First Time Gaming PC Buyer - Advice on What to Buy?

[Kyle96]

Hi All,

New to the forum so apologies if I'm posting in the wrong place. Any and all help on the below is much appreciated!

I'm fairly new to the world of gaming PCs. Growing up I played on my old man's PC, but I'm now in a position to afford a pretty solid system for myself. I am looking to spend ~$1,500 (can stretch the budget by maybe $500-750 if y'all think its' worth it) on a gaming PC. Given my inexperience, I'd like to buy a pre-built one unless you guys strongly recommend against it. After doing some research, it seems there are some pretty solid Presidents Day discounts and I would love to lock something in this weekend.

Primarily I intend to play Age of Empires 4, but could also see myself playing games like Apex, RDR2, and maybe Cyberpunk. TBD, so I definitely want some flexibility as far as PC robustness.

Looking around, this Alienware PC seemed like a pretty good option at a decent ~20-25% discount, but wasn't sure if it was overkill given the gaming that I'm trying to do. Let me know if you guys have any thoughts. Maybe a step down from some of the above specs would be prudent? Thanks!!

 

[Why_Me]

Hi All,

New to the forum so apologies if I'm posting in the wrong place. Any and all help on the below is much appreciated!

I'm fairly new to the world of gaming PCs. Growing up I played on my old man's PC, but I'm now in a position to afford a pretty solid system for myself. I am looking to spend ~$1,500 (can stretch the budget by maybe $500-750 if y'all think its' worth it) on a gaming PC. Given my inexperience, I'd like to buy a pre-built one unless you guys strongly recommend against it. After doing some research, it seems there are some pretty solid Presidents Day discounts and I would love to lock something in this weekend.

Primarily I intend to play Age of Empires 4, but could also see myself playing games like Apex, RDR2, and maybe Cyberpunk. TBD, so I definitely want some flexibility as far as PC robustness.

Looking around, this Alienware PC seemed like a pretty good option at a decent ~20-25% discount, but wasn't sure if it was overkill given the gaming that I'm trying to do. Let me know if you guys have any thoughts. Maybe a step down from some of the above specs would be prudent? Thanks!!

What is your monitor resolution ... 1080, 1440, ..?

 

[Kyle96]

What is your monitor resolution?

Didn't even realize this was a consideration. I have some cheap ones that my company bought for me at the start of covid for WFH. Likely going to have to upgrade those as well, so I guess assume something good and any recommendations on that front would be welcome as well.

 

[Brian Boru]

Welcome to the forum

Presidents Day

Obviously you're in USA and want to buy in USA?

Our experts will probably want to know:
♣ How long would you like this PC to last—eg are you comfy upgrading bits every year, or want to leave it alone for 5 years?
♦ What resolution do you want to play at, and what quality of settings? 1080p, 4K—Ultra, medium…
♥ Do you have a FPS target in mind? Over 100, 60 is fine…

this Alienware PC

Fwiw: I use a 2017 Aurora I 'inherited'. It's been rock solid, but is the worst to work inside—if you might be upgrading or adding parts, make sure to tell us so our guys can consider the upgradability limits of the Aurora range. Of course, Dell may have changed the Aurora design philosophy since '17, but a quick scan of the pics on your linked page don't make my inexpert eyes think so.

 

[Kyle96]

Welcome to the forum


Obviously you're in USA and want to buy in USA?

Our experts will probably want to know:
♣ How long would you like this PC to last—eg are you comfy upgrading bits every year, or want to leave it alone for 5 years?
♦ What resolution do you want to play at, and what quality of settings? 1080p, 4K—Ultra, medium…
♥ Do you have a FPS target in mind? Over 100, 60 is fine…


Fwiw: I use a 2017 Aurora I 'inherited'. It's been rock solid, but is the worst to work inside—if you might be upgrading or adding parts, make sure to tell us so our guys can consider the upgradability limits of the Aurora range. Of course, Dell may have changed the Aurora design philosophy since '17, but a quick scan of the pics on your linked page don't make my inexpert eyes think so.

Thanks for the welcome and the reply, Brian! Definitely see how these are key pieces of information that I've left out.

To answer your first four questions --
1) yes and yes, I'm eager to start gaming more so would like the new PC in the next week or two.
2) ideally last 3-5 years (or whatever is reasonable) without having to touch it.
3) I think I'd like to play at a middle-upper level of graphics. Where does that put me - between Full HD and 2K? Doesn't need to be maxed out on every setting, but after running ultra low on every setting over the past couple years trying to play on my work Laptop, I definitely feel I'm due for some luxury.
4) Again, referring to #3 above, probably in the middle-upper level of FPS - maybe in the 80-120 range?

