Need the best gaming PC build for 2023? This guide gives you five of the best computer builds and prebuilt PC options at a variety of price points to help you build a high-end PC.
With modern PC games advancing at such a rapid rate, there is no surprise that there are multiple titles that have been released that most standard cookie-cutter computers can barely handle (cough, Starfield, cough). And, as PC gamers we like to have and experience the best… We like to play our games on the highest settings possible, at the highest resolution possible, with the highest framerate possible, and, of course, with as many RGB lights as possible.
Fortunately, in this day and age, even a budget gaming PC will allow you to run most games on higher settings on an affordable 1080p monitor. (Although, in this guide, we’ll be talking about high-end computers, rather than budget-friendly systems.)
In some cases it may make sense for you to opt for a prebuilt gaming computer, a custom gaming PC, or a gaming laptop instead of building your own system. However, with the GPU shortage now over, it is once again cheaper to build your own system. If you’re not up for building your own PC, though, we have a number of buyer’s guides on prebuilt systems and laptops to help your find something that will suit your needs.
In this guide, we’ve given you part lists for the most powerful gaming PC builds at five different price ranges. We’ve also linked to prebuilt gaming computers with similar specs as well so that if you don’t want to build your own system, you can go the prebuilt route as well.
Table of Contents
I. Quick-Look: PC Builds Comparison
• Partlist
• Benchmarks
• Partlist
• Benchmarks
• Partlist
• Benchmarks
• Partlist
• Benchmarks
• Partlist
• Benchmarks
II. FAQ: Should You Build A PC?
IV. Ask A Question
Important: For help choosing parts or for any questions you might have, check the FAQ section below, use the Get Help form, or ask a question in the comment section.
Quick-Look: Compare High-End PC Builds
For those of you who just want to get right into ordering the parts for your system, I’ve put together five different pre-made part lists ($1,000, $1,250, $1,500, $1,750, & $2,000) so that you can bypass the component selection process and get right into building your new powerful gaming PC for 2023.
We’ve chosen the part lists for these budgets based on personal experience, brand reputation, benchmarks, part availability, and pricing at the time of the last update. We update this guide with the top components at the best prices on a regular basis. So, if you’re looking at these builds you can bet they’ll give you maximum performance for the budget you’ve set. And, if you’re looking for a similarly priced pre-built gaming computer, just click on the “PRE-BUILT »” link to check out an alternative option.
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*These components are updated about once per week. If the lists contain components that are out-of-stock or if the price is higher than listed, either search for similar replacement components or use the comment form below to ask for advice on alternative options.
1. Ryzen 7 7800X3D + RX 7900 XTX Build
So you’ve decided to go all out… You’re not spending a dime under $2,000 on computer parts for your new ridiculously awesome computer build. Alright… that’s cool… some people just have to have the best!
Fortunately, with a $2,000+ budget you can really max out your build. You can get an extreme video card, a high-end processor, a ton of RAM, a nice-looking feature-packed case, and plenty of SSD storage.
This is an extreme gaming computer that can handle higher-resolution gaming with ease. If you’re going to drop this much on a computer, be sure to pair it with some high-end peripherals as well, like a FreeSync monitor, a comfortable gaming chair, and a high-quality gaming headset.
This build features an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, an RX 7900 XTX graphics card, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM. The combination of the RX 7900 XTX and the 7800X3D CPU will be more than powerful enough to have you maxing out games on a 4K monitor or a 1440P 240Hz monitor.
This system also comes with an overclocking & RGB-friendly B650 chipset motherboard from ASRock, a 1TB Samsung 990 Pro NVME PCIe 4.0 SSD and an 850W Gold fully modular power supply from XPG (ADATA). And, while there are a wide option of computer cases that would be able to accommodate this part list, we’ve included the DeepCool CH560 for its roomy interior and excellent airflow. (You can check out our guide on the best full PC cases for more options.)
Overall, this is one of the best systems you can build for ~$2,000.
*If you’re also interested in getting a laptop, you might want to check out our guide on the Best RTX 4080 Laptops to see what kind of laptop options you have.
Part List for $2,000 PC Build
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | |
| AIO | ARCTIC Freezer II 280 | |
| MOBO | ASRock B650 PRO | |
| GPU | Sapphire RX 7900 XTX | |
| RAM | G.SKILL Flare X5 32GB | |
| SSD | Samsung 990 PRO 1TB | |
| CASE | DeepCool CH560 | |
| PSU | XPG 850W |
Grand Total: $1,970-$2,030
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click ‘Price on Amazon’ to see the most-up-to-date price.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows costs ~$125 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your screen asking you to activate it.
