I'm about to build my first gaming PC and my budget is set at $800 for just the tower. I'm aiming for a solid 1080p gaming experience—not looking for ultra settings, just smooth gameplay on most modern games. For anyone who has experience building recently, I have a few questions: Is $800 still reasonable for a good build nowadays? What brands should I trust for components like the GPU, PSU, and motherboard? Would considering a used GPU be worthwhile with this budget? And do you have any recommended CPU/GPU combos? I'd love to hear your thoughts before I start purchasing parts. Thanks in advance!
4 Answers
Actually, I think $800 might be a bit tight right now. I’d expect a minimum of around $1100 for a decent build these days if you want new parts. But if you’re open to used parts, you could potentially score some great deals, especially for the GPU. Just be cautious; used can be a gamble.
For reliability, I'd stick with well-known brands like Corsair for the PSU and MSI or Asus for GPUs. Just a heads-up, steer clear of Asrock if you're using a newer Ryzen CPU; you don't want any compatibility issues. But overall, if you do go used, make sure you trust the seller!
Prebuilt systems are looking pretty appealing these days if you're considering ease of setup. Sometimes you can find a great deal on those that won't break the bank.
I just built a pretty powerful gaming PC for around €700 (about $800), and it runs everything smoothly! I mostly went for second-hand parts, especially RAM. If you look around, you might find some great bargains.
That's inspiring! What specific parts did you use? I'm curious about which components are best for sticking to that budget!
Yeah, I agree. You can definitely find some good stuff in the second-hand market, especially if you don't mind older components. Just remember to check the condition!