How To Build a Gaming PC for Under $1000

Build a powerful 1080p gaming PC under $1000 in 2025 – Smoothly sail AAA games, enjoy high-FPS esports games, and multitask with ease.

How To Build a Gaming PC for Under $1000
Image showing the 14600K and B580 ONIX Odyessey GPU (Image via Amazon, ONIX)

A $1,000 investment in 2025 is a mid-range or entry-level option for building a PC from scratch. It is essential to recognize that computing power has undergone drastic evolution over the past decade. Thanks to AMD Ryzen, which disrupted the entire CPU market in 2016. Fast forward to today, and here are your options.

Note: A decent gaming monitor and the bare minimum of peripherals (keyboard and mouse) are listed here in case you don’t already have them. If you already possess them, that’s fine. As for the operating system, Windows can be used as a trial, or Linux is available. Pricing is accurate as of 22nd June 2025.

Note about Windows 10/11: Microsoft allows you to run a trial version without activation for an indefinite period; however, you will lose personalization features, such as wallpapers and themes. Otherwise, it’s a fully functional OS. Microsoft doesn’t block usage after the trial period, and you can also use Windows Updates.

Building a Gaming PC Under $1000

How To Build a Gaming PC for Under $1000
Image of the PC parts (Image via PCPartsPicker)

The CPU used in this build is the Raptor Lake refresh Core i5-14600K, which features 14 cores and offers outstanding multithreading capabilities at its price point. The motherboard is the ASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi, and it has a VRM setup that can easily drive the CPU. Regarding RAM, the recommended memory choice is the TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32GB DDR5-6000 dual-channel memory kit.

Together with the motherboard, CPU, and RAM, it requires a compelling and capable gaming and multitasking machine. We all know how incredibly capable the Peerless Assassin is, and cooling the 14600K is child’s play. Now, coming to storage, the P3 Plus from Crucial is a budget-friendly 1TB PCIe Gen 4.0 storage drive. The R/W speed it delivers is just as much as you would need for a seamless gaming experience. Spending a fortune on Gen 5 drives makes little to no difference in gaming. 

GPU, PSU, and Case

Arc Battlemage B580
An image showing the Intel Arc B580 GPU from Asrock (Image via Amazon)

Now the GPU is the very popular Intel Battlemage B580, from the ONIX vendor. It is undoubtedly better than an RTX 4060 8GB card, as games in 2025 make 8GB VRAM pointless. RT and upscaling-wise, Intel isn’t as far behind as everyone makes it out to be.

Once you start using it for new games, with proper settings, such as Resizable Bar enabled, you will change your mind. If this GPU isn’t in stock when you buy it, check for the Battlemage B570 (10GB) or used 12GB VRAM cards. Buying an 8GB VRAM card, unless it’s a 3070 Ti, used and priced incredibly well, makes no sense at all.

Regarding the PSU, or power supply, 600W 80+ Gold at this price is a steal. Thermaltake is a well-established brand and quite trusted for making PSUs. Although it’s not an S+ tier, it outperforms many 80+ Bronze models out there. 600W is sufficient here, precisely what you would need. Lastly, the case or cabinet features four fans, with a hint of RGB, and provides decent airflow, all at a reasonable price.

Build Specs

ComponentModel/SpecsPrice (USD)
CPUIntel Core i5-14600K, 14-core (6P+8E), 3.5–5.3GHz$164.00
CPU CoolerThermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE$33.49
MotherboardASRock Z790 Pro RS WiFi ATX, LGA1700, DDR5, WiFi 6E$150.99
MemoryTEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6000 CL38$76.99
StorageCrucial P3 Plus 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD$56.95
Video CardONIX ODYSSEY Arc B580 12GB GDDR6$299.99
CaseDIYPC Rainbow-Flash-F4 ATX Mid Tower, 4x RGB fans, tempered glass$53.99
Power SupplyThermaltake Toughpower GX2 600W Gold$64.98
MonitorLG 24MR400-B 23.8″ 1080p IPS, 100Hz, FreeSync$77.00
Keyboard/MouseAmazonBasics KU-0833 + MSU0939 Wired Combo$14.36

The total is $998.30, with $5 shipping included. For the latest pricing information, please click here

Payment Structure

Once you visit the link mentioned above, you will see that all components are available across major retailers, including Walmart, Amazon, and Newegg, with prices current as of June 2025. No subscription or recurring fees, as all hardware is a one-time investment. For shipping, you can expect a cost of $5-$10, depending on your location.

Conclusion

This particular build, in 2025, will handle any AAA game thrown at it at 1080p with mid-to-high settings, achieving 60+ FPS. You can simultaneously create content and play games with it. Regarding the upgrade, the motherboard used here can easily support a 14700K or even a tuned 14900K shortly. Yep, the peerless assassin will still be relevant with those CPUs.


We provide the latest news and “How To’s” for Tech content. Meanwhile, you can check out the following articles related to PC GPUs, CPU and GPU comparisons, mobile phones, and more: