Need Assistance Fast for Urgent Last-Minute Setup Before Christmas
Need Assistance Fast for Urgent Last-Minute Setup Before Christmas
Hello everyone. I recently completed a $2,000 build last year. A colleague noticed it a few months ago and offered to help me assemble a starter gaming PC for his 13-year-old son. However, he only gave me his $800 budget by December 4th, which means I have just enough time to finish before Christmas. I also need some guidance on components since I must fit a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and Windows OS within this limit.
I plan to contribute about $100 myself to upgrade the system, but do you have a parts list that could assist me? I aim for top-quality components, though I know prices will be high during the holidays—especially around Christmas.
What I understand is that he wants something reliable for running recent Steam games and streaming smoothly, suitable for online play, with WiFi support, an Intel CPU/motherboard, and sufficient RAM. I’m familiar with the Fractal Pop Air case, but feel free to suggest another attractive option if it doesn’t fit the budget. I also have an extra SSD ready for a second hard drive to store files.
With $800 from him and around $100 from me, the total comes to about $900. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I just wanted to ensure I get the best possible setup for the price. Thank you for your time and support.
The system is expected to function at a certain resolution and game quality configuration. For specific games, lower to medium settings tend to perform better, resembling a typical low to medium build for other titles. Regarding requirements, the essential hardware components are necessary, but additional peripherals like a keyboard, mouse, and monitor are also important. The Windows license is required as well.
Hey there, I believe he should be okay in 1080,
but if we can improve it even more, I'm all in. I'm not sure how well he knows or if he'd really notice a big change with the in-game settings—they'll have to work within the budget. He mostly plays Mine C., Dragon BZ games, M. Kombat, and Fortnight, with a few other titles. Besides that, he streams movies. I do need to somehow get a monitor and keyboard for him, but I already have an extra gaming mouse, USB controllers, speakers, etc. for now. A wireless card would also be nice so he doesn't have to deal with a wired connection. Thanks a lot for your help.
Adjusted the monitor slightly, leaving some space for a keyboard and mouse, though limited.
A suitable setup for now, offering upgrade paths similar to an i7-14700/13700 in the near future, with space for a solid mid-range GPU later.
PCPartPicker Part List
Additional details to consider are listed below. Review for a more favorable rate.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1...sktop.html
Intel AX200 Gig+ Wi-Fi 6 Desktop Kit priced at $22.99
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
*Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor
($139.97 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler:
*Deepcool AG400 75.89 CFM CPU Cooler
($21.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
*ASRock B760 Pro RS/D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory:
*Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
($49.97 @ Amazon)
Storage:
*TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive
($45.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card:
*XFX Speedster QICK 308 Black Radeon RX 7600 8 GB Video Card
($259.99 @ Best Buy)
Case:
*Deepcool CC560 ATX Mid Tower Case
($56.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply:
*ADATA XPG CORE Reactor 750 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($94.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor:
*Asus TUF Gaming VG249Q1A 23.8" 1920 x 1080 165 Hz Monitor
($109.99 @ Best Buy)
Overall Total: $909.86
Costs encompass shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected parts based on predefined parameters*
Created by
PCPartPicker
2023-12-04 17:59 EST-0500
From what I understand, you can still operate W10 without registration—check if you're mistaken.
I’m going to share a suggestion based on AMD’s direction. Sorry, I don’t follow the nifty price list, but here are some factors to keep in mind instead.
The Ryzen 5 3600 is currently priced quite attractively. You might find a solid 5xx chipset to pair with it, such as the Silicone Power boards mentioned earlier, or some Ripjaws or Team Group options. Aim for a performance close to 3200 or higher.
It makes sense to invest slightly more in the graphics card, maybe even the monitor. Think about options like the RX 6700 or RX 7700, or one of the “50” series models.
There’s also talk that AMD is planning more CPUs on the AM4 platform soon. With the right motherboard and a BIOS update, you could potentially upgrade to something like the 5800X in the future. If gaming is your priority, consider an X3D board for better performance right out of the box.
On the other side, you could try building a budget AM5 system. However, it seems unlikely that a suitable price point exists yet. With AM5, there are plenty of upcoming CPU improvements, similar to what happened with AM4. If you opt for a 12th generation chip, the upgrade path is already clear and efficient—just like with AM4. But it could still be power-hungry, offering strong performance at a potentially high cost.
Just thought I’d include these points for your review.