Computer Builds Under $1000

For right around $1,000 this is the configuration you should use for your Gaming PC. Upgrades might include doubling up on the ram, or a small solid state drive. Radeon fans may wish to get the HD 6950 rather than the GTX 470. My listing of the GTX 470 rather than the HD 6950 is based on ratings, reviews, gamer popularity, and personal preference. You can also get the 470 right now for a lot less. At this price range another consideration would be to Crossfire 2 Radeon HD 5770, but most prefer the simplicity and stability of a single card. Any video card above this price range will not make anything look more smooth it would just last a little bit longer. It's for this reason we recommend you stick with a video card in the $200-300 range and upgrade in 18-24 months.

This computer would run anything you throw at it at the highest settings for 18 months. Other adjustments to this build could include a hybrid drive rather than the Seagate one listed below or potentially a hard drive that goes to SATA 6Gb/s. As always, doubling up the ram should be your first priority. If you need to save money, then you could consider going with the AMD Phenom II 1090T X6 processor. You'll get 6 cores for around the a third of the price of the next-to-closest Intel chip that has 6 cores ($199.99).



CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 4GB ( 2 X 2GB ) PC3-10666 1333MHz 240-pin DDR3 CL9 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit - TW3X4G1333C9DHX
                                                           Amazon Price: $73.77

Intel Core i7-950 3.06 GHz 8 MB Cache Socket LGA1366 Processor
                                                        Amazon Price: $269.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200 1 TB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s 32MB Cache 3.5 Inch Internal Hard Drive ST31000528AS-Bare Drive  Amazon Price: $117.99

Gigabyte Intel X58/Intel ICH10R Intel X58 ATX DDR3 2200 LGA 1366 Motherboard (GA-X58A-UD3R)                                    Amazon Price: $222.99

EVGA GeForce GTX 570 1280 MB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 2DVI-I/Mini-HDMI SLI Ready Limited Lifetime Warranty Graphics Card, 012-P3-1570-AR
                                                               Amazon Price: $299.99

LITE-ON 4x Blu-ray Disc SATA Internal Optical Drive iHOS104
                                                         Amazon Price: $76.99

Corsair Enthusiast Series 650-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and AMD platforms - CMPSU-650TXV2
                                                         Amazon Price: $80.99

Cooler Master HAF ATX Mid Tower Case, RC-922M-KKN1-GP (Black)
                                                                  Amazon Price: $99.91

Gaming PC for around 500

At this price range it's all about getting the best video card and CPU possible. In total, the gaming system build below comes to right around $500. If you can go as high as $600 I recommend upgrading to the GTX 460 Graphics card, the AMD Phenom II X4 955, and doubling up the ram. Depending on how intense the games you play are, you may have to bite the bullet and get at least 4GB ram anyway. World of Warcraft, for example, only recommends 2GB ram but remember when it comes to memory, more is always better.


Corsair Enthusiast Series 650-Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified Power Supply Compatible with Intel Core i3, i5, i7 and AMD platforms - CMPSU-650TXV2
                                                            Amazon Price: $80.99


Cooler Master Elite 371 Mid Tower ATX Case (RC-371-KKN1)
                                                         Amazon Price: $41.96

Corsair 4GB Dual Channel Corsair DDR3 Memory for Intel Core i5 Processors (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9)             Amazon Price: $32.99

AMD Phenom II X2 560 Processor, Black Edition (HDZ560WFGMBOX)
                                                       Amazon Price: $94.99


Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive - WD5000AAKX  Amazon Price: $75.99

GIGABYTE AM3+ NVIDIA GeForce 7025/nForce 630a Chipset DDR3 1600 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard GA-M68MT-S2 Amazon Price: $49.99

Lite-On LightScribe 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS424-98 - Retail 
                                                               Amazon Price: $30.27

EVGA GeForce GTS 450 FPB (Free Performance Boost) 1024 MB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 2DVI/Mini-HDMI SLI Ready Graphics Card, 01G-P3-1450-TR
                                                         Amazon Price: $130.99

 Some prices my change or go up but for a little over  $500 you cant beat it for what you want it for.
The total of around $538.17. In stores you would pay a lot more.
I use Amazon for all the parts.E-bay is ok but most of the parts are used and you don't really know what your getting.

Building a Gaming PC 2012

Best 500, 1000, 2000

 Every gamer has experienced the rush of emotion that comes from finally defeating your fiercest competitor. Every gamer has also experienced the utter helplessness that happens when your computer freezes and you realize that it's the end of the line. When it's time to upgrade many gamers decide to build their own computer because it gives them the flexibility of adding just the hardware they want to have the performance they need over their competition.

In Building a Gamer Computer 2012, we'll feature various builds at different price ranges that will allow you to get the edge you need. If you've never built your own gaming pc before, then we recommend grabbing one of your gaming buddies that has to help you. Once you have the right parts, it's a matter of reading the instructions and following them. Youtube has instructional videos if you get stuck, but the best way to learn is to jump right in. Although the inside of a gaming case may be daunting, most of it is as simple as knowing where the parts go and plugging and screwing them in. The most important part is to make sure parts are compatible and your slots are large enough to handle the gaming graphics card and other hardware that you throw at them. If it's something you don't have the time for, then take a look at these pre-built gaming computers for 2012.

If you don't find what you're looking for here, then please try this site devoted to gaming pc builds and this article which also has some of the best gaming pc builds.