To your last point - yeah I'm going to want to avoid taking apart and working inside the comp. Maybe things change in the coming years, but at this point in time I feel I have so much to lose/mess up when it comes to messing with the PC, and am willing to pay a bit of a premium today to avoid that risk.

Thoughts on the Aurora build I linked? Overkill relative to what I'm trying to accomplish? Or think it's a pretty solid discount for the seemingly strong components that come within?

 

[Why_Me]

@Kyle96 that prebuilt you posted has horrible airflow and no mention of model of psu and motherboard. Usually with prebuilts you get a shoddy case, board, and power supply and when the power supply goes it normally takes components with it not to mention that 1TB SSD in that build will fill up fast with the size of these newer games today. I'll give you the same advice I give pretty much everyone looking at a prebuilt ... order the components and once they arrive take them down to a local mom & pops PC repair shop and have them build it for you for a small fee. I live in Alaska and I can think of at least two of those shops within a twenty minute drive from me.

This is more or less an entry level gaming PC ... I'll post a higher end build here in just a few minutes.

Are you a human?

www.newegg.com

Phanteks Eclipse P360A Mid Tower Case $79.99

Phanteks Innovative Computer Hardware Design

www.phanteks.com

Exhaust fan for that case.

https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-ACFAN00119A-P12-Black-Pressure-Optimized/dp/B07GB5JRTZ/
ARCTIC P12 PWM 120mm 4-Pin Case Fan $8.00

https://www.antonline.com/Evga/Computers/Video_Cards/Graphic_Cards/1444073

EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC GAMING LHR Graphic Card + EVGA SuperNOVA 750W GA 80+ Gold Fully Modular Power Supply + EVGA X17 Wired Gaming Mouse + EVGA Z12 Gaming Keyboard + Xbox Game Pass For PC 2 Month Membership (Email Delivery) $719.95

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813144531
MSI PRO B660M-A DDR4 $139.99

PRO B660M-A DDR4 Motherboard M-ATX - Intel 12th Gen Processors

The PRO B660M-A DDR4 is a business-oriented micro-ATX motherboard featuring the latest Intel B660 chipset with Core Boost, Memory Boost, M.2 Shield Frozr, 2.5G LAN, Lightning Gen4

www.msi.com

Intel Core i5-12400F - Core i5 12th Gen Alder Lake 6-Core 2.5 GHz LGA 1700 65W Desktop Processor - BX8071512400F - Newegg.com

Buy Intel Core i5-12400F - Core i5 12th Gen Alder Lake 6-Core 2.5 GHz LGA 1700 65W Desktop Processor - BX8071512400F with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

Intel Core i5-12400F $199.99

https://www.amazon.com/GAMMAXX-GT-V2-Motherboard-Controller/dp/B0876GWBS5/

DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX GT V2 CPU Air Cooler $39.99

https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-PC4-25600-Desktop-Memory/dp/B07RS1G6XW/

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 16GB (2x8GB) CL16 $64.99

https://www.amazon.com/PNY-CS2130-Internal-Solid-State/dp/B0869C35V2/

PNY CS2130 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal SSD $183.99

Amazon.com: Window 10 Home USB | 1 PC | USB Flash | Upgrade to Windоws 11 is available now!

Amazon.com: Window 10 Home USB | 1 PC | USB Flash | Upgrade to Windоws 11 is available now!

www.amazon.com

Window 10 Home USB | 1 PC | USB Flash | Free Upgrade to Windоws 11 $109.00

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Optix-MAG274R2-Adjustable-Compatible/dp/B093WMSLQQ/
MSI Optix MAG274R2 Full HD Gaming Non-Glare Super Narrow Bezel 1ms 1920 x 1080 165HZ Refresh Rate Adjustable Height Arm FreeSync G-Sync Compatible 27” IPS Gaming Monitor $265.99

MSI Optix MAG274R2 - Accurate Display. Ultimate Victory. | Esports Gaming Monitor | MSI

Meet MSI Opitx MAG274R2 esports gaming monitor. Equipped with 27 inch,1080p, 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time IPS panel, the Optix MAG274R2 will give you the competitive you need to take down your opponents.

www.msi.com

Total: $1772

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P_AGv-DJbU

 

[Kyle96]

@Kyle96 that prebuilt you posted has horrible airflow and no mention of model of psu and motherboard. Usually with prebuilts you get a shoddy case, board, and power supply and when the power supply goes it normally takes components with it not to mention that 1TB SSD in that build will fill up fast with the size of these newer games today. I'll give you the same advice I give pretty much everyone looking at a prebuilt ... order the components and once they arrive take them down to a local mom & pops PC repair shop and have them build it for you for a small fee. I live in Alaska and I can think of at least two of those shops within a twenty minute drive from me.

