I’ve always been a console gamer, but I’m seriously thinking about building my own PC. The whole situation feels a bit overwhelming since I’m not very knowledgeable about the best components to choose. Is it a good time to build a PC considering that graphics card prices are so high right now? What GPUs are worth looking at, and what’s a decent CPU? I could look this up on Google, but most of the info I find is outdated. I have a budget of around $2500 and I’m not aiming for a super high-end rig; I just want to enjoy Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing. Any advice or basic knowledge on switching over to PC gaming would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
I can suggest a build for about $2000 that will let you enjoy path tracing in Cyberpunk at 1440p or even 3440x1440p without issues. Just keep in mind that GPU prices are way too high right now, so you might find yourself spending a bit more than intended. Here’s the link to the parts I recommend: [Build Link](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/pwwQgn).
First off, what’s your desired resolution? 1080p, 1440p, or even 4K? Personally, I recommend going for 1440p. It’s a great middle ground where you can get good visuals without blowing your budget on top-tier components. Your budget of $2500 is more than enough for what you want. For instance, I have a setup that runs Cyberpunk with path tracing at around 30fps on max settings at 1440p. If you swap my GPU for something like a 5080, you’ll be able to handle anything well. GPU prices are improving, so consider holding off a few months to see if they drop before you buy. You might even want to spend extra on an OLED monitor or a better CPU.
Yeah, I forgot to mention my resolution preferences. 1440p sounds good since I’m not aiming for the highest quality. I’m thinking about waiting on the GPU prices too, but those tariffs are making me nervous. Ray tracing should work for me for now, as long as the path tracing doesn’t break the bank.
If you’ve never built a PC before, I’d honestly recommend going with a prebuilt system for $2500. There’s a lot that can go wrong if you’re inexperienced. Maybe practice by building a cheaper setup around $500 before diving in. It can be tough to get it right on your first try without assistance, so maybe get a friend to help you out!
I do have a friend who knows PCs, and I planned on following a detailed YouTube video. You’re right though, $2500 is quite the investment for a first build, and I’d hate to mess it up!
Thanks! I might just go for this build and bite the bullet on the GPU since I don’t know how tariffs will affect prices long-term. This might be the best deal I can snag!