$2500 Gaming Pc Build
Planning the best $2500 gaming PC build for top performance, great looks, and optimal cooling in November or December? In this detailed guide to the current Q4 2019 hardware market we'll explain how to go about strategically selecting the current fastest, highest-quality compatible custom PC parts-list for under 2500 US dollars (higher for Canada/Australia, less for UK readers) that's as.
This $2500 build is a complete and utter beast! It's giving you an RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, the i9 9900K CPU, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 1TB of pure SSD storage. This is, by far, the ultimate single card 4K gaming PC you could build in 2020. Long story short, this gaming PC build is pure insanity. Re: $2500 to build/buy gaming desktop Posted by Carson123987 on 12/24/20 at 4:16 pm to hawgndodge Let him build it so he can learn how it works and be able to upgrade later Get him a 3080, Ryzen 3 Cpu. Intel Hades Canyon NUC: Best small form factor gaming PC. If you’re looking for the best gaming PC under $2000, the Intel Hades Canyon NUC may just be your dream PC. This small gaming PC isn’t just cost-effective but also a great space saver. Interestingly, it resembles a set-top box more than a gaming PC despite housing all the power of. Check out my 2020 $1000 Build! Exciting video for y'all. I built a new PC! Needed a good upgrade f.
Critical Update: if you actually want to start gaming on a new PC any time before Summer 2021, you simply cannot build your own PC. That's because GPUs are sold out worldwide due to the latest cryptocurrency mining crisis. We therefore recommend that all gamers who want a new PC today purchase the pre-built PC we list in this guide. We continue to publish our DIY component picks every month so you know what we'd recommend in theory, but based on current estimates, we believe that GPUs will not be available at retail until June 2021 due to ongoing market constraints.
-----------------------------------------
If you're looking to play all the latest games on a 4K or ultra-wide monitor, you're going to need extreme processing power. And that's what the $2,500 Gaming PC Build delivers - every component has been selected with one and only one goal in mind: maximum high-resolution performance for $2,500, with a healthy dose of style thrown in!
For March 2021, the $2,500 Gaming PC Build continues to feature the Core i9-10850K, a 10-core, 20-thread CPU from Intel, a true gaming beast. In this build, it's cooled by a massive 360mm liquid cooler. The 10850K is backing up a powerhouse of a GPU, the RTX 3080 10GB from Nvidia, which thunders into the ring with performance that obliterates the last-gen RTX 2080 Ti and resets the standards for the framerates gamers can expect from the latest games! The only trouble is that you haven't been able to buy once since its September launch and likely won't be available in quantity until Summer 2021, so you can either bide your time using integrated graphics, or jump into next-gen gaming today with the pre-built PC we list down below.
If you decide to go the DIY route, you'll find plenty of other great gear in this build. That includes 32GB of DDR4-3600 RAM, a high-capacity, ultra-fast 2TB PCIe solid-state drive, the H500P Mesh ARGB case from Cooler Master, and a potent 850W Gold-rated power supply. As always, to see our previous part picks and prices, just flip to the $2,500 Gaming PC Build Archive. Also note that we highlight our favorite accessories for this build in the optional components section at the end of this guide, including the best high-end peripherals and monitor. If you're looking for more options, feel free to browse our Monitor Buyer's Guide, Peripherals Buyer's Guide, and Speaker/Headset Buyer's Guide for all our favorite picks!
Throughout this guide, we provide direct links to Amazon or Newegg in US, plus Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, and Amazon Germany for readers in other regions, with substitutions made where necessary. To help support the continued development of this guide, please use the links we provide if you purchase products we recommend.
