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PC Buyer's Guide II: Extreme, High-End, Mid-Range, Budget, and Entry Level Systems
Updated on 24 January 2019
Please check Price Guides for latest prices
A PC Buyer’s Guide that is everything to everyone is simply not possible. This is a simple guide to putting together a PC with a local flavour. Be sure to read PC Buyer’s Guide from other media.
Tomshardware's Best PC Builds: November 2018
Tomshardware
The Tech Report System Guide: January 2019
The Tech Report
Techspot PC Buyers Guide July 2018
Techspot
Tech Buyer's Guru January 2019
Tech Buyer's Guru
Guru3D PC Buyers Guide Autumn 2018
Guru3D
Bit-tech PC Hardware Buyer's Guide April 2017
Bit-tech
Complete Gaming System
Extreme Systems
Intel Core Intel Core i7-8700K & Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 7
Corsair H115i Pro RGB
G. Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR4-3200
AAA or EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW
Sasmung 970 EVO 500 GB
Western Digital Blue 4TB
DVD Rewriter
Corsair RM 750X
Casing
Total ~ $
Intel Core i7-4960X Extreme Edition & ASUS Rampage IV Extreme ~ $1952
G.Skill RipjawsZ DDR3-2133MHz 16GB (2X8GB) Kit ~ $239
PowerColor R9 290X CrossFireX ~ $1636 or MSI GTX 780 Ti SLI ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 1200W PSU ~ $469
Corsair Obsidian 800D ~ $499
Total ~ $5XXX
Intel Core i7-4930K & ASUS Rampage IV Extreme ~ $1338
G.Skill RipjawsZ DDR3-2133MHz 16GB (2X8GB) Kit ~ $239
PowerColor R9 290X CrossFireX ~ $1636 or MSI GTX 780 Ti SLI ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 1200W PSU ~ $469
Corsair Obsidian 800D ~ $499
Total ~ $4XXX
Intel Core i7 4770K & ASUS Maximus VI Extreme ~ $1035
G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3-1600MHz 16GB (2X8GB) ~ $165
PowerColor R9 290X CrossFireX ~ $1636 or MSI GTX 780 Ti SLI ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Seasonic X-850 850W PSU ~ $280 or Corsair HX850 850W PSU ~ $275
Corsair Obsidian 800D ~ $499
Total ~ $4XXX
High-End Systems
Intel Core i7 4770K & ASUS Z87 Deluxe ~ $865
G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3-1600MHz 16GB (2X8GB) ~ $165
PowerColor R9 290X ~ $818 or Gigabyte GTX780 Ti ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Seasonic X-760 760W PSU ~ $205 or Corsair HX750 750W PSU ~ $229
Cooler Master ATCS 840 ~ $400
Total ~ $3XXX
Intel Core i7 4770K & ASUS Z87 Deluxe ~ $865
G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3-1600MHz 16GB (2X8GB) ~ $165
Gigabyte R9 290 4GB ~ $599 or Gigabyte GTX 780 ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Seasonic X-760 760W PSU ~ $205 or Corsair HX750 750W PSU ~ $229
Cooler Master ATCS 840 ~ $400
Total ~ $3XXX
Intel Core i7 4770K & ASUS SABERTOOTH ~ $831
G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3-1600MHz 16GB (2X8GB) ~ $165
Gigabyte R9 280X 3GB Winforce OC ~ $449 or Gigabyte GTX 770 2GB ~ $599
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Superflower HX 600 ~ $110
Cooler Master CM690 ~ $129
Total ~ $2XXX
Mid-Range Systems
Intel Core i5 4670K & ASUS Z87 Plus ~ $594
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 280X 3GB Winforce OC ~ $449 or Gigabyte GTX 760 2GB Winforce OC ~ $409
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 600 ~ $110
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $22XX
Intel Core i5 4670 & Gigabyte H87-D3H ~ $457
or AMD FX-8350 & ASUS M5A97 PRO ~ $476
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 280X 3GB Winforce OC ~ $449 or Gigabyte GTX 760 2GB Winforce OC ~ $409
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 600 ~ $110
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $21XX
Intel Core i5 3570 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $364
or AMD FX-8350 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $399
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 270X~ $309 or Gigabyte GTX 660 Ti ~ $
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB or Crucial M500 120GB or Intel SSD 530 120GB
HDD 1TB for Storage ~ $82
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 500 ~ $90
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $14XX
Intel Core i5 3470 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $345
