The Holiday PC Buyer's Guide - 2022 (SPONSORED)

[SeanLMG]

 

Thanks to Amazon for sponsoring our 2022 Holiday Buyers Guide! We have our built out PC kits below, but if you're looking for gifts this season, check out Amazon's own Holiday Gift Guide at https://geni.us/nXANf7e and their Electronics Showcase at https://geni.us/Q9zJA

 

Looking to build a new PC for yourself or someone else? We've got you covered this holiday season at a ton of different price points in our latest Holiday Buyers Guide.

 

$300 Build

Buy an AMD Ryzen 5 4600G: https://geni.us/5JoQ13

Buy a Gigabyte GA A320M S2H Micro ATX: https://geni.us/Ams7Aa

Buy a Kit of Patriot Signature Line 8GB DDR4: https://geni.us/w7kHXJ

Buy a Teamgroup T-Force Vulcan Z 240GB SSD: https://geni.us/Itf6

Buy a Zalman S3 ATX Mid Tower Case: https://geni.us/SG9KB19

Buy a Thermaltake Smart 430 W 80+ PSU: https://geni.us/YcL3

Buy an Amazon Basics Keyboard and Mouse: https://geni.us/GHWNw

 

$500 Build

Buy an AMD Ryzen 5 4600G: https://geni.us/5JoQ13

Buy an ASRock B550 PG Riptide Micro ATX: https://geni.us/1C3FmvV

Buy a Kit of Corsair Vengeance 3200 16GB DDR4: https://geni.us/zILm2

Buy a Crucial P3 Plus 1 TB M.2 PCIe SSD: https://geni.us/BrRQt

Buy a Fractal Design Focus G ATX Mid Tower Case: https://geni.us/ks6NxI

Buy a Thermaltake Smart BX1 750 W 80+ Bronze PSU: https://geni.us/D7SF

 

$1000 Build

Buy an Intel Core i5-12400F: https://geni.us/PDKAzcq

Buy an MSI Pro Z690-P DDR4 ATX LGA1700: https://geni.us/siRh

Buy a kit of Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB DDR4: https://geni.us/tdQh

Buy an ASRock Radeon RX6700XT CLD 12G: https://geni.us/AiEzv

Buy a DIYPC Shadow H3 ARGB ATX Mid Tower Case: https://geni.us/l3id1Bd

Buy a Thermaltake Smart BM2 750 W 80+ Bronze PSU: https://geni.us/JLPH6

 

$1500 Build

Buy an Intel Core i5-12600K: https://geni.us/9ua9M26

Buy a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE Cooler: https://geni.us/y7C5Ih2

Buy an Asrock Z690 PG Riptide ATX LGA 1700: https://geni.us/VBHBMaJ

Buy a kit of Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR4: https://geni.us/rPXP

Buy an ASRock Phantom D OC Rdeon RX 6900 XT: https://geni.us/1kAvEZ

Buy a Fractal Design Focus 2 RGB ATX Midtower Case: https://geni.us/UUE4

Buy a Thermaltake Smart BX1 750W 80+ Bronze PSU: https://geni.us/DbH2j

 

$2000 Build

Buy an Intel Core i5-13600KF: https://geni.us/5snhEa

Buy a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE Cooler: https://geni.us/NIQik3o

Buy an MSI Proz Z790-P Wifi DDR4 ATX LGA1700: https://geni.us/vu6gBc

Buy a Kit of 16GB Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro SL DDR4: https://geni.us/ppXe

Buy a Seagate Barracuda Compute 2 TB HDD: https://geni.us/cUMnG

Buy a Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB M.2 PCIe NVME SSD: https://geni.us/57TBeH9

Buy a Phanteks Eclipse P500A D RGB ATX Mid Tower Case: https://geni.us/FdRxWdr

Buy an Asus Rog Strix 750 W 80+ Gold Modular PSU: https://geni.us/kRIUl

 

You can find a wide variety of inexpensive tech accessories through AmazonBasics at https://geni.us/VvoBd

 

Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group.

