Ars Technica System Guide: Discounts Steal the Spotlight from New Hardware Launches

Ars Technica System Guide: Discounts Steal the Spotlight from New Hardware Launches

Ars Technica System Guide: Discounts Steal the Spotlight from New Hardware Launches


### Constructing a Custom PC: An In-Depth Guide for 2024

Assembling a custom PC can be an exciting undertaking, providing the opportunity to customize your setup according to your unique preferences and budget. Whether you’re a gamer, a content creator, or someone in need of a robust workstation, this guide will navigate you through various configurations that suit different needs and financial plans. From affordable builds to more sophisticated arrangements, we’ve covered all bases.

### 1. **The Cost-Effective All-Purpose Build**

**What it’s suitable for:** Internet browsing, educational tasks, basic photo or video editing, and casual gaming.

**What it struggles with:** Running the latest games, a narrow upgrade potential, older CPU model.

**Price at the time of writing:** $355

#### Parts List:
– **CPU:** [AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT](https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-5-5500gt-ryzen-5-5000-series-cezanne-zen-3-socket-am4/p/N82E16819113817?Item=N82E16819113817) – $115
– **CPU Cooler:** AMD Wraith Stealth (Included) – $0
– **Motherboard:** [Gigabyte B450M DS3H Wi-Fi (Micro ATX)](https://bit.ly/3oQiLew) – $75
– **GPU:** Radeon Vega iGPU (Included) – $0
– **Memory:** [GeIL Orion AMD Edition 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200 kit](https://www.newegg.com/geil-16gb-ddr4-3200/p/N82E16820158937?Item=N82E16820158937) – $30
– **Storage:** [Crucial P3 Plus 500GB](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8WP6B8R/?tag=arstech20-20) – $40
– **Power Supply Unit:** [Thermaltake Smart Series 600 W](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1193910-REG/thermaltake_ps_spd_0600npcwus_w_smart_active_pfc_80_plus.html) – $45
– **Chassis:** [Thermaltake Versa H17](https://amzn.to/40F5OkJ) – $50

**Overview:**
This configuration is ideal for those seeking a straightforward, budget-conscious PC for everyday applications. The Ryzen 5 5500GT delivers respectable performance for the price, and the integrated Radeon Vega GPU suffices for light gaming and multimedia activities. Although this arrangement is not optimized for contemporary gaming or extensive multitasking, it lays a reliable groundwork for general usage.

### 2. **The Affordable Gaming PC**

**What it’s suited for:** Decent 1080p gaming performance in most games.

**What it struggles with:** Achieving high frame rates or resolutions above 1080p in newer titles.

**Price at the time of writing:** $707-710

#### Parts List:
– **CPU:** [Intel Core i5-12400F](https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i5-12400f-core-i5-12th-gen-alder-lake-lga-1700-desktop-processor/p/N82E16819118360?Item=N82E16819118360) – $112
– **CPU Cooler:** Intel Laminar CPU fan – $0
– **Motherboard:** [Gigabyte B760M Gaming Plus WiFi DDR4](https://www.newegg.com/gigabyte-b760m-gaming-plus-wifi-ddr4-micro-atx-intel-b760-lga-1700/p/N82E16813145505?Item=N82E16813145505) – $120
– **GPU:** [Galax GeForce RTX 4060 8GB](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP3FLVGY/?tag=arstech20-20) – $285
– **Memory:** [GeIL Orion AMD Edition 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200 kit](https://www.newegg.com/geil-16gb-ddr4-3200/p/N82E16820158937?Item=N82E16820158937) – $30
– **Storage:** [Crucial P3 Plus 1TB](https://www.newegg.com/crucial-1tb-p3-plus-nvme/p/N82E16820156300?Item=9SIA12KJ9P1076&cm_sp=product-_-from-price-options) – $65-$68
– **Power Supply Unit:** [Thermaltake Smart Series 600W](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1193910-REG/thermaltake_ps_spd_0600npcwus_w_smart_active_pfc_80_plus.html) –