Best Ultra Gaming PC Builds Under $1000 (2023 Guide)

Austin
| Last Updated: January 16, 2023

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Important: These $1000 Gaming PC Builds include the new GTX 2060 If that’s what you’re looking for!

There is nothing better than building the best gaming PC for $1000. In this build, instead of just one PC build under $1000,we've actually presented two different builds for you to choose from, each with their own different benefits. Of course, the two different builds include the ever ongoing debate of AMD vs. Intel – so we’ve included both in the builds.

We also have put together many other gaming PCs for different price points – if you want to see what else you can get, check out our PC Gaming page. Each of these builds will run ultra settings for a long time, and whatever build you end up choosing, we are sure you will be more than satisfied with it. So, without further ado, let's jump in!

With that said, there are still people who wish to have a pre-built PC. Maybe you’re running short on time or maybe the computer is a gift. For those individuals, we have help for you too. At the bottom of this post, we have some of the best pre-built PCs for under $1000.

The Ultra Gaming Build Under $1000: Beautiful Power 

For the first build, we wanted to give you something that looks just as good as those fancy pre-built gaming PCs, but with much better hardware inside.

With “Beautiful Power” you can expect to run any modern game on ultra settings at 1080p. This build will really last you for years.

This gaming PC under $1000 also has a good upgrade path, due to it having a full ATX board for more slots and the possibility of  SLI (two graphics cards) gaming in the future, which will further extend the life of this build. This build also includes the most recent video card from Nvidia, the GTX 2060, which has some amazing cool benefits like improved ray tracing. (You’re going to be set for years.)

We also have one of the new 9th Gen Intel chips as the heart of this build.

Build Breakdown

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Tempered glass side and front
  • RGB light customization (30 LED lights)
  • Verstile option for system cooling
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  • No integrated graphics needed GPU
  • Supports Intel Optane memeory
  • Designed wih 6 cores & threads
View Latest Price →
  • Real time raytracing
  • Overclocked boost clock (1800mHz)
  • Ice storm 2.0 cooling system
View Latest Price →
  • Dual channel memory supported
  • Compatible with multiple Intel processors
  • Supports Windows 10 64-bit
View Latest Price →
  • Designed with a low profile heat spreader
  • Compatible wth Intell 100 -300 series & Intel X299 processorsd
  • High performance overclocking
View Latest Price →
  • Thermally controlled 4.72" fan
  • 5 year warranty
  • Decreased heat output
View Latest Price →
  • Low power consumption
  • 5 year limited warranty
  • Hybrid hard drive design
View Latest Price →

Case:
Corsair Carbide Spec 02 

If you care about the looks of a case, then this build was specifically designed for you! The whole purpose of this build is to give you the look of a pre-built PC, but the power of a PC that is worth much more than $1000.

This case also comes preinstalled with two case fans to keep your $1000 gaming PC nice and cool.

Other than looks, this case also delivers some amazing features while still maintaining a more than affordable price. You will be getting two fans and space for more, which will keep your build safe from overheating. You are also getting five drive bays to install HDDs and SSDs (basically computer space), which allows for you to keep upgrading this PC for a long time.

The only thing about this case is that it is a pretty heavy case and not very mobile due to its design and actually weighs 17.6 pounds.

One thing we recommend, is if you are using a different case, check the dimensions of the case to make sure it will work with this build.

Power Supply:
Corsair CX Series 550W

The Power Supply (PSU) for this build is the Corsair CX 550M Semi-Modular PSU. This PSU is 80+ bronze efficient, which basically means it channels power better, saving you more money in the long run.

Most people skimp on the PSU, as it’s the last thing you typically think of, but this is a mistake. The PSU is what powers the whole computer build.

This build goes with semi-modular cabling instead of a non-modular power supply due to the ease of cabling, which will save you a great deal of time when building your PC. A semi-modular power supply just reduces the amount of clutter and due to this, the airflow improves.

This fan is also constantly running, which is a good thing when it comes to a gaming build so your PC constantly keeps normal temperatures. The good thing about this fan is that it still manages to keep the noise down, even when it’s at top temperatures. At the price point, the Corsair CX 550 semi-modular power supply is just the all-around best pick.

Also, this PSU comes with a five-year, worry-free warranty, which is always nice to have as peace of mind.

