The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $1,000 Stock Trading/Content Creation PC Build – May 2025

The Best $1,000 Stock Trading/Content Creation PC Build – May 2025

By Ari Altman | Published April 26, 2025 | Updated April 26, 2025

PS15Go 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 May 2025 version of the Professional 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. Impressively, its integrated graphics chip along with the motherboard we recommend can also support three ultra-high resolution monitors simultaneously, meaning you don’t need a video card for this system!

Supporting the amazing 9900X CPU 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 yet affordable SilverStone PS15 case, power it up with an efficient 550W power supply, and keep the power CPU cool with a fantastic dual-fan CPU cooler.

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

  • Ryzen 9
    Click to Buy
    CPU –

    AMD Ryzen 9 9900X

    $393
    AMD 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.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This CPU does not come with a cooler, so make sure to pick up the model we recommend later in this guide.
  • B650M
    Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    Gigabyte B650M Gaming Plus WiFi

    $140
    This 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.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This motherboard can support an impressive three monitors without the need for an add-in video card, thanks to its dual DisplayPorts and an HDMI port.
  • TeamGroup VulcanZ
    Click to Buy
    Memory –

    TEAMGROUP 2x16GB Vulcan DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO

    $90
    To 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 capabilities of the AM5 platform. It allows for the optimum settings and highest overall performance. This kit from TeamGroup is specially designed for AM5, thanks to the tight 30-36-36-76 EXPO timings.

    The Guru’s Tip

    With 32GB of capacity, your PC will never run out of memory!
  • MP44
    Click to Buy
    Solid-State Drive –

    TeamGroup MP44 1TB PCIe 4.0

    $70
    The 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!

    The Guru’s Tip

    Install this SSD in the upper slot on the motherboard.
  • PS15
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    SilverStone PS15

    $55
    This awesome micro-ATX case offers great looks, fantastic airflow, and plenty of clearance for high-end gear. The twin 120mm RGB fans in front look great, and in combination with a 120mm fan in the rear, offer airflow that is unmatched in this price class.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This case is a micro-ATX case - make sure you do not buy a full-size ATX motherboard!
  • Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    SilverStone ET550-HG

    $85
    This unit offers Gold-rated efficiency (that’s 90% at 50% load) and plenty of power (550W) in a short chassis, which makes it very easy to install. The semi-modular cable design means all the most commonly-used cables are permanently affixed, while the cables you’re unlikely to use are detachable and can be left in the box.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This system will only pull about 200W at load, meaning this PSU will never be stressed.
  • Thermalright
    Click to Buy
    CPU Cooler –

    Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE

    $36
    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 120SE, 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 9900X requires a serious cooler to keep it running at maximum boost, and this model can handle it! Note that it requires low-profile RAM, which we spec for this system.
  • 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 the OS you want to take full advantage of a modern PC.

Optional Products

  • Philips 34
    Click to Buy
    The 34-inch Widescreen Monitor –

    Philips 346E2CUAE

    $300
    It wasn’t long ago that monitors with the specs of this model would cost twice as much, so there’s no doubt that Philips is offering tremendous value in a high-end model here. You get an ultra-crisp 34″ curved VA panel with a resolution of 3440 x 1440 offering, 99.5% of the NTSC color gamut, and an adjustable stand to allow for an ergonomic position. It’s equipped with Displayport and HDMI inputs, plus a USB Type-C port to connect to laptops and provide video and up to 65W of charging. It has USB 3.0 ports to connect a mouse and keyboard, making it a one-stop docking solution for laptops.

    The Guru’s Tip

    You can run up to three of these on this PC, although you might just run out of desk space before you run out of graphics firepower! Note that the widescreen format is great for viewing multiple windows/apps side by side, but not as good for video editing (for that, see the option below).
  • LG32UN650
    Click to Buy
    The 32-inch 4K Monitor –

    LG 32UP83AK-W

    $395
    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 with HDR10 capability ensures great viewing angles, crisp colors, and bright whites! It also includes a highly-adjustable stand for proper ergonomics. It will even charge a laptop or other accessory at up to 60W via its USB-C port!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This is the perfect monitor for video editing, thanks to its 16:9 aspect ratio and 4K resolution.
  • Click to Buy
    The Ultimate Business Keyboard –

    Logitech MX Keys S Wireless Illuminated Keyboard

    $105
    The sleek, full-featured keyboard is our top pick for serious office productivity use. The low-profile keys and metal frame give it a very professional look and feel, along with a solid typing experience. It also offers backlighting to make typing in the dimly-lit conditions easier, and being wireless, you can easily move it out of the way when you need more desk space. Finally, Logitech’s Flow Control software allows you to use it on multiple systems simultaneously!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This is the perfect complement to the MX Master 3 mouse recommended below!
  • Click to Buy
    The Deluxe Wireless Mouse –

    Logitech MX Master 3S

    $100
    Nothing can bog you down faster than a mouse tangled up on its cord. So we strongly recommend a wireless mouse, but not just any wireless mouse – the MX Master 3S from Logitech has an incredibly comfortable profile, ideal for use all day long, along with the most innovative scroll wheel ever to make its way onto a mouse. Its built-in battery will last up to 70 days before needing a charge, and the 3S can even track on glass, thanks to its highly-optimized 8000dpi sensor!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This mouse can even be used with multiple systems at once, like a laptop and this desktop PC!
  • Click to Buy
    The Deluxe PC Speakers –

    Logitech Z207 Multi Device Speakers

    $50
    Logitech’s Z207 speakers sound and look great without taking up much space. They’ll also work with any Bluetooth audio device, so you can switch over to phone or tablet audio with the push of a button. Logitech has packed a ton of value into this slimline speaker kit!

    The Guru’s Tip

    You'll want a set of speakers for Zoom calls or listening to media!
  • Click to Buy
    Webcam –

    Logitech C920x Pro HD Webcam

    $69
    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

    Avoid 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!