Need the best gaming PC build for 2021? This guide gives you five of the best computer builds and pre-built PC options at a variety of price points.
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 (cheap pre-built systems) can barely handle. And, as PC gamers we like to have and experience the best… We like to play our games on the highest settings possible, with the highest framerate possible, (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.)
This is especially true when you take it upon yourself to build your own gaming desktop, which will ultimately save you a ton of money on the markup prices that you would’ve paid for a prebuilt gaming computer (like an Alienware or Cyber Power PC system) or a gaming laptop.
The good news is that building a computer is a very doable thing for just about anyone. Seriously… if you can operate a screwdriver and read, then I’m pretty confident that you can build your own PC.
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 similarly-priced pre-built gaming computers as well so that if you don’t want to build your own system, you can go the pre-built route as well. These pre-built systems won’t offer quite the same performance as if you were to build a computer for the same amount of money. However, they should still give you a fairly high-end experience.
Table of Contents
I. Quick-Look: Best Gaming PCs
1. Elite $2,000 Gaming Computer
3. High-End $1,500 Gaming Computer
4. 4K/VR Monster $1,250 Gaming PC
Quick-Look: Our Top Picks for the Best Gaming 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 2021.
These systems are updated 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.
*Note: If you choose an NVIDIA graphics cards, pair it with a G-Sync monitor, and if you choose an AMD graphics card, pair it with a FreeSync monitor.
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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. Elite $2,000 Gaming Computer 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. You can utilize a processor with eight cores and threads (which will really help you with stuff like video rendering and image editing.) And, you can leave yourself with a ton of options for upgrading in the future. (RGB lights, more storage, dual video cards, etc.)
This is an extreme 4K gaming computer that can easily handle virtual reality and can serve as a powerful workstation as well. Also, 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 quality gaming chair, a G-Sync monitor, and a high-quality gaming headset.
This build features an Intel Core i7-10700 processor, an RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. The combination of the RTX 2080 Ti and the i7-10700 CPU will be more than powerful enough to have you maxing out games on a 4K monitor or a 1440P 144Hz monitor. This system also comes with an overclocking& RGB-friendly motherboard, a 1TB SSD and an 850W Gold power supply. And, while there are a wide option of computer cases that would be able to accommodate this part list, we’ve included the Fractal Design Define S2 for its large size, tempered glass side panel, and its above-average air flow. You can check out our guide on the best full tower 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 2080 Laptops to see what kind of laptop options you have.
Part List for $2,000 PC Build
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-10700K | |
| AIO | Deep Cool 240mm | |
| MOBO | MSI Z490 | |
| GPU | MSI RTX 3080 | |
| RAM | XPG Z1 16GB | |
| SSD | Samsung 1TB | |
| CASE | Thermaltake Core X71 | |
| PSU | Thermaltake 850W | |
| ODD | Use USB to Install O.S. | |
| OS | Windows 10 |
Grand Total: $1,970-$2,030
*Prices on PC components change on a daily basis. Click here for the most up-to-date pricing.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 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.
2. $1,750 RTX 2080 Gaming PC Build
For a price of $1,750, the sky is the limit in terms of performance. Seriously, with an RTX 2080 SUPER 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 VR-ready PC build (Oculus Rift or HTC Vive).
Along with the RTX 2080 SUPER graphics card, this build features an Intel Core i7-10700, a high-end CPU cooler, and a 850W Gold power supply. You will also get a 960GB SSD and 16GB of 3200MHz RAM. While 16GB of memory won’t be used in most titles, newer games are starting to utilize over 8GB 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 graphics card, case, motherboard, and CPU cooler in this system all come with RGB lights.
This system is powerful enough to handle any game on max settings on a 1080P monitor. But, if you are going to go with this build, you’d be better off pairing it with a 1080P 144Hz monitor, a 1080P 240Hz monitor, a 1440P 144Hz monitor, or a 4K monitor. Because, this system will be overkill for a standard 1080P 60Hz monitor.
