If you’re thinking of building a gaming PC in 2024, you’re probably overwhelmed by the options. What CPU do you need? What GPU will give you the best bang for your buck? And how much should you really be spending? Well, you’re in luck. I’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide for every budget, from affordable $500 systems to $4,000+ powerhouse setups.
Building your own gaming PC isn’t just a great way to save money—it’s also the best way to make sure the machine you’re gaming on is exactly what you want. So, let’s dive into the best PC builds for 2024, complete with specs, prices, and some no-nonsense advice on how to get the most out of your hard-earned cash.
Why Build Your Own PC?
Before we get into the builds, let’s talk about why building your own gaming PC is such a good idea. Sure, you can go out and buy a pre-built system, but where’s the fun in that? You get complete control over the components, the design, and even the RGB lighting when you build it yourself. Plus, you’ll save money—up to hundreds of dollars depending on the build.
For Example: A pre-built desktop with specs similar to our best $1,000 build will cost you at least $1,439 at Best Buy, but building it yourself can cut costs significantly.
And don’t worry, building a PC isn’t as difficult as it sounds. With a little patience, a screwdriver, and a good guide , you’ll have your custom gaming rig up and running in no time. So, without further ado, let’s break it down by budget.
Best $500 PC Build for Gaming
Budget: $500
Gaming Performance: 1080p at medium settings, 54-60 FPS.
If you’ve got around $500 to spend, you’re in for a challenge. You won’t get top-of-the-line hardware, but you can still build a solid gaming machine capable of playing popular titles at 1080p. Here’s the build:
| Component | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i3-14100F | $124 |
| Motherboard | ASRock B760M-HDV | $89 |
| GPU | Intel Arc A380 | $109 |
| RAM | Silicon Power DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) | $28 |
| Storage | Crucial P3 Plus 1TB SSD | $59 |
| Case | Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L | $37 |
| PSU | Thermaltake Smart Series 500W PSU | $39 |
| Cooler | Stock (included with CPU) | – |
| Total | $485 |
Key Highlights
- GPU: Intel Arc A380—It’s not the fastest, but it’s solid for 1080p gaming. It even supports AV1 encoding and decoding, making it better for media tasks than its AMD counterpart.
- CPU: Intel Core i3-14100F—A budget-friendly CPU with 4 performance cores and a boost clock of 4.7 GHz.
- PSU: Thermaltake Smart 500W—Not the most efficient, but it gets the job done for the price.
This build should get you around 54 FPS at medium settings in most games. It won’t blow you away, but it will get you gaming without breaking the bank.
Best $800 PC Build for Gaming
Budget: $800
Gaming Performance: 1080p at ultra settings, 60-85 FPS.
With $800, you’re stepping into a new world of gaming. You’re looking at 1080p with ultra settings and even a bit of ray tracing on lighter titles. Here’s the build:
| Component | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-14400F | $199 |
| Motherboard | ASRock B760M-HDV | $89 |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 4060 | $286 |
| RAM | TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z DDR4 32GB | $50 |
| Storage | WD Black SN770 1TB SSD | $74 |
| Case | Gamdias Aura GC1 | $49 |
| PSU | Thermaltake Smart 700W PSU | $54 |
| Cooler | Stock (included with CPU) | – |
| Total | $801 |
Key Highlights
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 4060—Capable of 84.9 FPS at 1080p with ultra settings. It’s a steal for under $300.
- CPU: Intel Core i5-14400F—A six-core beast with 16 threads and a boost clock of 4.7 GHz.
- RAM: 32GB DDR4—More than enough for most gaming tasks, ensuring smooth multitasking.
This build will let you play most AAA games at 1080p ultra settings, and even dabble in some ray tracing. A strong contender for gamers who want great performance without venturing into the $1,000 range.
Best $1,000 PC Build for Gaming
Budget: $1,000
Gaming Performance: 1080p at ultra settings, 100+ FPS.
With a budget of $1,000, you’re entering serious gaming territory. Expect 100+ FPS at 1080p ultra and solid performance even at 1440p. Check out this build:
| Component | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D | $186 |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte B550 UD AC | $109 |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti | $374 |
| RAM | Crucial DDR4 32GB (2x16GB) | $63 |
| Storage | WD Blue SN580 2TB SSD | $117 |
| Case | Phanteks XT Pro | $59 |
| PSU | Corsair CX750M 750W PSU | $79 |
| Cooler | ID-Cooling FrostFlow 280mm | $59 |
| Total | $1,046 |
Key Highlights
- GPU: RTX 4060 Ti—With 101.7 FPS at 1080p ultra settings, this GPU delivers serious power.
- CPU: Ryzen 7 5700X3D—One of the best gaming CPUs for the price, with 96MB of L3 cache.
- Cooling: A 280mm AIO cooler to keep temps down during heavy gaming sessions.
