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For those considering building your own PC (which I highly recommend), I’ve created a set of recommended builds with various uses and goals in mind.
If you’d like to know more about how to compile a list of compatible parts yourself, check out my other guide here.
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VR Budget/ Introductory Gamer:
CPU: Intel Core i3 8100
GPU: Evga GTX 1060 6GB
Storage: Samsung 860 EVO 250GB SSD
PSU: Corsair CX 450 Watt
Case: Corsair Carbide Spec 01
Pros: Provides very solid gaming performance for 1080P and 1440P monitors. Will run most VR games at medium settings or better.
Cons: Needs a Wi-Fi adapter. Some demanding VR titles will choke or require “low” settings. Limited RAM and storage capacity may require you to juggle fewer applications and games at once.
VR Mainstream:
CPU: Intel Core i5 8600K
MB: Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Ultra Gaming WIFI
GPU: Evga GTX 1070 SC ACX
Storage: Samsung 860 EVO 500GB SSD
PSU: Corsair CX 650 Watt
CPU Cooler: Corsair Hydro H100i V2 AIO
Case: Corsair Carbide Spec 01
Pros: Will run most games at 4k very well, unless you insist on max settings or 60FPS everywhere. Will allow you to “sharpen” many VR titles by rendering at a higher resolution than your headset (supersampling). An awsome setup that should last you for years.
Cons: Extremly demanding VR, like Vive pro on max settings, won’t run well with this GPU. Limited storage for non-gaming uses.
VR Epic:
CPU: Intel Core i7 8700K
MB: Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Ultra Gaming WIFI
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 1080 Ti Gaming
Main Storage: Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe M.2
Additional storage: Samsung 860 EVO 500GB SSD
PSU: Corsair HX 750 Watt Full Modular Platinum
CPU Cooler: Corsair Hydro H100i V2 AIO
Case: Corsair Carbide Air 740
Pros: Simply a beast. This will future proof you for many years of gaming ahead. Will allow you to supersample even on the Vive Pro. Enough storage to download an extensive gaming library and some media.
Cons: Price. Especially with the current inflated GPU pricing in the component market.
Productivity Video/Photo Monster:
CPU: Threadripper $1950X 16 Core
MB: Gigabyte X399 Aorus Gaming 7
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 1080 Ti Gaming
Main Storage: Samsung 970 EVO 2TB NVMe M.2
Additional storage: Western Digital 6TB Hard Drives x2
PSU: Corsair HXi 850 Watt Full Modular Platinum
CPU Cooler: Corsair Hydro H100i V2 AIO
Case: Corsair Carbide Air 740
Pros: Just look at it. Massive storage for editing or rendering large video and photo projects. Extensive motherboard capacity for add-on cards and even more storage as needed.
Cons: Pricey. Overkill for non-intensive CPU workloads.
Home Theater/Media Master:
CPU: Intel Core i3 8100
MB: MSI B360i
Storage: Western Digital Green 120GB SSD
PSU: Corsair CX 450 Watt
Case: Cooler Master Elite 110
Pros: Price. Nice and quiet for streaming movies across a LAN to your TV, or playing games via in-home streaming services.
Cons: If all you need is to play HD video on a screen for super cheap, a raspberry pi will do the job nearly as well for under $100.