Best 2000 Dollar Pc Build
The $2,500 Extreme 4K Gaming PC Build - March 2021
The Pre-Built Option
$2500 Gaming Pc Build 2020
The Extreme RGB Gaming PC:
ABS Gladiator 10850K/RTX 3080 RGB Gaming PC @Newegg
SOLD OUT!!! Because next-gen GPUs have been completely sold out since their launch in Fall of 2020, your only chance to game today on one today is to go with a pre-built system. And Newegg's ABS division has the answer! This system is equipped with an Intel Core i9-10850K 10-core, 20-thread CPU cooled by a Corsair 280mm AIO liquid cooler, plus a GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GPU. Yes, you read that right, you're getting a 3080, which you simply cannot buy at retail due to its popularity in cryptocurrency mining! Also on the build list is 32GB of DDR4 RAM, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and an 850W Gold-rated PSU. Bringing it all together is the beautiful Corsair Obsidian 500D RGB case, which makes this system a real looker!
The Guru's Tip:
With this pre-built PC, you get the highest-end gaming gear, and you can get it right now... until it sells out!
The Build-Your-Own Option
CPU:
Intel Core i9-10850K @Newegg
Intel takes back the performance/dollar crown at the high-end with its Core i9-10850K. This is a ten-core, 20-thread CPU with an all-core boost speed of 5.2GHz out of the box! It was released as a psuedo-replacement for the more expensive 10900K, which it turns out was boosted a bit too high by Intel, leading to constant throttling. The 10850K is actually faster, despite a lower boost speed!
The Guru's Tip:
Remember, you need a new Z490 motherboard for this CPU - it will not even fit in older motherboards!
Motherboard:
ASRock Z590 Extreme WIFI 6E @Newegg
This feature-packed Z590 board gives you everything you need for an ultra-high-end PC build at a great price. 14-phase power, triple M.2 PCIe slots for high-speed SSDs, six USB ports (including Type-C), 2.5G LAN, and built-in 802.11ax (WiFi 6E) networking plus Bluetooth.
The Guru's Tip:
Intel's new socket 1200, featured on this motherboard, supports both 10th-Gen and 11th-Gen CPUs.
Video Card:
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Master @B&H
CRITICAL UPDATE: Nvidia has launched the greatest GPUs of all time with its new RTX 3000 series, which blows away all previous video cards, including the once mighty RTX 2080 Ti. The RTX 3080, which is just over half the price, offers 30% higher performance, marking a simply unprecedented generational leap. The only problem: you won't be able to find these on store shelves until Summer 2021, based on our latest estimates. Our recommendation: just buy the pre-built PC we listed at the beginning of this guide and start gaming on a 3080 today!
The Guru's Tip:
Another option you have is to use the built-in video on the Intel CPU until video cards are available for purchase again.
Memory:
G.Skill 2x16GB TridentZ RGB DDR4-3600 16-19-19 @Newegg
This awesome 32GB kit will provide more than enough capacity for any game today and for years to come, and thanks to its mind-blowing DDR4-3600 speed and 16-19-19 timings, it will keep your fast CPU fed with data.
The Guru's Tip:
3600MHz is absolutely the sweetspot today when it comes to performance per dollar in high-end RAM, at least when it has the right timings, which this one does! Learn more in our DDR4-3600 shootout!
Solid-State Drive:
XPG SX8200 Pro 2TB
Harnessing the power of cutting-edge TLC V-NAND, the NVMe protocol, and the PCIe interface, this SSD provides amazing speed, along with an incredible 2TB of capacity!
The Guru's Tip:
Thanks to this drive's sleek M.2 format, it requires no cables at all! Just note that you'll need a jeweler's-type screwdriver to install it.
Case:
Cooler Master MasterCase H500P Mesh White ARGB @Newegg
Our favorite high-performance gaming case has now been updated to with awesome ARGB lighting, making it better than ever! The H500P Mesh White is the star of high-end cases. It features a tempered glass side panel, dual 200mm front fans behind a big mesh intake, and a 140mm rear fan. It will keep your components nicely chilled thanks to a constant wall of air.
The Guru's Tip:
The case's ARGB lighting can easily be sync'd with the 3-pin ARGB header on the motherboard we recommend.