This $1,000 build will have no problem handling today’s most demanding games, with the ability to play at 1080p ultra settings while maintaining high FPS. The RTX 4060 Ti shines in this price range.
Should You Build or Buy Pre-Built?
Building your own gaming PC gives you control, saves you money, and provides an opportunity to learn valuable skills. However, if you’re short on time or just don’t feel confident, a pre-built system could be a good choice—just expect to pay a premium.
Pro Tip: If you opt for a pre-built, make sure it comes with a reputable GPU like the RTX 4060 or RX 6700. Avoid cheap models with outdated or low-performing components.
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Best $1,500 PC Build for Gaming
Lian Li Lancool 216
| Component | Model | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-14600KF | $291 |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte Z790 Gaming X AX | $219 |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 4070 | $529 |
| RAM | Crucial Pro RAM 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 | $95 |
| Storage | WD Black SN850X (2TB) | $153 |
| Case | Lian Li Lancool 216RX | $99 |
| PSU | Corsair CX750M | $79 |
| Cooler | ID-Cooling FrostFlow 280mm | $59 |
| Total | $1,524 |
Looking for a build that will crush 1080p gaming, perform beautifully at 1440p, and even take a stab at 4K? This $1,500 build hits the sweet spot for price vs. performance. Powered by the Nvidia RTX 4070, this rig is fantastic for ray tracing at 1080p and handles demanding titles at 1440p like a champ.
- GPU Performance: The RTX 4070 dominates games at 1080p ultra settings with an average of 123.6 fps. Step up to 1440p, and it still provides a buttery-smooth 98.6 fps. For those eyeing 4K, expect around 67.2 fps, which is great for a card in this price range.
- Ray Tracing: Enables even more realism in games, delivering 69.4 fps at 1080p ultra with ray tracing and 45.2 fps at 1440p. In titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, it can hit 69 fps at 1440p with ray tracing.
Key Upgrades:
- CPU: Upgraded to the Intel Core i5-14600KF with 6 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores for a total of 20 threads.
- Motherboard: The Gigabyte Z790 Gaming X AX supports overclocking and includes Wi-Fi 6E, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and 2.5 GbE LAN.
- RAM: 32GB of DDR5 Crucial Pro RAM ensures lightning-fast speeds and future-proofing.
With this setup, you’ll have no trouble maxing out games at 1440p with high frame rates and smooth ray tracing performance, while still staying on budget.
Best $2,000 PC Build for Gaming
Hyte Y40
| Component | Model | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D | $447 |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte B650M Gaming Plus WiFi | $139 |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super | $784 |
| RAM | G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 32GB | $99 |
| Storage | WD Black SN850X (2TB) | $153 |
| Case | Hyte Y40 | $124 |
| PSU | Corsair RM750e | $99 |
| Cooler | Iceberg Thermal IceFLOE Oasis 360 | $90 |
| Total | $1,935 |
For those seeking a serious upgrade, this $2,000 build features the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super and AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D. It’s designed to handle 1440p ultra settings with ease and even dip into 4K gaming with playable frame rates.
- GPU Performance: The RTX 4070 Ti Super is a beast, averaging 102.9 fps at 1440p ultra, with ray tracing enabled. It’s also fantastic for high-performance 4K gaming.
- CPU Performance: The Ryzen 9 7900X3D boasts 12 cores, 24 threads, and a 5.6 GHz boost clock, offering excellent multitasking and gaming performance.
This PC is perfect for gamers who want smooth frame rates at higher resolutions without sacrificing detail.
Best $4,000+ PC Build for Gaming
Fractal Design North XL
| Component | Model | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D | $545 |
| Motherboard | Asus ROG Strix X670E-E | $443 |
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 4090 | $1,779 |
| RAM | G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 6400 32GB | $218 |
| Storage | Samsung 990 Pro (4TB) | $329 |
| Case | Fractal Design North XL | $139 |
| PSU | Corsair RM1000e | $159 |
| Cooler | Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL360 FLUX | $87 |
| Total | $3,699 |
This dream machine pulls no punches. Armed with the Nvidia RTX 4090, this build is tailored for 4K ultra settings, delivering stunning visuals and smooth frame rates. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D ensures that no task is too demanding, whether it’s high-end gaming or intensive productivity work.
- GPU Performance: The RTX 4090 delivers an average of 112 fps at 4K on a suite of high-end games, making it the fastest card on the market. Ray tracing performance is equally impressive, leaving its competition in the dust.
- CPU Performance: The Ryzen 9 7950X3D, with 16 cores and 32 threads, ensures peak performance for both gaming and productivity tasks.
For those who demand the absolute best performance available, this rig will handle anything you throw at it.
Finding Discounts on the Best PC Components
Always be on the lookout for deals! Use Newegg promo codes, Corsair coupons, or Best Buy discounts to save on high-end components. As prices fluctuate, these codes can bring a $2,000+ build within reach or shave costs off mid-tier builds.