Gaming PC build under $1,200 (no peripherals)

Hey everyone, I could really use some help here.

So, I'm looking to pull the trigger on a new gaming PC—budgeting around $2667, and that’s just for the tower itself, nothing else. My main focus is going to be running games like The Isle, Arka, and Minecraft. Now, let's be real, those first two can be absolute resource hogs, so I need something beefy. My goal is a rock-solid 60 FPS at HD resolution with everything cranked up to max settings. Looking at parts online, it seems like I could probably hit that target within this budget—maybe even push it to 1440p if I get lucky—but honestly, I'm no hardware guru. I don't want to blow my cash on something that's going to stutter the second things get intense. If you could suggest some parts available from major US retailers with decent shipping, that would be awesome.

Thanks in advance! 🙂

Fresh from my own experience—the real question isn't what we suggest, it's whether you can actually find it in stock. Online retailers aren't keeping their sites updated like they used to, plus there’s a general hardware shortage (both older stock and new arrivals haven't hit the shelves in meaningful quantities).

Would you (or someone you know) be able to put together a custom build by picking out individual components?

If I were in your shoes, I'd spend my time refreshing Best Buy looking for a Gainward or Palit RTX 3060Ti for $1300. Check back several times a day, and the second you see it—grab it. Once it arrives, let me know, and then we can build out the rest of the rig around it to make it as high-end as possible.

Generally speaking, this is the strongest path for gaming within that budget. Based on what is currently available:

https://www.adm.com/intel-core-i5-104...66478/product/
https://www.adm.com/gigabyte-b460m-d3...67790/product/
https://www.adm.com/ddr4-16gb-2x8-gsk...57225/product/
https://www.adm.com/crucial-ssd-1tb-p...68044/product/
https://www.adm.com/zalman-s4-midi-to...64642/product/
https://www.adm.com/napajanje-gigabyt...67022/product/
https://www.adm.com/powercolor-rx5700...63367/product/

That should land you right around $2600 total cash.

Alright, thanks for the input and the advice. I’ve actually got a buddy who can put a rig together without breaking a sweat.

It doesn't need to be some high-end, top-of-the-line beast with the absolute latest everything. I'm just building this setup for my sister—she doesn't play anything else besides the games we already talked about. We're aiming to get the whole thing bought and ready by New Year's, despite how chaotic things have been getting in the stores lately.

At the end of the day, all that matters is that those specific games run smoothly so she stays happy. If this build hits that mark, then we're golden. Just one thing though—could you let me know if you were aiming for an HD setup or 1440p when you put this configuration together?

You might find something slightly cheaper, but honestly, TNG did a solid job putting this together. ADM is a reliable shop—they actually pick up the phone, so I’d suggest giving them a call to confirm they have everything listed in stock. Plus, they handle the assembly for free.

My only suggestion would be to grab a better power supply if you can swing it within your budget. Though, who knows if they even have it; they were out of stock when I checked last week.

Roger Booth2 said:Alright, thanks for the suggestion and the advice. I actually have a buddy who can put a rig together without any trouble at all.

It doesn't need to be some top-of-the-line beast with the latest and greatest parts. I'm building this configuration for my sister, and she doesn't play anything else outside of the games mentioned. We're aiming to pick up the PC before New Year's, despite how things are looking in the stores right now.

The bottom line is just making sure those games run smoothly so she's happy. If the suggested build hits that mark, then we're good to go. Just please tell me: were you aiming for an HD setup or 1440p when you put this together?

I wasn't focusing on a specific resolution; I just put together the strongest, most balanced gaming setup possible for that budget.

Since those aren't extremely demanding games by today's standards, it should perform perfectly fine at 1440p too. Just tell her not to turn on ray tracing in Minecraft if they've added it. 😁

@wiredotter14/">@@wiredotter14

I checked out some reviews for those high-wattage power supplies and they look solid. They seem like a great value for the money.

Timothy Kim60 said:@wiredotter14/">@@wiredotter14

Checked out some reviews for those Gigabyte power supplies. They look solid. Seems like a sweet deal for the money.