Note: We don't recommend trying to go with a lower power supply, as the video card for this build can really be a power hog especially if you are thinking of overclocking with a new CPU in the future.

Video Card:
EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 XC Ultra Gaming 6GB

Now, we’re on to the most important piece of the build, the GTX 2060 Six GB Video Card! With this card, you will max out any game that’s coming out in 2018 & beyond. It can handle any game at 1080p and even at 2k resolution without issue, so there is nothing to worry about on that front.

Thanks to crypto prices coming back down, this has really dropped the prices of some video cards, so it's great to be able to include an RTX 2060 video card in this build.

With six GBs of RAM, this is about as future-proof as you can get with a graphics card, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better than a four GB card, since no games are currently coming close to needing this much.

The fans on this thing are so silent that unless you are really pushing the card, you will not even hear it, and with headphones on, you will never hear it at all.

Another amazing thing about this card is how cool it runs. This card is modded by Zotac and has something called Icestorm 2.0 technology inside of it. This allows for very low temperatures, even when it’s be maxed out.

If you dislike overclocking manually, then this is the card for you due to it basically already being pretty overclocked right out of the box. This is both a negative and a positive. You will get much better performance, but this thing will also use a lot of power. The good thing is that you’ll be the envy of all your gaming friends for years to come with the Zotac RTX 2060. 

Processor:
Intel i5-9400F

The processor of this build complements the GTX 2060 very well.

The I5-9400F is probably one of the best CPUs you can get right now at an affordable price. Yes, there are better CPUs, but for gaming, they really aren’t necessary.

For the price, you can supplement your build with so many other good components. We were able to squeeze more RAM, a way better PSU, and a kick-ass GPU in because we saved on the CPU.

At such an affordable price, you’d thing it would lack in performance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is Intel’s 9th Generation CPU and it has six cores that can be overclocked to 4.1 GHz for even better performance. 

Note: Do you need an aftermarket cooler?

Getting one will keep the CPU cooler, but there really is no need unless you are really trying to overclock a CPU. 

The Intel i5-9400F also comes with a decent cooler, making it largely unnecessary.

Motherboard:
MSI Z390-A PRO

The motherboard for this build is the MSI Z390-A PRO DDR4 Gaming Motherboard.

The good thing about this motherboard is it was specifically designed with gamers in mind, to which there are a number of BIOS features that make things such as overclocking much easier.

Another thing people overlook about motherboards is their sound quality, which is a very important piece of gaming. The MSI LGA1151 is an amazing onboard audio for the price and really surprised us.

For this build, we chose a Z motherboard – this means the  possibility of using the overclocking K versions of any CPU in the future is open to you.

RAM:
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB

For this build, we have the Vengeance LPX Series 16 GB (2 X 8 GB ). 16 GBs of RAM will allow you to have as many Google Chrome tabs open as you wish without slowing your PC!

If you have it in your budget, upgrading to a DDR4 3200 will bring out even more performance with the i5-9400 F chip, but these will do just fine.

The reason we went with the Corsair Vegeance LPX 16 GB is due to the lifetime warranty, and users state that when they did have to return a product, customer service was quick to help and solved any issues.

Hard Drive:
Seagate 1TB FireCuda Gaming SSHD

The hard drive we chose is the Seagate Firecuda 1 TB solid-state hard drive. This should be all the space you need at the beginning when building your PC.  In the future, if you want something better, consider getting the 2 TB version. It’s $30 more, but worth it. 

(Optional) Optical Drive

The optical drive is optional because you really do not need an optical drive anymore due to everything basically being digital nowadays. We understand that some people will still want an optical drive (CD Drive) though. If that is you, check out our post on optical drives.

(Optional) SSD:
PNY CS1311 240GB 2.5” SATA III

While SSDs aren’t mandatory, they can be beneficial. Most people use them for a more responsive operating system. This is because SSDs process things much faster than hard drives, which makes all the difference. The only reason we don't recommend picking one up is due to the added cost.

The PNY CS1311 is a pretty amazing SSD. One of the things to look for in any storage device is how stable it is. PNY SSDs have been around for a long time and have proven to be very consistent. If you’re looking for something cheaper, you could always get their 120 GB SSD and shave off half the cost, as an OS only needs about 20 GBs of space.

