I'm completely new to building PCs and have found the research pretty confusing. I'm not sure which components are essential, what each part does, or how to tell whether a component is entry-level, mid-range, or high-end. I currently know very little about the difference between a CPU and GPU.
I'd like to build a gaming PC that can deliver around 120 FPS with good-looking graphics, although I realize that depends heavily on the games, resolution, and settings. My budget is roughly $800–$1,200, and I live in Australia. I already have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. What parts should I buy, and which brands or models offer good value?
3 Answers
Since you’re in Australia, make sure the budget is in AUD. $800–$1,200 AUD is fairly tight for a completely new build, so watch for sales and compare prebuilt systems as well as individual parts. A cheaper AM4 build with a Ryzen 5 5500 or 5600, 16 GB of DDR4, and a suitable Radeon or Intel graphics card can reduce the cost, but AM5 and DDR5 provide a better upgrade path. You only need the CPU, motherboard, RAM, graphics card, storage, power supply, case, and a CPU cooler if the processor doesn’t include one.
For this budget, start with the graphics card because it has the biggest effect on gaming performance. A balanced build could use a Ryzen 5 7500F or a similar modern six-core CPU, 32 GB of DDR5 memory, a compatible B650 motherboard, a 1 TB NVMe SSD, and a reliable 650–750 W power supply. Pairing that with a Radeon RX 9060 XT, Intel Arc B580, or a comparable graphics card should work well for 1080p gaming and some 1440p gaming. Exact performance will depend on the game and visual settings, so 120 FPS may require lowering some options.
Don’t spend too much on an expensive liquid cooler for a mid-range gaming build. A basic tower air cooler is usually quieter, cheaper, and easier for a first-time builder. Put the savings toward the GPU, a 1 TB SSD, or 32 GB of RAM. Also choose a reputable power supply rather than the cheapest model, and check that the motherboard, memory type, case size, and power connectors are compatible before ordering.
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