Sample custom computer builds as of 2013.

The configurations here are essentially based on the votes of local customers and online audience of Custom PC Guide .net. You probably find your final build different to what you see here, but that is OK! The point is to getting the best system for the budget, and for your needs (home use, media streaming, video games, multimedia production, making money online, etc…)

It’s just like giving each of the ten people a box full of LEGO bricks and ask them to build a house. We will surely have 10 different looking buildings at the end of the day. Perhaps, what matters most is what  everyone has learned from the project and how it benefits us to achieve better and greater results in the future. Isn’t that what building your own custom computer for, too ?

Enjoy the builds and please leave us a comment of suggestion or feedback for future updates !

Saving Tip ! If you live close to a Micro Center store, look for the special combo motherboard and cpu deals – as well as Samsung 840 SSD and Crucial memory using these two $20 OFF coupon codes : SAM + last-3-digit-of-sku (eg. SAM436) and CRU + last-3-digit-of-sku. They have the best price ever.

Basic Home-Use

• $250
• $400

Note: this build is a newer update of the $300 Custom Home and Work Computer

Processor 

$63.99 AMD A6-5400K APU 3.6Ghz Processor AD540KOKHJBOX (Personal Computers)

Motherboard

$48.98 MSI AMD A55 MicroATX DDR3 1600 370 Motherboards FM2-A55M-E33 (Personal Computers)

Memory

$59.50 Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB kit (4GBx2) DDR3-1600 1.5V 240-Pin UDIMM BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00 (Personal Computers)

Hard Drive

$30.00 Western Digital 160 GB Caviar Blue SATA 7200 RPM 8 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive WD1600AAJS (Personal Computers)

Case

$48.00 iMicro 450 Watt ATX Mid-Tower Case CA-J301P45 (Black) (Personal Computers)

Optical Drive

$17.98 LG Electronics 24X SATA Super-Multi DVD Internal Rewriter with M-Disc Support (Black) GH24NS95B (Personal Computers)

Note: this build is an upgrade from the $400 Entertainment / Productivity PC

Processor 

$131.89 Intel Core i3-3225 Dual-Core Processor 3.3 GHz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80637i33225 (Personal Computers)

Motherboard

$89.99 Gigabyte Intel H77 LGA1155 AMD CrossFireX HDMI/DVI Dual UEFI BIOS mATX Motherboard GA-H77M-D3H (Personal Computers)

Memory

$59.50 Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB kit (4GBx2) DDR3-1600 1.5V 240-Pin UDIMM BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00 (Personal Computers)

Hard Drive

$52.70 Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive - WD5000AAKX (Personal Computers)

Case

$39.62 Thermaltake V3 Black Edition VL80001W2Z No PS Mid Tower Gaming Case (Black) (Personal Computers)

Power Supply

$32.99 Cooler Master Elite Power - 460W Power Supply (RS460-PSARI3-US) (Electronics)

Optical Drive

$17.98 LG Electronics 24X SATA Super-Multi DVD Internal Rewriter with M-Disc Support (Black) GH24NS95B (Personal Computers)

Work and Play

• $500
• $600
• $350-$600 HTPC
• $700 HTPC
• $700 Quiet Home Server

Processor 

$131.89 Intel Core i3-3225 Dual-Core Processor 3.3 GHz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80637i33225 (Personal Computers)

Motherboard

$65.32 Gigabyte DDR3 1600 Intel - LGA 1155 B75 HDMI and DVI mATX Motherboard GA-B75M-HD3 (Personal Computers)

Memory

$59.50 Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB kit (4GBx2) DDR3-1600 1.5V 240-Pin UDIMM BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00 (Personal Computers)

Hard Drive

$49.99 Seagate Barracuda 500 GB HDD SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 16MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST500DM002 (Personal Computers)

or

$92.00 Samsung 840 Series 2.5 inch 120GB SATA III internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7TD120BW (Personal Computers)

Case

$52.55 Zalman ATX Mid Tower Case - Black Z9PLUS (Electronics)

Power Supply

$52.99 Corsair Builder Series CX 500 Watt ATX/EPS  80 PLUS (CX500) (Personal Computers)

