Conclusion

When people think of builds at specific price-points, they often think of just the case and the stuff inside it. We're interested in people whose only computer right now is a notebook, and who are about to decide on whether to buy a console or a desktop. At $800, our build gives you an idea of how to build an incredibly powerful machine on a shoestring budget. The processor has the necessary power for gaming at 1080p, or other necessary tasks, and while the graphics card is overkill for 1080p right now, it being overkill translates into a huge amount of future-proofing if you stick to the resolution - then there are other awesome bits to consider, such as the SSD storage.

Our build should give you high frame-rates with any of today's games at 1080p with 60 Hz. Compared to consoles, the SSD should ensure lightning-fast load-times. The PSU has enough juice and straws for this build. The peripherals are a great entry-level combination, and you should get your first taste of competitive online gaming just fine.

Below is the shopping list for your reference.

Could you have built something better for $800? Tell us in the comments section!

Disclaimer: Prices are sourced from Newegg.com, don't include taxes or shipping, and are for hardware only. TechPowerUp encourages the use of genuine software.