minimum.

Should Prebuilt Gaming PCs be Considered For This Budget?

If stocks for certain components are not available within your immediate vicinity, or anywhere online, then a prebuilt gaming RIG might be a decent alternative.

The upside to purchasing prebuilt gaming rigs is that you only need to do a one-time purchase to get everything. Some of the prebuilt PCs within the $1,200 share more or less the same specs as the two builds in this article. You might even land a decent case with a tempered glass side panel and other goodies. The operating system also comes with purchasing any prebuilt unit too.

The downside here is that the parts inside a prebuilt PC might be overblown by markup, and that you might end up paying more for something that’s less powerful than the PCs we’ve built. But then again, majority of prebuilt units already come equipped with 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and Nvidia RTX 3000-series graphics cards (or AMD Radeon 6000-series). t

Closing

For $1,200, you’re getting an extremely powerful PC that gives you the best gaming experiences possible. If you want to secure your rig today, you better start shopping because these components are popular choices for a lot of builders.

If you want the best gaming PC, you can always search around the Internet and see better and more powerful alternatives for the computer parts we’ve listed on here.

Whether you’re looking for your first-ever PC or seeking a total reboot of your existing setup, finding a quality new PC can be really difficult.

A lot of people don’t have the time or energy to sift through massive amounts of information about the latest hardware, how they compete with each other and how they perform in different games and applications. 

This is one of the difficult things about the PC marketplace, it’s super competitive and full of data and statistics that can be impossible to keep up with.

Despite this, it’s well-known that getting a PC built offers a lot of benefits that buying stock computers can’t offer. 

Pre-built PCs can’t be tailored to your specific performance needs, and they often offer pretty poor value compared to building a PC yourself.

Luckily there’s a perfect middle-ground for enthusiasts who want the flexibility and choice of PC building without having to spend time and effort learning how to install the parts themselves.

This middle ground comes in the form of PC building services. These companies offer enthusiasts a wide range of selection for components and once you’ve chosen your preferred options, they will build and ship the completed PC to you so that it’s pretty much ready to go straight out of the box. 

There are many benefits to using a PC builder, chief among them being that you don’t have to research and attempt to install expensive and sensitive components that cost several hundred dollars.

People who build their own PCs take a risk every time they build themselves as if any components are damaged while installing there isn’t any coverage. If you break something, no one is going to provide you with a replacement or fix your problem for you.

This is where PC builders are really worth their weight in gold. Having a professional team of expert technicians working on your PC takes all of the stress and worry out of buying a custom PC.

You can rest easy knowing that an experienced team is handling everything, and using their knowledge to make sure everything is put together exactly as it’s supposed to be.

Another huge advantage of using these services is that they will often test your PC before shipping, to ensure that your system has been built correctly and is functioning exactly as it’s supposed to.

This gives maximum reassurance to you and enables you to boot up at home with full confidence in your system, which is something that most home builders will admit is truly nerve-shredding.

Hitting the power button and suddenly remembering you forgot to apply thermal paste is not an experience we’d like to repeat, and we certainly wouldn’t recommend this to anyone else!

The other great thing about custom builders is that they are experts in overclocking, allowing you to get the most out of your components without having to spend hours experimenting with voltages and trying to balance your temperatures.

This means you get a super powerful setup arriving ready to go, with no need to worry about stability or performance issues. 

Another great benefit is that these experts will be confident when setting up efficient cooling systems, using their knowledge of cable management and airflow to create optical fan setups and cooling profiles, and also being able to set up water cooling systems with confidence. 

To top it all off, many of the best builders offer warranties to cover everything from labor to parts, giving you total peace of mind not only when you buy but into the future too. 

With their ability to handle various orders and cater their builds to every customer’s needs, it’s no surprise that these services are wildly popular among beginners and enthusiasts who want the absolute best performance and componentry without needing to spend a lot of effort and time researching and building.

The popularity of these services has led to a wide array of custom PC builders expanding and becoming very well known.