And, if you don’t want to build this computer, the pre-built system we’ve linked to below will serve as a nice alternative. This build comes with the following parts:
Part List for $1,750 PC Build
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-10700K | |
| AIO | Deep Cool 240mm | |
| MOBO | MSI Z490 | |
| GPU | EVGA RTX 3070 | |
| RAM | XPG Z1 16GB | |
| SSD | Crucial MX500 1TB | |
| CASE | MasterCase H500 | |
| PSU | Thermaltake 850W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows 10 |
Grand Total: $1,720-$1,780
*Prices on PC components change on a daily basis. Click here for the most up-to-date pricing.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 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.
3. High-End $1,500 Gaming Computer
For $1,500 you’re getting a very similar computer to our $1,250 build. The only difference? You get a much better CPU/motherboard combination
While the Intel Core i7-10700 in this system won’t give you a significant performance increase over the Ryzen 5 3600 found in the $1,250 build below, it is a better overall processor that should give you a small bump in FPS while gaming and will serve you better for non-gaming tasks as well. This system also features an RTX 2070 SUPER video card, 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz memory, a standard ATX motherboard with plenty of RGB lighting features, a 960GB SATA SSD, and a 650W 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 144Hz monitor, and will allow you to get into VR with the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. 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 | Intel Core i7-10700K | |
| AIO | Deep Cool 240mm | |
| MOBO | MSI Z490 | |
| GPU | ZOTAC RTX 2070 SUPER | |
| RAM | XPG Z1 16GB | |
| SSD | Crucial MX500 1TB | |
| CASE | MasterCase H500 | |
| PSU | Cooler Master 650W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows 10 |
Grand Total: $1,470-$1,530
*Prices on PC components change on a daily basis. Click here for the most up-to-date pricing.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 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.
4. 4K/VR Monster $1,250 Gaming PC
With a budget of $1,250 or more, you can expect to get a high-quality custom computer. At this price range, you will be able to put together a machine that will be able to handle games on 1080P 144Hz monitors, or 240Hz monitors. It will also serve as a 1440P 144Hz or 4K gaming PC 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. And, this system easily meets the Oculus Rift requirements so it is definitely a VR-ready PC.
For specs, this build features an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 procesoor, an RTX 2070 SUPER graphics card, an RGB-friendly standard ATX motherboard, 16GB of memory, a 960GB SATA SSD, and a quality 650W power supply. While this system doesn’t quite have the same power that the $2,000 and $1,750 builds listed above have, the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU and the NVIDIA RTX 2070 GPU will still give you a ton of performance.
Part List for $1,250 PC Build
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | |
| AIO | Deep Cool 240mm | |
| MOBO | ASUS B550 | |
| GPU | ZOTAC RTX 2070 SUPER | |
| RAM | XPG Z1 16GB | |
| SSD | Crucial MX500 1TB | |
| CASE | MasterCase H500 | |
| PSU | Corsair CX650M | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows 10 |
Grand Total: $1,220-$1,280
*Prices on PC components change on a daily basis. Click here for the most up-to-date pricing.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 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.
5. Balanced $1,000 AMD Gaming PC
For a price 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 VR gaming and the Oculus Rift headset. And, you can even expect a $1,000 gaming PC to handle playing at 4K just fine.
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 3600 CPU, an AMD RX 5700 XT GPU, 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz RAM, and a 960GB SATA SSD.
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 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 utilize AMD’s FreeSync technology to provide the smoothest in-game experience possible.
*If you’re considering a laptop, too, check out our guide on the Best RTX 2070 Laptops.
Part List for $1,000 PC Build
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | |
| MOBO | ASUS B550 | |
| GPU | Gigabyte 5700 XT | |
| RAM | XPG Z1 16GB | |
| SSD | Crucial MX500 1TB | |
| CASE | Zalman S2 | |
| PSU | Cooler Master 650W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows 10 |
Grand Total: $970-$1,030
*Prices on PC components change on a daily basis. Click here for the most up-to-date pricing.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 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.