Optical Drive

$17.98 LG Electronics 24X SATA Super-Multi DVD Internal Rewriter with M-Disc Support (Black) GH24NS95B (Personal Computers)

Processor 

$203.99 Intel Core i5-3570K Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 - BX80637I53570K (Personal Computers)

Motherboard

$89.99 AS Rock LGA1155 Intel Z77 CrossFireX SATA3 USB3.0 A GbE ATX Motherboard Z77 PRO4 (Personal Computers)

Memory

$59.50 Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB kit (4GBx2) DDR3-1600 1.5V 240-Pin UDIMM BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00 (Personal Computers)

Hard Drive

$49.99 Seagate Barracuda 500 GB HDD SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 16MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST500DM002 (Personal Computers)

or

$92.00 Samsung 840 Series 2.5 inch 120GB SATA III internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7TD120BW (Personal Computers)

Case

$38.96 Diablotek EVO ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - ATX, Mcro ATX, 4x External 5.25-Inch Bay Drives, 5x Internal 3.5-Inch Bay Drives, 7x Expansion Slots and 3x Front USB Ports CPA-6170 (Black) (Personal Computers)

Power Supply

$58.99 Corsair Builder Series CX 600 Watt ATX/EPS  80 PLUS (CX600) (Personal Computers)

Optical Drive

$17.98 LG Electronics 24X SATA Super-Multi DVD Internal Rewriter with M-Disc Support (Black) GH24NS95B (Personal Computers)

Note: this build is a combination update of

$600 Work Computer

$600 Work / Play PC

$350 / $600 Home Theater PC

 

Processor 

$127.99 AMD A10-5800K APU 3.8Ghz Processor AD580KWOHJBOX (Personal Computers)

Motherboard

$54.99 ASRock Socket FM2/AMD A75 FCH/DDR3/SATA3&USB3.0/A&V&GbE/MicroATX Motherboard FM2A75M-DGS (Personal Computers)

Memory

$59.50 Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB kit (4GBx2) DDR3-1600 1.5V 240-Pin UDIMM BLS2CP4G3D1609DS1S00 (Personal Computers)

Video Card

$96.99 ASUS Graphics Cards HD7750-DCSL-1GD5 (Personal Computers)

Hard Drive

$49.99 Seagate Barracuda 500 GB HDD SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 16MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST500DM002 (Personal Computers)

$92.00 Samsung 840 Series 2.5 inch 120GB SATA III internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7TD120BW (Personal Computers)

Case

$49.99 Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced - Mini-ITX Computer Case with USB 3.0 and Long Graphics Card Support (Personal Computers)

Power Supply

SeaSonic X-460 460W 80 Plus Gold Fanless ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (Personal Computers)

Optical Drive

$17.98 LG Electronics 24X SATA Super-Multi DVD Internal Rewriter with M-Disc Support (Black) GH24NS95B (Personal Computers)

$700 / $1000 Quiet Home Server

Pure Gaming and Workstations

• Gaming Computers
• Personal Workstation

$600 / $700 Gaming PC

$800 / $900 Gaming PC

$800 / $1200 Gaming HTPC

$2000 / $3000 Gaming PC (Enthusiast & Overclocking Edition)

$1000 / $1500 Workstation and Super Gaming PC

$2000 / $8000 Professional Workstation PC (Xeon)

Additional Resources :

• Choosing an AMD or Intel Processor for Your Custom Computer
• Radeon vs. NVIDIA Gaming Graphics Cards Round-Up : Let The Right One In
• 12 Best Gaming Cases with Clear Transparent Window for Your Custom PC
• Top 6 Most Silent Computer Cases for Quiet Computing
• 10 Most Quiet Power Supply Units You Should Buy
• Round-up of 8 Self-Contained Liquid Cooling Kits for Your Processor
• Accelero Hybrid : Liquid Cooling Video Cards Finally Made Simple
• The Differences between all Asus Z77 V-Series Motherboards
• Round-up of The Best and Fastest Mainstream Solid State Drives from 7 Reputable Brands
• The Differences between All Corsair Power Supply Units
• NewEgg PC Assembling Videos