4 PC parts I'm buying to upgrade my computer (and the 7 I'm keeping)

I've always favored AMD-based PC builds because of the comparatively affordable components and similar performance to Intel chips. I currently run a Ryzen 7 3000 series CPU, and while it's still holding its own, playing certain games reveal just how much my processor has aged. 

The Ryzen 5 7600 may be a few chip generations behind the latest processors from AMD, but it still offers all the power and performance I need for handling office work, video- and photo-editing, and gaming. With 6 cores and a base speed of 3.8GHz that can be overclocked to 5.1GHz, you'll be able to multitask demanding programs like live-streaming, recording software, or editing apps. 

This particular CPU can also come packaged with a cooling fan, helping streamline your PC build checklist and save a bit of money and frustration down the line with guaranteed compatibility and fit.

A decent motherboard can go a long way towards boosting the longevity of your PC build, and the MSI B650 Gaming Plus offers a great balance between price, configuration, and expansion. It features 4 slots for DDR5 RAM, supporting up to 192GB of memory for animation, video production, and high-end gaming. 

The B650 boasts 5 PCI-E slots for graphics cards, Wi-Fi adapters, and capture devices (as well as 4 SATA SSD/HDD connections and two slots for M.2 SSDs), giving you plenty of room to grow down the line if you need to add more storage or memory. Built-in audio chips support 7.1CH sound for more immersive gaming while Wi-Fi 6E support gives you faster and more reliable wireless internet connectivity for work, streaming, voice and video chat, and gaming. You'll also get a ton of USB and USB-C inputs for connecting peripherals like keyboards, headsets, microphones, and external hard drives and Bluetooth 5.3 support for wireless connectivity.

The GPU I have right now is an MSI Armor Nvidia GTX 1060, and while it has performed wonderfully for 8 years, I'm starting to hit a hard limit on what game titles I can play. The MSI Ventus RTX 3060 is now two generations behind the latest graphics cards from Nvidia, but I don't have $1,000 to spend on an RTX 5000 series card -- and I certainly don't need that much power to play Blue Prince, Hearts of Iron 4, or American Truck Simulator. 

The RTX 3060 has 12GB of VRAM, which is much more than I'm working with now, and is well above minimum specs for most new game titles like the Oblivion remaster and Elden Ring Nightreign.

There are a lot of nitty gritty details that you can consider when picking out RAM for your PC build: timing speeds, latency, and performance matching. That concerns how well your RAM sticks work together, and thankfully, most companies do all of the work for you if they offer memory bundles. 

For my builds, I tend to stick to 16GB of memory, since that gives me enough bandwidth to multitask in programs like Chrome, Photoshop, and Outlook for work as well as Discord, Steam, and StreamLabs for gaming and live streaming. The Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 RAM sticks have solid stats, with up to a 1600MHz clock rate for quicker loading and access to your most-used programs and files as well as improved performance over previous versions of DDR RAM.

When I built my first gaming PC, solid-state drives were just starting to hit the consumer market and were very expensive. But I invested in a Kingston A400 240GB SSD to use for my boot drive, and I haven't looked back.

While it's an odd size, 240GB is the perfect amount of storage for essential software like Windows, antivirus programs, and the testing and benchmarking software I use for work. Since it uses flash memory rather than a traditional hard disk, you get faster, more reliable access to your most-used programs and files as well as reduced risk of failure due to the lack of moving parts.

If the CPU is the brain of your computer, the power supply is the heart, providing all the energy you need to safely run all of your components. 

The EVGA SuperNova 750 G+ provides 750W of power, which is more than enough to handle my modest builds. And with a fully modular design, it's easy to transfer this PSU into a new build, having plenty of connections for case fans, multiple hard drives, and even dual-CPU builds. 

The SuperNova 750 G+ is also 80 Gold rated for power efficiency, so you can have peace of mind that the PSU will not only power your PC for years to come, but also reduce the risk of damage by preventing energy fluctuations that can short out sensitive electronics.

When building my own PCs, I tend to favor full-size tower cases to ensure that I'll have plenty of room for cable management, cooling solutions, and large graphics cards or CPU cooling fans. The case I currently have is a DIY-PC Skyline 07, which sadly is no longer in production, but a great substitute is the Corsair 7000D Airflow. With its simple design and steel-and-tempered-glass construction, you can show off your build and keep an eye on your components without an excessive amount of RGB lighting that can be obnoxious in shared spaces. 

The Corsair 7000D Airflow also features 6 drive trays for 2.5 or 3.5-inch SSD and HDDs, as well as 4 bays specifically for 2.5-inch SSDs, giving you plenty of options for expanding storage space as your needs change. The interior space gives you enough room to mount graphics cards up to 360mm or a liquid cooling radiator up to 420mm, with space to spare for running cables and easy access for regular maintenance and cleaning. The Corsair 7000D Airflow comes with three case fans, but you can mount up to 12 fans for ample airflow if you don't want to go the liquid-cooling route.

I run a multi-monitor setup for both work and gaming, and you'll never convince me to go back to a single screen. My main screen is a 32-inch Samsung Odyssey G5, with 1440p resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time. It's perfect for everything from editing photos and videos to streaming movies and weekend gaming marathons with friends. 

Support for AMD FreeSync Premium VRR helps prevent screen tearing and stuttering that can be frustrating while playing solo or online. It even has 100mm x 100mm VESA mounting holes for wall-mounting options if you prefer to keep your desk as clutter-free as possible.

None of my monitors have built-in speakers, so for the longest time, I defaulted to using my HyperX Cloud Alpha wireless headset for both work and gaming. But if you prefer dedicated speakers for streaming and gaming, the SteelSeries Arena 9 is the ultimate sound system. With USB and Bluetooth, you can connect two devices simultaneously and instantly switch between them, making it perfect for anyone who uses both a PC and console for different functionalities, like work and gaming. 

The OLED control dial lets you easily switch audio modes, connected devices, enable/disable RGB lighting effects, and control volume. With 5 speakers and a dedicated subwoofer, you'll get crisp dialogue, rich music, and cleaner audio cues across programs like Discord, Steam games, and even productivity software like Zoom for virtual meetings and video calls.

I've been building my own gaming PCs for the last 10 years, focusing on AMD and Intel-based configurations. I've built four of my own computers for work and gaming as well as a handful of others for friends and family, and I've managed to make a career out of the knowledge I've gained from both successes and failures. 

For every build, I've prioritized finding the best components for the lowest price while also planning for future growth for internal storage and memory capacity. Each build I plan and finish is meant to last at least 5 years, which can be significantly extended by replacing individual components like storage drives or RAM sticks.

Building your own gaming PC can be a good way to stay within a budget, especially if you're just looking for something that will let you keep up with new game releases and have decent performance for a few years. Both AMD and Intel have several generations of chipsets available for processors, so you can save even more by opting for slightly older components that may be discounted in order to move inventory.

That being said, it's also possible to find a pre-built gaming PC for under $1,000 if you know where, and when, to look. HP often has their Victus 15L and Omen 16L entry-level gaming PCs on sale with configuration options that let you tailor the build to not only fit your needs but also your budget.