Best PC Builds for Gaming 2024: From $500 Budgets to $4,000+

Tom's Hardware ^ | January 4, 2024 | Avram Piltch

[fireman15]

We recommend the best PC builds for every price point.

If you want a computer that meets your exact needs and budget, you need to put it together yourself. When you build a gaming PC, you get total control of the parts, choosing the exact make and model of motherboard, a case with the look you like and even the layout of RGB (or non-RGB fans). You could save time by purchasing one of the best pre-built gaming PCs, but you'll give up control and spend more.

By constructing your own PC from components, you will likely save hundreds dollars over the cost of buying a prebuilt system. For example, right now, getting a desktop with similar specs to our best $1,000 PC build will cost you $1,439 or more at Best Buy.

To help you assemble the best PC build for gaming or productivity that you can get, we've created recommended parts lists for every budget: from a super-cheap sub-$500 system to an affordable sub-$1000 build to a $4,000+ dream machine for those with deep pockets.

Picking and Pricing the Best PC Builds Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Note that our best PC build recommendations are based on our component expertise, market research and testing we've done of the key components in each build, namely the CPU, GPU and SSD. However, because we are trying to hit price points and frequently changing these lists (as prices change), we have not tested all of the parts in each build together and some of the less performance-centric parts such as the case, motherboard and PSU may be ones that we have not reviewed.

[fireman15]

In the past, starting with the original IBM PC compatible, I put together dozens of desktop computers for myself, family and friends. People were always calling me for help. At one point this became irritating enough that I put together a dozen identical computers with identical setups for my friends and family so that I had a reference machine to use when assisting them over the phone.

Back then I had a number of suppliers that I trusted, and it really did save quite a bit compared to purchasing one that was already put together. Plus, we didn't have to deal with all the crap-ware that became more and more of a problem over time.

Eventually I started doing most of my computer activities on a laptop. And like that my computer assembly days were behind me.

Recently, I have been spending a lot more time with Flight Simulators and my current laptop is not really up to the task. I started wondering if I should put together a gaming desktop with this use in mind. Tom's Hardware claims that you get more for your money if you roll your own. After shopping around and pricing parts I am not actually convinced. Costco has some excellent specials at the moment that I have not figured out how to match for the same price. The following computer is currently $1150.

iBUYPOWER SlateMesh Gaming Desktop- 13th Gen Intel Core i7 - 13700F -NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 Graphics, 8GB - DDR4 RAM RGB Memory at 3200Mhz - 2TB NVMe Solid State Drive - Windows 11

[FreedomPoster]

I’ve been considering buying one of those not for gaming, but for messing around with large political databases. Plus some AI.

[Jonty30]

There is a local business in my area that will build a custom computer for me if I want for a couple hundred dollars.

[daniel1212]

Gaming waste of time, but intended to be used for good in God's eyes I would offer for essential parts (did I miss any?):

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor	$124.00 @ Amazon
CPU Cooler	ARCTIC Alpine 23 CPU Cooler	$9.16 @ Amazon
Thermal Compound	ARCTIC MX-4 2019 Edition 4 g Thermal Paste	$6.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	MSI B550 GAMING GEN3 ATX AM4 Motherboard	$109.99 @ Amazon
Memory	TEAMGROUP Elite 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3200 CL22 Memory	$103.99 @ Amazon
Storage	Silicon Power A55 512 GB M.2-2280 SATA Solid State Drive	$32.97 @ Amazon
Case	Cougar MX330-G Pro ATX Mid Tower Case	$59.90 @ Amazon
Power Supply	Thermaltake Smart 500 W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply	$39.95 @ Amazon
Keyboard	Verbatim 99201 Wired Standard Keyboard	$10.00 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$496.95
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-01-28 22:28 EST-0500

[VeniVidiVici]

I haven’t built anything for quite some time but the specs on that for the price seems really good!

I wonder what the motherboard is?

[fireman15]

I've been considering buying one of those not for gaming, but for messing around with large political databases. Plus some AI.

The Graphics Processor alone is worth around $300. If you are not going to be doing anything that uses the GPU, you could probably save some money by get one with decent integrated graphics like something with a current Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 processor.

[thescourged1]

Your graphics card...?

Or is that CPU a graphics CPU?

