Build Cheap Gaming and Overclocking PC

We get questions about new builds from our readers all the time. It seems like one of the most common budgets is right around $1000. I wanted to create a great build that was under $1000 that the readers of this blog could use. The goal with this build is to get great performance for the price. This is a gaming PC, so I also want to make sure this gaming rig can handle the latest and greatest games. One more great thing about this build is that it should last you awhile. However, when it does come time to upgrade, it should be a super easy task pop in more RAM or swap out the video card. Let’s get right to it. Also, you can see this full build on Amazon here.

Intel Core i7-3770K Quad-Core Processor 3.5 GHz 8 MB Cache LGA 1155

For this build, I went pretty big on the CPU. This is a top of the line Quad-Core CPU from Intel that is blazing fast. It is super easy to upgrade the RAM or the video card down the road. However, the CPU is one of the harder things to upgrade since you are often limited by the socket of the motherboard. For that reason, I decided to use a healthy portion of the budget on the CPU.

Asus P8Z77-V LK Intel Z77 DDR3 LGA 1155 Motherboards

This is a solid motherboard from ASUS with great reviews. This board has a ton of room for expansion. It allows you to add up to 64GB of RAM and to use 2 video cards if you so choose.

Kingston Technology HyperX 8 GB (2×4 GB Modules) 1600 MHz DDR3 Dual Channel Kit (PC3 12800) 240-Pin SDRAM

HyperX Ram from Kingston is excellent memory for a gaming machine. To keep this build under $1000, I had to limit the memory to 8GB. 8GB of RAM is easily enough for the latest games.  If your budget allows, going for 16GB of RAM (4x4GB) would be recommended.

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 OC 2GB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

This is an awesome video card for the price. This card has great reviews and will allow you play the latest games on good settings. This card is also known to run cool and quiet as well.

In my opinion, it makes sense to go with a mid-range card if you are on a budget. This card will still play the latest games for years to come. If you spent double the money on a card, you wouldn’t be able to get double the life expectancy out of it. I find that it is best to spend somewhere around $175-$250 and just upgrade the card a few years down the line versus buying a $500 card and getting an extra 6 months to a year out of it.

Corsair Builder Series CX 600 Watt ATX/EPS 80 PLUS (CX600)

This 600 Watt PSU from Corsair has enough juice to power the parts in this build. If you plan to add a second video card in the future, you may want to opt for a 700 Watt supply.

WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache

With a capacity of 1TB, this drive should have plenty of space for your needs. This Western Digital drive has great reviews and has pretty solid speeds for a SATA drive.

Optional Add-on: If you have extra budget, I would recommend adding in an SSD drive. If you install your operating system and key programs on the SSD, you will see a huge difference when it comes to load/unload times and overall system speed. The Samsung Electronics 840 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal Solid State Drive is a great entry level SSD.

Cooler Master HAF 912 – Mid Tower Computer Case with High Airflow

Cooler Master makes great gaming cases and the HAF 912 is no exception. The high airflow design does a great job keeping your system cool. It also allows for water cooling if this is something you would be interested in.

LG Electronics Optical DVD Drive

This is a solid and inexpensive drive from LG.