The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $1000 Content Creation PC Build – April 2024

The Best $1000 Content Creation PC Build – April 2024

By Ari Altman | Published April 3, 2024 | Updated April 3, 2024

SilverStone Fara H1MYour Ticket to Pro-Level Content Creation on a Budget!

Looking for the best video editing/content creation PC build you can buy for $1,000? You just found it! While content creation isn’t anything new, in the past it’s been the domain of agencies that could invest in a fleet of overpriced Mac Pros. For all you folks doing content creation at home or on the side, money spent on an overpriced content creation PC comes straight out of your bottom line.

But there’s no need to overspend! This guide will set you up with a PC build perfect for video or photo editing that provides excellent performance, quiet operation, and ease of assembly, all at a great price. And take note, this build also serves as our top recommendation for a Stock Trading PC at the $1000 pricepoint. In short, if you’re ready for a PC build that can handle any professional task you could throw at it, follow this guide to get the best component picks.

This Month’s Build, Powered by Intel!

For April 2024 gets a big upgrade to Intel’s impressive Core i7-14700K, a 20-core, 28-thread powerhouse that easily beats everything AMD currently offers in its price range. Importantly, it has integrated Intel graphics, making it the ultimate tool for content creators on a budget. You can get up and running without worrying about the added expense of a separate video card, which would eat up far too much of a $1,000 budget, cutting into overall performance.

Keeping this system fed with data is 32GB of fast DDR5-6400 RAM, which will accelerate both CPU and GPU tasks, along with a high-speed 1TB Gen 4 solid-state drive that’s perfect for content creation use. The PC is housed in a stylish SilverStone micro-ATX case, utilizes a quiet tower cooler from Thermalright, and is powered by an efficient and capable power supply.

Parting Thoughts

If you need a monitor or peripherals, we have some great recommendations for you at the end of this guide, but you can also check out our dedicated monitor buyer’s guide and peripherals buyer’s guide. Note that throughout our this and all of our guides, we provide direct links to Amazon or Newegg for our US readers, and our Amazon links will auto-convert for readers in the UK, Canada, and a number of countries in the EU, with substitutions made based on availability. To support this site, please use these links if you purchase any of the products we list.

Required Components

  • Intel 13700K
    Click to Buy
    CPU –

    Intel Core i7-14700K

    $400
    The 14700K offers blazing-fast performance for a relative bargain price. With 8 performance cores and 12 efficiency cores (up from 8 in the 13700K), it delivers a total of 20 cores and 28 threads of game- and content-crushing performance. It’s the chip every serious PC user would be proud to have in their system!

    The Guru’s Tip

    Make sure you don't go for the 14700KF, which has no built-in graphics and will not work in this system!
  • Gigabyte B760M
    Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX

    $140
    This bargain-priced board is packed with features. It offers has three expansion slots, two M.2 slots, 6 USB ports (including a Type-C port), and built-in WiFi 6E. It uses the modern DDR5 memory standard to get the most out of the latest processors.

    The Guru’s Tip

    You'll be able to output to three UHD displays simultaneously using this board's HDMI 2.0 and dual DisplayPort 1.2 ports in conjunction with the graphics built into the CPU. Also, quick note: this board may require a BIOS update to support the new Intel processor we recommend. If there is any trouble booting, follow the instructions to use Q-Flash Plus, which works without even having a CPU installed!
  • G.Skill Ripjaws S5
    Click to Buy
    Memory –

    G.Skill 2x16GB Ripjaws S5 DDR5-6400 CL32

    $110
    For the ultimate in speed, you must go with DDR5 RAM, but not just any DDR5 RAM, because you need high-frequency DDR5 to blow past DDR4 RAM performance. And that’s what you get with G.Skill’s Trident Z5 kit running at DDR5-6400 with timings of 32-39-39-102 at 1.40V. This is the real deal when it comes to DDR5 performance!

    The Guru’s Tip

    We have spec'd a DDR5 motherboard, so you must make sure to get DDR5 memory. DDR5 is much faster than DDR4, and they are not interchangeable.
  • MP44L
    Click to Buy
    Solid-State Drive –

    TeamGroup MP44L 1TB PCIe 4.0

    $69
    The MP44L PCIe 4.0, which blows past previous PCIe Gen3-based drives by harnessing the power of the PCIe Gen4 interface, is an absolute bargain of a high-end drive. It can hit up to 5,000MB/s in sequential operations!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This is priced like many PCIe Gen 3 drives, but provides a huge boost in performance for content creators who need fast storage on a budget!
  • SilverStone H1M
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    SilverStone Fara H1M

    $63
    This stylish, modern mATX case offers great performance and flexibility in a compact package. Mesh panels provide great airflow and plentiful fan-mounting positions. On top you’ll find three USB ports plus microphone and headphone jacks, and on the side is a tempered glass panel that offers great views of the interior. All in all, this case is amazing for the price!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This compact and stylish case is perfect for a pro-level build!
  • Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    SilverStone ET550-B

    $60
    The ET550-B offers up 550W of Bronze-rated power, a quiet 120mm fan, and an all-black flat cable design, and comes from one of the respected names in the PC industry.

