The Best $1,000 Stock Trading/Content Creation PC Build – December 2024
Go Pro on a Budget!
If you’re looking for the ultimate Professional PC on a budget, whether for Stock Trading or Content Creation, this is the one! It’s informed by three guiding principles: it must be fast, quiet, and classy. You’ll have all of this and more for around $1,000, and indeed this system will instantly start paying for itself as it maximizes your productivity!
This Month’s Build, Powered by AMD!
The December 2024 edition of this PC Build features AMD’s cutting-edge Ryzen 9 9900X 12-core, 24-thread CPU. It will make quick work of anything you throw at it thanks to all those threads, plus its amazing single-core speed. Do you have a dozen windows open, full of charts, graphs, and news feeds, or perhaps a serious video workflow? No problem, the 9900X can handle it.
Also in this system is 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory and a fast 1TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive. For a professional PC Build, serious speed is important, because when you’re in the groove, you’ll be hitting your drive constantly with data, and this one can take it! We recommend you build up this PC in the classy SilverStone H1M chassis, power it up with an efficient 550W power supply, and keep the power CPU cool with a fantastic dual-fan CPU cooler.
As an optional upgrade, we list the AMD Radeon RX 6600 8GB video card, which will allow you to run up to four ultra-high-definition monitors (up from the two the system can support without a separate video card). While many of our readers do want this capability, we’ve now made it optional, because the truth is most readers were leaving this component out and sticking to the two-monitor limit, which we agree will work for most professional users (and most desk space!).
A Few Other Notes
If you’re looking to complete your system, feel free to browse our Monitor Buyer’s Guide and Peripherals Buyer’s Guide, although you’ll also find our favorite picks for a trading PC listed later on this page. Throughout our guides, we provide direct product links to Amazon in the US, and these links will auto-convert for our readers in Canada, the UK, and several countries in 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.
Required Components
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CPU –AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
$383The Guru’s TipAMD has done it again with Zen 5, improving performance in all respects over the previous generation. The 12-core, 24-thread Ryzen 9 9900X is up to 15% faster than its predecessor, while offering even better efficiency.This CPU has built-in graphics, which is enough to support two UHD monitors. If you need more than that, please make sure to add the video card we list in the optional components section of this guide.
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Motherboard –Gigabyte B650M D3HP AX
$130The Guru’s TipThis AM5-based micro-ATX motherboard offers a lot in a compact package. It has two expansion slots, dual M.2 slots, six USB ports (including a Type-C port), four DDR5 RAM slots, and built-in 802.11ax wireless networking.Note that because the 9900X is so new, you may need to perform a firmware update to this board prior to booting the CPU up. Luckily this is made easy by the Q-Flash feature, which allows you to load the firmware onto a USB drive on another computer and then install it on your motherboard without needing to boot up.
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Memory –G.Skill 2x16GB Flare X5 DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO
$100The Guru’s TipTo get the most out of AMD’s latest CPUs, you want fast RAM, and DDR5-6000 is the sweetspot not only in terms of price, but in terms of the AM5 platform. It allows for the highest overall performance thanks to running in 1:1 sync with the memory controller. And this kit is specially designed for AM5, thanks to the enhanced 30-38-38-96 AMD EXPO timings.With 32GB of capacity, your PC will never run out of memory!
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Solid-State Drive –TeamGroup MP44 1TB PCIe 4.0
$65The Guru’s TipThe MP44 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 7,400MB/s in sequential operations, practically maxing out the Gen4 interface!Install this SSD in the upper slot on the motherboard.
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Case –SilverStone Fara H1M
$67The Guru’s TipThis 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!This case is a micro-ATX case - make sure you do not buy a full-size ATX motherboard!
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Power Supply –SilverStone ST55F-GS
$87The Guru’s TipSilverStone’s Strider series offers exceptional performance at a great price. This model is a perfect example of that, offering up 550W of Gold-rated power, fully-modular cables, a low-noise fan design, and an ultra-compact form factor at just 140mm deep.This system will only pull about 200W at load, meaning this PSU will never be stressed.
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CPU Cooler –Arctic Freezer 36
$25The Guru’s TipArctic’s Freezer line has always punched way above its price class, and the 36 takes it to a whole new level. Featuring dual high-performance P12 fans with hydraulic bearings, it’s both quiet and capable. It uses an innovative click-in fan mounting system to ease installation, and to top it off, the 36 comes with MX-6 thermal paste, some of the best in the business!The 9900X requires a serious cooler to keep it running at maximum boost, and this model can handle it!
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Operating System –Windows 11 Home (USB) @Newegg
$139The Guru’s TipWindows 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.Windows 11 is definitely the OS you want to take full advantage of a modern PC.
Optional Products
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Video Card –PowerColor Radeon RX 6600 Fighter 8GB
$200 The Guru’s TipYou only need this video card in one of two circumstances: (1) you want to use more than two monitors (the max supported by the motherboard's built-in video), or (2) you want to do some gaming on the side!
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The 34-inch Widescreen Monitor –Philips 346E2CUAE
$320 The Guru’s TipYou can run up to two of these on this PC in its standard configuration (or four with the video card above), so feel free to grab a couple to start if you have the space for them!
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The Ultimate Business Keyboard –Logitech MX Keys S Wireless Illuminated Keyboard
$110 The Guru’s TipThis is the perfect complement to the MX Master 3 mouse recommended below!
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The Deluxe Wireless Mouse –Logitech MX Master 3S
$100 The Guru’s TipThis mouse can even be used with multiple systems at once, like a laptop and this desktop PC!
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The Deluxe PC Speakers –Logitech Z207 Multi Device Speakers
$59 The Guru’s TipYou'll want a set of speakers for Zoom calls or listening to media!
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Webcam –Logitech C920x Pro HD Webcam
$70 The Guru’s TipAvoid no-name webcams at all costs. They've flooded the market as more people work from home, and they are almost always of dubious quality!
Total Cost: $996
Required Components
- CPU – AMD Ryzen 9 9900X ($383)
- Motherboard – Gigabyte B650M D3HP AX ($130)
- Memory – G.Skill 2x16GB Flare X5 DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO ($100)
- Solid-State Drive – TeamGroup MP44 1TB PCIe 4.0 ($65)
- Case – SilverStone Fara H1M ($67)
- Power Supply – SilverStone ST55F-GS ($87)
- CPU Cooler – Arctic Freezer 36 ($25)
- Operating System – Windows 11 Home (USB) @Newegg ($139)
Optional Products
- Video Card – PowerColor Radeon RX 6600 Fighter 8GB ($200)
- The 34-inch Widescreen Monitor – Philips 346E2CUAE ($320)
- The Ultimate Business Keyboard – Logitech MX Keys S Wireless Illuminated Keyboard ($110)
- The Deluxe Wireless Mouse – Logitech MX Master 3S ($100)
- The Deluxe PC Speakers – Logitech Z207 Multi Device Speakers ($59)
- Webcam – Logitech C920x Pro HD Webcam ($70)
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The Monitor Buyer's Guide
Upgrade the view for your PC with a new monitor - we list the best in our buyer's guide!
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The Headset/Speaker Buyer's Guide
Upgrade your audio experience with one of our top-rated speakers or headsets!
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The Wireless Networking Buyer's Guide
Your trading PC will live or die by your network connection... don't take chances on your old gear holding you back!