I'm trying to put together a gaming PC for around $900. It should handle 1080p and ideally 1440p gaming noticeably better than my current GTX 1060 6GB. Are there any parts or build combinations that offer especially good value at this budget? I'm open to using deals or buying some components used if that makes a major difference.
4 Answers
I’d avoid spending too much on a high-end processor like the Ryzen 5 9600X. A Ryzen 5 7600X, Ryzen 5 7600, or even a less expensive chip would leave more money for the GPU. A Radeon RX 7800 XT or RX 6950 XT would be a much bigger upgrade for 1440p gaming if you can find one at a good price.
You can get close to the $900 mark with some compromises, but going substantially under that while targeting comfortable 1440p performance is difficult with entirely new parts. Before choosing components, it would also help to know the rest of your current system, since reusing the case, storage, power supply, or RAM could free up money for the graphics card.
At this budget, the used market is probably your best option, especially for the graphics card. Local marketplaces can sometimes get you a much stronger GPU than you’d be able to afford with an all-new build.
Look for motherboard and CPU bundle discounts, and consider refurbished or open-box parts from reputable retailers. A balanced build around a Ryzen 5 7600 or Core i5-12400F, 16GB or 32GB of RAM, and the strongest GPU you can fit into the budget should outperform a GTX 1060 by a wide margin.
For a low-cost build, Intel’s LGA 1700 platform can be slightly better value than AM4. A Core i5-12400F or even an i3-12100F can pair well with a stronger graphics card while keeping the total cost down.