In the first spring issue of the «PC of the Month» 2024, we will consider the most familiar, classic gaming configurations in the form of the following system units: «Budget», «Optimal», and «Progressive». We have selected the latest components, taking into account the latest changes in the computer technology market.
Gaming PC «Budget» for 27 400 UAH
| Gaming PC «Budget» | Price, UAH | |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-12100F | 3800 |
| Motherboard | MSI Pro H610M-E DDR4 | 2750 |
| RAM | GoodRam DDR4 16GB 2x8GB 3200MHz | 1650 |
| Drive | SSD M.2 2280 1TB Kingston | 2550 |
| Video card | MSI PCI-E GeForce RTX4060 | 14200 |
| Cooler | BOX | 0 |
| Power supply | 400W DeepCool PF400 | 1350 |
| Body | 1stPlayer X2-3B1 Color LED Black | 1100 |
| The entire PC | 27400 | |
Despite the availability of 13th and 14th generation Intel Core i3, we choose Intel Core i3-12100F because it offers the best power to price ratio. This 8-threaded processor is more than enough for undemanding gamers, and the bonus is the low-power consumption — you don’t need to replace the box cooler with something more powerful.
A budget motherboard can easily handle this CPU. For example, we added MSI Pro H610M-E DDR4although cheaper ones from Asrock or Biostar are also suitable. The power supply will not overheat from a 40W processor, and support for DDR4 memory is just an advantage in this price segment.
We choose a RAM with a frequency of 3200 MHz and CL16 latency. Alternatively, you can buy something like GoodRam DDR4 16 GB 2x8GB 3200MHz. It’s the best RAM for the money, although there are slightly cheaper counterparts from lesser-known manufacturers.
The memory subsystem should be supplemented with a minimum 0.5 TB drive. Since their prices are low, we added the model SSD M.2 2280 1TB Kingston. The overpayment for the terabyte version is not so great that you shouldn’t save money on it. It’s also not worth chasing high speeds (7000 MB/s).
Video card MSI Ventus 2X GeForce RTX4060 takes more than half of the budget of the entire PC, which is not surprising. The perfect complement to this system unit is a 144Hz Full-HD monitor. The video card will handle modern games with this resolution without any problems, and it’s even better for eSports.
As an analog, you can consider the AMD RX 7600, but you should take into account the lack of DLSS and NVIDIA Frame Generation, poorer performance (will a young gamer work in Blender?) and 50% higher power consumption. On the other hand, you can save up to 3000 UAH by choosing AMD. The AMD RX 6600 is even cheaper, but its power no longer allows it to compete with the RTX 4060.
For just 27,400 UAH, a user will get a budget gaming computer that will be relevant for a long time, especially when it comes to online esports games. The only offense is that the graphics accelerator took more than half of the total amount.
Gaming PC «Optimal» for UAH 56 500
| Gaming PC «Optimal» | Price, UAH | |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | 9200 |
| Motherboard | ASRock B650 PG Lightning | 7600 |
| RAM | DDR5 2x16GB/6000 G.Skill Flare X5 | 4500 |
| Drive | SSD M.2 2280 1TB Kingston SKC3000S | 4200 |
| Video card | Sapphire PCI-E Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB | 23000 |
| Cooler | DeepCool AK620 Zero Dark | 3000 |
| Power supply | 700W Chieftec ZPU-700S | 2300 |
| Body | MSI MAG Forge 100M | 2700 |
| The entire PC | 56500 | |
At the heart of the optimal system unit we put AMD Ryzen 5 7600X — is an excellent processor that easily outperforms AMD AM4 flagships. The new architecture has proven to be so successful that it is better to forget about outdated analogs in this price range.
Any mid-range B650 motherboard can be the optimal motherboard for the optimal PC. There is no point in looking at models costing 10000+ UAH because they offer negligible benefits for the owner of a Ryzen 5 7600X processor. A good option is ASRock B650 PG Lightning with 17 power phases and support for high RAM frequency.
RAM DDR5 2x16GB/6000 G.Skill Flare X5 has one of the best speed-to-price ratios, so we confidently take a 32 GB set. We supplement the system with one 1-2 TB SSD, leaving room for additional drives for the future. For example, we added SSD M.2 2280 1TB Kingston SKC3000Swhich is one of the best CDs for the money at the moment.
The best mid-range graphics cards are the NVIDIA RTX 4070 and AMD RX 7800 XT. Both are good and worth considering Sapphire PCI-E Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB will be suitable for those who are primarily interested in video games, while 3D designers should pay attention to the NVIDIA model, which is more productive in work programs.