Power Supply:
SilverStone ST85F-GS v2
Nearly all power supplies from reputable manufacturers are now completely sold out, and most cannot even be backordered. But this unit, a high-end 850W Gold-rated model, can actually be ordered, at least as of our latest update. Watch out for all the cheap knock-off PSUs offering huge wattage numbers at low prices.
The Guru's Tip:
This unit will have no trouble dealing with the ultra-high-wattage CPU and GPU in this system, which on their own will draw about 550W at load!
CPU Cooler:
SilverStone PF360-ARGB
To run a high-wattage CPU like the one in this system, you need extreme cooling, and we suggest you go straight for this awesome 360mm liquid cooler, which offers plenty of cooling performance, low noise levels, and sweet ARGB lighting.
The Guru's Tip:
This cooler's lighting and fans are controlled by the motherboard, which has plenty of headers to hook all the necessary cables up.
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 10 on USB @Newegg
Windows 10 includes the cutting-edge DX12 low-level API, which provides higher performance and better graphics in all of the latest PC games!
The Guru's Tip:
Windows 10 on USB is only available from Newegg, but if you'd prefer, you can go for the downloadable version, which you can install from a USB 3.1 thumb drive.
Optional Components
The Ultimate Gaming Keyboard:
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Rapidfire Low Profile @Newegg
For the very fastest gameplay, there's nothing better than the K70 Rapidfire Low Profile. Thanks to Cherry's unbeaten low-profile MX Speed switches, you get amazing response and feel, plus low noise.
The Guru's Tip:
See our review right here!
The Ultimate Wireless Gaming Mouse:
Razer Basilisk Ultimate HyperSpeed Wireless
Go for the best mouse in the business, period. Featuring a 20,000dpi sensor, Razer's awesome new HyperSpeed wireless system, and a perfect ergonomic design, this model can't be beat! And in addition to its 100-hour battery life, it includes a handy charging dock.
The Guru's Tip:
This mouse is also incredibly light, at just 107g!
The Ultimate 34-inch Widescreen Monitor:
MSI Optix MPG341CQR
Without a doubt, our top pick among monitors to pair with this elite system is the equally-elite ultra-wide model. It offers a huge 34' 3440x1440 IPS panel, a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, and G-Sync compatibility (via FreeSync) to achieve the smoothest possible gaming experience.
The Guru's Tip:
Truth be told, while we know people are interested in '4K Gaming', the 4K monitors available today really aren't that great in terms of tech on board. This ultra-wide is a much better bet!
The High-End Wireless Headset:
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless Gaming Headset
Want an awesome gaming headset to complete your system? Then go for Corsair's Virtuoso, which features amazing sound quality, unmatched build quality, superb comfort, and the best microphone in the business, bar none.
The Guru's Tip:
See our full review right here!
Total Cost: $2532.00
(as of March 5, 2021)- The Extreme RGB Gaming PC ABS Gladiator 10850K/RTX 3080 RGB Gaming PC @Newegg ($3300.00)
- CPU Intel Core i9-10850K @Newegg ($410.00)
- Motherboard ASRock Z590 Extreme WIFI 6E @Newegg ($225.00)
- Video Card Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Master @B&H ($900.00)
- Memory G.Skill 2x16GB TridentZ RGB DDR4-3600 16-19-19 @Newegg ($220.00)
- Solid-State Drive XPG SX8200 Pro 2TB ($210.00)
- Case Cooler Master MasterCase H500P Mesh White ARGB @Newegg ($147.00)
- Power Supply SilverStone ST85F-GS v2 ($150.00)
- CPU Cooler SilverStone PF360-ARGB ($130.00)
- Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 on USB @Newegg ($140.00)
- The Ultimate Gaming Keyboard Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Rapidfire Low Profile @Newegg ($170.00)
- The Ultimate Wireless Gaming Mouse Razer Basilisk Ultimate HyperSpeed Wireless ($170.00)
- The Ultimate 34-inch Widescreen Monitor MSI Optix MPG341CQR ($750.00)
- The High-End Wireless Headset Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless Gaming Headset ($180.00)
The 2019 High-End PC Assembly Guide Video
Want to learn how to build your high-end PC? You can! We've put together a multi-part video tutorial covering every step of the process!
