I'm planning to surprise my wife with a Windows gaming PC for Christmas. This will be my first time building or ordering a custom PC, so I understand the basic components but need help choosing sensible specifications without overspending. She mainly plays modded Minecraft and The Sims 4 with all the downloadable content and custom content, and may also try Paralives. Her five-year-old MacBook struggles badly, even with vanilla Minecraft. I'll need a complete setup eventually, including a monitor and keyboard, although I have spare peripherals available for now. My ideal budget is around $2,000–$3,000 AUD, with an absolute ceiling of about $4,000 AUD. Should I choose 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM? Is an SSD necessary, and what kind of graphics card, processor, and power supply would be enough for smooth, reliable gaming without paying for unnecessary performance?
2 Answers
With a $2,000–$3,000 AUD target, you can build something much stronger than the minimum and still avoid wasting money. A current mainstream CPU, 32 GB of dual-channel DDR5 memory, a 1 TB NVMe SSD, and a mid-range graphics card would handle both games smoothly, including mods and custom content. Sixteen gigabytes would probably work, but 32 GB gives you more breathing room and is worthwhile for a new system. Make sure the motherboard, memory, case, and power supply are compatible, and prioritize a quality PSU over flashy extras. It’s also worth checking current local prices when you’re ready to buy, since parts and deals change frequently.
Those games are not especially demanding, so you don’t need an extreme gaming build. I’d aim for 32 GB of RAM because heavily modded Minecraft, Sims 4 custom content, Windows, and background apps can use it comfortably. Use an NVMe SSD rather than a hard drive for the operating system and games; it makes booting and loading dramatically faster. A modern mid-range six-core processor and a sensible mid-range graphics card should be plenty for 1080p or 1440p gaming. For the power supply, choose a reputable 80 Plus Gold unit, usually around 650–750 W depending on the graphics card. Don’t buy the power supply before finalizing the rest of the parts, since its required wattage depends on the complete build.
That helps a lot. I’ll keep 32 GB of RAM and an NVMe SSD as the baseline, then choose the power supply after deciding on the graphics card.