PC tower + monitor combo under $1,000

I'm looking for a case—definitely needs to be SFF so I can actually lug it around easily—plus a decent 24-inch monitor. Budget-wise, I'm thinking around $550 for the case and $150 for the monitor. Just need a killer SSD strictly for running Windows. Don't bother with the OS or any card readers.

I'll be using this rig for some heavy gaming and everyday stuff. A GTX 1050 ti Mini would be more than enough GPU for what I need.

I've got my eye on the Fractal Define Nano S. If there's anything even smaller in that price range (or cheaper), let me know!

Doesn't matter which shop I use, as long as they offer assembly services—bonus points if it's free.
I don't really know the deal with small cases and parts compatibility, so I just want to make sure everything actually fits and the thing doesn't turn into a literal space heater. 😁

Thanks

Crucial Ballistix sport LT Gray 8 GB DDR4-2666

Cooler master Masterbox lite 3 Midi-Tower
ADATA Ultimate SU650
AMD Ryzen 5 1600
LG 24 MB56HQ-B
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 ti Mini
Gigabyte GA-AX370M-GAMING 3
Enermax MaxPro 400 w
Toshiba P300 1TB
~$2.25 - Uzishop

I caught an edit where you mentioned the Fractal Nano sa ITX. Honestly, that feels like a massive case for an ITX build... I’d probably lean toward this mATX case instead since it’s similar in size, plus you'll save a decent chunk of change on the motherboard and the case itself. Also, those 60GB SSDs just don't make sense; they're only like 20-$10 cheaper than the 120GB ones, which is pretty much the same deal you get with hard drives.

crimsonstag84 said:Crucial Ballistix sport LT Gray 8 GB DDR4-2666

Cooler master Masterbox lite 3 Midi-Tower
ADATA Ultimate SU650
AMD Ryzen 5 1600
LG 24 MB56HQ-B
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 ti Mini
Gigabyte GA-AX370M-GAMING 3
Enermax MaxPro 400 w
Toshiba P300 1TB
~$2.25 - Uzishop

I caught an edit where you mentioned the Fractal Nano sa ITX. Honestly, that feels like a massive case for an ITX build... I’d probably lean toward this mATX case instead since it’s similar in size, plus you'll save a decent chunk of change on the motherboard and the case itself. Also, those 60GB SSDs just don't make sense; they're only like 20-$10 cheaper than the 120GB ones, which is pretty much the same deal you get with hard drives.

How much extra am I looking at for a motherboard paired with an SFF case?

The case is a huge deal for me because I end up moving every few months, so I need something that won't eat up all my trunk space.

Thanks for the list, looks solid.

It’s not actually that much, $117 I guess. You could probably save another 250-$100 if you just went with an mATX case and motherboard instead.

So, I'm gonna play around with the dimensions and my budget a bit to see what actually works best for me. Honestly, I might just sit tight and wait for a while since there's zero rush to grab this stuff right now.

The main thing is just getting a rough idea of what I can actually score and how much it's gonna cost me.

Thanks a ton for the help.

Maybe you could just grab a Ryzen with integrated graphics—it’ll give you desktop performance roughly on par with a GTX 1030—and then once prices settle down or this whole Bitcoin craze finally burns itself out, you can pick up a dedicated new or used GPU later on.

1 x AOC IPS 23.8" i2480SX, VGA, DVI
1 x AMD Ryzen 5 2400G Processor
1 x Gigabyte GA-AB350-Gaming WIFI, AM4, A350, D4, S3, ITX
1 x Intel SSD 545
1 x Patriot Viper4, 3000Mhz, 8GB (2x4GB), CL16
1 x Fractal Node 202, black without PSU, ITX
1 x Fortron SFX 400W power supply, 85+, A-PFC, bulk

Total: $2113
futura-it

Honestly, these GPU and RAM prices are absolutely disgusting. It’s making me want to just hold off on buying anything in the hopes that things actually settle down soon. PC gaming has turned into such a luxury, it's ridiculous. You can't even put together a decent entry-level gaming rig without dropping way too much cash.

Prices are jumping around every single day whenever some vendor feels like it. Total joke.

Honestly, it just isn't worth it at all right now. Most people buying hardware during this period end up overpaying significantly; inflation has truly made things difficult. The only way to make it worthwhile is if you consider buying a used graphics card and RAM, provided they are still under warranty and in excellent condition—meaning you've seen photos, videos, real-time stress tests, and have the original receipt and box in hand.
As for the RAM, any basic DDR4 of any speed or brand will do, and 8GB should be plenty for your needs. For the GPU, I would strongly suggest avoiding anything too ancient. As a baseline, I’d recommend looking at the GTX 9 xx series or the R9 3 xx series, though you could certainly aim higher with newer options like the GTX 10xx or the RX 4xx and 5xx series. To be more specific, the best value choice would likely be a dual-fan GTX 960 4GB, assuming it comes with at least a six-month local retailer warranty along with the receipt and packaging, priced around $850-$333, provided you plan to play at 1200p/75Hz or lower.

