The $1,000 rig
OK. So we’ve talked about the high-end machines and what you would need to build a more affordable alternative, but let’s take a look at that build:
Click here for the PCPartPicker list.
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-core processor – $226
- Motherboard: MSI B360-A Pro – $80
- Memory: G.Skill Aegis 16GB DDR4-2666 – $115
- Storage:
- Boot and file drive: ADATA Ultimate SU800 512GB – $79
- Steam drive: Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 2TB – $56
- GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8GB – $390
- Case: NZXT H500 – $70
- Power supply: Corsair TXM Gold 550W – $76
Total: $1,090 ($1,041 with $50 in rebates)
Thanks to PC Part Picker for helping to pick out the above list. This is basically its October Intel build. But you kinda can’t do better than this build at this price, and that’s the problem.
Building a $1,000 rig six months from now
Let’s end this guide by getting back to the bad news. Tariffs are going to raise prices 10-to-25 percent almost across the board. That means, no matter what, you’re going to get less power for your money. And if you don’t have the money to add 10-to-25 percent to your budget, you’re going to have to make cuts to what your rig.
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If the above $1,000 rig is what’s possible now, here’s what’ll be able to get for about the same budget six months from now (assuming a uniform 20 percent price increase across all components):
Click here for the PCPartPicker list.
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-core processor – $226
- Motherboard: Gigabyte B360M DS3H Micro ATX – $66
- Memory: G.Skill Aegis 16GB DDR4-2666 – $115
- Storage:
- Boot and file drive: TCSunBow – X3 240GB SSD – $38
- Steam drive: Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 2TB – $56
- GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 1060 6GB – $280
- Case: Cooler Master MasterBox Lite 3.1 Micro ATX Mid Tower – $40
- Power supply: Corsair TXM Gold 550W – $76
Total as of today: $894.62
Everything else being equal, and only dealing with the effects of tariffs, you’d have to spend approximately $1,090 in six months for a PC that costs $894.62 today. That’s not the end of the world, and it’s in line with what people in a lot of Europe or Australia have to pay for PC components. But they also get single-payer healthcare, so let’s call it even.
For now, it’s still a great time to build a PC. That’s going to end soon, so if you want to build a PC, you need to do it now.