[Bob434]

thaT computer has some pretty decent hardware- goo price too-

[daniel1212]

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-5-5600g-review

[SaveFerris]

I might be able to spend $500

6 months from now

[daniel1212]

I haven’t built anything for quite some time but the specs on that for the price seems really good! I wonder what the motherboard is?

Less value than what I listed for the $ (though the Intel CPU is a little higher rated), and it lists a mirco mobo, vs. MSI B550 GAMING GEN3 ATX AM4 Motherboard:

Component Type	Model	Price (at Pub Time in USD)
CPU	Intel Core i3-13100F	$124
Motherboard	ASRock B760M-HDV	$89
GPU	Intel Arc A380	$119
RAM	Silicon Power Value Gaming DDR4 RAM 16GB (8GBx2) 3200MHz	$34
Storage	Crucial P3 Plus (1TB)	$57
Case	Thermaltake Versa H18	$53
PSU	Thermaltake Smart Series 500W	$39
Cooler	N/A, comes with CPU	Row 7 - Cell 2
Total	Row 8 - Cell 1	$515

[fireman15]

Gaming waste of time, but intended to be used for good in God's eyes I would offer for essential parts (did I miss any?)

My primary intended use is flight simulation. I live on an airport and own airplanes. It is much cheaper and safer to practice flying IFR (Instrument Flight Rules), comparing different aircraft, visiting remote airports, and even practicing pattern work, (taking off, flying the pattern around an airport and landing) using a flight simulator.

I also enjoy using flight simulators which simulate drones and they can be fairly demanding as well.

I do not have a lot of computer gaming experience, but I disagree that they are all a waste of time.

Although the Ryzen 5 5600G has capable integrated graphics... your build does not include a GPU. This is the primary reason that I am planning on getting a “gaming computer”.

[Poser]

If you haven’t been to Logical Increments before starting a new build, I recommend it. They have lists of builds tested for compatibility starting around $200 all the way to $5000. The list for each build has prices and clickable links for all components.

[fireman15]

though the Intel CPU is a little higher rated

If you went with the Ryzen 5 5600X which costs about $20 more than the G then it easily outperforms the Intel Core i3-13100F. The integrated graphics in the Ryzen are far better than those in the i3. It is good that your second build with the i3 has a low end GPU, but it would not be very suitable for flight simulation.

[fireman15]

If you haven't been to Logical Increments before starting a new build, I recommend it.

Thank you very much for the tip!

[fireman15]

that computer has some pretty decent hardware- good price too-

Yes, it is close to what I want, and I haven't been able to find the components for that price. If I purchased all the components separately. It could become a nightmare if it didn't work well for some reason. Returning it to Costco would of course be no big deal.

So as much as I would prefer to pick and choose my parts, I am not sure that I can justify it.

[daniel1212]

My primary intended use is flight simulation.I live on an airport and own airplanes. It

No game indeed!

Although the Ryzen 5 5600G has capable integrated graphics... your build does not include a GPU. This is the primary reason that I am planning on getting a “gaming computer”.

Why do I need a GPU when I have capable integrated graphics? I am using a Ryzen 3200G right now with about 300 tabs open in 6 browsers and a 23'' monitor. No issues with graphics.

[daniel1212]

If you went with the Ryzen 5 5600X which costs about $20 more than the G then it easily outperforms the Intel Core i3-13100F. The integrated graphics in the Ryzen are far better than those in the i3. It is good that your second build with the i3 has a low end GPU, but it would not be very suitable for flight simulation.

The second build with the i3 is the one from the article of the OP (which only has 16GB RAM in a micro mobo), which I compared with my parts list (with $103.00 64GB on a midATX). Yes, the Ryzen 5 5600X costs about $20 more but then you need to add a graphic$ card. I was offering a comparative budget build.

[daniel1212]

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx

[steve86]

In general, FS2020 playability isn't going to benefit much from extreme FPS, so unless you have money to be scattered in the propstream it probably doesn't make sense to go with an extreme GPU. I think you mentioned you even got by with 20 FPS. In FSX I thought 25 was ok as long as it was smooth.

But adding VR changes things a lot, especially with respect to avoiding nausea symptoms.

Virtual Reality (VR): VR gaming, in particular, benefits from higher frame rates. Achieving frame rates of 90 fps or higher is often recommended to reduce motion sickness and improve the sense of immersion.

Get your checkbook out!