Build Conclusion

This build is truly top of the line and will be the envy of all your friends. With this PC, your computer will be better than 95% of the other computers out there, and even that is being pessimistic. Not only will you have an awesome time playing games, but with this build, you will run games at 60 fps on 1440p and can even run games smoothly in 4k.

The upgrade path for this build would be to wait a few years until you start to see a dip in frame rates and then,  either go SLI (depending on driver support) or sell your current GPU and go with a newer flagship. The CPU should last longer before you need to replace it, but you can make a build last for a very long time. Seriously though, this build will last you for a long time and you really won’t need to worry about upgrading for a while.

Ultra Gaming Build Under $1000: The Monster  

This build is called “The Monster”, not only because of its outward appearance, which is awesome, but because of what it has inside. This thing has some amazing components we managed to get for around $1000. With this build, you will be able to play games on ultra settings at 1080p 60 fps and this build should even be able to hold its own gaming at 1440p if you are thinking about that.

Unlike the first build, this isn’t as stylish and sacrifices some of the looks to get very powerful components, so if you don’t care about how your gaming PC looks and just want the best performance your money can buy, this build was designed specifically for you.

The Build Breakdown

Below you will find the build and the build breakdown. If you are going to get this build, we highly encourage you to read the build breakdown so you know what you are buying before you spend your money on it.

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Built-in cable management system
  • x2 drop-n-lock SSD mounts
  • Metal shell with temoered glass sides
View Latest Price →
  • Comes wit 3 month Xbox Game Pass
  • Wraith Spiral Cooling built-in
  • 19MB combined cache
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  • State of the art, realistic graphics
  • x2 HDB fans
  • 6144MB/GDDR6 memory detail
View Latest Price →
  • Optimizes your system for VR use
  • Supports 32GB dual channel memory
  • eSports player certified performance
View Latest Price →
  • Designed with a low profile heat spreader
  • Compatible wth Intell 100 -300 series & Intel X299 processorsd
  • High performance overclocking
View Latest Price →
  • Thermally controlled 4.72" fan
  • 5 year warranty
  • Decreased heat output
View Latest Price →
  • Fitted with an internal SSHD drive
  • Low power consumption
  • 2TB of storage
View Latest Price →

Case:
Phanteks P400S Mid-Tower Case

The case for this build is the Phanteks P400s. There’s really nothing that makes this case special, but the quality of the case is good and the design is clean! The purpose of this build was to focus less on things that didn’t have much of an impact on the build and more on the main components that make up this build, so that’s what we have here. Something this case does do better than most is the amazing number of SSD and HDD slots you have at your disposal. In total, you get five, which is pretty amazing when you consider the price.

The case also has multiple USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports on the front, as well as other convenient features, such as the headphone and speaker jack. The case also has pretty good airflow, which is very important when building a gaming PC.

Power Supply:
Corsair CXB 550W Semi Module PSU

The Corsair CX 550-Watt Power Supply is really an awesome buy for the price. This power supply is fully modular, which saves a lot of time not having to sort a number of cords out, and is definitely worth a few extra dollars. It also considerably helps with airflow.

This power supply also has 80+ bronze efficiency. This basically just means that it channels power more efficiently and saves you money in the process.

Note: We don't recommend going anything lower than 550 Watts, due to this build using a considerable amount of power. This would also hamper your ability to upgrade in the future, so you might as well spend a few extra dollars now rather than having to replace your power supply later.

Video Card:
EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 XC Ultra Gaming 6GB

Now we come to the piece that this whole build literally revolves around. Nvidia's most recent video card, the EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 XC Ultra Gaming (you won’t find a better card for the money). This graphic card literally annihilates any game in its path.

You aren’t just getting a base model, you get a modded out video card that comes fully maxed out and ready to perform at its peak. The RTX 2060 XC Ultra is also ready for VR, or Virtual Reality, if that’s something you’re interested in.

Considering that this is a top-tier graphics card, you will be able to use this thing for years before having to upgrade.

This card is basically silent due to dual-fan technology, and the fans don’t even fully turn on until the cards get to temperatures over 50° C, making this a really nice card that won’t overheat on you, nor be extremely noisy.

The GTX 2060 is also able to destroy any of the latest games, even at 2k resolution, let alone 1080p!

There really are no downsides to this card. You really are getting one of the best cards that money can buy and if you love to play games, this card will really make you very happy.

