Build Your Own Gaming PC Specs

For this case, we have sorted all of them by a group. Despite AMD's Never Settle drivers giving them the lead, our concerns with stuttering means we're holding off on swapping out our GPUs for the time being. However, we've got no issue swapping out the premium machine's SSD for Samsung's zippy new 840 PRO.

BUDGET
The perfect entry-level gaming PC
Total - $1,076

CPU: AMD FX 4170
MOBO: ASRock 88GM-LE FX
RAM: Kingston DDR 8GB 1333MHz CL9
VIDEO: HIS Radeon HD 7950 3GB
POWER: Cooler Master 500W
SOUND: Sennheiser HD201 + ASUS Xonar DG
OPTICAL: Lite-on DVD-RW
STORAGE: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB
DISPLAY: Sasung S24B300H 24"
CASE: BitFenix Shinobi
KEYBOARD: Microsoft Sidewinder X4
MOUSE: Gigabyte M5900

PERFORMANCE
MOst of the bells and whistles, without breaking the bank
Total - $2,100

CPU: Intel 3rd Generation Core i5-3570K + Cooler Master Hyper 612 PWM
MOBO: ASUS P8Z77-V LK
RAM: Partriot Viper3 Intel Extreme Masters 8GB DDR3 21233MHz
VIDEO: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz OC
POWER: FSP Aurum 650W
SOUND: Sennheiser PC151 + ASUS Xonar DG
OPTICAL: Lite-on DVD-RW
STORAGE: WD Caviar Black 1TB + OCZ Vertex 2 120GB
DISPLAY: BenQ XL2420T
CASE: BitFenix Shinobi XL
KEYBOARD: Microsoft Sidewinder X4
MOUSE: Razer DeathAdder V2

PREMIUM
Crank everything to Ultra, including your credit card limit
Total - $4,820

CPU: Intel 3rd Generation Core i7-3770K + Noctua NH-D14
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H
RAM: 2x Patriot Viper3 Intel Extreme Masters 8GB DDR3 2133MHz
VIDEO: 2x Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670
POWER: Silverstone Strider Plus 850W
SOUND: ASUS Xonar D2X + Audio Technica ATH-A500x
OPTICAL: Samsung SH-B123A Blue-ray Combo Drive
STORAGE: WD Caviar Black 1TB + Sasung SSD 840 PRO 512GB
DISPLAY: Dell 30" U3011 UltraSharp
CASE: Cooler Master Cosmos II Ultra Tower
KEYBOARD: Razer Black Widow
MOUSE: Razer DeathAdder V2

THE BEAST
When overkill is barely enough...
Total - $20,035

CPU: Intel 3rd Generation Core i7 3770K + EK-KIT H30 360 HFX Cooling Kit
MOBO: Gigabyte G1. Sniper 3
RAM: G.Skill TridentX DDR3 2400MHz 4x 4 GB
VIDEO: ASUS Ares II
POWER: Thermaltake Tough Power 1500W
SPEAKERS: Paradigm Cinea 110 with dual Subwoofers and Paradigm monitor center + Pioneer VSX-921 amp
OPTICAL: Samsung SH-B123A Blue-ray Cobo Drive
HEADPHONES + SOUND CARD: ASUS Xonar + Audio Technica ATH-A500X Headphones
STORAGE: OCZ 240GB RevoDrive 3 X2 + OCZ Vertex 4 520GB + 2 x WD 1TB Velociraptor
DISPLAY: Sony VPLVW95ES
CASE: Cooler Master Cosmos II Ultra Tower
KEYBOARD: Razer BlackWidow Ultiate Stealth Edition
INPUT DEVICE: Razer Mamba Wireless Gaming Mouse + Xbox 360 USB Wireless Dogle + Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
STEERING WHEEL: Fanatec CSR Elite with pedals and shifters
JOYSTICS: Logitech G940
COOKPIT: Obutto oZone with Buttkicker gamer 2 and TrackIR 5 Pro