I'm building my first PC and want it to run Call of Duty, BeamNG.drive, heavily modded and shader-enabled Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, and Garry's Mod with high-quality graphics. My budget is $3,000–$4,000 USD, and I'd like advice on choosing the right parts and putting together a balanced full build. Is building a PC still worthwhile, and what should I prioritize?
4 Answers
Decide what monitor you’re targeting before picking parts. For 1440p at 144–180Hz, a strong mid-to-high-end graphics card is usually plenty. A 240Hz monitor requires much higher frame rates, and buying an extremely powerful PC only to use it with a lower-refresh display can waste money. Include the monitor in your budget if you don’t already have one.
A high-end build in this range could use a current gaming-focused processor, 32GB of fast memory, a powerful graphics card, a 2TB–4TB NVMe SSD, and a quality 850W–1000W power supply. Don’t forget a good CPU cooler and case airflow. You can also consider a small-form-factor build if you want something compact; SFF means “small form factor.” Its main benefit is the smaller footprint, though parts selection, cooling, cable management, and upgrade options can be more difficult.
If you’re comfortable buying used parts, a capable gaming PC can sometimes be found for around $600–$800. For an all-new build, roughly $1,200–$1,400 is a more realistic starting point because component prices vary. With $3,000–$4,000, you can comfortably choose premium parts without needing to spend the entire budget.
That budget is more than enough for a high-end gaming PC. You could build an excellent system for around $1,200–$2,000 and spend the rest on a better monitor, peripherals, or upgrades. Prioritize the graphics card first, then choose a modern CPU, 32GB of RAM, a fast 2TB or larger SSD, and a reliable power supply. Make sure the parts are balanced instead of simply buying the most expensive component in every category.
That helps a lot. I didn’t realize a smaller build could still use high-end parts, but I’ll compare the extra cooling and upgrade limitations before deciding.