Best PC Builds for Gaming, Streaming and Productivity

[COLGeek]

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This is not a thread for specific questions. Start a thread in the Systems section to seek input from others.

 

[helper800]

These new builds are almost universally not great, though I can be generous and say that I do not know the pricing on the dates they were put together. The 500 dollar build is basically incapable of playing anything made in the last 3-4 years at a reasonable framerate and detail quality. Mind as well get a console because they will be more performative and at the same cost or cheaper.

The 800 dollar build spends way too much on a CPU and too little on the PSU and graphics card. Something like this would be more appropriate in my opinion:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 3.5 GHz 6-Core Processor ($114.83 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($35.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI B550M PRO-VDH WIFI Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Blue SN580 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6750 XT 12 GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Pop Air ATX Mid Tower Case ($58.96 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: NZXT C750 (2022) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $797.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-17 18:06 EDT-0400

The 1k build at least starts off with a decent CPU but the spends too much in some areas, like on an AIO cooler, and too little on the PSU. I would do it like this:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D 3 GHz 8-Core Processor ($186.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($35.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 GAMING X V2 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Blue SN580 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: ASRock Challenger OC Radeon RX 7800 XT 16 GB Video Card ($469.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Pop Air ATX Mid Tower Case ($58.96 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1058.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-17 16:41 EDT-0400

The 1500 dollar build again skimps on the PSU and spends more in areas its not needed. I would do it like this.
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor ($419.00 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($35.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B650 EAGLE AX ATX AM5 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($88.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: TEAMGROUP MP44L 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($105.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: ASRock Challenger OC Radeon RX 7900 GRE 16 GB Video Card ($529.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Pop Air ATX Mid Tower Case ($58.96 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT Premium 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1508.81
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-17 18:24 EDT-0400

Or like this:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-13600K 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Best Buy)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($35.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z790 PRO RS WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($158.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($88.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Acer Predator GM7000 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($136.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI VENTUS 2X OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB Video Card ($690.99 @ MSI)
Case: Fractal Design Pop Air ATX Mid Tower Case ($58.96 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT Premium 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1530.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-17 18:31 EDT-0400

For the 3700 dollar build / 4k+ you can do a bit better if all you care about is price to performance if the sliding scale is more heavily on the side of performance. At this budget you can seemingly get whatever you want, within reason, and as long as you do not pick super mismatched parts, in regards to performance, you should be good. Also never get two kits of two sticks of RAM and assume they will work together, there is a reason why RAM is sold in kits:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D 4.2 GHz 16-Core Processor ($574.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Lian Li Galahad II Trinity Performance 108.29 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Motherboard: ASRock X670E Steel Legend ATX AM5 Motherboard ($259.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Mushkin Redline Lumina White 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6400 CL30 Memory ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Acer Predator GM7000 4 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($269.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte AERO OC GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB Video Card ($1849.99 @ Best Buy)
Case: Lian Li LANCOOL III RGB ATX Mid Tower Case ($149.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower PF3-L 1050 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($164.60 @ Amazon)
Total: $3589.03
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-17 18:48 EDT-0400

 

[thestryker]

If you're aiming at the $500 mark I think it would be much better to go slightly over than massively cut to get under. Here's one that I came up with which would end up having a much better experience (albeit going ~$30 over and I suppose you could use one of the TT Smart PSUs, but I would never recommend one so there's some potential savings):
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i3-12100F 3.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($83.62 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B760M-HDV/M.2 D4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($28.97 @ Amazon)
Storage: Klevv CRAS C710 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte EAGLE Radeon RX 6600 8 GB Video Card ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: MSI MAG A550BN 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $530.54
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-17 19:11 EDT-0400

Then just to add a couple of Intel alternatives to the good AMD $800/$1000 builds @helper800 has listed above:

$800 Build:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-12600KF 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor ($127.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Assassin X 120 V2 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($16.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B660M Pro RS Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($48.97 @ Amazon)
Storage: Klevv CRAS C710 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6750 XT 12 GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Pop Air ATX Mid Tower Case ($58.96 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: NZXT C750 (2022) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $779.68
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-17 19:28 EDT-0400

$1000 Build:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K 3.6 GHz 12-Core Processor ($225.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($35.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B660M Pro RS Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($48.97 @ Amazon)
Storage: Klevv CRAS C710 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Speedster MERC 319 CORE Radeon RX 6800 XT 16 GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Pop Air ATX Mid Tower Case ($58.96 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: NZXT C750 (2022) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $997.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-09-17 19:32 EDT-0400

 

[edisto69]

I found a potential issue with the $1500 build (2024 article). Apparently the CPU settings for the Gigabyte Z790 Gaming X AX had the potential to lead to rapid degradation of the Intel CPU. The BIOS update (F11) to address this by adding the Intel defaults caused issues for some users, Specifically, random restarts (kernel power error) at idle or low use for the CPU. Some fixed this by flashing back to F10, Some fixed it by disabling C-states C8 and C10.

As you might guess, this is an issue that we are experiencing with the i5-14600KF in the Gigabyte Z790. Runs Prime95 just fine, temps are good, no issues with gaming, Memtest86 checks out, but we get random restarts (no BSOD) at idle or low usage.

We are going to disable C10 to start, and then C8 if the issue persists. Thus far, people experiencing the issue have said that Gigabyte isn't aware (not enough reporting), and so it might be some time before there is a BIOS fix.