Monthly Build Contest

“In a few months I'm hopefully moving out for college, however, there's a problem: my current laptop is turning 7 years old this January, and even though I could buy 32gb of ram for it before the rampocalipse, it's falling apart at more than the seams: the display bezel is broken, CrystalDisk tells me my HDD is about to explode and even though it's as loud as a vacuum cleaner, it runs SolidWorks at a very crunchy 2fps with low graphics (you get used to it after a while, but still). This PC would allow me not only to design more complex assemblies without waiting for the system to respond, but also to run part stress simulations without waiting from 3 to 5 business days for my current laptop to load just to tell me it failed due lack of storage. I could also use it as a remote desktop, meaning I could use it for more mundane tasks such as writing essays (like this one). Even though my current 1650 laptop has withstood modeling full 3000+ part models, it's time for it to rest.”

“This is similar to my other builds but in a different mATX case and with an air tower instead of an AIO. The biggest improvements are the Patriot P320 1tb SSD, the SAMA A60B which sits around 29 dB at max crank, and the Ryzen 5 9600X. The motherboard is the MSI PRO B850M-A WIFI for both performance and aesthetics. The two-tone black and silver look matches the single stick of white Patriot Viper Elite 5 RAM so we don't break the bank for 16gb 6000 mt/s CL30. The motherboard also a boasts fantastic connectivity and ports such as the 2 USB type C ports, 5gb LAN, and WiFi 7 since you can't always trust that there'll be ethernet available. The graphics card is a 16gb ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT which has a quiet and performance BIOS switch alongside software that only kicks the fans on at 60°C. I've gone with a full workstation aesthetic this time around with the Zalman T3 mATX case - all black with tinted glass. My laptop is busted, so this would let me game with my friends again.”

“This is meant to be silent and run cool. It is great for 1080p and some 1440p but can still run some engineering software or just watch youtube all day.”

“Created this build specifically for min maxing with no flashy parts aside from the ram which is plain white in an all black pc with an unassuming smaller pc case. Currently running a 10th gen i5 dell OptiPlex with 8gb of ram and 512gb of storage as I had to sell my previous gaming pc to afford ac repairs on my grandparents house. Winning this would give me the chance to play games properly again instead of having to rely on just basic roblox for the time being lol”

“This unassuming little mesh box wouldn't draw any attention in a college dorm, but it is decked out with as strong a budget build as there is. Its Ryzen 5 9600X and RX 9070 GRE combo make it a powerful gaming rig, as well as a very capable workstation. I am a CS major finishing up my bachelor's degree, and I have picked up game dev on the side. This PC would be a major upgrade from my laptop, which I currently work on. It would serve as my dev workstation, college computer, and gaming console.”

“This build is similar to my wood grain weirdo build but in a different mATX case. Some notable differences are the cheaper (but still good) ASRock PRO 750w bronze PSU and 500gb gen 4 SSD to save money in service of a better CPU, the Ryzen 5 9600X. The motherboard is the MSI PRO B850M-A WIFI for both performance and aesthetic reasons. The two-tone black and silver look helps match the single stick of white Patriot Viper Elite 5 RAM for the cheapest 16gb 6000mt cl30 possible in the part picker. The motherboard also a boasts fantastic feature set including 2 USB type C ports, 5gb LAN connectivity, and a WiFi 7 card since you can't always trust that there's an ethernet port available. The graphics card is a 16gb ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT which has a quiet and performance BIOS switch alongside software that only kicks the fans on at 60°C. This is all inside the JONSBO D32 STD because it has a USB C port on the front IO. Currently don't have a functional PC so this would be great.”

“The Black Box is the build that fits whatever a college dorm room needs. It packs a worthy amount of RAM and graphical power for any college major, whether it's discrete graphics for 3D rendering and engineering work, or just simple productivity sessions. It stays on budget by sticking with DDR4 during this RAM crisis, running 32GB of 3600MHz low profile RAM, while still keeping relatively modern parts like the CPU, an Intel Core i5 12600KF, which can later be upgraded to DDR5 on the LGA1700 socket and won't stop getting driver updates anytime soon. Same with the GPU, the RX 9070 GRE, running AMD's latest RDNA architecture. This PC balances productivity and taking a break, giving solid FPS on the highest settings at 1440p, and even reaching 4K in some games. The aesthetic doesn't scream much. Every part stays black, no RGB at all, and the Versa H17 is fully opaque so you won't catch any light from inside: Humble and that doesn't stand out, just as the guidelines have asked.”

