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Under $1500 Custom Gaming PC / Local AI Server

9 items

KyTech

Total build cost: $1,379.82

I'm a systems tinkerer who builds budget-conscious gaming rigs that also double as small local AI servers. This build balances single-threaded gaming performance with enough cores, memory, and fast NVMe storage to run local models, experiments, and V...

Sections

Processor

Graphics

Storage & Memory

Case + Power

Extras (Optional)

Processor

This section groups CPUs and cooling choices chosen to balance single‑threaded gaming performance with multi‑core capability for light local AI inference and background tasks. For first‑time builders: the CPU determines platform compatibility (socket...

This is the sweet spot for midrange builds, strong per-core performance for games and 6–8 effective cores for light local model inference. On AM5 so you get the newest motherboard feature set and a clear upgrade path. Ran sustained multi-threaded wor...

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

Huge cooler for surprisingly quiet temps. My Ryzen builds drop 5–8°C vs stock coolers under sustained loads and it’s whisper-quiet on medium fan curves. Big cooler so double-check RAM height and case clearance before ordering.

be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5

Solid midrange AM5 board: PCIe 5.0 support, solid VRMs for short-term overclocks, built-in Wi‑Fi 6E and decent M.2 cooling. I like it because it keeps costs down while giving future-proof ports for next-gen GPUs and storage.

GIGABYTE B850 EAGLE WIFI6E AMD AM5 LGA 1718 Motherboard

Graphics

GPUs here are selected for solid 1080p–1440p gaming performance plus enough VRAM to handle small GPU‑accelerated models. For new builders: the GPU impacts power supply requirements, case clearance (length/height), and cooling. When choosing a card, c...

Great 1080p/1440p performer and surprisingly useful for light GPU-accelerated ML workloads with 16 GB VRAM. Runs quietly and power draw is reasonable. Perfect for a dual-purpose gaming + local inference machine.

ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB

Storage & Memory

This bucket contains NVMe SSDs and 32 GB RAM kits that keep OS, games, and local models loading quickly and running smoothly. Practical notes for newcomers: NVMe M.2 drives plug directly into motherboard slots — confirm you have an available M.2 slot...

32 GB is the sweet spot if you plan to run local models, VMs, or multi-task while gaming. Corsair sticks are reliable, easy to overclock a bit if needed, and the RGB is optional but looks nice in a glass case.

CORSAIR Vengeance RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB)

Fast PCIe 4.0 NVMe, perfect for OS, games, and storing model weights you’ll load often. 2 TB keeps plenty of room for large datasets and game libraries. Samsung’s firmware and sustained write performance beat cheaper alternatives in my tests.

Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB M.2

Case + Power

Cases and PSUs selected to ensure proper airflow, component clearance, and headroom for upgrades. If you’re new to building: the case determines GPU length and cooler height you can use, the number/type of drive mounts, and fan/radiator support. The ...

Great airflow with clean cable management, tempered glass for show builds, and included ARGB fans if you like visuals. Fits the parts above with room for a beefy cooler and typical GPUs. I use it for quiet desktop builds that still look sharp.

CORSAIR 3500X ARGB Tempered Glass Mid-Tower PC Case

850 W is overkill for this build but gives headroom for GPU upgrades and peak power spikes while keeping the PSU load under 60%, sweet spot for efficiency and longevity. Fully modular makes cable routing tidy. Quiet fan curve and modern ATX 3.1 featu...

CORSAIR RMe Series RM850e 850 W ATX 3.1

Extras (Optional)

This section lists optional monitors, keyboards, mice, and other peripherals to complete a gaming workstation or improve a home AI server setup. These items aren’t required for the $1,500 core build but are thoughtfully chosen to complement gaming pe...

This 28” 4K 144Hz panel is my go‑to when I want desktop clarity and buttery gameplay in one monitor. I run it at 1440p/144Hz for most PC gaming (sweet spot for my RTX 40-series) and bump to 4K@120Hz for console nights — image is sharp, colors pop, an...

GIGABYTE - M28U - 28" IPS Gaming Monitor - UHD 3840x2160 - 144Hz - 1ms GTG - AMD FreeSync Premium Pro