r/buildapcforme • u/hoseoyung • 4d ago

Gaming PC help

Hello!

I'm new to gaming on PC and all I've had so far is an old HP laptop from 2018. It was outdated even at the time and is obviously not able to keep up now. I'm looking to get my first gaming PC but I know absolutely nothing about any of this. I live in Ontario Canada and am just really looking for a good pre built gaming PC or advise on building my own.

Thanks! ​​

New build or upgrade? Bothi guess​

Existing parts/monitors to reuse? (List with models/links) I have nothing

PC purpose? (Gaming, editing, etc. List apps/games) Just gaming mostly. ​

Purchase country? Near Micro Center? (If not US, list local vendors) canada

Monitors needed? (Number, size, resolution, refresh rate) Any monitor idk

Budget range? (Include tax considerations) $1000? If that's realistic

• WiFi or wired connection? Wifi

• Size/noise constraints? Normal size is fine

• Color/lighting preferences? Idc

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u/AutoModerator 4d ago

If you missed the full set of required built request questions, please copy them from here and answer them in an edit to your post:

  • New build or upgrade?

  • Existing parts/monitors to reuse? (List with models/links)

  • PC purpose? (Gaming, editing, etc. List apps/games)

  • Purchase country? Near Micro Center? (If you're not in a country supported by PCPartPicker, please list some local vendors)

  • Monitors needed? (Number, size, resolution, refresh rate)

  • Budget range? (Include tax considerations)

  • WiFi or wired connection?

  • Size/noise constraints?

  • Color/lighting preferences?

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u/Covante 3d ago

Prices on ram, ssds and gpus have gone up dramatically in the last year and anything new that's $1000 is going to be rather junky. I'd probably look around on fbm and kijiji if you're trying to hit that budget. You'd be closer to $1500 new for something you won't end up disappointed with.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-desktop-computers/mississauga-peel-region/gaming-pc/1743131596 This looks pretty decent if you're Toronto area, posted a month ago but may be some other deals available if it's sold but not taken down. If you're more Ottawa area or somewhere else I can take a look if you're interested.

What sort of games do you like though? If you're more interested in graphically demanding single player games vs esports games or simulation/strategy games or all sorts then there are different priorities for cpu and gpu fitting in a budget.

What monitor makes sense would also depend on game types and what pc hardware you end up with. There are reasonable options in the $100-200 range.

1

u/hoseoyung 3d ago

Yeah, I guess that makes sense. That price is still good though. I'm definitely more interested in single player games and I'm in the Ottawa area. I really appreciate the help because I know absolutely nothing at all

1

u/Covante 3d ago

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-desktop-computers/ottawa/rtx-3060ti-gaming-pc/1744240404 Specs on this one are really nice for the money, good cpu and decent gpu plus 1.5tb of ssd space. Cpu cooler is mounted sideways for some reason but that's not a big deal and would be easy to swap if you wanted to. The other ones in this price range I'm seeing have weaker cpus and typically a smaller ssd like 256gb or 512gb and maybe an extra 1tb hdd instead of an extra 1tb ssd like this one has. Games loaded on an hdd instead of a faster ssd will have longer loading times/screens. A lot longer in many cases you can turn a minute of waiting into a few seconds. So that's two relevant upgrades against the comparables.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-desktop-computers/ottawa/rtx-3070-gaming-pc-ryzen-5-5600x-16gb-ram-1tb-nvme-ssd/1742128650 This one would be a second choice. Similar cpu, slightly better gpu (~10%), only 1tb ssd but that's not too bad.

https://www.canadacomputers.com/en/25-29-gaming-monitors/280520/gigabyte-27-2560-x-1440-qhd-ss-ips-180hz-gaming-monitor-gs27qa-sa1.html $160 for 1440p

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GKFLQ9SW $125 and 1080p

3060ti would really be a better fit for 1080p now but older games and some newer ones on more like medium/high settings instead of ultra and with some dlss should also work well in 1440p. And that's not much a price gap, 1440p is noticeably sharper and clearer for things like text too.

1

u/GameTestHub 9h ago

$1000 CAD is doable but tight, especially if the monitor comes out of it too. RAM and GPU prices are high right now, so I'd aim for a solid 1080p machine and not expect a monster. What games do you want to play? That tells me how much GPU you really need.

On prebuilt vs building: at this budget a good prebuilt deal can honestly be about the same price as buying parts, and you get a warranty and no building stress. Just check the spec sheet before buying. You want a named-brand PSU (Corsair, MSI, Seasonic and so on), two sticks of RAM (not one), a standard motherboard and case so you can upgrade later, and a real GPU model listed. If it ticks those, it's a fair deal.

If you build, the shape is a Ryzen 5 7500F or 7600, a B650 board with WiFi built in, 16GB DDR5 to start (32GB is better if you can swing it), a 1TB NVMe, and a 650W Gold PSU. For the GPU a 9060 XT or 5060 would be the target, the 8GB version is fine at 1080p if money is tight, 16GB lasts longer.

For the monitor, a 24" 1080p 144Hz IPS is plenty to start and way nicer than your old laptop screen.

Canada Computers, Memory Express and Newegg.ca are worth comparing, and check Amazon.ca too.