Looking for more options? See all of TBG's PC Builds!
We offer component selection guides for a huge variety of builds, ranging from $500 all the way up to $5,000 and beyond, and from palm-sized to full-tower.
The Monitor Buyer's Guide
A gaming PC is only half of the equation when it comes to the gaming experience - a new monitor can really take it to a whole new level. Check out the full range of G-Sync, ultra-wide, and 4K monitors in our Monitor Buyer's Guide!
The Keyboard / Mouse Buyer's Guide
Looking for the best keyboards, mice, and gaming controllers at every pricepoint? We've got 'em lined up for you!
Critical Update: if you actually want to start gaming on a new PC any time before Summer 2021, you simply cannot build your own PC. That's because GPUs are sold out worldwide due to the latest cryptocurrency mining crisis. We therefore recommend that all gamers who want a new PC today purchase the pre-built PC we list in this guide. We continue to publish our DIY component picks every month so you know what we'd recommend in theory, but based on current estimates, we believe that GPUs will not be available at retail until June 2021 due to ongoing market constraints.
-----------------------------------------
Looking to build the best gaming PC possible for $2,000? This is it! Incredibly stylish, ultra-quiet, and most importantly, brutally fast, this build offers the very best balance of CPU power, GPU power, and cooling performance out of any of the gaming PCs we profile. We call it 'premium' for a reason! And take note: this build doesn't skimp on the wheels and chassis just to cram in a 'big engine'. We're all about long-term thinking here at TBG, and this is a seriously long-term build!
For March 2021, the $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build features the Intel Core i9-10850K, a 10-core, 20-thread gaming powerhouse. And it will be put to good use, as we've designed this system around the Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GPU. But take note: despite being launched in September 2020, you still can't buy one! Luckily, we do have a solution for you: a few days a month, you might be lucky enough to find a pre-built PC with a 3080 pre-installed, and we'll do our best to find them for you every day!
If you go the DIY route, your build will also feature 16GB of ultra-fast DDR4-3600 RAM, a 1TB PCIe-based solid-state drive, and a super-efficient 750W power supply. Topping it all off is a great-looking high-performance case from Lian Li and an ultra-quiet tower cooler. We also list plenty of ways to accessorize the $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build - just scroll down to the end of this guide to see our top picks among gaming keyboards, mice, and monitors. If you want to see even more options, check out our Monitor Buyer's Guide and Peripherals Buyer's Guide!
We update this build every month - to see how this PC compares to past months' components and prices, flip to the $2,000 Build Archive page. In our build guide below, we provide direct links to Amazon and Newegg, and for our readers outside the US, we provide links to Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, and Amazon Germany for each product, with regional substitutions made where necessary. Your use of these links is the only thing that keeps this site on the 'net!
The $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build - March 2021
The Pre-Built Option
Best Gaming Desktop Under 2000
The Ultimate Gaming PC:
Skytech Omega 5800X/RTX 3070 Gaming PC @Newegg
JUST LISTED - The best way to get a next-gen GPU! If you don't want to wait for GPUs to restock at retail (which we believe won't happen until June), you have to go with a pre-built PC. If you're lucky, you'll find this model in stock. It's serving up a ton of powerful components at a great price. That includes an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X eight-core, 16-thread CPU (which can beat any Intel CPU on the market!), a 360mm liquid cooler, the incredible GeForce RTX 3070 8GB video card (which you won't be finding on store shelves until the summer, we guarantee it!), plus a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive and 16GB of DDR4-3600 RAM.
The Guru's Tip:
The worldwide stock of high-end GPUs has been bought up by cryptocurrency miners. Just so you understand exactly how skewed the market is right now, the RTX 3070 in this build would sell on eBay for well over half the price of this entire PC!