“This is the best I could fit into this with the budget while also holding the spirit of a more chill sleeper case (doesn't have a glass side panel or RGB like 80% of cases) with quieter fans and coolers. I haven't looked at components in a while and boy are things expensive. Anyway this would be very good to have for a my dorm room as I am going into my first year of college and would be awesome to be able to do my work in Solidworks in my dorm while also being able to play games without disturbing my roommate too much. Note: I want the case to be the Phanteks XT Pro Silent but the case wasn’t on the list, same price as the case I listed and I requested for this one to be added. If it doesn’t get added by the end (or I forget to come back and change it) that’s what I meant to select.”

“This is the absolute most power I could fit into a tight budget and tighter space constraint. A 10 core cpu leaves headroom to upgrade the gpu in the future. And the 9060xt gives plenty of performance for 1080p and some 1440p today, and hopefully for some time to come. The weakest point is the SSD, but that can always be upgraded when pricing calms down a bit. If I win, I would gift it to family. I already have a gaming pc, and some of my family memebers do not.”

“I cheaped out on a few things but its a nice build that I think doesnt stand out and isnt too big, though that may result at a reduced airflow. I'd like some opinions on it more than anything as Im really just starting out”

“This is a similar build to what I’m looking to upgrade to in the future I didn’t choose an old retro case because it wouldn’t fit in with a modern dorm room”

“I really want to own a pc I do all my work and gaming on my ipad and phone this would be a dream for me...”

“The greatest school PC that’s ever lived. Built for heavy "school projects" with 16 cores, 32GB RAM, and enough fast storage for the "homework" folder. Using one of the most goated cards, the EVGA 2080 Ti packs 11GB of VRAM for CAD simulations and high-refresh gaming. All this in a 0 RGB aesthetic , the ultimate sleeper build for people that have enough of RGB rainbow pukeboxes.”

“No windows, we don't need them. I've made this list with my cousin in mind, who at his grown up age of 22, still has gaming restrictions put on him frequently by his really strict dad. I wanted to make a pc that was gaming capable while his dad isn't home, and not obvious that its a gaming pc when his dad IS home. All he has is a switch 2 right now and it makes me sad cause I want to play all sorts of games and modded games with him but I never can.”

“This build maximizes every dollar by prioritizing raw performance over flashy RGB, making it the perfect stealth powerhouse. I am currently running an old, outdated desktop that has reached its absolute upgrade limits. Since I live outside the US and can't win the physical build, winning the podium would be an incredible milestone to showcase this highly efficient design to the community and jumpstart my path to building it myself.”

“This build, despite letting someone peek into the side seems almost lifeless without any RGB in your face- until you load up your game and see 100+ fps in even the most demanding AAA titles currently. It should stay just as quiet for late night gaming sessions or to cram for that final while your roommates are sound asleep (with the right settings).”

“Who Gives a crap About R-B-G Or whatever this build is PURE PERFORMANCE!!! (I KNOW WHAT I GOT!!!) WITH 32GB or R*M and a RX 9070 GRE this build is per-per-per-PERFECT”

“Small compact build that can also pack a lot of performance”

“I'm a high school senior preparing for college, where I'll study statistics and data science next year. I'm very nervous, and being able to play games on a computer that doesn't sound like a jet engine would be a big help. My current PC also struggles a lot with some of the programs I need to run for my projects. I'm not the best at planning builds, so this is what I've put together based on what I've heard. I think it should perform pretty well!”

“This PC is for my younger sister I wanted her to have a PC instead of gaming on an old laptop that I use to game on. I think the build I was able to make with the budget you have given me was great for her since she has never really had a good setup to experience 1080p gaming at a steady rate. So technically it wouldn’t be my first PC but it would be her first PC she owned.”

“I created this build to satisfy to fill the craving of building a black and white pc setup. I'm currently running a laptop with a i5 10300F and a 1650. Wining this build will help me finish my degree without stress nor problems.”

“I used the best components for the budget where they matter, This PC gives you great performance can be upgraded in the future when the AI bubble crashes (hopefully). It has the best current air cooling in a compactish form factor. Great to keep on top of a desk and hide when not in use!”

“Its actually microwave size (m-atx case). Its a newer case so it should be nice to build in.It has a 20gig usbc port on the front and the motherboard has another usbc in the back. I plan to run some flavor of Linux on this so the 16gigs of RAM isnt a problem. Neither for gaming nor for doing school work. That 2TB nvme can hold all the game repacks my heart desires.”

“Going for an SFF build to keep it tight and sleak in the small dorm space or the living room. Its got a decent enough power to run most and a decent balance for gpu/cpu bottle neck. It's neat.”