or AMD FX-8150 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $348
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 270X~ $309 or Gigabyte GTX 660 ~ $
HDD 1TB ~ $82
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 500 500W ~ $90
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $11XX
Intel Core i5 3470 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $345
or AMD FX-8150 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $348
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 270 ~ $289 or Gigabyte GTX 660 ~ $
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 500 500W ~ $90
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $8XX
Intel Core i3 3220 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $251
or AMD FX-6100 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $255
G.Skill DDR3-1333MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $60
PowerColor HD7770 1GB ~ $158 or Palit 650 1GB ~ $155
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Antec Neo Eco 450W PSU ~ $69
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $6XX
Intel Pentium G2120 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $190
or AMD FX-4100 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $229
G.Skill DDR3-1333MHz 4GB ~ $30
PowerColor HD7770 1GB ~ $158 or Palit 650 1GB ~ $155
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Antec Neo Eco 450W PSU ~ $69
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $5XX
Budget Systems
Intel Pentium G2120 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $190
or AMD FX-4100 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $229
G.Skill DDR3-1333MHz 4GB ~ $30
PowerColor HD5750 1GB ~ $135 or Sapphire HD 5670 512MB ~ $120
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Antec Neo Eco 450W PSU ~ $69
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $5XX
Entry Level Systems
Intel Pentium G2120 & Asrock B75M-DGS ~ $153
or AMD Athlon II X2 250 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $163
G.Skill DDR3-1333MHz 4GB ~ $30
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Antec Neo Eco 450W PSU ~ $69
Casing ~ $40
Total ~ $3XX
Updated on 24 January 2019
Please check Price Guides for latest prices
A PC Buyer’s Guide that is everything to everyone is simply not possible. This is a simple guide to putting together a PC with a local flavour. Be sure to read PC Buyer’s Guide from other media.
Tomshardware's Best PC Builds: November 2018
Tomshardware
The Tech Report System Guide: January 2019
The Tech Report
Techspot PC Buyers Guide July 2018
Techspot
Tech Buyer's Guru January 2019
Tech Buyer's Guru
Guru3D PC Buyers Guide Autumn 2018
Guru3D
Bit-tech PC Hardware Buyer's Guide April 2017
Bit-tech
Complete Gaming System
Extreme Systems
Intel Core Intel Core i7-8700K & Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 7
Corsair H115i Pro RGB
G. Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR4-3200
AAA or EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW
Sasmung 970 EVO 500 GB
Western Digital Blue 4TB
DVD Rewriter
Corsair RM 750X
Casing
Total ~ $
Intel Core i7-4960X Extreme Edition & ASUS Rampage IV Extreme ~ $1952
G.Skill RipjawsZ DDR3-2133MHz 16GB (2X8GB) Kit ~ $239
PowerColor R9 290X CrossFireX ~ $1636 or MSI GTX 780 Ti SLI ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 1200W PSU ~ $469
Corsair Obsidian 800D ~ $499
Total ~ $5XXX
Intel Core i7-4930K & ASUS Rampage IV Extreme ~ $1338
G.Skill RipjawsZ DDR3-2133MHz 16GB (2X8GB) Kit ~ $239
PowerColor R9 290X CrossFireX ~ $1636 or MSI GTX 780 Ti SLI ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 1200W PSU ~ $469
Corsair Obsidian 800D ~ $499
Total ~ $4XXX
Intel Core i7 4770K & ASUS Maximus VI Extreme ~ $1035
G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3-1600MHz 16GB (2X8GB) ~ $165
PowerColor R9 290X CrossFireX ~ $1636 or MSI GTX 780 Ti SLI ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Seasonic X-850 850W PSU ~ $280 or Corsair HX850 850W PSU ~ $275
Corsair Obsidian 800D ~ $499
Total ~ $4XXX
High-End Systems
Intel Core i7 4770K & ASUS Z87 Deluxe ~ $865
G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3-1600MHz 16GB (2X8GB) ~ $165
PowerColor R9 290X ~ $818 or Gigabyte GTX780 Ti ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Seasonic X-760 760W PSU ~ $205 or Corsair HX750 750W PSU ~ $229
