The TechSpot PC Buying Guide offers an in-depth list of today’s best desktop PC hardware, spanning five budgets that go from an affordable ~$500 PC capable of medium workloads, a couple of well-balanced enthusiast-oriented machines, a luxury high-end build and finally a dream extreme machine that disregards price-to-performance value altogether with a focus on the biggest and baddest hardware available, period. Whether you’re a first time builder seeking guidance or a seasoned enthusiast, we have you covered.
The Budget Box $500
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 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.
The Entry-Level Rig $1000
Our Entry-Level Rig should be an excellent companion for running general applications and a sufficient solution for even the newest games on the market, albeit with some of the eye-candy dialed down.
The Enthusiast’s PC $2000
Our Enthusiast’s PC incorporates a blend of both the Entry-Level Rig and Luxury System, making this the most balanced of builds. Our intent is to keep this system within the grasp of the average computer enthusiast, 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 $4000
The Luxury System is a screaming-edge machine with no hard price cap. Every component in this guide is thoughtfully scrutinized, offering the most horsepower for your greenback. However, if a component’s premium price isn’t justified, it doesn’t make the cut.
The Extreme Machine $8000+
The Extreme Machine isn’t governed by a budget as we simply pick the best hardware and disregard the associated price premium. If it’s ’extreme’ enough then you’ll find it in this build.
Masthead image credit: modified version of Benjiman46’s “My Dark Base Pro 900 build!” Homepage image credit: Duality92’s Shadow In Win 805 build