Ryzen 7 7800X3D+ RX 7900 XTX Benchmark
2. Ryzen 5 7600X + RX 7900 XTX Build
For a price of $1,750, the sky is the limit in terms of performance. Seriously, with an RX 7900 XTX GPU this build is ready to push games on a 4K monitor…
$1,750 will also give you plenty of other options as well. For instance, if you’re planning on doing some system tuning, this kind of budget will allow you to hit some decent overclocks. And, it’s definitely a tethered VR-ready PC build (Valve Index or HTC Vive).
Along with the RX 7800 XT graphics card, this build features an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, a solid air cooler from Thermalright, and an ADATA XPG 850W Gold power supply. You will also get a 1TB NVME SSD and 32GB of 6000MHz DDR5 RAM.
While 32GB of memory won’t be used in the majority of older games, newer games are starting to utilize over 16GB of RAM and so the extra memory will ensure that you have enough to meet their demands. And, if you’re into RGB lighting, the Deepcool in this build’s case come with four preinstalled RGB fans.
This system is powerful enough to easily handle any game on max settings on a 1080P or 1440P monitor and it will nearly max out anything on a 4K monitor as well. For 1080P and 1440P gaming, though, be sure to pair it with a higher refresh rate display to fully maximize its performance (like a 1080P 360Hz display or a 1440P 240Hz display.)
And, if you don’t want to build this computer, the prebuilt system we’ve linked to below will serve as a decent alternative. This build comes with the following parts:
Part List for $1,750 PC Build
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | |
| COOL | Thermalright PA 120 SE | |
| MOBO | ASRock B650 PRO | |
| GPU | Sapphire RX 7900 XTX | |
| RAM | G.SKILL Flare X5 32GB | |
| SSD | Samsung 990 PRO 1TB | |
| CASE | DeepCool CH560 | |
| PSU | XPG 850W |
Grand Total: $1,720-$1,780
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click ‘Price on Amazon’ to see the most-up-to-date price.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows costs ~$125 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your screen asking you to activate it.
Ryzen 5 7600X + RX 7900 XTX Benchmark
3. Ryzen 5 7600X + RX 7900 XT Build
For $1,500 you’re getting a very similar computer to our $1,250 build. The only difference? You get a better graphics card.
Whereas the $1,250 build comes with an AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, this system comes with a more powerful RX 7900 XT. While both graphics cards are solid options for high resolution gaming, the 7900 XT is about 10-15% faster in most games. If you can fit it into your budget and you’re gaming at 1440P or 4K, it is definitely worth it.
This system also features an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X processor, 32GB of DDR5 6000MHz memory, a standard ATX B650 chipset motherboard with plenty of RGB lighting features, a Samsung Pro 990 1TB NVME SSD, and an 850W 80 PLUS Gold power supply.
Ultimately, this build is capable of maxing out anything on a 2560×1440 monitor, handling pretty much anything on a 4K monitor, will work well with a 1440P 240Hz+ monitor, and will allow you to get into VR with the Valve Index or HTC Vive. And, it has plenty of storage for your needs and it has enough space to allow you to upgrade in the future as well.
The following is a list of parts that will help you build the best computer for gaming under $1,500:
Part List for $1,500 PC Build
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | |
| COOL | Thermalright PA 120 SE | |
| MOBO | ASRock B650 PRO | |
| GPU | XFX RX 7900 XT | |
| RAM | G.SKILL Flare X5 32GB | |
| SSD | Samsung Pro 990 1TB | |
| CASE | Phanteks Eclipse P400A | |
| PSU | XPG 850W |
Grand Total: $1,470-$1,530
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click ‘Price on Amazon’ to see the most-up-to-date price.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows costs ~$125 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your screen asking you to activate it.
RX 7900 XT Benchmark
4. Ryzen 5 7600X + RX 7800 XT Build
With a budget of $1,250 or more, you can expect to get a high-quality PC build. At this price range, you will be able to put together a machine that will be able to fully utilize a high refres rate monitor, whether that’s a 1080P 360Hz display or a 1440P 240Hz monitor. It will perform well at 4K resolution as well.
However, playing on the highest settings is just one of the many benefits you will receive when you drop $1,250 on parts for a gaming computer. You can also expect your computer to stay relevant for a long time and you can be sure that you have high-quality parts all throughout your build.
That means along with a great processor and excellent video card, you will also get a high-end motherboard and a well-built power supply.
