I'm planning to build my first PC and don't really know where to begin. I'd like it to run modern games at maximum settings, ideally around 60 FPS at 8K resolution. Is a $5,000 budget enough for that, and what are the best resources for learning about parts, checking compatibility, and finding trustworthy retailers?
4 Answers
Start by defining the resolution and frame-rate target, since “max settings” can mean very different things. For comparing parts and checking compatibility, a build-planning site such as PCPartPicker is a good starting point. A $5,000 budget is extremely high for a gaming PC, though the very top-end graphics card may consume a huge portion of it because of current pricing.
For a high-end build, you could look at a current gaming-focused CPU, 32–64 GB of DDR5 memory, a fast NVMe SSD, a high-end graphics card, and a quality 850–1,000 W power supply. You probably don’t need the most expensive motherboard or PCIe 5.0 storage to get excellent gaming performance, so put most of the budget toward the GPU and monitor.
Before buying anything, watch a few complete beginner build guides and learn the basics of installing the CPU, cooler, memory, storage, and graphics card. For an $8K/60 FPS target, make sure the display actually supports that resolution and refresh rate; otherwise, a strong 4K high-refresh setup may offer a much better experience for substantially less money.
Common retailers such as Amazon, Newegg, and nearby computer stores are reasonable places to shop, but check whether the item is sold directly by the retailer or by a third-party marketplace seller. Compare prices, read the return policy, and verify the warranty before buying. Local stores can also assemble the system if you aren’t comfortable doing it yourself.
That makes sense. I’ll compare the seller and return policies instead of assuming every listing is handled the same way.