Build a Killer Gaming PC for $1,000 – The Parts! (2013)

Updated: August 27, 2013

We’re back with another series of gaming PC build videos, this time with part 1 at the $1,000 budget. We tried to squeeze a ton of performance for the money so we opted to go with a Sapphire HD 7950 as the GPU.

The entire build is enclosed in an Enermax Hoplite (white) case and paired along with Intel’s i5-4670K Haswell CPU on a Biostar Hi-Fi Z87X-3D motherboard which provides a stellar audio solution.

For the complete parts list and pricing you can check out the links below but aside from that, stay tuned for part 2 which will cover the physical build and then lastly, part 3 which will cover performance benchmarks!

Enermax Hoplite Case (White) – $80
Biostar Hi-Fi Z87X 3D Motherboard – $160
Intel i5-4670K CPU – $230
Sapphire HD 7950 Boost Video Card – $260
8GB Kingston Genesis Memory – $70
Thermaltake NiC C4 Cooler – $50
Thermaltake TR2 600W PSU – $60
Samsung DVD-RW Drive - $20
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive – $70

watwat

Why doesnt it atleast have 16GB?
- Ande Gallagher
  
  it doesnt matter for gaming
  - adeadant
    
    It can if you use a program like ram disk and store your game on the extra ram to minimize loading times.
    - Josh Peet
      
      Most games I play won’t fit on just 8-12 gigs newer games are now getting up to 12-15 gigs he’s pry just putting in a 1TB hdd for game library storage.this is pretty much starting essentials for an up-gradable rig. ram disk wouldn’t cut it unless you was at least packin’ 24GB. just my opinion though.
      - TheRBGamer
        
        games do not use more then 3 MAX 6 gigs of ram…..
      - Josh Peet
        
        Ramdisk to store the the game is what i am referring too, not playing games as standard memory. Assassins creed III alone is 15+ gigs.There are other title that are over 8 gigs and forget it with mmorpg’s all the expansions can run you up to 20+ gigs in some cases. That’s why ssd’s are more cost effective solution to RamDisk,. unless you are not planning on maxing out an 8gig game with 16gigs.
      - TheRBGamer
        
        Do you even know the difference between Ram and storage? because it seems you are confused.
      - Josh Peet
        
        Have you ever even heard of ramdisk? ramdisk is using your ram as a temporary storage device, ramdisk is actually about or close to 20x faster than a sata 3 ssd 7000mbps to 9000mbps read and write speeds depending on frequency and latency of your preferred ram. ramdisk is like a disk image of a program on your ssd, that is ran on your ram please read up on it you might want to use it. Ramdisk exceeds even PCI-e ssd read and write speeds. plenty of articles out there dude, please google. I repair computers and build them so I am very fluent in on how a pc works my ram is 8 GB corsair vengeance 1600mhz cas 11-11-11-24 and my storage is Wd black 1TB storage and my OS is on a M4 crucial 64GB ssd. You can not load an OS from a ramdisk without modifying your bio’s, if it’s even possible. RamDisk is a program not a physical device. RamDisk just loads an image file from your hdd or ssd to your ram then operates you ram like a storage device . I just want to educate you not show my wits you may very well benefit from it.this site normally won’t let me post links that’s why I say google or youtube it.
- TekJunkie
  
  Because most gaming rigs wont make use of 8 gig let alone 16 gig. Now if this was going to stream, video editing ect yeah I could see it. Otherwise just a waste of money to use 16 gig.
- Nad
  
  idiot.
- Nick Helms
  
  Only reason I have 16 GB of RAM is because I got it dirt cheap. A modern day machine will run perfect off of 8 GB.
- EustassKidD
  
  if you’re not a heavy user like for rendering 3D or Audio and streaming at very high resolutions 16GB is kind of useless to have. 8GB is just what you need for gaming and most of the games in my experience use around 4-5GB when maxed out.
- shivansh93x
  
  8GB DDR3 Ram sufficient enough games , if u need more performnce
  
  add fast HARD Drive for Storage and Bootin Drive
  That is Hybrid Storage HDD+SSD
  Dont think that 8GB extra Ram give better performance!!
- TheRBGamer
  
  16 gb of ram is more then what you need. 8gb is more then what you need.
John smith

Um, OS anyone?
- linux user
  
  linux?
  - Drazhar
    
    “Killer Gaming PC”
    
