I'm planning to get a job this summer and want to build my own PC. I'm starting to learn about it now, even though it's a bit early. I'd love to know what parts I should be watching for and if there's anything I should buy right now, considering the current prices. I'm looking for a good monitor, aiming for something like 1440p at around 250Hz, potentially OLED if my budget allows. My upper limit is about $2,000.
Currently, my brother and I share a PC—it's an MSI Codex R Gaming Desktop with an Intel i5-13400F and NVIDIA RTX 4060, which is decent but I want an upgrade just for myself. I mainly play games like Geometry Dash, Minecraft (especially with heavy shaders and mods), and various FPS and RPG games. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated, as I'm pretty new to this!
2 Answers
Honestly, I wouldn’t stress too much over specific parts right now. The PC market can fluctuate a lot in just a few months. What you have is pretty good for 1080p gaming. When it gets closer to summer, just check the current market trends and prices before you buy.
AMD usually offers better upgrade paths for the future, so looking at something like the Ryzen 7600X would be wise, especially for upgradability. For GPUs, just aim to get the best you can afford when you're ready to purchase. The market can be unpredictable, so you might score a sweet deal or face higher prices; it's all a game of timing.
You're doing great by starting to learn now instead of rushing into buying parts! With a $2,000 budget and aiming for a 1440p high-refresh monitor, focus on getting a solid **GPU** since it's crucial for performance. Your current setup is decent, but for your own build, consider stepping up a bit:
- **GPU:** RTX 4070 Super or AMD RX 7800 XT
- **CPU:** Intel i5-13600K or Ryzen 7 7800X3D for max performance
- **RAM:** 32GB DDR5 (aim for 5600-6400MT/s for Intel and around 6000MT/s for AMD)
- **Storage:** 1-2TB NVMe SSD (games take up a lot of space these days)
- **PSU:** 750-850W from a reputable brand, 80+ Gold rating
- **Monitor:** Go for 1440p 240Hz, OLED if you can manage it, but a solid IPS panel works too.
Since building is more of a summer thing, avoid purchasing core parts right now. Prices will likely change and new models could drop. What you can do is:
- Start using PCPartPicker to learn about compatibility and parts
- Watch build guides to get familiar with assembly
- Think about the overall look you want for your build.
When summer rolls around, you can post your final parts list and get feedback! Also, be on the lookout for DDR5 deals—anything under $300 for 32GB is a bargain!
You mentioned prices dropping—any idea when that typically happens?