For specs, this build features an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X processor, an RX 7800 XT graphics card, a B650 chipset motherboard from ASRock, 32GB of DDR5 memory, a 1TB Gen 4 NVME SSD, and an 80PLUS Gold-rated 750W power supply from ADATA.
The power supply is also fully modular, which will make the build process easier to handle.
Part List for $1,250 PC Build
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | |
| COOL | Thermalright PA 120 SE | |
| MOBO | ASRock B650 PRO | |
| GPU | GIGABYTE RX 7800 XT | |
| RAM | G.SKILL Flare X5 32GB | |
| SSD | ADATA 1TB | |
| CASE | Phanteks Eclipse P400A | |
| PSU | XPG 750W |
Grand Total: $1,220-$1,280
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click ‘Price on Amazon’ to see the most-up-to-date price.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows costs ~$125 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your screen asking you to activate it.
RX 7800 XT vs RTX 4070 Benchmark
5. Ryzen 5 5600X + RX 7800 XT Build
With a budget of $1,000 you can expect to put together a system that can max out any game on 2560×1440 resolution and is ready for tethered VR gaming. And, you can even expect a $1,000 gaming PC to handle playing most games on a 4K with no problems. (With exception to some more demanding titles.)
The $1,000 mark is the sweet spot for putting together your own computer, as $1,000 in parts is enough to provide optimal in-game performance while still maintaining a reasonable budget. This system comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU, a GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card, 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz RAM, and a 1TB NVME SSD from ADATA.
Overall, this is the perfect gaming PC for anyone who is looking to max out titles on a 1080P 144Hz monitor, or even a higher 1440P resolution monitor, too. Again, this system should be able to handle non-demanding titles at 4K resolution as well.
However, for more demanding games, at 4K resolution, you’ll have to turn down some settings in order to maintain a higher framerate. Just make sure you pair this build with a monitor that utilizes AMD’s FreeSync technology (to match the AMD GPU in this build) to provide the smoothest in-game experience possible.
Also Read: Which Resolution Is Best for Gaming?
Part List for $1,000 PC Build
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | |
| MOBO | ASRock B550 | |
| GPU | GIGABYTE RX 7800 XT | |
| RAM | TEAMGROUP 16GB | |
| SSD | ADATA 1TB | |
| CASE | Phanteks P400A | |
| PSU | XPG 750W |
Grand Total: $970-$1,030
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows costs ~$125 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your screen asking you to activate it.
RX 7800 XT Benchmark
FAQ: Buying/Building the Best Gaming PC
If you’re on the fence of whether or not you should build your own gaming computer, buy a prebuilt computer, get a gaming laptop, or go with a console (like a PS5 or XBox Series X), we’ve put together a list of answers to some questions you likely have.
FAQ
1. How do I build a PC?
You will need to assemble all of the individual components you have purchased into a working PC. Fortunately, this process is not difficult! And, it’s a lot of fun. If you’ve never built a PC before, use our Step-by-Step PC building guide to walk you through the process.
How to Build A Gaming PC: Step-by-Step
2. Which PC is best for gaming?
There really is no answer to the question of what the best computer for gaming is. The best computer for gaming will vary from individual to individual. For instance, if all you want to do is run non-demanding titles like Rocket League, Apex Legends, Minecraft, and/or Fortnite, you don’t need an extreme $4,000 computer with a multi-GPU setup and an insane liquid cooling configuration.
You could easily get by with spending aound $1,000 on parts.
However, if you want to game on a new 4K monitor, you’re going to need a much better system because of how much more demanding 4K gaming is.
Or, if you want a capable gaming computer that will also serve as a workstation system for your profession, you’ll want to alter the type of system you build or buy to accommodate your needs.
So, the bottom line is that, there is no such thing as the single “best” gaming computer. The reality is that everyone has different needs and a different budget. So, the best gaming PC will be one that gives you the performance you need at a price you can afford.
Also Read: What to Look for in A Gaming PC
3. Can you build a gaming PC in 2023?
With the GPU shortage and supply chain issues mostly over, it is once again far more affordable to build your own PC than it is to buy a prebuilt system. Prebuilt systems and custom-built systems are still a worthy option if you want to forego the building process.
However, if you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, your best bet is to assemble your own computer.
The good news is that it isn’t difficult to build your own gaming PC. All you need to build a computer is all of the parts necessary (which we’ve provided you with the part lists above), a screw driver, some patience, and a good step-by-step building guide. (Check out ours here.)
