I'm from Ontario, Canada, and I'm trying to decide whether to buy a prebuilt gaming PC or build one myself. My budget is around $1500 CAD just for the tower, as I already have a monitor. I mainly play World of Warcraft and a few other games. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
6 Answers
I'd recommend against going for prebuilt if you want to upgrade in the future since they usually come with proprietary parts that limit your options later on. Always consider used options first—it's often worth the search!
Here's a build I found that might get you close: [link to PCPartPicker list]. It’s around $1600 without the OS, but you might wanna check local marketplaces for a used build. Sometimes people sell their old setups when upgrading, and you can snag a great deal!
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check out Facebook Marketplace for deals!
If you're not in too much of a hurry, consider looking for open-box deals on Amazon. You can often find good prices on gently used parts. For example, you might be able to find an RTX 3080 if you're lucky, which would be great for all your gaming needs!
For a solid setup, consider going with an Intel i7 for better longevity. This prevents those annoying CPU bottlenecks, but an i5 can work too if you're tight on budget. Aim for at least 16GB of RAM from a reputable brand like Corsair. When it comes to the graphics card, RTX 5060 or 5070 are good, but you may go over budget. Make sure to use PCPartPicker to check compatibility for all your parts, as it will recommend compatible motherboards and case options. Also, grab a decent power supply to ensure everything runs smoothly. I've had experience with both air coolers and AIO coolers, and they vary in price, so pick what fits your budget. If you can stretch your budget a bit, it will help ensure longer-lasting performance!
That's solid advice! I also found that grabbing used parts can really help save money, especially on graphics cards!
Honestly, prices can be super depressing right now, so good luck finding decent parts! I was looking for a low-end system for my dad, and it's tough out there! Don't get discouraged, though; just keep hunting around.
Just dropped $350 for 32GB of DDR4. If you're looking at a 5600X with a decent GPU like the PowerColor Reaper 9060 XT, that could help materialize a solid setup for around $1500.
True! But it really depends on the brand of the prebuilt. Some of them don't have proprietary parts. Do your research!