Best gaming PC build for $900?

Greetings, everyone. 🙂

I am currently seeking recommendations for a reliable gaming configuration with a target budget of $2000, though I would be willing to increase that to a maximum of $2167 if there is a truly compelling reason to do so. My primary requirement is an Intel processor; please note that overclocking is not part of my plans. Additionally, I would prefer to work with a local computer shop located in the Washington, D.C. area.

Here you go:

Intel Core i5-4460
ASRock Z97 Anniversary
Kingston 8GB 1600 MHz
Seagate 3.5" 1TB SSHD SATA 3
Gigabyte R9 280 3GB WF 3X OC
XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze
Samsung DVD-RW SATA
Zalman R1 Midi ATX USB 3.0 Plexy

= $2017 - Futura IT (includes assembly and shipping)

Just a really solid, well-rounded Intel build here—it even has support for Broadwell. You've got plenty of RAM, and that SSHD is definitely going to feel snappier than your standard old-school hard drive. The R9 280 is a great card too, easily handling most modern games at 1080p on high or ultra settings. Plus, it comes with a reliable power supply (basically a repackaged Seasonic SII platform) and a case with decent airflow, enough room to breathe, and some extra features to play with.

A slightly more extreme option if you max out the budget specifically to squeeze in a GTX 970🙂 You’re getting a cheaper motherboard, a standard HDD instead of an SSD, and a lower-tier case, but it’s still a very solid build.

1 x Intel Core i5-4460 Processor (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Crucial, 1600MHz CL11
1 x XFX TS Series 550W PSU -P1550S-GREEN
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standard
1 x Inno3D GTX970 4GB DDR5 256 bit
1 x Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H, Socket : 1150, Intel® B85
1 x TOSHIBA 1TB, 7200rpm, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB, DT01ACA100

$2144 USTech Forums

It feels like a waste to put together a $600 gaming rig just to settle for an R9 280. Personally, I wouldn't drop below an R9 290 given this budget.

So, he mentioned wanting something solid—basically looking for that sweet spot where quality meets performance—and honestly, I didn't feel like overcomplicating things for him.

Here’s one setup featuring the R9 290 plus an SSD, and if we skip the extra optics so he can have the GTX 970 too:

Intel Core i5-4460
AS ROCK B85M HDS
KINGSTON 8GB 1600 MHZ
INTEL 520 120 GB SSD SATA 3
TOSHIBA 3,5 1TB SATA 3
SAPPHIRE R9 290 TRI-X 4GB DDR5
FORTRON HYPER 700W 80+
ZALMAN Z3 MIDI ATX USB 3.0

= 6535 -II-.

He could also go with the Hyper 600 w + R1 R1 if he likes the look better—it really lets that TRI-X design pop.

Personally, I think this is actually slightly better since the R9 290 and the GTX 970 are pretty neck-and-neck in terms of power, plus you get the SSD in there and way better cooling than that Inno card. All in all, just based on what he asked for...👍

Thank you; I welcome all suggestions. If nothing else, I believe the matter of selecting a processor has been settled.

Yeah, go with the Intel Core i5-4460 if you want an Intel chip and aren't planning on overclocking anything. It really comes down to what kind of games you're playing and how demanding they are. If you're looking to tackle next-gen titles, you'd be better off prioritizing a beefier GPU since that's what actually carries the heavy lifting. In this specific setup, you're looking at either a GTX 970 or an R9 290. That second option from graniteharbor85 is especially impressive; even with an SSD, it still outperforms an R9 280 by a mile.

This is intended to be the second computer in our household, essentially serving as an upgrade for our current aging machine that has truly served us well over the years. The games we typically play are mostly strategy titles like Company of Heroes, along with some older shooters and other less demanding software; consequently, practically any modern configuration will feel like a massive leap forward compared to what we have now.

Since we aren't necessarily chasing the latest AAA blockbusters, I suspect an R9 280 would be a perfectly adequate graphics card for our present requirements. However, when one is investing in a brand-new system, isn't it always wiser to seek expert advice rather than rushing into a purchase only to find oneself regretting the decision a few years down the line?

Then you could just grab graniteharbor85's old rig. If you aren't planning on serious gaming, even a 6000 is total overkill. 🙂

Since we have an agreed-upon budget of $6,000, we might as well leverage every single cent to ensure we get the absolute best value possible. My brother is definitely stepping up his game lately; he isn't a kid anymore, so we really need to build something that reflects that level of maturity and performance.

At the very least, I now have a much clearer idea of which components are on the table, and that provides a great deal of clarity for our planning.

I mean, cheaper cards would definitely do the trick, but if you’re already dropping that kind of cash—it’d be a total waste not to just grab an R9 280 so it stays relevant for a longer stretch.

Just take this setup, swap out that R9 290 for an R9 280 and an XFX TS/Hyper 600, and you'll end up with a solid 5930/$1970.

That works perfectly, thank you. 👍

1 x ASRock H97-PRO4, s1150, Intel® H97, 4 x DDR3, 1 x PCI Express
1 x Intel Core i5-4460 Processor (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x 8GB DDR3 (1x8GB) Kingston, HyperX Fury, 1866MHz, CL10
1 x Gigabyte R9 280 3GB WF3 OC, 3GB GDDR5 384bit, GV-R928WF3OC-3GD
1 x WD 1TB HDD, Caviar Blue 10EZEX, 1000 GB, SATA3,64 MB, 3.5", 24mj
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standard
1 x FORTRON 550W Raider PSU, RA550, 12cm fan
1 x Kingston SSD 120GB HyperX Fury, 2.5", SATA 3 6G

$2027
www.newegg.com
Without the SSD, it's cheaper🙂

Taken into consideration, thank you. I am quite pleased to see that there is such a strong consensus among everyone regarding the most critical components.