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 pre-built computer, get a gaming laptop, or go with a console (like a PS4, PS4 Pro, or XBox One), we’ve put together a list of answers to some questions you likely have.
1. What Is the Best Computer for Gaming?
You could easily get by with a $1,000 build (or less). 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.
2. Is Building/Buying A Gaming PC Worth It?
If you’re a console gamer that wants to jump into PC gaming, you probably won’t want to start out with an extreme system because there’s no guarantee that you will prefer playing on a PC to playing on a console. Sometimes console gamers jump into PC gaming because they hear good things about it, only to switch back to their console because that’s what all their friends play on. So, that’s another important factor to consider: if you game a lot with your friends, are they PC gamers or console gamers? If they’re all console gamers, it also wouldn’t be a good idea to invest into a high-end system—because you might find out that, regardless of what platform has the better games or graphics, you enjoy playing with your friends above everything else.
There are a lot of perks to getting a quality gaming PC, though. A gaming computer will not only serve you well for playing games, but it will also double as a personal computer and/or media playback device. And, on average, PC gaming offers more titles, better graphics, more customization (via mods), and more potential for higher performance (via better hardware, higher FPS, and higher refresh rate monitors.)
Ultimately, buying a gaming PC won’t be worth it for everyone. But, if you’re a serious gamer, you have a decent budget to spend on a computer, and you want to be able to game with the least restrictions possible, a gaming PC would likely be worth it for you.
3. What Do I Need to Build A Gaming PC in 2021?
- CPU
- Motherboard
- GPU
- Memory
- Storage (SSD and/or HDD)
- Case
- Power Supply
- Operating System
Along with the core components listed above, you will also need:
- A Phillips screw driver
- The correct cables
- Cable management supplies (like zip-ties)
For the most part, all of the cables you will need to build your system will come with the individual components you purchase. In certain scenarios, though, you may need extra cables. For example, if you’re looking to add a bunch of RGB lighting to your build, you’ll likely need extra cables to hook up any RGB lights or RGB fans you add. If you’re planning on adding multiple SATA storage devices, you might want to order some extra SATA cables just in case your motherboard doesn’t come with enough.
As for cable management, most higher-end computer cases come with velcro straps or zip ties to help you through the process. However, if you want to be on the safe side, you could always pick up an extra pack of zip ties and/or velcro straps to ensure that you have enough help in organizing the cables in your build. (Check out these examples of good cable management for inspiration for your upcoming build.)
Other than those considerations, all you will need to build a PC will be the core components listed above and a Phillips screw driver. If you’re unsure of what parts to get, in the section below we’ve provided five different build templates that you can use as is or modify to your liking.
4. How Do You Build Your Own PC?
5. Should I Get A Gaming Laptop or A Desktop?
The new RTX 2080 laptops, RTX 2070 laptops, and RTX 2060 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 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.
6. Which is Better? A Gaming PC, PS4, or XBox One?
For starters, certain titles are only available on consoles. MLB The Show and Spider-Man are console exclusives. 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.
If you need help picking out parts for your build, leave your questions below!
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Bethany says
I want to build my own gaming PC but i dont know how or where i should start.
Arthur Wilis says
Hey Brent,
If the price wasn’t a concern at all, what would be the best build/ monitor could you get. With such a build/monitor, what could it handle? I’m just curious what the dream build is for gaming (still being able to support work things like photoshop, video editing/ streaming software etc.) .
Zachary says
Hi Brent,
I have been thinking about and wanting to build a desktop PC for awhile now. I have been looking at several build guides, but don’t know enough to feel confident in choosing a build.
I play WoW, LoL, and Overwatch mostly and would like something that I get good latency and fps at the higher settings. My budget is around $2K-$3K and I would like something that has RBG options that I can customize the look.
Would the $2K build above be a good start? Any changes/upgrades with some extra money?
I appreciate the help and feedback.
Josh Atkins says
I’m building a gaming computer for my birthday what are good parts for it? just email me back
Charles Harris says
Hope you can help especially with nvidia dropping the ball on 3090 and amd new releases coming out in dec.
