I'm looking to build a gaming PC with a budget of $4,000 CAD. The computer will be purchased in Canada and the budget should include the tower, keyboard, and mouse, but not a monitor. I don't have any previous PC-building experience, so I'd appreciate advice on suitable parts, where to buy them, and whether spending the entire budget is worthwhile. The games and target resolution haven't been decided yet.
3 Answers
A high-end 1440p system would fit comfortably within this budget. One example uses a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32 GB of DDR5-6000 memory, a 2 TB NVMe SSD, an RTX 5070 Ti, an 850 W power supply, and a well-ventilated mid-tower case. With a suitable cooler and motherboard, the parts come to roughly $3,850 CAD, leaving some money for a keyboard and mouse. It should be excellent for 1440p gaming and can handle 4K with settings adjustments and upscaling such as DLSS. Since your target games and resolution are still unknown, those details should be settled before choosing every component.
Before spending the full $4,000, think about what you actually want from the computer. The ideal build depends heavily on the games you play, whether you want 1440p or 4K, refresh rate, and whether you need features like ray tracing. You may be able to get the performance you need for considerably less and put the remaining money toward a better monitor, keyboard, mouse, or future upgrades.
Since you’re completely new to building PCs, consider taking a parts list to a reputable local computer retailer and asking about assembly or compatibility. A parts-planning website can help compare Canadian prices and confirm that everything fits together. Retailer bundle deals can sometimes reduce the cost, but compare the individual component prices before committing.
The graphics card would be the main limitation at native 4K. The rest of the system is more than capable, but demanding 4K games may require reduced settings or upscaling. A Radeon RX 9070 XT could also be worth considering, with the savings going toward better peripherals.