Building a Workstation-Gaming PC under $1000 (₹ 80k) in Q1 2023

Introduction

So I was asked to build a workstation/gaming PC under $1000 or INR 80K for a friend. One of the problems of interest which I love exploring provided I have the time to put in. Though several websites would do this for me instantly, I would like to take the opportunity to compare the technologies behind AMD, Intel, Nvidia and Apple consumer-grade computing components.

Apple architecture vs the rest

Apple, Intel, and AMD are all manufacturers of computer processors, and each company has its own unique architecture for their CPUs.

Apple’s architecture is currently based on its own custom-designed ARM-based processors, such as the M1 chip. These processors use a different instruction set architecture (ISA) than traditional x86 processors, which are used by Intel and AMD. This means that software designed for x86 processors may not be compatible with Apple’s ARM-based processors, although Apple has provided a translation layer called Rosetta to allow x86 software to run on its ARM-based processors. Apple’s architecture also includes a unified memory architecture, which allows the CPU and GPU to access the same memory pool, improving performance in graphics-intensive tasks.

Intel and AMD, on the other hand, use x86-based architecture for their CPUs. While there are differences in the specific implementation of the x86 architecture between Intel and AMD, they are largely compatible with each other. Both companies have also developed extensions to the x86 architecture, such as Intel’s SSE and AVX instruction sets and AMD’s 3DNow! and AMD64 instruction sets, to improve performance in specific tasks.

One notable difference between Intel and AMD is the number of cores in their CPUs. Intel typically focuses on higher clock speeds and single-threaded performance, while AMD has focused on offering more cores and multithreaded performance. AMD’s architecture also includes Infinity Fabric, a high-speed interconnect between cores that allows for efficient communication between them.

Overall, while there are differences in the architecture between Apple, Intel, and AMD, each company’s CPUs are designed to provide optimal performance for their intended use cases.

Future Proof vs Upgrade Often

When building a PC, one important consideration is whether to future-proof your build or to upgrade often. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, and which one is best for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.

Future-proofing involves selecting components that are designed to be relevant and useful for a longer period of time, typically 3-5 years or more. This approach involves spending more money upfront on high-end components that will be able to handle future software and hardware advancements. The advantage of future-proofing is that you may be able to avoid upgrading your components as frequently, saving you money in the long run. However, the downside is that you will likely have to spend more money upfront, and there is always the risk that unforeseen advancements or changes may render your components outdated sooner than expected.

On the other hand, upgrading often involves selecting more affordable components that you plan to replace or upgrade more frequently, typically every 1-2 years. This approach allows you to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in hardware and software, ensuring that you have optimal performance for your needs. The advantage of upgrading often is that you can save money upfront by selecting more affordable components, and you can also stay current with the latest advancements. However, the downside is that you may end up spending more money in the long run due to the frequent upgrades.

Ultimately, the decision between future-proofing and upgrading often will depend on your specific needs and budget. If you require high-end performance and are willing to spend more money upfront, future-proofing may be the better option. If you prefer to save money upfront and stay current with the latest advancements, upgrading often may be the better option. It is also important to consider factors such as the specific components you are selecting, as some components may be easier to upgrade or replace than others. Additionally, it is always a good idea to do research on the specific components you are considering to ensure that they will be compatible and offer the performance you need.

As of April 2023, the future-proofing build will include an AMD processor and Motherboard supporting PCIe 5.0 as Intel will support it partially. DDR5 has performance doubled or quadrupled and is more power efficient. The caveat is that AMD platform will not support DDR4. Intel platform will do support DDR4 and DDR5 but partially as the 13th gen processors will not be supporting PCIe 5.0 Gen M.2 SSDs. source

So, therefore, we have to make a hard choice. Either we completely go onboard DDR5, PCIe 5.0 Gen, AMD zen 4 platforms by playing more and future-proofing. Or we can go with Intel Gen 13 CPU, PCIe 4.0 unable to harness more bandwidth but saving money and upgrade as per requirement in 2-3 years.

Future Proof Build

The future-proof build will require a motherboard supporting PCIe 5.0 Gen while most of the peripherals for it are not available yet apart from RAM. Also, the performance difference in DDR4 and DDR5 RAM is seen only when a large file size data is manipulated. Hence if large media files are being edited, DDR5 RAM will make a difference. DDR5 rams will have higher frequency but have high latency as well. It should easily take 3-5 years to get the DDR5 ecosystem to mature at a reasonable price. I think the standard DDR5 RAM will start with a size of 32GB per stick and can go up to 128GB per stick.

I would suggest holding on to such a build for this year at least.

Upgrade Build

1. CPU: Intel 13 Gen because the price is the same as that of 12 Gen and supports PCIe 5.0 Gen

   Intel Core i5 13600K(₹ 30,000) 14 Cores, 20 Threads

2. GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ventus(₹ 26,000)

   Latest entry-level GPU ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Twin Edge OC LHR 8GB (₹38,500)

3. RAM: Vengence 16GB, 3600 (₹3600)

4. Motherboard: Gigabyte H610M DDR4 (₹ 7,400)

   Should have at least 2 M.2 slot, MSI Pro B660M-E Ddr4(₹10,000)

5. PSU: Ant Esports VS600L 600 W(₹ 2,449)

   Typically has 10 years of warranty. Invest as much as you can. More to reduce noise Cooler Master MWE 650 Bronze(₹5,499)

6. Cooler: Cooler Mater. master liquid(₹ 4000)
7. Cabinet: Ant Esports 690 Air ARGB Cabinet(₹ 6400)
8. SSD: M.2 512GB, Samsung 980 Pro (₹ 7599)

Price approx ₹ 90,000

Conclusion:

We are in a time similar to the one in which multicore PC entered the market replacing Pentium 4 CPUs. However, P4 CPU lived a long life. And so will these CPUs of the current generation with overclocking. Make sure to choose an overlocked version. i5 13600K can be overclocked to 5GHz.

Would like to spend more on PSU and motherboard. a second M.2 slot will be helpful or an SSD M.2 1TB stick will do the trick. An overclocked GPU will also make the build long-lasting.

Estimated power consumtion will be 500W.

This build should be enough to play AAA games in low-medium settings for the next 3 years.