2000 Dollar Pc Build 2020
The Build-Your-Own Option
$1500 Gaming Pc
CPU:
Intel Core i9-10850K @Newegg
Intel's Core i9-10850K is arguably the best gaming chip for the money, offering ten cores, 20 threads, and a boost speed of over 5GHz. In most games, it will provide the exact same performance as more expensive 10-core chips from Intel.
The Guru's Tip:
Intel's next-gen Rocket Lake chips are supposed to be coming soon, but we'll believe it when we see them available at retail for more than a few seconds. Interestingly, they will offer fewer cores (8 max), but higher instructions per clock cycle, meaning they'll be faster in single-threaded apps but potentially slower in multi-threaded apps.
Motherboard:
ASRock Z590 Extreme WIFI 6E @Newegg
This feature-packed Z590 board gives you everything you need for a premium PC build at a great price. Triple M.2 PCIe slots for high-speed SSDs, six USB ports (including Type-C), and the latest WiFi 6E networking plus Bluetooth built in.
The Guru's Tip:
This Z590 board will support 11th-Gen Rocket Lake CPUs out of the box, once they hit retail. Intel has promised late-March, but we're not convinced that's possible under current market conditions.
Video Card:
MSI GeForce RTX 3080 10GB Ventus 3X @Newegg
CRITICAL UPDATE: Nvidia's new RTX 3000 series cannot be purchased anywhere, and likely won't be available in reasonable numbers until summer 2021. Therefore, we highly recommend that PC builders go with the pre-built system we listed earlier in this guide. Also note that while we have linked to a card here that is still listed at the $700 MSRP as of our latest update, we believe that by the time it is available for purchase again, it will have gone up to $800+.
The Guru's Tip:
As an alternative, you can simply use the built-in graphics on the Intel CPU until the 3080 is available, but will be a long wait. To understand why, consider that every RTX 3080 on eBay is selling for more than this entire PC!
Memory:
Crucial 2x8GB Ballistix RGB DDR4-3600 Black @Newegg
This awesome 16GB kit will provide more than enough capacity for any game today and for years to come, and thanks to its mind-blowing DDR4-3600 speed and 16-18-18 timings, it will keep your fast CPU fed with data.
The Guru's Tip:
Most DDR4-3600 kits are much more expensive, and many have weaker timings. This is the real deal! Plus it has cool RGB effects, despite a price below most non-RGB kits!
Solid-State Drive:
XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB NVMe
Harnessing the power of cutting-edge TLC V-NAND, the NVMe protocol, and the PCIe interface, this SSD is by far the fastest drive at its pricepoint. It can hit sequential speeds of up to 3500MB/s! And this model even comes equipped with a heatsink to lower temperatures and allow for maximum throughput.
The Guru's Tip:
Note that you'll need a jeweler's-type screwdriver to affix it.
Case:
Lian Li Lancool II Mesh RGB
Lian Li tops itself once again with the amazing Lancool II Mesh RGB case. It includes triple 120mm ARGB fans for an eye-catching look, along with a fully-meshed front panel for excellent airflow. And unique among its competitors, it offers dual hinged glass panels for great looks and usability, plus dedicated doors for the PSU chamber, providing great access to cabling!
The Guru's Tip:
Lian Li was the undisputed king of high-end cases in the early 2000s, and it's finally come out of hibernation to dominate the market anew!
Power Supply:
SilverStone ST75F-GS-V3 Gold
Nearly all high-end PSUs from reputable manufacturers are sold out, and most cannot even be backordered. But this high-end 750W Gold-rated, fully-modular model was in stock as of our latest update. Grab it if you can!
The Guru's Tip:
One of the things we really like about this model that distinguishes it from cheaper units is that it has dual EPS (CPU) power connectors, allowing it to fully support all CPUs on the market.
CPU Cooler:
Scythe Fuma 2
Offering amazing performance thanks to its big heatsink and dual 120mm fans, along with excellent compatibility thanks to its offset design, this is our favorite cooler at any price. Learn more about this cooler in our full review!