Processor:
Ryzen 5 2600x

AMD just released their new Ryzen processors and they are workhorses! We chose the Ryzen 5 2600x for "The Monster" due to its ease of use and crazy processing power.

The Ryzen 5 2600x handles CPU-intensive games such as MMOs with ease and will be all you’ll need for years to come. The 2600x has six cores, which at the moment is overkill for gaming, but could extend this CPU’s life as more games begin to utilize more than four cores.

Ryzen 5’s 2600x can also overclock and get major performance boosts as a result, going from 3.6 Ghz all the way to 4 Ghz with the stock cooler.

All in all, this CPU is one of the best on the market for both gamers and professionals looking for a workstation. The Ryzen 5 2600x, paired with the GTX 2060, is really a force to be reckoned with.

Motherboard:
MSI Ryzen B450M Gaming Plus

The MSI B450M motherboard most importantly will house the Ryzen 5 2600x. MSI is known for making quality motherboards at an affordable price, and this one definitely lives up to their reputation. 

This motherboard does give a great number of USB 3.0s and USB 2.0s, which are very useful, considering the case only gives a few of them in the front. This is really just a solid motherboard with a great BIOS by MSI that should host the CPU and GPU without any issues. Considering that this is one of the few affordable full motherboards that support Ryzen at a good price, you really can’t complain.

The only con for this motherboard is that it doesn’t support SLI (the ability to use two graphics cards at once). If you do want SLI ,you’re going to need to get an X470 motherboard that can still house the Ryzen 5 2600x, albeit for a significant price increase.

RAM:
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB Kit

The RAM we selected for this build is the Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GBs of RAM. 

Sixteen GBs are the ideal amount of RAM for any modern build. Unlike 8 GBs options, you have enough room to really play a game and run some other applications in the background. Outside of that, if you plan on doing any streaming or video creation, this is going to make your life so much easier.

Hard Drive:
Seagate Firecuda 2 TB SSHD

For this build, again we’ve chosen the trusty Seagate Firecuda 2TB Hard Drive. With this hard drive, you will be able to install plenty of games before you start running out of space and this should be all you really need for a while.

One thing we recommend is getting an SSD in the future. An SSD is not really important, but it does make boot times much quicker and most people end up putting their OS on them, which allows for quick load times.

In the future, you will definitely need to buy more HDDs and SSDs. The case for this build has seven bay drives for these, which will allow you to attach a lot of memory to your computer.

SSD:
PNY CS1311 240GB 2.5” SATA III

SSDs won’t make or break your build, but they will make the programs on them run much faster. If you don’t care about loading times being slightly longer, then forgo the SSD and get another hard drive. If you do care about loading times, then investing in an SSD might be a good idea.

One of the main things people put on an SSD is their operating system. Since the OS is the base for just about every other program, everything feels much snappier. Even if you don’t pick up a 240 GB SSD, it might be a good idea to check out the PNY CS1311 120 GB version. It’s about half the cost and you can still store your OS on it.

(Optional) Optical Drive

We didn’t include an optical drive in this build because they really aren’t used very often anymore and didn’t feel one was necessary. Some people might still want to pick one up, so check out our link in the previous build to find a good, non-expensive one.

Build Conclusion

Really what is there to say about this build? You are getting a top-of-the-line graphics card and an amazing CPU. You should have no doubt that you will be able to game at ultra settings for a long time with this build.

If you want a PC that really doesn’t have those beautiful looks on the outside, but inside, has some monster specs that truly impress, then this build was made for you.

Which is Best For Me? The Monster Build or the Beautiful Power?

Many of you might not know which build to choose, so here, we'll tell you which build is best for different types of users. 

Go with “Beautiful Power” if you want a more stylish build with a better case. The whole purpose of “Beautiful Power” is to look good, but still maintain a great deal of power while doing it. With this build, you will get an overall more balanced build. The graphics card is comparable to "The Monster" build, and the PSU, RAM, and motherboard are all a little bit better in this build than the second build. This build is great for gaming and is Intel-based.

“The Monster’s” main focus was getting a very strong GPU and CPU, to which the other pieces of this build needed to be slightly weaker to accomplish while staying under $1000. "The Monster" build also sacrifices SLI by opting to go with the more affordable B450 motherboard. What you get in exchange is a multi-tasking monster, as it now features the AMD Ryzen 5 2600x. So if you plan on doing any work that requires heavy CPU usage, this is is the build for you.

