The Gaming PC I Would Build in 2013
Published:
If I were building a gaming PC on July 1, 2013, this is the machine I would actually want. I am not simply choosing the most expensive part in every category. The priority is gaming performance, then reliability, cooling and enough headroom to keep the system useful for years.
The build
- CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 3 GB
- Motherboard: ASUS Z87-Pro
- Memory: 16 GB DDR3-1866
- Storage: Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB SSD + 2 TB HDD
- Power supply: Corsair AX760 760 W
- Case: Fractal Design Define R4
- CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D14
- Gaming target: 2560×1440 at high/ultra settings
Why this CPU?
Haswell was not a dramatic gaming leap over Ivy Bridge, but the 4770K was the new unlocked platform and offered eight threads for the years ahead. Since I am building fresh, I would start on Z87 rather than buy the previous socket.
Why this GPU?
The GTX 780 arrived in May with 3 GB of GDDR5 and much of the performance character of the far more expensive Titan. Reviews described it as an ultra-high-end card that could approach Titan performance with tuning.
What I would pay
A complete build would be roughly $1,850–2,100 in the U.S. market of the period. This is an approximate enthusiast-system total, not a claim that every retailer sold every part at MSRP on July 1.
The weak point
The GPU is expensive and the cheaper GTX 770 offers better value. I am paying for 1440p headroom rather than price/performance.
My verdict
For 2013 I want a quiet, serious 1440p machine rather than a flashy benchmark rig. The 4770K and GTX 780 fit that goal.
The date matters. I am judging only hardware that was available by July 1, not products announced or released later in the year. That makes each build a snapshot of what I could realistically have assembled at that moment.