There are a vast number of different builders to choose from, and apart from your required parts list, the only thing you need to do is decide which PC builder is best for you.

In this article, we’re going to look at some of the biggest and best custom PC builders to help you find a team who will offer amazing value, parts, and build quality as well as superb customer service.

PC Builders – A Rundown

iBUYPOWER

iBUYPOWER is well known among gamers thanks to their prominent sponsorship deals with major gaming events, as well as content creators and professional gamers.

They have a great reputation for quality and are definitely one of the go-to choices for experienced computer users, particularly those interested in high-performance gaming setups.

They do offer builds to suit other needs, however, from workstations to streaming PCs and an array of other options.

iBUYPOWER provides a great array of parts and accessories and frequently offers exclusive deals and sales that offer amazing value.

They also provide robust warranties that range from a 3-year labor warranty and 1-year parts warranty, a 4-year labor warranty and 2-year parts warranty, or even a five-year labor and 3-year parts warranty, each of which provides you with reassurance should something go wrong. 

Purchasing from iBUYPOWER is quick and easy, and they have a truly staggering selection of options, as well as order tracking to let you see how your build is progressing.

They also offer an easy building tool to help beginners put together an advanced system without needing a lot of prior knowledge about components which is a really handy tool for younger users or those with specific parts in mind.

They also offer debit packages for customers who prefer to spread the cost of their purchase. 

If you have second thoughts about your choices and want to refund, iBUYPOWER also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, however, they don’t cover shipping and do charge a 15% restocking fee so keep this in mind before you buy.

OriginPC

OriginPC has been creating excellent custom PCs for a long time now, and they are known to produce some of the sleekest and attractive custom builds available. 

They have a deep parts list allowing for maximum flexibility and have helpful recommendations to allow you to find a rig that will do everything you need it to without coming with a lot of unnecessary features and add ons.

They have frequent special offers that eagle-eyed customers can take advantage of, maximizing the value you get from this building service.

OriginPC also offers a range of warranties that start at a year and extend to three years, however, their coverage doesn’t include software issues or damages that are caused by things outside of the companies control.

Their prices range from around $1000 to $8000 dollars and are able to build gaming systems, workstations, laptops, and even media setups.

They also offer 4K gaming setups, overclocking, VR Ready systems, and water cooling installation to give you maximum performance and access to the latest technology and features.

Like a lot of custom builders, OriginPC offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, however, there is a 15% charge to cover restocking and certain aspects of the translation such as service fees aren’t refundable. 

There are several great templates to choose from here, however, you can also put together bespoke parts lists to give you a lot of control over your system and performance. 

Digital Storm

Digital Storm is one of the longest-running custom PC builders in the game and they put this vast experience to use building various systems from custom gaming laptops to ultra-quiet desktop workstations and everything in between.

They have a price range of around $700 to $3000 and are capable of fitting water cooling systems as well as overclocking your parts to make sure you’re getting every drop of performance possible.

They also offer fairly good warranties, such as a 3-year limited warranty for labor and a 1-year parts warranty, however, there are other packages available that range all the way to 6 years for labor and 4 years for parts, which gives amazing peace of mind for users who rely on their systems for work as well as fun.

Digital Storm also offers lifetime technical support which is available during working days from 9 till 5, which allows users with questions or issues to potentially solve problems without needing to worry about sending their equipment back to the manufacturer.

Overall Digital Storm offers some of the best warranties available, as well as a great array of build templates and custom options and many of the specialist services you’d expect from a quality custom pc builder.

They also offer a range of accessories at great prices and have an active community to turn to for advice and comparisons.

Falcon Northwest

Falcon Northwest was founded all the way back in 1992, which means they’ve seen all of the change and development computers have gone through over the last 29 years.

It’s a testament to their knowledge and quality that they have managed to navigate through a fast-changing industry and still produce some of the best custom PCs available.

They typically focus on high-end systems with a price range starting at $2000 and which extends up to $12000, meaning that these builds are some of the most powerful as well as truly stunning to look at.