The Guru's Tip:
This cooler is immensely popular and is often sold out or backordered. As an alternative, we recommend the similarly-performing Noctua NH-D15S.
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 10 on USB @Newegg
Windows 10 is the only OS to consider for a gaming system, as it includes the cutting-edge DX12 low-level API, which provides higher performance and better graphics in PC games.
The Guru's Tip:
This version of Windows will load in under 5 minutes thanks to the speed of USB 3.0!
Optional Components
The Ultimate Gaming Keyboard:
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Rapidfire Low Profile @Newegg
For the very fastest gameplay, there's nothing better than the K70 Rapidfire Low Profile. Thanks to Cherry's unbeaten low-profile MX Speed switches, you get amazing response and feel, plus low noise.
The Guru's Tip:
See our review right here!
The High-End Gaming Mouse:
Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE @Newegg
Offering up awesome functionality, a sleek design, and an ultra-fast 18,000 DPI sensor, the Dark Core Pro SE simply has no competition at its pricepoint.
The Guru's Tip:
The SE model is able to charge on any flat Qi charger, adding to its versatility.
The High-End Wireless Headset:
Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless Gaming Headset
Want an awesome headset to complete your system? Then go for the Virtuoso RGB, which offers up amazing sound, ultra-premium build quality, the best microphone in the business, and RGB lighting. Oh, and it's wireless!!!
The Guru's Tip:
See our full review here!
The Best 144Hz FreeSync Gaming Monitor:
Gigabyte M27Q @Newegg
Offering up a 27' 2560x1440 IPS panel capable of a 170Hz refresh rate, and enhanced with frame-syncing technology, this is a true high-end monitor that won't break the bank! Gigabyte may be new to the monitor market, but it's making a huge splash, offering up tremendous quality at low prices. Previously, you couldn't get anything but an inferior TN panel for this price!
The Guru's Tip:
This model was designed around AMD's FreeSync technology, but Nvidia has enabled its use on GeForce cards, which means you save money versus a G-Sync monitor!
Total Cost: $1963.00
(as of February 28, 2021)- The Ultimate Gaming PC Skytech Omega 5800X/RTX 3070 Gaming PC @Newegg ($2200.00)
- CPU Intel Core i9-10850K @Newegg ($410.00)
- Motherboard ASRock Z590 Extreme WIFI 6E @Newegg ($225.00)
- Video Card MSI GeForce RTX 3080 10GB Ventus 3X @Newegg ($700.00)
- Memory Crucial 2x8GB Ballistix RGB DDR4-3600 Black @Newegg ($96.00)
- Solid-State Drive XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB NVMe ($110.00)
- Case Lian Li Lancool II Mesh RGB ($105.00)
- Power Supply SilverStone ST75F-GS-V3 Gold ($117.00)
- CPU Cooler Scythe Fuma 2 ($60.00)
- Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 on USB @Newegg ($140.00)
- The Ultimate Gaming Keyboard Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Rapidfire Low Profile @Newegg ($170.00)
- The High-End Gaming Mouse Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE @Newegg ($90.00)
- The High-End Wireless Headset Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless Gaming Headset ($180.00)
- The Best 144Hz FreeSync Gaming Monitor Gigabyte M27Q @Newegg ($330.00)
Looking for more options? See all of TBG's PC Builds!
We offer component selection guides for a huge variety of builds, ranging from $500 all the way up to $5,000 and beyond, and from palm-sized to full-tower.
The 2019 High-End PC Assembly Guide Video
Want to learn how to build your high-end PC? You can! We've put together a multi-part video tutorial covering every step of the process!
The Monitor Buyer's Guide
A gaming PC is only half of the equation when it comes to the gaming experience - a new monitor can really take it to a whole new level. Check out the full range of G-Sync, ultra-wide, and 4K monitors in our Monitor Buyer's Guide!
$2500 Gaming Pc Build 2020
The Keyboard / Mouse Buyer's Guide
Looking for the best keyboards, mice, and gaming controllers at every pricepoint? We've got 'em lined up for you!