This is more or less an entry level gaming PC ... I'll post a higher end build here in just a few minutes.

Are you a human?

www.newegg.com

Phanteks Eclipse P360A Mid Tower Case $79.99

Phanteks Innovative Computer Hardware Design

www.phanteks.com

Exhaust fan for that case.

https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-ACFAN00119A-P12-Black-Pressure-Optimized/dp/B07GB5JRTZ/
ARCTIC P12 PWM 120mm 4-Pin Case Fan $8.00

https://www.antonline.com/Evga/Computers/Video_Cards/Graphic_Cards/1444073

EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC GAMING LHR Graphic Card + EVGA SuperNOVA 750W GA 80+ Gold Fully Modular Power Supply + EVGA X17 Wired Gaming Mouse + EVGA Z12 Gaming Keyboard + Xbox Game Pass For PC 2 Month Membership (Email Delivery) $719.95

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813144531
MSI PRO B660M-A DDR4 $139.99

PRO B660M-A DDR4 Motherboard M-ATX - Intel 12th Gen Processors

The PRO B660M-A DDR4 is a business-oriented micro-ATX motherboard featuring the latest Intel B660 chipset with Core Boost, Memory Boost, M.2 Shield Frozr, 2.5G LAN, Lightning Gen4

www.msi.com

Intel Core i5-12400F - Core i5 12th Gen Alder Lake 6-Core 2.5 GHz LGA 1700 65W Desktop Processor - BX8071512400F - Newegg.com

Buy Intel Core i5-12400F - Core i5 12th Gen Alder Lake 6-Core 2.5 GHz LGA 1700 65W Desktop Processor - BX8071512400F with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

Intel Core i5-12400F $199.99

https://www.amazon.com/GAMMAXX-GT-V2-Motherboard-Controller/dp/B0876GWBS5/

DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX GT V2 CPU Air Cooler $39.99

https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-PC4-25600-Desktop-Memory/dp/B07RS1G6XW/

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200 16GB (2x8GB) CL16 $64.99

https://www.amazon.com/PNY-CS2130-Internal-Solid-State/dp/B0869C35V2/

PNY CS2130 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal SSD $183.99

Amazon.com: Window 10 Home USB | 1 PC | USB Flash | Upgrade to Windоws 11 is available now!

Amazon.com: Window 10 Home USB | 1 PC | USB Flash | Upgrade to Windоws 11 is available now!

www.amazon.com

Window 10 Home USB | 1 PC | USB Flash | Free Upgrade to Windоws 11 $109.00

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Optix-MAG274R2-Adjustable-Compatible/dp/B093WMSLQQ/
MSI Optix MAG274R2 Full HD Gaming Non-Glare Super Narrow Bezel 1ms 1920 x 1080 165HZ Refresh Rate Adjustable Height Arm FreeSync G-Sync Compatible 27” IPS Gaming Monitor $265.99

MSI Optix MAG274R2 - Accurate Display. Ultimate Victory. | Esports Gaming Monitor | MSI

Meet MSI Opitx MAG274R2 esports gaming monitor. Equipped with 27 inch,1080p, 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time IPS panel, the Optix MAG274R2 will give you the competitive you need to take down your opponents.

www.msi.com

Total: $1772

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P_AGv-DJbU

This is amazing - thank you for the insight and for taking the time to put this together! Will stay tuned for the higher end build, maybe I split it down the middle and use some parts from each of the two groups.

