$1000 Build Guide
With $1000 to spend, we’re now in the 1440p category of gaming. This will be a significant boost compared to the $750 template.
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With the pricing of the Ryzen 5 9600X actually dipping below the older 7600 and 7600X, it’s now a clear choice for this $1000 price point. Being on the newest platform and CPU series will give you the latest technology, and this generation is also super efficient so it’s very easy to keep at cool temperatures.
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If for whatever reason you can’t find a reasonably priced 9600X, then I would consider using the 7600 or 7600X. They are just a tad bit slower, but still on the AM5 platform.
I would not consider Intel right now for this price bracket.
With the Ryzen 5 7600 you can still get away with the stock cooler, but if you go with the 7600X or if you want to play it safe, a solid sub-$30 air cooler is a good choice. The ID-Cooling FROZN A410 Black is always under $30, but you can also go with a DeepCool Gammaxx AG400 ARGB if you want the extra RGB lights.
We need to sacrifice a bit of quality here so that we can afford our GPU choice with $100. I would recommend getting the cheapest B650M mATX board that you can find with 4 RAM slots. If you have a non-restrictive budget, spending an extra $20-$30 for a better board would definitely be worth it. You can get better VRM cooling and built-in WiFi with a better motherboard. The MSI Pro B650M-P is usually available at the cheapest, and I like the Gigabyte B650M D3HP AX for a little bit more money.
DDR5 pricing is much different compared to DDR4. There’s very few 16GB kits available for DDR5, so the standard has become 32GB. We’re specifically looking for a 2x16GB kit that’s clocked at 6000MHz, with the lowest CL rating as possible. Usually you’ll be able to find a 600MHz CL30 or CL32 kit pretty easily for less than $100. The G.Skill Flare X5 kit is usually available.
Prices of storage have gone up recently, and might continue to do so. Right now for a PCIe Gen 4 NVMe 1TB drive we’re looking at around $60. SSD pricing usually stays very “grouped up” so there’s usually a lot of models around the $60 mark. For Gen 4 drives, I typically use the Silicon Power UD85, but I also like the Silicon Power UD90, Klevv CRAS C910, and the Teamgroup MP44L.
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AMD’s RX 9060 XT packs some fantastic 1080p Ultra/1440p value for a build priced around this level, just be sure to grab the 16GB model instead of the 8GB. This card competes directly with Nvidia’s more expensive RTX 5060 Ti. Nvidia does win out by just a few frames, but the price to performance value on the 9060 XT is better, so it’s perfect for a build like this. I’ve been seeing several models just slightly over the $349 MSRP, so feel free to grab whichever one you find the best deal on.
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​If for whatever reason you prefer Team Green, then the RTX 5060 Ti still makes sense in a build like this, but it’ll probably creep your budget a bit north of $1000. Just like the 9060 XT though, be sure to get the 16GB model, not the 8GB.
For our CPU and GPU combo, I’d recommend a 700W+ power supply. We’re specifically looking for a Tier B or A rated unit and the MSI MPG A750GF is usually the most affordable option and it’s fully modular which is great. Another great option that’s been available at this price range is the Be Quiet Pure Power 12 M 750W.
The case selection is always personal preference, but one of the best models for a pure performance gaming PC in this price range is the Okinos Aqua 3 Air. It comes pre-installed with 3 black 120mm PWM fans, and it’s one of the cheapest cases available that’s full of fans. If you prefer a wood grain design, then I also like the Okinos Cypress 3 Wood. Both cases pack a ton of value around the $60 price range, and they include USB-C ports. (You’ll need a B550 motherboard to take advantage however)
Last updated: June 18, 2025