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The TechSpot PC Buying Guide offers an in-depth list of today's best hardware, spanning four unique, yet typical budgets. Whether you are a first time builder seeking guidance or a seasoned enthusiast, we've got you covered.
We wholly welcome your support and input to keep this guide as fresh as possible. With that out of the way, let's take a look at our four system price points:
 | Granted, if you just need to create a few documents and check your email, you can get by on much less than a $500 desktop. However, if you follow our Budget build to the T, you'll have a system acceptable for any role apart from running graphically intense applications -- which could also be attainable by investing in a dedicated video card. Our Entry-Level Rig should prove to be an excellent companion for running general applications and a sufficient solution for even the newest games on the market, albeit with a bit of the eye-candy tuned down. Our Enthusiast's PC incorporates the perfect blend of both the Entry-Level Rig and Luxury System, making this the most harmonious of builds. Our intent is to keep this system within the grasp of the average computer enthusiast, essentially offering a fully-loaded PC minus some of the unnecessary bells and whistles that could set you back an additional grand or two. The Luxury System is a screaming-edge machine lacking any virtual price cap. Every component in the Luxury System guide is thoughtfully scrutinized, offering the most horsepower for your greenback. If a component's premium price isn't justified, it simply doesn't make the cut. |
User Comments: 106
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Where is the grunt pc? you know the Grandparent, HTPC, NAS, WHS, student, office build or rebuild upgrade for around $150
Go to tomshardware,
This article isn't about upgrading your current crappy hardware. Its about buying newer crappy hardware.
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LukeDJ said:
Matthew, I understand if you think stock cooling is sufficient, however I think that you should at least make some mention of aftermarket coolers. I personally wouldn't recommend an overlockable CPU and an overclock ready motherboard without an aftermarket cooler (especially with Ivy Bridge). When you compare stock and aftermarket temperatures at higher clock speeds, it really isn't hard to justify purchasing $35 CM Hyper 212 Evo. If you don't feel comfortable recommending a specific cooler (I realize there is a HUGE variety of coolers out there), then maybe just mention the option in the description, and leave it to the reader to figure out which one to get.
Anyway, this is still the best guide out there, so I understand if you don't find this edition necessary. Keep up the good work
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Staff
I can agree with that much: broadly mentioning aftermarket coolers if someone plans to overclock is probably worthwhile. Noted for the next update and thanks again for the feedback
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HiDDeNMisT said:
I wonder when this list is going to be updated.
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What rubbish, " Ivy Bridge ranked high in our graphs, taking second only to the $1,040 Core i7-3960X Sandy Bridge-E"
Hello? 3930K?
This Luxury build is an enthusiast build, and their enthusiast build is an i5! For the price of Ivy that's easily an enthusiast part. With a luxury you should have went at least 6 core. When kicked in multicore, it'll score above Ivy - which is why that system will be made. For the multicore part. And even at that...it's still an enthusiast build imo.
If it was all about luxury, Dual Xeons.
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JC713 said:
I think 2x8 GB RAM is a better choice since it is cheaper than 4x4 nowadays. Also, why pay 1400 for a monitor? I would rather put that money int he GPU. At 2560x1440, a 680 wont be sufficient enough for games like Crysis 3 @ max settings. I would make that monitor a $500 27"-30" one with a Titan as the GPU.
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