 

[Why_Me]

https://www.newegg.com/black-lian-li-lancool-ii-rgb-mesh-atx-mid-tower/p/2AM-000Z-00088
LIAN LI LANCOOL II MESH C RGB BLACK Tempered Glass ATX Case $109.99

https://lian-li.com/product/lancool-ii-mesh-rgb/

Exhaust fan for that case.

https://www.amazon.com/Phanteks-SK120-DRGB-PWM-PH-F120SK_DRGB_PWM/dp/B08C2FB7D2/
Phanteks SK120 DRGB PWM 120mm 4-Pin Case Fan $12.99

https://www.antonline.com/Evga/Computers/Video_Cards/Graphic_Cards/1444073

EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC GAMING LHR Graphic Card + EVGA SuperNOVA 750W GA 80+ Gold Fully Modular Power Supply + EVGA X17 Wired Gaming Mouse + EVGA Z12 Gaming Keyboard + Xbox Game Pass For PC 2 Month Membership (Email Delivery) $719.95

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Tomahawk-Gaming-Motherboard-Socket/dp/B09PXL3ZZB/

MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 $189.99

MAG B660 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4

Powered by Intel 12th Gen Core processors, the MSI MAG B660 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 is hardened with performance essential specifications to outlast enemies. Tuned for better performance by Core boost, Memory Boost, Premium Thermal Solution, M.2 Shield Frozr,

us.msi.com

https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i7-12700f-core-i7-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118359
Intel Core i7-12700F $315.97

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...2700f-processor-25m-cache-up-to-4-90-ghz.html

https://www.newegg.com/p/2YM-004H-00041
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 A-RGB AIO and Intel LGA1700 Upgrade Kit Bundle $151.99

https://www.newegg.com/corsair-32gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820236607
CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 3600 32GB (2x16GB) CL18 $134.00

https://www.amazon.com/PNY-CS2130-Internal-Solid-State/dp/B0869C35V2/
PNY CS2130 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal SSD $183.99

Amazon.com: Window 10 Home USB | 1 PC | USB Flash | Upgrade to Windоws 11 is available now!

Amazon.com: Window 10 Home USB | 1 PC | USB Flash | Upgrade to Windоws 11 is available now!

www.amazon.com

Window 10 Home USB | 1 PC | USB Flash | Free Upgrade to Windоws 11 $109.00

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Optix-MAG274R2-Adjustable-Compatible/dp/B093WMSLQQ/
MSI Optix MAG274R2 Full HD Gaming Non-Glare Super Narrow Bezel 1ms 1920 x 1080 165HZ Refresh Rate Adjustable Height Arm FreeSync G-Sync Compatible 27” IPS Gaming Monitor $265.99

MSI Optix MAG274R2 - Accurate Display. Ultimate Victory. | Esports Gaming Monitor | MSI

Meet MSI Opitx MAG274R2 esports gaming monitor. Equipped with 27 inch,1080p, 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time IPS panel, the Optix MAG274R2 will give you the competitive you need to take down your opponents.

www.msi.com

Total: $2194

Review of that cpu w/benchmarks.

https://www.techspot.com/review/2391-intel-core-i7-12700/

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgN4W97Esk&t=693s

 

[Why_Me]

More money for this combo but the card is factory overclocked, better cooling, runs quieter and the psu is manufactured by Seasonic for Phanteks.

https://www.amazon.com/Phanteks-80PLUS-Supply-Modular-Certified/dp/B07W8ZS9HF/
Phanteks AMP Series 650W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply $83.14

https://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-REV2-0-WINDFORCE-GV-N306TGAMING-OC-8GD/dp/B09BKBJ14W/

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC 8GB (REV2.0) Graphics Card $858.39

 

[TomaHawk]

Newbeee here. Looks like I came to the right forum.Those builds look like they will be KILLER. I'm following as sometime later on I will be replacing my 5 year old CyberPower PC (which will not run Windows 11).

 

[Kyle96]

More money for this combo but the card is factory overclocked, better cooling, runs quieter and the psu is manufactured by Seasonic for Phanteks.

https://www.amazon.com/Phanteks-80PLUS-Supply-Modular-Certified/dp/B07W8ZS9HF/
Phanteks AMP Series 650W 80+ Gold Modular Power Supply $83.14

https://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-REV2-0-WINDFORCE-GV-N306TGAMING-OC-8GD/dp/B09BKBJ14W/

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC 8GB (REV2.0) Graphics Card $858.39

Again, thanks so much. This was super helpful and I'll be buying probably tomorrow. I did had a couple more questions -