[kumicota]

Linus Luke on WAN Show: Amazon is evil, you shouldn't buy from them

 

LTT: This video was sponsored by Amazon

[Ryuikko]

Maim complaint on the 1500$ build besides the not so good psu, is that I can see a reason for a 12600kf when the z690 riptide has a bios flashback button and the 13600k non f is $300 exactly on amazon

[AudacityTheEditor]

Why the Intel KF options?  There is less than a $10 price difference, they don't run any faster/cooler with/without onboard graphics, especially when using a GPU.  I actually recommend against purchasing any Intel F series CPUs, which I did when I bought my i9-10900KF, especially with the new Iris iGPU found in 11th gen and up.  Sure, you don't need it now and you figure you never will - when your GPU dies, you'll just get a new one, right?  Not necessarily.  Take me for example during the GPU shortage, who ended up with an overpriced 1660 Super because my GT 1030 died and I had no onboard GPU to even work, and I've now lost around $200 in less than a year because prices resolved themselves a few months after I bought mine. 

 

Also, I *require* a GPU now if I want to do anything with this system, I cannot just build a new system with my current GPU and a new Intel CPU, repurposing my old (current) system for some workstation or server.  I have to get some cheap GPU like a GTX 1050 or something stupid.  I have always regretted getting a KF model ever since I got it, and I saved almost no money.  Spend the extra money for "future-proofing" and allowing yourself less headaches and lower costs later when you upgrade.

[Deadpool2onBlu-Ray]

Yeah all three of these builds kind of blow weiner for the $$

[poptonite]

80 dollars for RGB ram in the $500 build is pretty dumb especially since CL 16 3200 ram can be had ~$50. The $30 difference can get you a 5600. 

 

Looking more closely, the video has PC Part Picker lists that contain NON-Amazon items while this thread has almost all Amazon links. The z690 goes to Newegg.

[poochyena]

"6700.. is a beast for 1080p or even 1440p gaming"
..meanwhile I'm using my GTX 980 for 1440p and 4k gaming. the 6700 xt can 100% handle 4k on most games.

[GDRRiley]

Not a fan of the amazon sponsorship and recommendation for their horribly mouse and keyboard. a used dumpster 2010 dell or HP one feels way better

[Diamond86]

2 hours ago, kumicota said:

Linus Luke on WAN Show: Amazon is evil, you shouldn't buy from them

 

LTT: This video was sponsored by Amazon

hey man, money is money

[Diamond86]

1 minute ago, that_dude said:

At least not NewEgg.

What's wrong with Newegg?

[Diamond86]

BTW, the link for the Amazon Electronics Showcase is broken. 

[Diamond86]

3 minutes ago, Schnoz said:

Jeez, these recommendations are just...not good lol. I guess I shouldn't expect much else when "(SPONSORED)" is in the title lol.

 

They were once good, but are now known for scummy business tactics (e.g. intentionally shoving hazardous exploding power supplies down customers' throats, terrible support, and bundling DDR4 with AM5 motherboards).

 

ig that's true. I personally enjoy Newegg, as I find their deals quite superior tbh.   

[Ultraforce]

5 hours ago, kumicota said:

Linus Luke on WAN Show: Amazon is evil, you shouldn't buy from them

 

LTT: This video was sponsored by Amazon

I might be wrong but I think Luke is the only one who has stated he outright avoids Amazon and Linus has said LTT is not your friend.

[adarw]

i think this comment sums up this video up 

 

 

LTT keeps on messing up huh

[VVoltor]

I think we all would like to see @LinusTechthe way he made it big on Youtube, just a guy, a goofy tech-loving guy making silly videos with an enormous talent for entertaining his viewers. But over the last few years it has become clear LTT is now a big business, with big business turnover and running costs.

 

To me, again and again, every step of the way seemed like almost too big of a leap. Too much of a risk. Things like the move from the house to a commercial space, the insane expansion of the team, buying cinema quality cameras and gear, and now settings up Labs, etc. Really? All that, just for Youtube? I have so much respect for Linus (and Yvonne) for having that vision, and being able to pull it off. 

 

Many years ago, Linus said he wanted to make content about tech and computers the way Top Gear made content about cars. And I think they've succeeded. .

So, would you ask Clarkson and co advice on what car to buy? No, me neither, but I can still enjoy the show, right?

 

LTT banks on entertainment, on a broad viewership. Not on being the channel with the highest integrity or most in-depth technical detail. That space is filled by channels like Gamers Nexus and Level1techs. I'm certain they would never consider an Amazon sponsorship. Those channels also will never reach the viewership or engagement LTT has. And that's fine. We can have both,

 

Sponsored videos are ads. When someone says 'I've been paid to tell you this' maybe don't believe them. 

