I challenged our new tool to build a gaming PC for less than $1,000, and it surprised me with the results

Building PC systems has been on hiatus for 12-14 months, as the AI market has taken control of crucial components like RAM, storage, and graphics cards. XDA has released a tool called XDB Builder to help users plan and execute their PC builds and upgrades, whether for regular use or gaming and creative work.

I tested XDB Builder by asking it to create a gaming PC for under $1,000. The tool proved surprising yet effective, delivering a balanced configuration that respected the budget. When I selected a gaming PC, set the budget at $1,000, and allowed for a $100 overage, XDB Builder offered an Intel Core i5-14400F processor, despite expecting an AMD alternative. While the Intel chip slightly outperformed the Ryzen 5 5600 in benchmarks, the choice was still solid.

Intel Arc B570 graphics card was priced at over $400, prompting a switch to the Radeon RX 7600 for around $400. The RAM selection was acceptable, though I would have opted for Oloy over Mushkin for better value. For the SSD, I upgraded from Gen3 to Gen4 to minimize the minimal price difference. The motherboard, case, and power supply suggested by the tool were well-balanced, offering affordability and feature support.

Although the power supply was slightly overpriced for the budget, the extra headroom would be helpful for future upgrades. The cooler choice could have been better, as the tool opted for a slightly cheaper option. Despite these minor oversights, XDB Builder performed well in creating a $1,000 gaming PC. It selected a great CPU for the price, opted for a DDR4 platform, and chose 16GB of RAM.

The GPU choice, although not perfect, remained competitive after my replacement. The tool improved with each use, demonstrating its potential for future development.