• Any idea about how much I should expect to pay to the local mom & pop for the build (I'm in a major city in south US for context)? Maybe ~$100-150?
• What would you do if you were me as far as the second graphics card you mentioned (higher priced PC, the ~$720+13 combo) vs. the most expensive one you mentioned (~$860+83)? I think it's worth stepping up given it's a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of the build, but still curious what your thoughts are.
  • For more context - I saw your notes above, but given my lack of overall knowledge in the just not sure i) when I'll overclock the graphics card, ii) why/when the graphics card would need better cooling, and iii) what the implications of Seasonic for Phanteks is?
• Can I send you some beer/coffee/ice fishing money (or whatever it is you crazy Alaskans do) for your time and advice? Can't figure out how to DM on this forum, but fire me a message as I would love to show some appreciation

Cheers

 

[Why_Me]

Again, thanks so much. This was super helpful and I'll be buying probably tomorrow. I did had a couple more questions -

• Any idea about how much I should expect to pay to the local mom & pop for the build (I'm in a major city in south US for context)? Maybe ~$100-150?
• What would you do if you were me as far as the second graphics card you mentioned (higher priced PC, the ~$720+13 combo) vs. the most expensive one you mentioned (~$860+83)? I think it's worth stepping up given it's a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of the build, but still curious what your thoughts are.
  • For more context - I saw your notes above, but given my lack of overall knowledge in the just not sure i) when I'll overclock the graphics card, ii) why/when the graphics card would need better cooling, and iii) what the implications of Seasonic for Phanteks is?
• Can I send you some beer/coffee/ice fishing money (or whatever it is you crazy Alaskans do) for your time and advice? Can't figure out how to DM on this forum, but fire me a message as I would love to show some appreciation

Cheers

The guy who owns the laptop repair shop down the road from me charges right around $150 to build it which includes checking temps, running memtest, etc ... which is a pretty good deal tbh even though he does all this in a matter of a few hours. Agree with you on stepping up to the better graphics card .. not near as loud and runs a whole lot cooler. As far as what one of those builds to choose .. if you plan on playing games such as Cyber Punk then I think I'd lean towards the i7 build ... otherwise the i5 build will suffice.

 

[Kyle96]

The guy who owns the laptop repair shop down the road from me charges right around $150 to build it which includes checking temps, running memtest, etc ... which is a pretty good deal tbh even though he does all this in a matter of a few hours. Agree with you on stepping up to the better graphics card .. not near as loud and runs a whole lot cooler. As far as what one of those builds to choose .. if you plan on playing games such as Cyber Punk then I think I'd lean towards the i7 build ... otherwise the i5 build will suffice.

Thanks. No thoughts on the beer money?

Any worthwhile replacements for this guy - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B..._title_oth_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER ? Not sure I want to wait until March 13-16 for it (although Amazon is often wrong on those ETAs)

 

[Why_Me]

Cheaper cpu cooler for the i7.

https://www.amazon.com/quiet-Dark-Rock-BK022-Cooler/dp/B07BY6F8D9/
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 250W TDP CPU Cooler $89.90

And if you aren't into the RGB thing then this case will fit that cpu cooler up above as will the Lian Li case in the i7 build I posted and this case down below comes with an exhaust fan so you don't need to order any case fans for this case.

https://www.newegg.com/black-lian-li-lancool-ii-performance-atx-mid-tower/p/2AM-000Z-00086
LIAN LI LANCOOL II MESH C PERFORMANCE $119.99

https://lian-li.com/product/lancool-ii-mesh/

 

[Why_Me]

Thanks. No thoughts on the beer money?

Any worthwhile replacements for this guy - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B..._title_oth_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER ? Not sure I want to wait until March 13-16 for it (although Amazon is often wrong on those ETAs)

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-TUF-B66...otherboard-Two-Way-Cancelation/dp/B09NWC8BZX/
ASUS TUF Gaming B660M-PLUS WiFi D4 $179.99

TUF GAMING B660M-PLUS WIFI D4｜Motherboards｜ASUS Global

TUF Gaming series distills essential elements of the latest AMD and Intel® platforms, and combines them with game-ready features and proven durability. Engineered with military-grade components, an upgraded power solution and a comprehensive set of cooling options, this motherboard delivers...

www.asus.com

https://www.amazon.com/B660M-AORUS-PRO-DDR4-Motherboard/dp/B09Q2XGYKK/
GIGABYTE B660M AORUS PRO AX DDR4 $189.99

B660M AORUS PRO AX DDR4 (rev. 1.x) Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

https://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-B660-AORUS-DDR4-Motherboard/dp/B09QNVD2SW/
GIGABYTE B660 AORUS Master DDR4 $209.99

B660 AORUS MASTER DDR4 (rev. 1.0) Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

 

[Braaid]

This is amazing! Thank you