    The Guru’s Tip

    While many lower-cost PSUs are of questionable quality, this is the real deal!
  • Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120
    Click to Buy
    CPU Cooler –

    Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120

    $35
    Thermalright is legendary in the CPU cooler business, having designed some of the very first premium tower coolers in the early 2000s. Their focus has always been on performance per dollar, providing a lot of metal for your money. And with the Phantom Spirit 120, that metal comes in the form of 7 chunky 6mm heatpipes, which you won’t find on any other cooler at this pricepoint. Also included are two large towers and two 120mm fans. All in all, you get class-leading performance at a price that no other manufacturer can touch!

    The Guru’s Tip

    The CPU we recommend does not come with a cooler, so make sure to pick up this very capable model.
  • Microsoft Windows 11
    Click to Buy
    Operating System –

    Windows 11 Home (USB) @Newegg

    $139
    Windows 11 built on everything people loved about Windows 10, and then took it to 11! It adds significant under-the-hood changes to make it faster and more secure, and of course, the interface is sleek too! Note that we’re linking to Newegg, because Amazon long ago stopped selling this physical USB version of Windows, which is the most convenient one to use.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Windows 11 is definitely what you want on a system running Intel's latest hybrid processors!

Optional Products

  • Logitech Wave Keys MK670
    Click to Buy
    The Ergonomic Keyboard / Mouse Combo –

    Logitech Wave Keys MK670 Combo

    $71
    This combo includes two great Logitech products at one great price. It starts with the Wave Keyboard, first released in 2009 (which we bought at launch and used for years!), and revolutionized in 2023 to make it even better. The ergonomic shape puts your hands in a natural position, avoiding an awkward bend of your arms. The Wave also has a supportive wrist rest that optimally raises your wrists, and finally, the uniquely narrow frame of the keyboard provides a keypad while still allowing you to keep your mouse close at hand, avoiding the shoulder issues that can come from reaching too far for your mouse. And while this keyboard can be bought alone, we recommend getting it in a discounted combo with the 500 L mouse, sculpted for a comfortable grip by right-handers. Both peripherals connect wirelessly to your PC with a single tiny Bolt USB receiver. Note that if you want to try something totally different, go with Logitech’s Lift mouse, which turns the mouse sideways to do for mice what the Wave does for keyboards by placing your wrist in the most natural position possible.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This wireless kit uses a single USB receiver for both devices, freeing up a port for other USB peripherals.
  • LG32UN650
    Click to Buy
    The 32-inch 4K Monitor –

    LG 32UN650-W

    $397
    Looking for the best high-end content creation monitor available at a bargain price? This is it! It gives you a great view of your desktop, thanks to its massive 32″ 4K panel, and the IPS technology ensures great viewing angles and crisp colors! It also includes a highly-adjustable stand for proper ergonomics.

    The Guru’s Tip

    The value this monitor offers to content creators can't be overstated!
  • Click to Buy
    Webcam –

    Logitech C920x Pro HD Webcam

    $63
    Need to use your PC for video conferencing? No problem! Just add this high-quality 1080p webcam from Logitech, which includes a built-in microphone. Just remember that if your monitor doesn’t have built-in speakers, you’ll also need stand-alone speakers for web conferencing to work. We’re amazed at the number of people who use headphones for video conferencing when it’s so much more professional to use gear attached to your PC, rather than your head!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This has a microphone built in, but in order to teleconference, you'll still need headphones to hear, or alternatively speakers, such as the ones below.
  • Click to Buy
    The Basic PC Speakers –

    Creative Pebble 2.0

    $18
    Because desktop PCs, unlike laptops, don’t have internal speakers, we recommend you pick up Creative’s Pebble kit. Whether it’s music, You Tube videos, TV, or movies, Pebble will sound great.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Note that despite the name, these are far larger than a pebble!
  • Click to Buy
    The Budget Wireless PC Headset –

    ‎SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless

    $87
    SteelSeries has made a name for itself in the gaming headset world with its no-nonsense focus on performance. The Arctis 1 follows in this tradition with high-end drivers, lossless 2.4 GHz wireless for ultra-low latency wireless connectivity on both PC and PS4/PS5, a detachable bidirectional microphone, and 20 hours of battery life.

    The Guru’s Tip

    We really value wireless connectivity on headsets when doing content creation, as we're never at our desk for too long!

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