Best Computer Build for $700-$1000

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6K8Hgs) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6K8Hgs/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54690k) | $199.99 @ Micro Center
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $26.99 @ NCIX US
**Motherboard** | [MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z97gaming5) | $140.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Memory** | [Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-memory-hx318c10fbk28) | $41.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st1000dm003) | $43.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Video Card** | [MSI Radeon R9 390 8GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-r9390gaming8g) | $324.98 @ SuperBiiz
**Case** | [NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-cas340wb1) | $61.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Power Supply** | [Corsair RM 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-rm850) | $119.99 @ Amazon
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| **Total** | **$960.91**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2015-08-10 14:59 EDT-0400 |

Here's a start.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($166.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.49 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($311.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($91.75 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: AOC i2267Fw 60Hz 22.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($24.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1025.10
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-10 15:13 EDT-0400

If your upper limit is fixed, then we need to cut back the GPU a little, or leave out the SSD.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($166.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($66.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.49 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($274.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($91.75 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: AOC i2267Fw 60Hz 22.0" Monitor ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($24.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $988.09
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-10 15:16 EDT-0400

Everything is easy if you have Operating System, Keyboard/Mouse, and/or Monitor, just deduct them from the first build and we're good

CPU - For your first build, overclocking wouldn't be recommended and i5's give excellent performance in games so the i5-4460 is a good option as suggested above.

RAM - 8Gb RAM is more than enough for gaming, again as above. The speed of the RAM isn't really important for gaming and 1333Mhz or 1600Mhz is most cost effective.

Motherboard - The H97 chipset is instantly compatible with the i5 and will tend to have some newer features so that's a good option again as suggested above. However the particular board suggested above is mini ITX, it is a very small board designed to fit in smaller cases so has compromises in features and performance (only very small performance compromises nowadays.) For that reason I'd either get this board with a smaller case to take advantage of it or get a mATX board if you don't care about having a small case.

Here are some examples of suitable mini ITX cases at a similar price point (Some may involve having to buy a smaller graphics card):
Coolermaster Elite 110 Mini - https://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-rc110kkn2
Silverstone SG13B - https://pcpartpicker.com/part/silverstone-case-sstsg13b
Antec ISK 600 - https://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-case-isk600

Here are some examples of good mATX (slightly larger) motherboards:
ASRock H97M - https://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-h97m
Gigabyte GA-H97M-HD3 - https://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gah97mhd3
MSI H97M-E35 - https://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-h97me35

Storage - An SSD is a good idea for storing your OS and programs, they're more expensive than a normal mechanical hard drive but are MUCH faster. For some people 120GB is enough for OS and programs, I find 250GB to be the perfect amount. I find Crucial, Kingston, Intel and Samsung to be reliable brands for these so the BX100 recommended above is a decent option. A good old hard drive can be used as well if you need more storage, most people go for 1TB but get however much storage you need. 3.5'' 7200RPM drives are cheap and fast so are good for desktops but for very small systems a 2.5'' 5400RPM drive would be better in my opinion, they take up less space and generate less heat and noise.

Case - Case is basically personal preference, just go for whatever you like the look of. I think the Fractal Design Core 1000 is a great budget case, Antec Three Hundred is another good one if you want to push the budget a bit further. NZXT Phantom 410, Fractal Design R5 and Coolermaster HAF 922 are some more good cases at a higher price point.

PSU - 500W is generally going to be plenty of power for almost any single graphics card non-overclocking build. If you have particularly efficient components like an i5 and GTX 960 for example, even 350W+ is fine. Some good names to look for in PSU's are Seasonic, XFX, Antec and Superflower.

If you have any questions about any of that, let us know.

EDIT: Almost forgot the GPU

GPU - If you're gaming at 720P, what the hell is wrong with you? But if you are, the GTX 750Ti or R7 260X will easily do the job and are very cheap.

If you're gaming on a standard 1080P monitor (1920x1080), I'd get a minimum of a GTX 960 or AMD R9 280X. Both are fine for any game at the moment at this resolution and after this point, the more you spend the longer it will last really. The GTX 970 is a good all rounder, excellent performance with low power consumption so they tend to be smaller, cooler and quieter than AMD options.

At 1440P, I'd get the GTX 970 or R9 390 as a minimum but ideally a GTX 980Ti. Any higher resolution than that is simply beyond reach at this budget.

The mini-ITX includes WiFi and Bluetooth for 'free', so I consider it ideal in the absence of further information. The mini-ITX board in that small mATX case helps achieve a cool build.

you can't sli/crossfire with an itx board

If course not, but that qualifies as 'in the absence of further information' A mini-ITX board will run a single GTX980ti. $1000 is insufficient budget to exceed the gaming capabilities of mini-ITX

.I can't think of any good reason for Crossfire/SLI in a new $1000 system.

here s build using teh Xeon E3 1231, which is basically an I7 without the built in HD Graphics 4000. which since you have a Radeon R9 380 4 GB, you won't need. does 4 cores/8 threads. Also included ins a decent-sized SSD and a 1 TB HDD

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($237.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock B85M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($47.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill NS Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: PNY CS1111 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 380 4GB PCS+ Video Card ($203.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($22.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec Neo Eco 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $708.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-08-10 17:07 EDT-0400