Built a few computers for wife and I 9 years ago, built some for all the kids (4x budget builds) about 7, and haven’t looked or kept up with parts and what’s new all that stuff since then.

I am looking for one of two things, depending on what budget looks like for each?

Option 1:
Build a desktop. Have a monitor/mouse/keyboard etc. all peripherals.
Will need copy of windows added to price.

This computer will usually be running d2r and OSRS simultaneously while also having chrome open.
Love playing timberborn.

But I have tried playing hogwarts legacy, the Witcher etc, games with better graphics and have to knock them down to play reliably. Looking for a build that can play some of the nicer looking games.

Budget is $1000 to $1500? Do I need to spend more? Build with room for upgrades in the future?

Option 2:

Gaming laptop. For my lifestyle, dad with 2 kids etc, this would be better. Can play in living room or bedroom etc. travel for work and take it.

The problem is, I hated laptop in the past. They don’t last long, hard to maintenance etc. but the tech has come a long way. Are there options for these now that are decent value? Any recommendations with price ranges?
Also, for higher end games, would probably plug this into a monitor. So a laptop that has less in the “screen” and more in the “hardware” is a bonus.

I am looking to purchase this possibly in the next week, depending on how heartbroken I am with how expensive stuff has gotten.

Any help/advice/recent builds you can show to give me an idea of what price ranges/what performance to expect.

Planning on dropping some donations for assistance but may not check thread for a bit.

Thanks guys!

This post was edited by The_Buzz_Lightyear on Mar 20 2026 04:46pm

maybe similar build

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/PsC7h9

check this video in youtube it might be very helpful

Best Gaming PC Build 2026 $1000 / $1400 / $2500 | Best PC Build 2026

owner of channel is called Pc Builder

i can build you one for about 15-1700 that will perform loads better than the one linked here.

why you need 850w for a >400w system is beyond me.

here is an absolute POWERHOUSE computer for the same price.

pulls about 458-550W

better CPU, better cooling system, better graphics card and absolutely future proof.

also, better case, i have built in the thermaltake view 170, and it is an absolute banger for an SFF case.
i build probably 2 a month in the thermaltake view series.



This is a fully futureproof rig. you can do all the research yourself, dont take my word for it

Overall Performance Expectations for 2026 AAA Titles

Target Resolution: 1440p (2560x1440) is the sweet spot. This build excels here. At 1080p it will be overkill (very high refresh rates). At 4K it will be playable with compromises.

Typical Frame Rates (High/Ultra settings, 2026 AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 updates, GTA VI, Assassin's Creed Shadows sequels, Alan Wake 3, etc.):
Without DLSS/Frame Generation: 60–100+ FPS average in most titles (higher in well-optimized games).

With DLSS 4 Quality + Frame Generation: 80–140+ FPS in demanding scenes. This is where the RTX 5060 Ti shines — NVIDIA’s AI upscaling and Multi-Frame Gen keep things buttery smooth even in ray-traced or heavily loaded environments.
Ray Tracing (RT) + Path Tracing: Playable and visually impressive at 1440p with DLSS 4 (often 50–90+ FPS). The 16 GB VRAM helps maintain stability in texture-heavy or open-world games.

No major bottlenecks, but the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions/settings.
CPU will handle next gen GPUs easily

edit/

when it comes to laptops, expect an ~20% reduction in performance. and expect it to get VERY HOT.

like, not able to set on your lap hot.

nowadays, a lot of gaming apps and programs are moving to remote accessability.
so as long as your rig is on at home, and you have a stable good internet connection, you can play your games from anywhere!

This post was edited by Terp on May 5 2026 06:41pm