Their focus on achieving stunning visual aesthetics alongside industry-leading performance has built Falcon a strong reputation for quality, and several of their builds have won industry awards over the last few years.

They offer laptop builds and desktops in a variety of form factors, allowing you to fit high-tier performance into a size that suits your needs.

Speaking of cases, Falcon actually uses some of the best paint – of automotive quality – in order to add a personal touch to your rig while also giving it long-lasting durability. They even offer custom artworks to really give you the chance to express yourself with your newest build.

They offer lifetime technical support as you’d expect from a well-established building service, and will answer any questions you have from 9 am to 6 pm pacific time, and these services are available 7 days a week which is really reassuring. 

It’s also possible for you to get a 30-day money-back guarantee, however, the cost of some services such as custom artwork is non-refundable. 

CyberPowerPC

CyberPower is a well-known brand that has built a strong image thanks to its superb gaming PCs and prominent sponsorship deals in the eSports community. 

They cater to a range of prices from budget rigs at around $700 to high-performance 4K gaming setups worth over $6000. 

They offer pretty standard warranties that are comparable to many of the other major builders, including 3-years of labor coverage, as well as lifetime technical support.

While they do cater to a more entry-level area of the market they are capable of also producing extremely well-finished products at all price points and also offer overclocking services, water-cooling installation as well as very high-quality cable management.

Alienware

Alienware is best known for its outstanding prebuilt gaming laptops and their excellent marketing across the industry, however, they do offer some customization on their website, allowing you to tweak their excellent existing designs so that they better suit your needs and preferences.

They offer pretty standard warranties and can produce systems capable of 4K gaming as well as providing overclocking.

If you’ve been won over by their iconic design and aesthetics then you’ll be in safe hands as their machines are some of the best looking and best performing available and can be found at various price points.

EcollegePC

EcollegePC is far less well known than some of the industry-leading brands we’ve looked at so far, and they actually made their name focusing on helping college students get excellent and affordable systems to help students access the power of custom systems. 

They provide a range of options at prices from $500 to $1800 and also offer excellent warranty coverage which has 3 years labor and 3 years of parts coverage, one of the best packages available.

Xidax

Xidax is one of the best builders due in large part to their comprehensive lifetime warranty on parts and labor, which sets them well apart from their competitors in this regard. 

It is a real sign of quality and craftsmanship that they have so much faith in their builds. The only downside is that AMD video cards aren’t included in this warranty, and have a separate limited 2-year warranty, while liquid parts have a 1-year warranty. 

Besides this Xidax offers comprehensive cover giving you maximum peace of mind about your components.

The drawback is that while the 45-day money-back guarantee period seems generous, it is subject to approval which can mean you may not be able to return your rig so easily if you’d prefer a full refund.

Velocity Micro

Velocity Micro is another good builder that offers a wide range of options catering to various budgets, however, it’s their customer service that really makes them stand out.

They actually include lifetime in-house tech support available from 11 pm to 8 pm EST, with 24/7 support available for critical issues that prevent you from using your PC, such as boot failures, crashes, or systems failures. 

Things to Consider

Budgets

Making sure you have the right budget is very important when planning to use a custom builder, as not all companies offer the same prices.

It’s also important to note that the services these companies provide do come at a premium, so you may find that some parts and builds are a little more expensive – however, the warranty coverage and tech support is often worth it.

Customizability

Choosing a company that has ample customization options will make it far easier for you to cater your build to your needs, and will make your budget stretch further.

Some companies have more options than others so if you have a particular parts list in mind, make sure to check several builders for quotes and availability to avoid disappointment.

Warranties

Most builders offer warranties of various lengths and styles to suit different budgets. Always make sure you’re getting the right coverage for you.

Typically longer warranties are more expensive but do give excellent peace of mind and value if something goes wrong.

Customer Service

One of the most important aspects of choosing a company to build your PC is their brand’s reputation for quality service, particularly when things have gone wrong.

Making sure they are responsive to queries and offer good post-sales care is important to ensure you aren’t left stranded with a faulty system.