How to build a killer Windows 8.1 gaming PC for under $1000

October 18, 2013

Finally: Windows 8.1 is a major update that brings many improvements and new features to Windows 8. In addition to a bevy of new apps and meaningful interface changes such as a resurrected Start button and a new boot-to-desktop option, Windows 8.1 will also be the only desktop OS to support DirectX 11.2. Couple that with the streamlined characteristics of the OS, and many people—game enthusiasts in particular—may now be interested in making the switch to the cutting edge of Windows. Going all-out on a top-of-the-line gaming rig is probably a rash idea at this point, since the next generation of consoles is about to kick off a frenzy of game development that will push the boundaries of gaming hardware. Instead, we set out to build a totally new gaming rig running Windows 8.1 for a cool grand—a solid system that would please all but the most demanding PC gamers. Picking the parts Of course, even with a $1000 budget, the cost of the operating system itself must be considered. Snagging an OEM copy of Windows 8 (which can be upgraded to Windows 8.1 for free) costs about $130, so 13 percent of our budget is gone from the start, leaving us with only $870 to spend on hardware. The heart of our Windows 8.1 gaming PC is a Core i5-4670K—the fastest Haswell-based Core i5 processor in Intel’s current lineup. It’s paired to an ASRock Z87-based motherboard and 8GB of G.Skill DDR3-1866 RAM. Building a gaming PC from scratch with less than $880 to spend requires some serious concessions. (Note: Prices for the parts mentioned can vary depending on where and when you shop.) First of all, a fairly powerful—and pricey—graphics card is a must for handling all of the latest games with playable frame rates at a 1080p resolution. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2054663/how-to-build-a-killer-windows-8-1-gaming-pc-for-under-1000.html#tk.rss_howto