The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $1000 Mid-Range Gaming PC Build – September 2025

The Best $1000 Mid-Range Gaming PC Build – September 2025

By Ari Altman | Published September 7, 2025 | Updated September 7, 2025

SilverStone PS15 RGB

A Mainstream Gaming PC to Grow With!

Looking to build the best gaming PC possible for $1000? This guide will set you up! We recommend components that offer excellent performance, quiet operation, and ease of assembly, all at a great price. If you’re ready to build a PC that can handle any game you throw at it, just follow this guide to get the best component picks.

This Month’s Build, Powered by Intel and AMD!

For September 2025, the $1000 Gaming PC Build uses Intel’s best ever value, the Core i5-14400F, a ten-core, 16-thread CPU that beats anything AMD currently has in its price range. It will be supporting the best GPU available for under $400, AMD’s Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB. The 16GB of VRAM on this model offers much better future-proofing than similarly-priced 8GB cards. Simply put, the 14400F/9060 XT combination provides unbeatable gaming value.

But this system is about more than a fast CPU and GPU. Keeping this build fed are 16GB of DDR5-5600 RAM (a big upgrade from DDR4 we previously spec’d), plus a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive, which provides plenty of fast storage to get your system running. This build is housed in an affordable and high-airflow SilverStone micro-ATX case and powered by an efficient, high-output 600W power supply.

Parting Thoughts

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

The Pre-Built Option

  • Skytech Azure
    Click to Buy
    The Mainstream Gaming Desktop –

    Skytech Azure 5700/RX 9060 XT 8GB

    $1000
    Not ready to build your own? Skytech has you covered with its Azure gaming PC. It sports the an AMD 5700 8-core, 16-thread CPU, along with AMD’s impressive Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB video card. Also on board are 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and a 1TB PCIe solid-state drive. Plus, the glass case will over a great view of the components and the included RGB lighting!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This pre-built PC is a great alternative to the DIY PC we spec out below. It will perform at about 90% of the level of the DIY option.

The DIY Option

  • Intel Core i5
    Click to Buy
    CPU –

    Intel Core i5-14400F

    $136
    The Core i5-14400F was among the best offerings in Intel’s entire 14th-Gen family, and among the best values of any CPU ever released! Packing in 6 performance cores with a boost speed of 4.7GHz, plus 4 efficiency cores to improve multi-tasking, it can easily beat any CPU at its pricepoint, including everything from AMD! The “F” version of the 14400 does not include onboard graphics, but that’s fine for this build, which uses a separate video card.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Note that this CPU includes a cooler, and we recommend you use it to keep the budget in check.
  • AsRock B760M
    Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    AsRock B760M Riptide WiFi

    $120
    This bargain-priced board is packed with features. It offers has two expansion slots, two M.2 slots, 8 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

    This board is an mATX model - make sure not to purchase an ATX board, which will not fit in the case we recommend.
  • 9060 XT
    Click to Buy
    Video Card –

    PowerColor Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB Reaper

    $387
    The Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB has impressive gaming power, beating the similarly-priced GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB by a small margin, and will game for many years after the 5060 Ti 8GB is obsolete thanks to its 16GB of VRAM!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This card is just 9.5" long, which makes it an easy fit in the case, which has 12.3" of clearance. Be careful about other models with triple fans - they may be too long.
  • DDR5
    Click to Buy
    Memory –

    TeamGroup 2x8GB DDR5-5600 C46

    $40
    For a cutting-edge PC, you need DDR5 RAM, and this kit offers a tremendous value for this current standard. It operates at a speed of DDR5-5600 C46 at an efficient 1.1V.  And with a total capacity of 16GB, it’s sufficient for just about any use.

    The Guru’s Tip

    The motherboard we recommend uses DDR5 memory - and that's of course what we spec here.
  • 910
    Click to Buy
    Solid-State Drive –

    KLEVV CRAS C910 1TB PCIe 4.0

    $57
    The C910 PCIe 4.0, which blows past PCIe Gen3-based drives by harnessing the power of the PCIe Gen4 interface, is an absolute bargain of a high-end drive. Featuring durable TLC NAND, it can hit up to 5,000MB/s in sequential operations!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This drive gives you plenty of storage for games at a great price!
  • SilverStone PS15 Pro
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    SilverStone PS15 Pro

    $73
    This stylish, modern mATX case offers great performance and flexibility in a compact package. Mesh panels in the front and top provide great ventilation, and the three included 120mm fans (two with ARGB lighting) will make the most of it! On top you’ll find two USB ports plus microphone and headphone jacks, and on the side is a tempered glass panel that offers great views of the interior. It has space for a CPU cooler up to 154mm tall, and a video card up to 12.3″ long.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Being a micro-ATX case, this will only fit micro-ATX motherboards, which is what we spec for this build.
  • GX2
    Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 80+ Gold 600W

    $65
    Thermaltake offers a ton of value in its GX line, and this model is no exception. You get 600W of Gold-rated power, a quiet 120mm fan, and a solid 5-year warranty.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Please avoid no-name PSUs from brands like RaidMax, Apevia, and Aresgame. They are complete junk, but this one is the real deal!
  • 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

    With the end of support for Win10 having been announced, Win11 is definitely what you what you want on your new PC!

Optional Products

  • E248B-FPT168
    Click to Buy
    The 24-inch 165Hz Gaming Monitor –

    Sceptre E248B-FPT168 24″ 165Hz

    $108
    If you want to pick up a true “gaming” monitor, you want something with a high refresh rate. Luckily for you, Sceptre has been busy breaking down price barriers for high-refresh-rate monitors. This model features a 24″ 1920×1080 IPS panel (superior to TN or VA!), capable of displaying images at up to 165Hz, which makes it infinitely smoother than a standard 60Hz monitor that costs just a bit less. And thanks to its FreeSync technology, it will run with zero lag or screen-tearing.

    The Guru’s Tip

    A monitor like this would have cost well over $200 a year ago!
  • Apex 3
    Click to Buy
    The Budget Gaming Keyboard –

    SteelSeries Apex 3

    $48
    Pick up a great keyboard at a great price with the Apex 3. It’s quick, quiet, and responsive, and it also has sweet RGB backlighting, of course!

    The Guru’s Tip

    There are a lot of knock-off keyboards on the market selling for around the same price - our advice: avoid them!
  • Click to Buy
    The Mid-Range Gaming Mouse –

    Logitech G502 Hero

    $40
    Get a jump on your competition with this awesome gaming mouse from Logitech, which features a next-gen 16,000dpi sensor and a classic ergonomic shape!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This mouse has been copied but never duplicated!
  • HyperX Cloud Stinger 2
    Click to Buy
    The Bargain Gaming Headset –

    HyperX Cloud Stinger 2

    $40
    HyperX absolutely revolutionized the budget gaming headset market with the original Cloud Stinger, and has taken it up a notch with the Stinger 2. It retains the original’s big 50mm drivers, but has an updated rotating cup design and swing-down mic for better comfort and control. It also adds DTS Headphone:X for virtual 7.1  surround sound, making it is an unbeatable value.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This headset's ultralight weight makes it easy to wear all day!