These builds are both pretty comparable, with a slight edge to the "Beautiful Power" when it comes to gaming, but "The Monster" definitely outshines the prior if you’re going to be using it as a workstation, due to its six powerful cores and 12 threads.

Our final recommendation is to get the "Beautiful Power" build if you only plan on gaming, but to consider "The Monster" if you’re looking for a workstation that requires heavier processing power, which would benefit from the powerful Ryzen 5 2600x processor.

Either way, you’re getting an amazing PC that’s going to make you a very happy gamer.

Best Gaming PC Under $1000 (Prebuilt)

Okay, we’re not going to hate. Despite our strong feelings about building your own PC, sometimes you just want to buy a prebuilt PC. We’ve added our choices below for the best $1000 dollar gaming PCs around.


Comparison of the Best Ultra Gaming PC Builds Under $1000

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Wide range of connectivity choices
  • ASUS software for monitoring and optimizing perfromance
  • AMD Ryzen 5 processor
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  • AMD Ryzen 7 processor
  • Tray loading dual layer DVD burner
  • AMD Radeon RX 580 graphics processor
View Latest Price →
  • Intel core i5 processor
  • NVIDIA geForce GTX graphics card
  • Muliptle ports for verstaile connectivity
View Latest Price →
  • VR ready system
  • Intel Core i7 processor
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 graphics processor
View Latest Price →

1. ASUS G11DF-DBR5-GTX1060

PROS

  • Out of the box performance
  • Style
  • Connectivity and ports
  • Storage
  • Other peripherals and features
  • Power consumption
  • Upgradability

CONS

  • None
Out-of-the-Box Performance

The ASUS computer comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 1400, which is a quad core with eight threads. It has a base clock speed of 3.2GHz and with turbo it could go up to 3.4Ghz.

The Ryzen 5 1400 will certainly impress with computer related activities. Though gaming wise, it may be a little bottlenecked paired with the GTX1060.

The GPU, on the other hand, has six GBs in the GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX1060. The GTX 1060 is based under Pascal architecture and is VR ready. As for its specifications, it has a base/boost clock speed of 1506/1708, and a memory speed of 8 Gbps.

Sadly, with any NVIDIA GPU, G-sync monitors are almost always more expensive than their Freesync (AMD) counterparts. You should be able to easily get over 60 fps at 1080p on every game and closer to 100 fps on many games with this graphics card and CPU pairing.

The RAM is just about enough for typical gaming and everyday normal tasks, with eight GBs of DDR4. It supports 2400Mhz for clock speed.

Style

The design of the chassis has that futuristic look to it. Take out the ASUS logo and you have a face of a Gundam staring at you. We are fans of a minimalistic chassis, but every once in awhile it is nice to see such a stylistic design sitting on your desk.

Connectivity and Ports

This gaming PC under $1000 has all the ports needed for your connection and communications.

On the back, you have two USB 2.0, four USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C Flash Charge 3A5V, and you also have a 5.1 channel audio for your speakers.

On the front you have a 6-in-1 card reader, headphone and microphone jacks, two USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.1 ports.

The ethernet port on the back has a standard 10/100/1000 Gigabit transfer adapter.

If you are not able to have a wired connection, or the router is too far to be reached by a short LAN cable, don’t lose hope, this $1000 gaming PC has an 802.11 AC adapter installed, as well.

A Bluetooth 4.1 is also installed on this gaming PC, allowing users to transfer files or connect to a Bluetooth device, such as wireless speakers.

Storage

The primary storage for this gaming PC under $1000 is a 256 GB M.2 SSD It is a much faster drive compared to SATA 3 SSDs. The space of this drive is more than enough for your operating system and a game or two. This particular computer has the largest SSD out of all the prebuilt gaming PCs.

There is a 1 TB hard drive with spindle speeds of 7200 RPM. Pairing a SSD with a standard HD is nice, as you get some inexpensive larger storage space available.

Just make sure to save most of the larger files to the bigger HD, and you’ll be very happy.

Other Peripherals and Features

Though optical drives are mostly a thing of the past, there are still some uses for them, ASUS has included a Supermulti DVD-RW in this gaming computer.

