Can someone help me choose or build a gaming PC for €1,200–€1,500?
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MellowCedar42
I currently use a Lenovo Legion gaming laptop, but it has developed serious display problems: the wallpaper sometimes turns black, and a few days later the entire screen began switching between black and white. It also runs hot, despite having its fans cleaned less than a year ago. Since I'm doing a master's degree and need a reliable computer for coursework, I'm considering either buying a prebuilt desktop or building one myself.
I don't know much about PC components, specifications, or compatibility, so I'd appreciate guidance on where to start. I'm based in Portugal and have a budget of roughly €1,200–€1,500, not including a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. I'd use the computer for gaming, writing notes and assignments, watching videos and movies, and other everyday tasks. A white case or overall white aesthetic would be nice, but it isn't essential if it adds too much to the cost. I'm also unsure how to choose a processor, motherboard, memory, and other parts, or how important future upgrade options are.
Answers
A build around €1,450 can get quite close to a white-themed system, although you may need to mix white and black parts rather than making every component white. There are already example part lists in that price range that could serve as a starting point, and the case can provide most of the visual effect without paying a premium for every individual component.
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A parts-planning site such as PCPartPicker is a good place to experiment. It checks many compatibility issues and flags potential problems, so you can put together a draft and then ask people to review it before buying anything. An AM5-based AMD build is worth considering because it offers a useful upgrade path, although memory prices are currently quite high.
MellowCedar42: The prices are definitely my biggest concern, but my laptop has become so unreliable that even opening a game like Genshin can cause it to lag. I’m also confused about the differences between CPUs and motherboards, especially when it comes to upgrading later, so I’m starting from almost zero. Thanks for the recommendation.
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MellowCedar42: That setup looks really nice. I didn’t realize white components tended to cost more, but having a white case might be enough to get the look I want without overspending.