Need a PC built? Maybe a home server or NAS? I've done it a couple of times, but if you want to do it yourself, here's a collection of lists and some helpful tips to consider. All prices are current at the time of publishing and are subject to change. I earn no commission from the Amazon links.
If you'd rather me build it, I'd be happy to, if you pay shipping and % of the total cost of the components to cover labor, and for every $500 a $200 non-refundable security deposit (total cost is rounded up to the nearest $500) must be made. I'd accept payment via cash or CashApp. If you use one of these lists and you'd like to send a couple bucks my way, I'm not going to stop you.
Prices last updated 11 January 2025.
High-end Gaming PC/Graphics Workstation 🔗Only the best |
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| Component | Link | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen™ 9 7950X3D | $599.00 |
| GPU | ASUS ProArt GeForce RTX™ 4080 Super OC | $1,589.99 |
| Motherboard | ASUS ProArt X870E-CREATOR WiFi AMD AM5 X870E ATX Motherboard PCIe® 5.0 x16 Slots | $479.99 |
| Case | Fractal Design Torrent RGB White E-ATX Tempered Glass Window High-Airflow Mid Tower Computer Case | $229.99 |
| Power Supply | LIAN LI Edge series EG1000 | $179.98 |
| RAM | CORSAIR VENGEANCE DDR5 RAM 64GB | $229.99 |
| Storage | SAMSUNG 990 EVO Plus SSD 2TB | $129.99 |
| Cooling | CORSAIR Nautilus 360 RS Liquid CPU Cooler | $109.99 |
| Total: | Please note that if you will be using Windows, RHEL, or other paid OS, you will need a license key. This price is not included in the labor cost calculation. | |
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Total including labor:
Required security deposit: |
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Disclaimer: I haven't built this PC. I don't exactly know how it will perform, but it will be cutting
edge. These parts have been selected because their objective specifications indicated by the
manufacturer and theme, weighed by my biased opinion, common sense, and cost-to-performance limits.
That said, this machine will RIP. Like the power socket out of the wall. Ideal for content creators or
anyone doing intensive graphical work, or really any gamer with a couple grand burning a hole in their
pocket. I'm not going to judge you. Your kids might when you can't help pay for their college though. If you
need less GPU, substitute in a NVIDIA GTX 4070 to avoid CPU bottlenecks.
Of course it has WiFi and maybe more than a couple NVMe & GPU slots. It's 2024, what do you expect?
Disclaimer: I haven't built this PC exactly, but daily-drive something similar, except with an NVIDIA
1660 TI and am quite happy. I game on medium to high settings comfortably. I don't exactly know how it
will perform, but it will likely be quite enough for 95% of people with a 120hz monitor with some select
modifications to the in-game settings.
In my opinion, this build is the way to go and won't
break the bank, especially if you get a used GPU. The storage can be upgraded a bit with SATA SSD's or HDDs.
The motherboard contains a second NVMe slot if you need extra connectivity.
Disclaimer: I haven't built this PC exactly. It should be just fine for those playing on low to medium
settings or non-demanding games. I don't exactly know how it will perform, but it will likely be quite
enough for most people still stuck with a 60hz monitor.
In my opinion, this build is a bit
underpowered but you didn't have the money to spend, but would like to upgrade in the future. The CPU may
need an upgrade if you already have a good GPU. If you don't game, I'd recommend removing the GPU and using
the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G's integrated graphics. The storage can be upgraded a bit with SATA SSD's or HDDs. The
motherboard contains a second NVMe slot and even 2.5GB Ethernet, a great value for under $700. WiFi isn't
included, but can be added with a USB dongle or PCIe card. The case isn't the best to work in, but works
quite well and at just under $35, it's an excellent value for something you may want to replace down the
line.
(No) Disclaimer: I actually have built this PC.
Yes, it can play Fortnite on medium settings at 1600x900 resolution. Roblox, Minecraft, and other less
demanding games will be just fine to run. It's a great productivity workstation for the price. A cheap used
GPU would be a great addition to this build.
The motherboard contains just one NVMe slot 1Gb Ethernet. More NVMe storage can be added with a PCIe card at
slower speeds since there's two PCIe x16 slots, running at x1 speeds. Up to four SATA drives can be easily
added with the top-connecting SATA ports.
Warning:this case is small, has come with one 120mm fan (even though it's advertised as having none)
and no room for cable management the two times
that I've purchased it. It is enough (my daily driver and NAS are in this case), but it's not ideal if it's
your first time building a PC.
Home Server/NAS 🔗 |
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| Component | Link | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Case | 4 + 1 Bay DIY NAS Case | $79.99 |
| Power Supply | SilverStone Technology 350W Flex ATX | $97.01 |
| RAM | TEAMGROUP Elite DDR4 8GB | $14.99 |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 4-Core Unlocked Desktop Processor with Radeon Graphics | $86.00 |
| Motherboard | ASRock A520M-ITX/AC Mini ITX Motherboard | $99.99 |
| Boot Storage | Western Digital OEM Gamer 256GB M.2 2280 Gaming Gen4 PCIe NVMe | $23.98 |
| Primary Storage (recommend 4 of these in a RAID configs) | Western Digital 2TB WD Red SA500 NAS 3D NAND SSD, 2.5"/7mm, Up to 560 MB/s | $182.69 |
| SATA Cables | Straight Connector SATA 3 Data Cable, Black | $6.99 |
| SATA Power Adapter | StarTech.com 12in SATA to LP4 Power Cable Adapter F/M | $6.36 |
| Total: | Please note that if you will be using Windows, RHEL, or other paid OS, you will need a license key. This price is not included in the labor cost calculation. | |
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Total including labor:
Required security deposit: |
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Disclaimer: I have never built this NAS, and can be built much cheaper alternatives can be had.
More of a home server than strictly a NAS, this build is a great way to get started with a home server
or media encoding station. It should run quietly and draw little power at idle. The case has four 2.5" bays
for SATA drives. It has WiFi and an integrated GPU. It comes in the tiny Mini-ITX form factor, so it can
be hidden away in a closet or under a desk. The motherboard has a single NVMe slot for your boot drive and
four SATA ports, though the PSU only has three SATA power connectors. This is remedied by adding an LP4 to
SATA connector. The case features a locking front door and a single 80mm fan.
Warning: SSD's or 2.5in drives are listed but I'd rather you choose
the storage that fits your needs and not be held liable if your data goes the way of the dinasaurs due to a
bad recommendation. The prices listed in italics are not factored into the overall price.
I use (and recommend) OpenMediaVault due to its ease of use, it's solid Debian 12 base, and the fact that
it's free. It has lots of features and makes it easy to install services with supported and community
plugins, much like other NAS OS's.