This can fit under or over your desk, at a mere 6.9 x 17.3 x 16.6 inches.

Power Consumption

This $1000 gaming PC is powered by a 500W PSU, and supplies more than enough juice for all the components installed in this desktop, with some extra wattage for other add-ons down the road.

Upgradability

This computer has two DIMM slots, and can support 16 GB DDR4s maximum for each slot. That’s still a total of 32 GB.

Bottom Line

For its price, this is one of the best gaming PCs for under $1000. Having all the extras, along with an SSD in base configuration will make operating this PC snappy.

It will perform well out of the box and provide you high-performance, especially when playing games.

2. Dell Inspiron 5675

PROS

  • AMD Ryzen 7 1700X Processor (8C/16T, 20MB Cache , 3.8 GHz Precision Boost)
  • 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 up to [32GB] (additional memory sold separately)

CONS

  • None

3. CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8060A5

PROS

  • System: Intel Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core | Intel B360M Express Chipset | 8GB DDR4 | 120GB SSD 
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Video Card | 1x DVI | 1x HDMI | 1x DisplayPort

CONS

  • None

4. iBUYPOWER AM900Z

PROS

  • System: Intel i7-7700K Quad-Core Processor 4.2 GHz (4.5 GHz Max Turbo) | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 1TB
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Dedicated Graphics Card | 1x DVI | 1x HDMI | 1x Display

CONS

  • None

Recommended Peripherals

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • 2W stereo speakers
  • Full HD display
  • 4 mode color temperature selection
View Latest Price →
  • Cherry MX key switches
  • Customizable keys configuration
  • Set-up to be anti-ghosting
View Latest Price →
  • Fitted with a HERO 16K sensor
  • Multiple customizable buttons (11)
  • LIGHTSYNC technolgy built in
View Latest Price →
  • Dual band 4x4 wi-fi
  • Magnetic antenna base
  • R-sma antenna connectors
View Latest Price →

It doesn’t matter if you have the strongest PC known to mankind. If you don’t have peripherals, you won’t be able to use it. Don’t build your PC and then wait for peripherals (accessories), as you will end up losing that new PC feeling. Below are our recommended peripherals for these builds.

Best Monitor:
Asus VG248QE

PROS

  • Ultra smooth action with 144 Hertz rapid refresh rate and 1 ms (GTG) response time; Display
  • Ergonomically designed stand with tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment, plus wall mount

CONS

  • None

This ASUS VG248QE24-Inch Gaming Monitor is one of the best 1080p monitors out there because it’s specifically made for gamers.

This monitor is even better if you are into competitive gaming, as it offers 1 ms response times that really set it apart from your average monitor. This monitor actually has settings that can reduce input lag, putting you one step ahead of your competition.

If you are looking at a less expensive monitor, check out our post on the best gaming monitors under $200.

Best Keyboard:
CORSAIR Strafe Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

PROS

  • 100% Cherry MX key switches
  • Dynamic backlighting

CONS

  • None

This is the best, compatible keyboard. Or you can look at some other top choice mechanical keyboards.

Best Mouse:
Logitech G502

PROS

  • High performance HERO 16K Sensor
  • 11 Customizable Buttons and Onboard Memory

CONS

  • None

Of course if you’re left-handed, we also have a post on the best left-handed gaming mice that would be of interest.

Best Wi-Fi Adapter:
ASUS PCE-AC88 AC3100 4x4 802.11AC PCI-e Adapter

PROS

  • Dual-band 4x4 AC3100 Wi-Fi with speeds up to 2100 Mbps (5 GHz band) and 1000 Mbps 2.4 GHz band
  • External magnetic antenna base allows flexible antenna placement to maximize coverage
  • Individual antennas can also attach directly to PCI-e Card for compact installation

CONS

  • None

If at all possible, connect directly to the router using an Ethernet cable for gaming, especially online. You’ll deal with much less latency issues which makes gaming a much more enjoyable experience.

We have a post on the best Wi-Fi adapters that can go through all the great ones out there for your budget in detail.

Operating System Options

Once you’ve gotten your PC built and attached or installed all of your peripherals, then it’s time to pick out your operating system. What an operating system does is basically manage all of the other applications on your PC. There are thousands of operating systems out there that could really be used, but the most important two for gamers are Linux and Windows. Below, we break them both down and tell you the pros and cons of each.

