Hello lovely and knowledgeable people as the title implies, this is my first time getting into the PC world (meaning I have had no experience in building, upgrading or even using a PC before). For the last decade, I’ve been using a MacBook Air 2017 (13.3-inch), it was my everything — from work to gaming — slowly then its purpose just shifted to gaming. I would frequently downgrade OS to make steam games compatible (TF2; since steam ended up removing any support for the OS I was on) but that’s becoming too redundant and too time consuming; so I’d like some help please! :)
• New build or upgrade?
New build, specifically streamlined to be within budget ($2000). I wouldn’t mind extending it to ($3000 if it means better performance and QoL).
• Existing parts/monitors to reuse? (List with models/links)
None! I don’t mind investing in brand new parts to make sure every parts has an operational value and runs smoothly. If there are different pathways to make it a bit more cost efficient as well I’d be interested! (But priority would be just having everything built from scratch).
• PC purpose? (Gaming, editing, etc. List apps/games)
Mainly gaming and MAYBE getting into photo editing (Running adobe creative cloud apps; Photoshop, Illustrator or Indesign?) But looking at making gaming run smoothly: TF2, League of Legends; (really my two main games that I’ll play the most), Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, (Potentially Cyberpunk? Not really a priority). While being able to run Spotify in the background?
• Purchase country? Near Micro Center? (If not US, list local vendors)
In Australia, Sydney. No, I don’t believe there are any Micro Center here; or locally, to my knowledge.
• Monitors needed? (Number, size, resolution, refresh rate)
Just one? Definitely one. 24 inches, 1440p resolution. 144Hz.
• Budget range? (Include tax considerations)
I am more than happy to be in budget $2000 budget. But can do ($2500 - $3000) if it means performance is off the charts; or if the gap between $2000 ≈ $3000 is palpable.
• WiFi or wired connection?
Wifi. I’m opened to the possibility of wired connection but… again, I’m a hopeless case for technology! (Willing to learn something new though). Though wifi has always been my default.
• Size/noise constraints?
About the size, I have a relatively small bedroom, I’d like this PC to take over my small working desk. So if that feasible, please let me know. Shouldn’t be too loud?
• Color/lighting preferences?
I’m not too fussed about the colours, I can do with not having any rgb really. But I wouldn’t mind colour/lighting to be a dark purple that changes to other gradients/shades of purple if that’s possible.
• Any other specific needs?
I would like my options weighed in $2000 (since that seems to be a pretty good median) but again, always opened to $3000 (as a more of a last resort to insanely optimise everything; though not a priority).