Cooler Master ATCS 840 ~ $400
Total ~ $3XXX
Intel Core i7 4770K & ASUS Z87 Deluxe ~ $865
G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3-1600MHz 16GB (2X8GB) ~ $165
Gigabyte R9 290 4GB ~ $599 or Gigabyte GTX 780 ~ $
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Seasonic X-760 760W PSU ~ $205 or Corsair HX750 750W PSU ~ $229
Cooler Master ATCS 840 ~ $400
Total ~ $3XXX
Intel Core i7 4770K & ASUS SABERTOOTH ~ $831
G.SKILL RipjawsX DDR3-1600MHz 16GB (2X8GB) ~ $165
Gigabyte R9 280X 3GB Winforce OC ~ $449 or Gigabyte GTX 770 2GB ~ $599
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
HP dvd1270i SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $37
Superflower HX 600 ~ $110
Cooler Master CM690 ~ $129
Total ~ $2XXX
Mid-Range Systems
Intel Core i5 4670K & ASUS Z87 Plus ~ $594
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 280X 3GB Winforce OC ~ $449 or Gigabyte GTX 760 2GB Winforce OC ~ $409
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 600 ~ $110
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $22XX
Intel Core i5 4670 & Gigabyte H87-D3H ~ $457
or AMD FX-8350 & ASUS M5A97 PRO ~ $476
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 280X 3GB Winforce OC ~ $449 or Gigabyte GTX 760 2GB Winforce OC ~ $409
Plextor M5 Pro Xtreme 256GB or Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB or OCZ Vector 150 240GB
HDD 2TB for Storage ~ $128
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 600 ~ $110
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $21XX
Intel Core i5 3570 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $364
or AMD FX-8350 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $399
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 270X~ $309 or Gigabyte GTX 660 Ti ~ $
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB or Crucial M500 120GB or Intel SSD 530 120GB
HDD 1TB for Storage ~ $82
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 500 ~ $90
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $14XX
Intel Core i5 3470 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $345
or AMD FX-8150 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $348
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 270X~ $309 or Gigabyte GTX 660 ~ $
HDD 1TB ~ $82
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 500 500W ~ $90
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $11XX
Intel Core i5 3470 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $345
or AMD FX-8150 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $348
G.Skill DDR3-1600MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $77
Gigabyte R9 270 ~ $289 or Gigabyte GTX 660 ~ $
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Superflower HX 500 500W ~ $90
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $8XX
Intel Core i3 3220 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $251
or AMD FX-6100 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $255
G.Skill DDR3-1333MHz 8GB (2X4GB) ~ $60
PowerColor HD7770 1GB ~ $158 or Palit 650 1GB ~ $155
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Antec Neo Eco 450W PSU ~ $69
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $6XX
Intel Pentium G2120 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $190
or AMD FX-4100 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $229
G.Skill DDR3-1333MHz 4GB ~ $30
PowerColor HD7770 1GB ~ $158 or Palit 650 1GB ~ $155
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Antec Neo Eco 450W PSU ~ $69
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $5XX
Budget Systems
Intel Pentium G2120 & Asrock B75 PRO3 M ~ $190
or AMD FX-4100 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $229
G.Skill DDR3-1333MHz 4GB ~ $30
PowerColor HD5750 1GB ~ $135 or Sapphire HD 5670 512MB ~ $120
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Antec Neo Eco 450W PSU ~ $69
Ikonik EN2 ~ $55
Total ~ $5XX
Entry Level Systems
Intel Pentium G2120 & Asrock B75M-DGS ~ $153
or AMD Athlon II X2 250 & ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 ~ $163
G.Skill DDR3-1333MHz 4GB ~ $30
HDD 500GB ~ $68
Samsung SATA 24X DVD Rewriter ~ $24
Antec Neo Eco 450W PSU ~ $69
Casing ~ $40
Total ~ $3XX
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