After a less than 600 USD configuration, effective but quickly limited, up to speed by moving towards a PC Gamer under the bar of 950 USD. With such a budget, we start to get to the heart of the matter with components offering a good price/performance ratio.
With the configuration listed below, you will be able to enjoy most of the current games in perfect conditions, and this in both 1080p and 1440p.
Faced with a gaming PC positioned at the entry-level, we gain in fluidity and image quality, and it is also possible to try out VR without difficulty.
With a budget of 950 USD, it is now possible to build a Gaming PC that holds up perfectly. By coupling here an excellent Intel Core i5-10400F to a GTX 1660 Super graphics card, we obtain a machine capable of running all current games at over 100 FPS in 1080p and the majority of titles at over 60 FPS in 1440p.
LIST OF COMPONENTS
| TYPE | PRODUCTS | ORDER |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-10400F |  |
| Motherboard | ASUS TUF B460 Gaming Plus |  |
| Graphics card | GTX 1660 Super |  |
| Memory | Corsair Vengeance LPX (2×8 Go @ 3000 Mhz) |  |
| SSD | XLR8 M2 NVMe SSD – 500 GB |  |
| Cooling | Included with the CPU | |
| Power supply | Corsair CV550 |  |
| Case | Sharkoon RGB Flow |  |
Processor- Intel Core i5-10400F
For this PC Gaming configuration at less than 950 USD, the Intel Core i5-10400F is an excellent candidate. Its 6 Cores and 12 Threads design is more than sufficient to play in good conditions at 1080p and 1440p.
The CPU has a native frequency of 2.9 GHz and a Turbo mode at 4.3 GHz for excellent performance when gaming and slightly heavier tasks such as video editing or photo editing.
Currently offered under the bar of 170 $, it displays an unbeatable quality/price ratio in this price range. If you favor AMD processors, you will have to look at the side of the excellent Ryzen 5 3600, but its current price of around 220 $ the least makes it interesting.
Motherboard- ASUS TUF B450-Plus Gaming
To accompany our Core i5-10400F, we start here on an ASUS TUF B460 Gaming Plus motherboard. Our processor is not overclockable, no need to go for a Z490 card and explode our budget.
Available around 140 €, this affordable model fits perfectly with the rest of our configuration. In ATX format, it has all the necessary connections to support the rest of our configuration.
In particular, there are 2 NVMe compatible M.2 ports, one of which has a heat sink, 6 SATA ports. Please note, this version does not include a WiFi or Bluetooth chip.
Graphics card- GTX 1660 Super
On the graphics card side, we are clearly limited by the current state of stocks, and we again recommend focusing on the second-hand market.
For around 200 to 300 $, our choice is here on the GTX 1660 Super, which allows you to play in perfect conditions at 1080p see 1440p.Â
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Memory- Corsair Vengeance LPX (3000 Mhz)
Typically, most recent games and apps recommend 8-16 GB of RAM.
This Corsair Vengeance LPX @ 3000 Mhz 2 x 8 GB kit should largely cover the needs of 99% of gamers, offering excellent performance and reliability widely recognized by users. Less than 100$, hard to find better.
The selected bars are limited to a frequency of 3000 Mhz, but we will in all cases be restricted to 2666 Mhz with this B460 motherboard. For lovers of customization, this kit also has customizable RGB lighting.
SSD- XLR8 M2 NVMe SSD – 500 GB
With a budget of 950 $, it is impossible to miss an SSD and, more particularly, a model in M.2 format compatible with NVMe.
With its 500 GB capacity, this PNY XLR CS3030 will allow you to give your gaming PC a real boost, significantly speeding up its startup and the loading of your applications and files.
The disk space should allow you to install your OS (count around 20 GB for Windows 10), the applications you use the most, as well as your favorite games.
You can add an extra SATA SSD or traditional HDD if 500 GB is not enough for you.
Power Supply-Corsair CV550
A 550W power supply is sufficient for the configuration of the day and allows us to stay under the bar of 800 €.
We start here on a certified 80 PLUS Bronze model, with a Corsair CV550. This is a fairly basic model, without modular connectors, but which will do perfectly with a price of around 60 €.
Obviously, if you can get out a few dozen euros extra, we can only advise you to move towards a slightly more powerful power supply with better performance, with a 650W 80 PLUS Gold model, for example.
Case- Sharkoon RGB Flow
For this case, you have a wide choice of models between 60 to 90$. Choose according to your aesthetic preferences while remaining attentive to the characteristics offered by your case.
Take a look at the possibilities offered in terms of cooling (number of locations for your fans, dust filters, etc.), storage, or even cable management. Depending on your needs, check the different connectors offered on the front (USB / HDMI / 3.5 mm), especially if you want to move towards VR.
For this configuration at less than 950 USD, the Sharkoon RGB Flow caught our eye. Well built and above all very successful visually, the assembly is carried out intuitively, and the transparent side panel allows you to enjoy your RGB lighting. You can discover more models in our comparison of PC cases.
Modify your configuration
If you already have an equivalent configuration or organize your future purchases better, find below some ideas to upgrade this PC Gamer configuration to 950$ easily.
These different options will allow you to improve your FPS on some of the most demanding titles and enjoy your games in better conditions in 2560 x 1440p, 3440 x 1440p, or even in 4K.
An even more powerful GPU
While our GTX 1660 Super holds up perfectly for 1080p gaming, it can sometimes show some limitations when switching to a higher resolution. This is particularly the case with the most demanding games, such as Assassin’s Creed, Horizon Zero Dawn, and other recent AAAs.
To change this configuration and continue to enjoy a perfect framerate even in QHD, we can imagine moving towards a more powerful graphics card, such as the RX 5700 XT. There are excellent models around 550$.
More efficient cooling
The 10400F comes with a cooler, but its performance is clearly nothing exceptional. In terms of cooling and noise pollution, Intel’s small cooler quickly shows its limits, especially if you then want to switch to a more powerful CPU.
There are excellent coolers for less than 50$, especially from BeQuiet, CoolerMaster, or the even Arctic. Your CPU will thank you, and you will also be able to upgrade your machine more easily.
You can also invest in an AIO water cooling kit. There are some very effective for less than 120$, with the Arctic Liquid Freezer II. If you’re looking for something a little more flashy, head to the Corsair Hydro 115i Platinum RGB or the NZXT Kraken Z63.
