Thread: Building a gaming PC

So I'm trying to build a gaming pc for roughly 1000. The problem is I have very limited hardware experience, and knowledge. I'm wondering if someone with more knowledge can build list of motherboard processors RAM graphics card hard drive. I'll buy you a beer or something. Thank you in advance.
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Check out a Dell Studio XPS 8100. This machine is fast, cheap and you don't have to build anything.

Ok. So its really a very easy process. The plugs and ports are not really mixable so you don't have too much of a risk of doing something wrong.

ArsTechnica recently ran a series on how to build your own pc and while it can be a little long it may be worth a read or a skim depending on your level of comfort.
How to build your own computer: Ask Ars DIY Series, Part I—hardware
How to build your own computer: Ask Ars DIY Series, Part II—software
How to build your own computer: Ask Ars DIY Series, Part III—cases

Also, they run a feature every few months where they build 3 computers at 3 different price levels. I'm you linking the guide from march
Ars System Guide: March 2011 Edition

The budget box looks ok.
The Hot Rod is a very nice looking computer. However the price is ~1500 bucks (albeit as of 2 months ago).
You can knock off ~250 by not using the 'Corsair Force Series F120' (Solid State HD). Also, if you have a monitor already you can take off another ~290 since they include on in their price list.
Also, you can find cases and power supplies a little cheaper if you look at fry's. Just make sure that you get a brand name power supply.

This leaves you wilth a computer that costs ~1039.14 (once again using pricing from 2 months ago).

If that doesn't float your boat let me know and ill try to peek at newegg and list something out for you.

If you're going to build it yourself, go used and you can build an absolute beast for $1,000. Don't spend your money on the top-of-the-line, just-released video card. You get a modest boost in performance for a very immodest price premium. Get a card a notch or two below, and get a mobo with dual video card slots. You will be able to upgrade later pretty cheaply by simply adding a second card which will drop in price like a rock six months from now.

Never buy an OEM computer if you want to game with it. Companies like Dell lock their motherboards so you are very limited to what you can do. You can't put your own components in, you can't put your own power supply in, often times you can't even load a fresh copy of windows. It ALL has to be Dell components.

Building a gaming PC for under 1k is easy. It really just depends on how crazy the game(s) are that you want to play.

Basics...
A chassis for 70-100 bucks
Motherboard
Processor
Fan (optional unless you overclock)
Power supply
Hard drive
Optics
Video card
RAM

You need to kind of research this on your own because only you know what you want.

Personally, something like this.

i7 processor-230
Any "decent" case-70-80
A decent MOBO 140-180
Fan- 50-80 (if you OC)
PSU-50-70
HDD-50-80
Optical drives are 20ea unless you want bluray
RAM is pretty varied. Expect 80 for cheap stuff, 150 for good stuff
Video card is all on you. Go as mild as wild as you want, but you'll be into anything of quality for no less than 150

Add all that up and you are at a grand. You can go cheaper on some things, but you really didn't give much to go off of.

@dabeechman: I wouldn't ever say a fan is optional.

Another thing, shop for components. Newegg will cost you tax and shipping, frys will cost you tax, and AMAZON will cost you NEITHER.

Microcenter is also the place to be for processors. Cheapest around.

Originally Posted by dabeechman

Never buy an OEM computer if you want to game with it. Companies like Dell lock their motherboards so you are very limited to what you can do. You can't put your own components in, you can't put your own power supply in, often times you can't even load a fresh copy of windows. It ALL has to be Dell components.

This. Not to mention that they use the cheapest components for everything and upgrading is virtually impossible due to the configuration.

Originally Posted by waterboy100

@dabeechman: I wouldn't ever say a fan is optional.

I assume he meant an after-market fan.

Not a case fan, an aftermarket CPU cooler.

Maybe I should have been a little more detailed there.