Despite the high performance of the processor, it stands out for its considerable temperatures. It’s no easier to cool it than a conventional Intel Core i5-13600K, so we add a large tower DeepCool AK620 Zero Dark or a two-section liquid cooling system.
The power supply was chosen as 700W Chieftec ZPU-700S for obvious reasons: a time-tested brand, good «net» power and certificate, no additional elements that affect the price (modular design, for example), and a pleasant price. So to speak, «top for your money», which will not satisfy owners of premium computers and fans of perfect cable management, but will be suitable for an optimal PC.
We were looking for a case in the segment up to UAH 3000 with good ventilation and thoughtful ergonomics. There are many models that fit these parameters, but the following caught my eye, MSI MAG Forge 100M — a nice, neat, inexpensive, and high-quality case that matches its price.
For about 56,500 UAH, you can build an optimal gaming computer for 2024 that can easily handle Quad HD gaming and sometimes Ultra HD. This configuration can be blown out of proportion or compressed out of proportion, but this set can be considered the foundation for building a mid-range PC to suit your needs.
Gaming PC «Progressive» for UAH 113,800
| Gaming PC «Progressive» | Price, UAH | |
| Processor | Intel Core i7 14700K | 17600 |
| Motherboard | Asus PRIME Z790-A WIFI | 12200 |
| RAM | GoodRam DDR5 64GB 2x32GB 6800MHz | 10500 |
| Drive | SSD 2TB Samsung 980 PRO | 6700 |
| Video card | Palit PCI-E GeForce RTX4080 16GB | 49000 |
| Cooler | ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 420 | 4500 |
| Power supply | 1000W Gigabyte UD1000GM | 6300 |
| Body | DeepCool CH780 | 7000 |
| The entire PC | 113800 | |
The most successful processor of the 14th generation is considered to be Intel Core i7-14700Kbecause it has even more energy-efficient cores. For the money, it is one of the best solutions for work and play. Of course, the power consumption is considerable, but we have chosen the right cooling system for 14700K.
Motherboard Asus PRIME Z790-A WIFI can’t boast of the top features of premium models, but it has a strong power supply, so it can handle Intel Core i7 without any problems. In addition, the PRIME Z790 has a set of wireless interfaces, supports high-speed memory, and is equipped with large radiators.
It’s a bit more complicated with RAM for premium PCs, because some people need a large amount of it. For example, we added a good set of GoodRam DDR5 64GB 2x32GB 6800MHz. High frequency, low latency, 64 GB capacity, and reasonable price are almost the perfect choice for the money. A user can save 4,500-5,000 UAH if they buy half the capacity, and this will be only 4-5% of the cost of the entire PC.
Time-tested SSD 2TB Samsung 980 PRO is a good choice for a powerful PC. A 2 TB capacity will be enough «for the beginning», and if you need more, add one or two more 2-4 TB SSDs to the free connectors on the motherboard. It’s not appropriate to install a 1 TB model in a PC for 100,000+ UAH, so we take at least 2000 GB.
The optimal graphics accelerator for an advanced PC is Palit PCI-E GeForce RTX4080 16GB. There are other versions on the market that are 5-10% pricier than this model. The video card is good, productive in work and play, cool, quiet, and almost devoid of technical flaws.
We would like to remind you that there are already Super versions of RTX 4080 on sale, which are only a few thousand UAH pricier. If you’re only interested in gaming, you can consider the slightly cheaper AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX with 24 GB of video memory, which is not a compromise for everyone. In any case, these graphics cards are suitable for 4K gaming and will be relevant for many years to come.
Cooling the processor will not be difficult with the help of ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 420. It is one of the cheapest 420 mm cooling systems and is considered the best choice for those who need performance without unnecessary «bells and whistles in the form of lighting and so on. It is also interesting that the 420 mm version is cheaper than the 360 mm version, although it will not fit into every case.
Choose a case that can accommodate a 420 mm radiator. Something like this will do DeepCool CH780. There is a wide choice in stores, but most models that support such SROs cost about UAH 10,000. Buying a cheaper case and 360 mm «dropsy» will not be a mistake.
We are looking for a power supply for RTX 4080 with a bundled 16-pin cable to avoid using adapters once again. The PCI-E 5.0 option looks like a good one 1000W Gigabyte UD1000GM. The best possible power to cost ratio, high efficiency, modular design and «gold» certification.
An advanced computer will cost 113,800 UAH if you build this particular configuration. Of course, the price may vary up or down depending on the amount of RAM, storage, and video card model you choose. This particular configuration can upgrade memory, a huge power reserve of the PSU, and should remain relevant for at least 7 years.