Look, I'd honestly rather just go with... $13 Might as well go with Seasonic and that 5-year warranty if the budget allows for it... assuming they actually have it in stock, of course.

Thanks, I won't overthink this any further. I'll just grab what was suggested from Micro Center, including that better power supply.

One more thing, though. That case you recommended is a bit... I don't know, plain? 😁 My sister's younger, so she’s definitely looking for something with a bit more "wow" factor. We were browsing the selection at Micro Center and she really had her eye on this one:



Is that a solid choice, or should I just stick to the Zalman we talked about earlier?

Roger Booth2 said:Thanks, I won't overcomplicate things further. I'll just grab what was suggested at Micro Center with that better power supply.

One more thing. The case you suggested is a bit too, how should I put it, plain 😁 My sister is younger, so she wants something with a bit more style. We were looking through what's available at Micro Center and she got stuck on this one:

https://www.microcenter.com/product/sharkoon-skiller-...66174/product/

Is that a decent case, or should we stick with the Zalman one you recommended?

It's fine. It mostly comes down to personal taste. Maybe just toss in an extra fan.
https://www.microcenter.com/product/xilenc-fan...60884/product/

Check if they have it in stock. Honestly, your best bet is to just throw everything in the cart and order it (put a note in saying you want them to build the PC for you). If they're out of anything, they'll let you know. If they change anything, post it here so we can make sure they didn't swap something out for something worse—like a lower-quality PSU for the same price.

If you're already picking up a $1333 5700xt, I'd suggest investing in a better power supply instead of cutting corners there. With an i5 10400f hitting 130w during multithreaded tasks and the GPU pulling over 220w, you'll want the headroom. Personally, I’d grab a reliable Corsair TX550M for $206 gold!

Alexander Moore67 said:If you're already dropping cash on an $1333 5700xt, don't be cheap with the PSU. That i5 10400f can hit 130W under heavy multi-threaded loads, plus the GPU pulls over 220W... I'd go with a reliable Corsair TX550M for $206 gold efficiency!

That 130W figure for that CPU is strictly for stress tests or rendering. Even then, 130W + 220W puts you at maybe 350W—maybe 400W if you're hitting some impossible peak scenario. In reality? You're looking at 300W. Still, more headroom is better. If the budget allows, I’d grab that TXM myself, though it isn't strictly mandatory. Getting that Gold certification might save you a few bucks on the electric bill over the years.

Alright, thanks. I think we can definitely squeeze that power supply into the budget too.

Now there’s just one thing left on my plate. What kind of monitor should I pair with this rig? I’m leaning toward 1440p resolution, and I’ve got about $1000 $200-$$100 to play with for the monitor itself. It doesn't need to be some massive beast, since I tend to sit pretty close to the screen anyway—kind of an old habit. I’m actually using a 24-inch Dell 1440p monitor right now and honestly, it does the job just fine.

EDIT: Maybe this one?

Roger Booth2 said:Alright, thanks. I think I can squeeze that PSU into the budget too.

Now there's just one thing left. What monitor should I pair with this rig? I'm aiming for 1440p resolution, and the budget for the monitor would be around $1000 $200-$100. It doesn't need to be huge since I'll be sitting pretty close to the screen. I've got a 24-inch Dell 1440p monitor myself and it does the job.

EDIT: Maybe this one?

Ugh, 24", TN panel, and 1440p makes zero sense. 24" is way too small for 1440p, and IPS panels blow TN out of the water.

Your monitor budget is actually pretty high. Honestly, you might as well go for a 27-32" with an IPS panel, 144Hz, and Freesync.

Something like this:

https://www.nabava.net/monitori/acer...16-9-106831391
(From a shop in the US)

I’m actually kind of digging this Acer build. Quick question though—is Extreme Digital legit? I haven't really heard much about them, so I'm wondering if they're actually reliable before I pull the trigger.

Roger Booth2 said:I'm liking this Acer one. Is Newegg actually legit though? Never heard of them before.

Eh, they're Canadian. It could be fine, but I've heard people run into issues with their returns. You can find that same monitor here in the US, just at a higher price tag.