My Xbox Series X was recently stolen, and replacing it would cost around $1,100 AUD. Since I've been interested in PC gaming for a while, I'm considering spending a little more on a gaming PC instead. I'm completely new to PC hardware and would appreciate advice on reliable Australian retailers or builders, whether I should buy a prebuilt or assemble one myself, and what parts to prioritize. My total PC budget is $2,000–$3,000 AUD, mainly for gaming. I'll also need a gaming mouse, keyboard, and monitor, although those can be purchased separately from the main budget. Any beginner-friendly guidance would be really helpful because there's a lot of information to sort through.
3 Answers
PCPartPicker is a useful place to start researching parts and checking compatibility. Pick a category, look at the specifications, and search up unfamiliar terms as you go. A few beginner-focused hardware videos can also explain what the CPU, graphics card, RAM, storage, power supply, and motherboard each do. If building it yourself feels intimidating, a reputable prebuilt is perfectly reasonable—just check the exact part models rather than buying based only on labels like “gaming PC.”
For Australian buyers, Scorptec is worth checking out. They have a good reputation for helping customers choose parts without aggressively pushing expensive upgrades, and their service department can be useful if you run into installation or troubleshooting issues. It’s also worth comparing their prices with other established Australian retailers before ordering.
With a $2,000–$3,000 AUD gaming budget, you probably don’t need to spend extra on the absolute highest-end processor. A strong mid-to-upper-range CPU and graphics card will usually provide a better balance, especially if you also need a monitor and peripherals. Decide what resolution and refresh rate you want first, then choose the graphics card around that target. Also remember to budget for a quality power supply and make sure the case has good airflow.
The best parts list depends heavily on whether the goal is 1080p, 1440p, or 4K gaming, so specifying the monitor resolution will make recommendations much more useful.
Thanks, that gives me a much clearer starting point. I’ll spend some time learning the basics and comparing prebuilts with individual parts before deciding.