You might also want to consider an R5 1600 instead of what I mentioned above, assuming you don't strictly require integrated graphics—unless, for some reason, a 2400G feels more appropriate for an SFF build, as the prices are quite similar. You can find a decent enough monitor for about $400, especially once you take a moment to calibrate it, which is a fairly straightforward process using either your OS settings or the physical buttons on the monitor itself. Mind you, that process can become quite time-consuming if you happen to be a perfectionist like me, constantly chasing the absolute best image quality. A few months back, I picked up a monitor (an AOC i2269vvm) for $283 and spent some time tweaking it. The picture quality is superb, even though it's only 21.5'', which some people might find a bit small, but the bezels are very thin.

Here is what looks like a very solid comparison between the 2400G and the 1600 processors: https://www.notebookcheck.net/2400G-....247596.0.html

Based on current pricing here in the States, where there's roughly a $100-$50 difference between them, I honestly don't think it's worth even considering the 2400G over the 1600, unless you find yourself absolutely needing integrated graphics. Beyond that, they seem to perform quite similarly when it comes to overclocking, so the 1600 doesn't really fall behind in any meaningful way, aside from its base clock speed—which isn't much of a drawback in my book anyway.

Look, the whole point of the 2400G is that integrated graphics, which perform roughly on par with a GTX 1030. Nobody picks up a 2400G just because they want a better CPU than the R5 1600.

I certainly agree, though I suppose integrated graphics are still a necessity for a certain subset of users. They serve those who simply need a machine for basic daily tasks, whereas our discussion here centers on gaming, potentially video editing, or heavy rendering. In my estimation, opting for an integrated solution alongside an R5 1600 serves little purpose for this level of performance, even if it were theoretically $100 more budget-friendly. One could technically subsist on integrated graphics while waiting for a better opportunity to invest in a dedicated GPU, but I fear one might find themselves waiting indefinitely for such a moment to arrive.

You’re completely overlooking the cost of the graphics cards here. It's not like the price is $100 lower. If you factor in a "decent" card, say a GTX 1050ti which goes for about $500, the price gap widens to $600 pretty quickly. Obviously, the R5 1600 is the superior chip—but strictly as a CPU. If someone is dropping roughly $750 on a full tower and peripherals, it makes zero sense to settle for an R5 1600; you’d be much better off grabbing an R5 2400G, overclocking both the CPU and GPU with a decent aftermarket cooler, and walking away with a killer setup.

It’s a sad reality, but that’s just how the math works out.

That perceived gap of $600 simply isn't there, because even if you attempt to overclock the 2400G, you aren't going to achieve anything more than what a standard office desktop provides without a dedicated GPU. Furthermore, the R5 1600 is only about twenty dollars more expensive, rather than the full thirty. Beyond that, they didn't even bring up the 1050Ti, and I believe you previously suggested a used 960, which sits in that same performance tier and could potentially be found in good condition with a warranty for just $300.

Overclocking a 2400G is more than enough to handle e-sports titles like Rocket League, Overwatch, or CS:GO. If you ask me, calling this anything less than a gaming rig is just being dramatic—it's definitely not strictly an office PC.

It is certainly possible that such a setup could suffice for those specific titles, though I must admit that a budget in the range of $5,500-$$2000 is really aiming for something more substantial, like being able to run Metro, The Witcher, GTA, or whatever the current heavy hitters happen to be these days.

Even a quad-core running at 3.5~4GHz isn't some fragile little chip; until just recently, similar i7 processors were priced at least at $833, widely regarded as high-end hardware and total overkill for gaming. This thing can easily be paired down the road with something like a GTX 1070, or even a beefier GPU at higher resolutions (sure, the R5 1600 is the better value here, but we're talking about what happens if someone actually needs integrated graphics)

They say if you wait too long, you'll end up settling for something less than ideal. There are moments in life where one simply has to accept a compromise and decide to shift things into second gear just to keep moving forward. $33 Pairing an R5 1600 with $300 alongside a GTX 960 4GB under warranty, and the fun finally begins.

I managed to put together a custom build at Micro Center for about $7k, but I’m still sweating the details on how to actually wrap up the financing. 😁