    Those don’t run on linux yet.
    - josav09
      
      I still dream of a future with SteamOS as the speed of linux with games and stability… a dream is a dream
      - Drazhar
        
        As do I, but until it’s a feasible thing, we’re using Windows.
Tarkan Cetinel

it actually might be cheaper,7950 is around 200 in newegg as far as I know. This is a good build
Tyler Barron

I would not use a DVD drive, get a 500GB HDD, switch to a 8350 and buy a ssd and a 7970 with the money left over.
- Drazhar
  
  So you would install your operating system how?
  - MarcusPro
    
    you don’t know how to use your usb?
    - Drazhar
      
      Ah, so you plan on using a pirated operating system, that explains it all.
      
      That’s still an extra cost for the USB stick and whatever OS you plan on putting on it.
      
      Does that REALLY cost less than a DVD drive?
      
      Bear in mind this is a Killer Gaming PC, which means it will be running Windows.
      - JJ
        
        You can purchase and download Windows directly from Microsoft, and make a bootable USB drive using the Windows 7 USB Download Tool (also from Microsoft). So no, just because he’s using his flash drive doesn’t mean he’s installing a pirated OS.
        
        Secondly, USBs are inexpensive nowadays. The cheapest DVD-RW drive in my nearest shop is $20. I can buy an 8GB flash drive for $5.
      - Helpful Dude
        
        DAMn USB 8GB for $5… In Latvia i’ve never seen a one cheaper than 25$
      - Helpful Dude
        
        FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIL :D. Windows can be installed from USB legally
      - `Unbecoming
        
        Moron.. Try to study in a while..
  - asdfghj
    
    Also ubuntu.
Noah DoPaco

Where’s windows 7?? Make that 1100 dollars??
- hi
  
  torrent
  - dsadsa
    
    as in pirating
    - Noah DoPaco
      
      But how do you do that
      - TheRBGamer
        
        YouTube is a thing. so is Google. figer it out
shivansh93x

There is one memory element missing which give boost to our system…………………;)
Guess It is SSD Storage – The Solid State Drive 128GB or more
IF u think i have more money 1000$ + , what yo need to do add next thats SSD drive you have done:D
Naruto

Nice video and stuff. But I really would like to see an PC build for 1500 $ and the system should be very perfect for upgrading. I mean a system, which can be upgraded to SLI and later for watercooling, if you spend 1000 $ more.
- Naruto
  
  Or better an PC build for 1800 $
Josh Peet

I like it case looks sweet!
Arian Woldach

hmmmmm nice xD
Luis Oriz

Fractal Designs Arc Midi R2 69.99
MSI Z87-G45 Gaming 139.99
Intel i5-4670K CPU – $230
ZOTAC ZT GeForce GTX 760 4GB 269.99
Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 2133 79.99
COOLER MASTER Seidon 120M 54.95
Thermaltake SMART SP-650 Watt 59.99
Western Digital WD Black 500GB 74.99
ASUS 24X DVD Burner-19.99

You welcome
Kakarot

In my country, Romania:

Enermax Hoplite Case (White) – $126
Biostar Hi-Fi Z87X 3D Motherboard – $244
Intel i5-4670K CPU – $306
Sapphire HD 7950 Boost Video Card – $352
8GB Kingston Genesis Memory – $108
Thermaltake NiC C4 Cooler – $79
Thermaltake TR2 600W PSU – $94
Samsung DVD-RW Drive – $26
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive – $85

For a total of $1420.

Fuck my life.
- Sam Fischer
  
  Same here in Croatia.
  Fuck our lifes :/
- Simberia
  
  In my Contry, Brazil
  
  Enermax Hoplite Case (White) – $116
  Biostar Hi-Fi Z87X 3D Motherboard – $244
  Intel i5-4670K CPU – $446
  Sapphire HD 7950 Boost Video Card – $500
  8GB Kingston Genesis Memory – $140
  Thermaltake NiC C4 Cooler – $100
  Thermaltake TR2 600W PSU – $125
  Samsung DVD-RW Drive – $26
  Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive – $145
  
  Fuck the taxes
- Antaredja Kartasasmita
  
  Squeeze the GPU into 7870, or R9-270x, and lower the mobo & procie to 1155 & 15 k, it’s a bit cheaper, thus given you almost 120 or more dollars more
N/A