 

 

[GeorgeMKane]

Don't forget to make sure you get more than the pc. Upgrade your desk, your chair, the lights in your room (literally more options for ceiling light fixtures now. I went from a regular bulb to a blue'ish bulb that is best for dimming. So much better!), and etc.

[Chiyawa]

USD 2000 only get you core i5 13600K? Wow, that's not a good deal. I expect somewhere in Core i7 territory. And I don't see a GPU too. Is Intel Core i5 13600K and the motherboard cost that much? If so, that's not a good advise at all.

[SinistralFern23]

4 hours ago, Ultraforce said:

I might be wrong but I think Luke is the only one who has stated he outright avoids Amazon and Linus has said LTT is not your friend.

Then how do we trust LTT then? They're supposed to be for the consumers, this recommendation video they gave us is not the usual quality.

[Ultraforce]

5 minutes ago, SinistralFern23 said:

Then how do we trust LTT then? They're supposed to be for the consumers, this recommendation video they gave us is not the usual quality.

I guess the idea is not to trust LTT but instead treat them like the Nintendo Power Magazine or Men's Health you can use them partially as reference but don't rely on them and compare them to reporting by other outlets.

[Chiyawa]

2 minutes ago, Ultraforce said:

but instead treat them like the Nintendo Power Magazine or Men's Health

Or any 'infomercial'.

[Chiyawa]

Okay, just watched the video.

 

@SeanLMG, can you add in the RX 6950 XT in the USD 2000 Tier?

[mariushm]

I just can't agree with mixing a 2 TB Samsung 980 Pro  with a 2 TB SMR mechanical drive   ... like mixing something "overkill" with something "underkill"

Put a 1 TB SSD for 80$ and a 4-6 TB decent mechanical drive. 

 

 

And for the $300 system ... that's seriously stupid. 

 

Let's have a motherboard with only 2 memory slots, and fill those slots with 2  4 GB sticks with no resale value and which are also bad for onboard graphics because they run at only 2400 Mhz 

 

You can buy a single 8 GB 3200 Mhz stick (with higher CL22 latency though) for $22 , which is 3$ more than the price of a single 4 GB stick you chose : https://www.amazon.com/PNY-Performance-PC4-25600-Compatible-Computer/dp/B09KP21Q1F/

 

It would be better advice to say ... "buy a single stick but be aware that you'll get more performance if you buy a second stick, so save some money in the following months and add a second stick"

 

Also don't see the reasoning for forcing an ATX case on this build and spending $55 when majority of cheap motherboards will be mATX. 

For example Cooler Master Masterbox Q300L is $42 now, but indeed it was around $70 last month : https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Transparent-Adjustable-Ventilated/dp/B0785GRMPG/

But there's plenty of cases around $30-40 and you could also suggest buying some cheap case off local listings. 

 

I can only assume video was recorded weeks ago, or it wasn't researched properly. 

 

 

 

[bezza...]

14 hours ago, poochyena said:

"6700.. is a beast for 1080p or even 1440p gaming"
..meanwhile I'm using my GTX 980 for 1440p and 4k gaming. the 6700 xt can 100% handle 4k on most games.

ohf hows that going

[mariushm]

8 hours ago, Caroline said:

Boy the TT Smart is such a terrible PSU, why are they still making them? design must be 15 years old by now, maybe some expert in power supplies can provide some more info on this.

 

The 430W design must be ancient for sure, the wattage alone is an indication, 430, 530, 630, 680, 730, etc. those odd wattages were a thing in the mid 00s.

 

That 430w power supply would be fine with a system like the one Linus built, that barely hits 100w in power consumption. 

Even with adding a dedicated video card that a person with such system would afford, the psu would still be fine. 

 

The power supply was reviewed by GamersNexus and it's not bad for the money 

 

 

[kumicota]

12 hours ago, Ultraforce said:

Linus has said LTT is not your friend.

I know that but it's fun that he uses that for some things but when it comes to things like the warranty drama he says "Trust me bro".

 

12 hours ago, Ultraforce said:

I might be wrong but I think Luke is the only one who has stated he outright avoids Amazon

Sorry, I thought that was both of them