Also Read:Â What Parts Are Needed to Build A Gaming PC?
4. Is $2,000 good for a gaming PC?
Yes, a $2,000 budget to put towards a gaming computer will allow you to acquire a high-end gaming desktop. If you’re talking about a prebuilt system, that should be enough to get you an RX 7900 XTX gaming PC, or something similar. And, that will provide you with enough power to max out just about any game you want to play.
It should be noted, though, that even a $2,000 budget will not be able to max out all games on a 4K display, as newer titles like Starfield are incredibly demanding. But, with a $2,000 budget your limitations on what you can do will be very small.
Depending on your needs, you could also spend less and still come away with a PC build that will exceed all of your expectations. Check out our guide on how much it costs to build a gaming PC to get an idea of what kind of performance you should expect for your budget.
5. Is building a gaming PC hard?
If you’ve never built a computer before, the good news is that there are a ton of written and video guides out there that do a great job of walking you through the assembly process. We’ve provided a solid step-by-step building guide (listed above), but you might also want to check out our guide on the most common PC building mistakes and our guide on how long it takes to build a PC to help give you a better idea of the process.
6. Is Intel or AMD better for gaming?
Both processor manufacturers are worthy of considering. In fact, it’s probably not a good idea to commit to one brand over the other and, instead, pick the option that will best fit your budget at the time you go to purchase your components or system.
The reality is that, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the two processor manufacturer options are going to provide similar in-game performance. What this means is that, for example, if you have ~$200 to spend on a processor, the options available from Intel and AMD at that price range are going to provide near identical in-game performance. So, it’s much better to not commit to either brand, and see which option costs less at the time of purchase.
There are instances where you may prefer one brand over the other, however…
AMD’s Ryzen CPUs have generally provided a decent performance boost over similarly-priced Intel processors in multi-threaded applications and Intels CPUs have typically provided better single core performance which have helped them perform better in games.
However, the last couple of CPU generations have flipped the tables. AMD’s new 3D V-Cache CPUs are able to outperfom Intel’s top CPUs in in-game performance, but lag behind in productivity tasks. Both options are still viable and at any given pricepoint you’ll get similar performance from the competing options.
But, if your main aim is pure gaming performance, it is best to just choose the option that comes with a lower pricetag. As of right now, we like AMD’s CPUs in the majority of budget ranges.
7. Should I get a gaming laptop or a desktop?
A desktop will always offer more performance for the price than a laptop. However, that’s not to say that laptops aren’t capable gaming machines. If you have a larger budget, you can get yourself a really powerful gaming laptop.
The new RTX 4090 laptops, RTX 4080 laptops, and RTX 4070 laptops are all capable of maxing out any game you throw at them. On the flip side, though, for the same amount of money, you can build or buy a PC that offers more performance and better cooling.
So, whether or not you should get a laptop or a desktop will come down to how much you value the mobility of a laptop. If you need a mobile system that you can take with you on the go, sacrificing a little bit of performance for the mobility that a laptop provides is probably your best option.
If you need as much performance as possible and you don’t mind opting for a stationary system, then a traditional PC offers the most performance regardless of your budget. And, you can squeeze out even more performance from your budget if you opt to build your own system.
8. Which is better? A gaming PC, PS5, or XBox One X?
I’ve touched on this a bit above, but, in terms of hardware and performance potential, a gaming computer will always beat out a PS5 or XBox One X, or any other console. However, that doesn’t mean that a computer would be the best option for you.
For starters, certain titles are only available on consoles. For example, MLB The Show and the Spider Man series are console exclusives. (And, up until recently, the God of War Series). If those are the titles you want to primarily play, you probably shouldn’t spend a ton of money to build an extreme gaming computer.
Of course, the PC platform has its own exclusive titles as well (League of Legends, Dota 2, World of Warcraft, etc.) And, of the games that you can run on both the PC and console (Apex Legends, PUBG, Rocket League, Fortnite, etc.), most of them will run better on a PC than they will on a console.
As I mentioned earlier, though, if you love playing games with your friends and they all game on a console, it might not be worth it for you to start playing games on a computer. Regardless of the advantages that computers offer over a consoles, its always more fun to game with your friends than it is to game alone.
So, again, the reality is that, while PC gaming does offer some advantages over console gaming (like more RGB lighting!), there isn’t a right answer to which platform is better for you.
Get Help With Your Build: If you need help putting together a part list for your build? Fill out the form below or ask your questions in the comment section!
Gaming PC Help
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