I'm completely new to building PCs and don't know much about the parts yet. I want to move from console gaming to a PC that can run games like Call of Duty and Apex Legends at over 120 FPS if possible. My total budget is $1,400 AUD, including the PC, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and any other essentials. I'm not looking for an extreme or high-end setup—just something smooth and reliable for gaming. What parts or prebuilt options should I consider?
3 Answers
That budget is pretty tight once you include the monitor and peripherals, especially if you want consistently above 120 FPS in demanding games. Used parts or a second-hand complete PC will give you much better value than buying everything new. Focus your money on the graphics card and CPU, then choose inexpensive but decent peripherals.
I’d definitely check reputable local used listings and compare them with budget prebuilts from Australian retailers. A used gaming PC can fit the budget more easily, but make sure you verify the exact CPU, graphics card, power supply, storage, and temperatures before buying. Avoid listings that only say things like “gaming PC” without naming the components.
You probably don’t need to spend $3,000, but some compromises will be necessary at $1,400 AUD with a monitor and keyboard included. A sensible plan would be a 1080p high-refresh-rate monitor, a midrange graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. If the total still comes up too high, start with a basic keyboard and mouse or save a little longer rather than cutting corners on the power supply.
Would used parts really make that much difference? I don’t need a high-end setup, just something that can run games smoothly.