Still a $1000 expensive PC is pretty competitive to the $400 Playstation which will run newest games perfectly for the next 8 years. The PC won’t run your games for the next 8 years.
- N/A
  
  You should rethink what you just said giving out completely false information… Please don’t post stupid comments like this because a PS4 is made up of not the greatest components compared to what you are allowed to have on a pc. heres is what is in the PS4. Now after you look at the tech specs of this and compare it to what you can have on a pc shows that you haven’t actually looked into this. Just another PS4 fanboy trying to make invalid points.. Good job..
  Main processorSingle-chip custom processor
  CPU: low power x86-64 AMD “Jaguar”, 8 cores
  GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ Graphics Core Next engineMemoryGDDR5 8GBHard Disk DriveBuilt-inOptical Drive (Read only)BD 6xCAV
  DVD 8xCAVI/OSuper-Speed USB (USB 3.0), AUXCommunicationEthernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
  IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
  Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)AV outputHDMI
  Digital Output (optical)
  - Shinkueagle
    
    Lol! Haters gonna hater… Retarded fanboys gonna get even more retarded! =)
- TheRBGamer
  
  The PC will run the games just ass long if not longer. plus i can up grade.
- Josh Peet
  
  an hd 7950 has over 50% more performance than the Ps4′s Gpu
  hd7950= 2.87 tflops
  Ps4= 1.84 tflops
  Even if all 8 core on the Jaguar Cpu was utilized the gaming performance still would still not be close. Because it is a laptop cpu essentially hence the form factor to fit it in the case it’s in. Most current games can still be played with old 9800GTX cards that came out around the time Ps3 came out. hope ya learn sumptin’ bro.
TheRBGamer

can you do a build tutorial fore this?
vouLex

My country, Chile:

Enermax Hoplite Case (White) – $150 (PCL 75.000)
Biostar Hi-Fi Z87X 3D Motherboard – $260 (PCL 180.000)
Intel i5-4670K CPU – $260 (PCL 180.000)
Sapphire HD 7950 Boost Video Card – $500 (PCL 250.000)
8GB Kingston Genesis Memory – $160 (PCL 80.000)
Thermaltake NiC C4 Cooler – $78 (PCL 36.000)
Thermaltake TR2 600W PSU – $74 (PCL 37.000)
Samsung DVD-RW Drive – $20 (PCL 10.000)
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive – $100 (PCL 50.000)
Rabid Man

would you guys believe me if i said i could build a PC for under 1000 dollars with a 7990 and 8 gigs of 1600 ram and the same hard drive
Anti Romania

Fuck you Romania!
Shit country here you pay 1000 Euro WTF
Aru tokoro

Where can we buy all these parts for the same price u listed above ?
DeathStrike1477

In my country, Canada:

Enermax Hoplite Case (White)- $79.99
Biostar Hi-Fi Z87X 3D Motherboard – $156.21
Intel i5-4670K CPU – $229.99
Sapphire HD 7950 Boost Video Card – $267.05
8GB Kingston Genesis Memory – $85.05
Thermaltake NiC C4 Cooler – $49.99
Thermaltake TR2 600W PSU – $59.99
Samsung DVD-RW Drive – $17.59
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive – $82.95
For a Total of $1028.72
- Jayden
  
  Where did you find the graphics card for sale? I can’t find it anywhere except for amazon USA, which doesn’t ship to canada.
Chris2010

#Merrychristmas
Antaredja Kartasasmita

In indonesia:
No Hoplite case, nearest good is NZXT Tempest elite 410: 90$
Biostar WIFI: 200$
Intel i5: 290$
Sapphire 7950: 360$ (damn inflation)
8 gb kingston: 90$
No NiC cooler, nearest Tuniq extreme: 70$
TR2 PSU: about 70$
DVD drive: 22$
Seagate barracuda: 80&

Fucking inflation
Antaredja Kartasasmita

So it’s better squeeze the GPU to 7870 /ghz Powercolor Myst ed, It cost only 240$, and still runs shit on maximum smotthly
Adam

Well, Im new to gaming on PC and I dont know if this PC is good. I Also am under the 1000$ Bugdet someone please tell me if this is a good gaming PC
asdfghj

Ubuntu.
No one

Where is part 2 and 3? Also is this a good build. (This is my first gaming PC)