(Ubuntu) Linux

Linux isn’t as well known as Windows, but that doesn’t mean you should totally discount it. Linux wasn’t made by a company, but it was an open end project created by many developers to bring an OS that wasn’t as restrictive as Windows and could be customized to fit your own desires.

Since Linux is so open, it allows for so much more customization, and if you are a person who’s likes being able to control almost every aspect of your PC, Linux was specifically designed with you in mind. Linux also has a price tag of $0, which makes it even more appealing to people who would rather not spend any money on an operating system or for someone who is just waiting to switch to Windows in the future.

Linux’s greatest pro is also its greatest con for many. To a lot of people, having so many options can be greatly confusing and that might really turn someone off to using Linux. Linux is also slow to fix bugs, which is another annoying thing due to it being a free OS.

Windows 10

Everyone here surely knows about Windows, and with good reason. They have been the most widely used OS for years and their reign as the top OS doesn’t seem to be anywhere close to ending.

Unlike Linux, since Windows is run like a company, they are quick to fix any major issues and bugs. Windows also has the best gaming experience, as games are all optimized for this platform, unlike Linux, so you will always get the best PC gaming experience on Windows.

Windows is also much more restrictive than Linux, which is probably better for most people who are just trying to game. The biggest issue with Windows is that it can cost you a pretty penny. This might be a turn-off for a lot of people.

What Version of Windows Do You Recommend?

If you do get Windows, then you have to decide which version to get. We suggest Windows 10. Microsoft has made it a much more stable OS and gamers are starting to see performance boosts, as developers optimize for it. Windows 7 and 8 are also good options, but they aren’t our top choice.

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  • Produce 3D objects easily
  • Improved gaming capabilities
  • Comprehensive systems protections
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  • New and improved start menu
  • Downloadable apps that work across platforms
  • Fast & responsive technology
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Why Should You Build a PC Instead of Buying a Pre-Built One?

This a serious question that a lot of people in need of a PC face.

There are many reasons to build your own PC instead of buying a pre-built one, but the most important one is that you get more for your money! You see, what pre-built PCs usually do is throw on a fancy case (this means absolutely nothing when it comes to performance), but then put in parts worth way less than what you are paying and sell it to you at an inflated price. That’s the business model that pre-built PC makers use.

However, not everyone is going to want to build a PC and they may opt to just get a pre-built PC, but so many people don’t even know that they are getting way less than what their build is worth. This is evident because many people don’t even know what the specs are on their PC! If you are a PC gamer, then you must know this stuff or you will keep getting ripped off.

To make it worse, the warranty on a lot of these pre-built PCs sucks, because if you so much as open your case, they automatically void the warranty. Yep, that means if you go the pre-built PC route, you are going to need to spend another $1000 every few years, when you could just build your own and upgrade it periodically and save a crap load of money.

Besides, building a PC isn’t even hard anymore, as there are so many available resources throughout the web that you can reference. There are also numerous people who are more than willing to help someone trying to build their first PC. People who build computers are not some special breed. If they can build a PC, so can you. 

Supplies you need when building a PC:

  • Screwdriver
  • Guidance
  • (Optional) Static Wrist Band

A static wrist band isn’t a huge necessity as long as you build your PC on a solid surface, but if you want to be really safe, pick one up.

How to Build a PC

Building a PC can be challenging by yourself, so below we've included a video you can use as a reference when building your PC. This video is quick and straight to the point. If you would like a more in-depth discussion on PC building check out our How To Build A PC Page.

Conclusion

If you are looking for the best gaming PC build under $1000, then you’ve just found two of them. These builds will last you for years and will handle any gaming for years to come. We recommend either of these builds for anyone who is truly in love with PC gaming and is ready to take their gaming to the next level. You will not be disappointed with these builds and whatever gaming you were doing before this will pale in comparison.

Also, in case you’re looking for something more portable – check out our post on the best gaming laptop under $1000.

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Austin

When the tech company I worked for restructured and I ended up jobless, I decided to put the wealth of knowledge and management skills to use somewhere new. I’d checked out a few buyer’s guides on the site in the past and reached out to the previous owner. A few months later, here we are. Now, I get to be behind the scenes, helping people find the best tech.