How should I build a gaming PC for heavily modded Skyrim and Minecraft on a $1,500–$2,000 AUD budget?

A current midrange graphics card with 16GB of VRAM paired with a modern six- or eight-core processor should work well for this budget. Don’t overspend on the power supply at the expense of the GPU, CPU, or memory; choose a reliable unit with enough headroom instead. Also check the specific modpacks you want to run, since some Minecraft packs are CPU- or RAM-heavy while heavily enhanced Skyrim setups can put more pressure on the GPU.

Before choosing parts, decide whether you’re targeting 1080p or 1440p and what refresh rate your monitor uses. That will make the GPU choice much easier, and it prevents spending money on performance you won’t see.

Start by researching complete builds and using a parts-planning tool to check compatibility. It’s worth taking your time and comparing several configurations rather than buying the first option you see. For this budget, 1440p gaming is a good target, and you can compare AMD and Nvidia graphics cards based on current pricing and features. An AMD card with 16GB of VRAM may offer especially strong value. A quality power supply is important, but you probably don’t need to spend extra on 1,000 watts unless you’re planning a particularly power-hungry future upgrade.

A prebuilt is also worth considering, especially in Australia where some retailers offer surprisingly competitive prices. Look for one with a clearly listed CPU, graphics card, RAM, storage, motherboard, and power supply. Avoid systems that only advertise the GPU and hide the other components. A reputable prebuilt can save time and still leave room for upgrades later.

Building it yourself can be cheaper, but it isn’t automatically cheaper once sales, operating-system costs, and assembly mistakes are factored in. Use a compatibility checker, read recent reviews, and compare the total price against prebuilts. For heavily modded Skyrim and Minecraft, prioritize a strong CPU, at least 32GB of RAM, fast SSD storage, and a graphics card with plenty of VRAM.