Looking to do my own custom build for 4x video editing from side jobs, personal videos weddings ect ect.
Gaming when chill time like halo cod destiny ect ect.
Streaming, downloading and uploading.
Was going to do intel in 10 core but should i go with amd.
Was advised to do asus 490 hero.
Need som advise please.
Budget of 3k could do little more if needed.
Want this to last and be upgradeable if needed in the future.
Need to hav 2 hdmi ports from gpu.
Would like at least 138g for memory nvme .2 for os also additional for storage.
For video storage need at least 2tb
Gaming at least 6tb.
What would your reccomendation be?
Also air cooled or liquid cooled. If liquid reccomendation for cpu or also gpu? What band?
What case do you reccomend for all of this that has wire management breathable case with side glass panel.
Thank you in advanced.
Nolo says
Hello My name is Nolan, I was looking for a PC that i can make music on, stream, game, edit videos and browse the internet on.. Do you know if this build can do that ?
Thanks
sincerely Nolan
Jason Lin says
Hi
I am thinking about building a gaming laptop using CLEVO NH58AC.
Why AMD Ryzen™ 7 3700X 8-Core 3.6 is recommended over AMD Ryzen™ 9 3900 ?
Thanks
Jordan says
Can I use a Ryzen 7 3700x with the ASUS 390?
Tee Lekmeon says
I’m not sure
StanLanders says
Is there a reason you don’t recommend an NVMe instead of the SATA SSD? It should be
Dean Goll says
What is a compatible tower for the Cooler Master H500? I am looking at the #2 build on this list.
Krzysztof says
Hi Brent,
I’d like to build a computer set number 3. Due to the price possibilities I bought i9-9900K (with built-in graphics card) instead of i7-9700K.
The computer turns on normally when the graphics card is connected to 8 GPU pins (only powers the fan?). If you connect to all 8+6 pins, the computer seems to go, but there is a black screen.
NVIDIA installation attempt failed and the BIOS does not see the GPU.
I’d like to ask for your help.
Components:
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z390 Gaming PRO Carbon AC
INTEL Core i9-9900K processor (BX80684I99900K)
MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Super Ventus OC 8GB GeForce RTX 2070 Super Ventus OC 8GB
CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (2×8) 3200MHz RAM
CORSAIR CX650M 650W power supply (CP-9020103-EU)
Water cooling EVGA CLC 280 Liquid EU
Kind regards,
Krzysztof
Braden says
I was looking at the Ultra and the High End gaming rigs. I am getting a 2560×1440 1ms rs 165hz monitor. Would I be able to run most games at a 100+ fps with the High End build?
Thanks!
Gustavo says
Im trying to build the 1750 pc but the ASUS GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Overclocked 8G GDDR6 Dual-Fan EVO Edition (DUAL-RTX2080S-O8G-EVO) is not available on Amazon should I go for the v2 that is on amazon that is going to cost me 150$ more or what other should I get staying in the same 1750 budget
Tony says
Hi Brent,
All of your examples are for high-end gaming. Is there a difference for high-end video editing/sfx? I’d very much want to learn and tackle my own build, but most of the information I’ve gleaned pertains to computing power for effects-laden games. Is there an alternate build list for editing (specifically for 4K Premiere and After Effects footage)?
Kevin Wilkerson says
I just bought a curved Alienware 4K monitor at 36 inches. But my PC is sorta old, its actually mixed. I have an Nvidia 1080 ti but the CPU is an i7 ivy bridge, and the ram is DDR3. Im a bit concerned that this setup will bottleneck me since 4K requires so much. My friends insist its all in the GPU and ill be fine, im not so sure. I can afford to upgrade the cpu mbo and ram, but I don’t wanna waste money if its not needed. What would be a good CPU to drive this new monitor?
Brent Hale says
Hey Kevin, thanks for reading and commenting.
I’d say that since you’re fine with an upgrade if it’s necessary, just wait until the monitor arrives and then benchmark your current CPU/GPU combination at 4K. There will likely be some kind of a performance hit using the older CPU. Whether that performance hit will be significant enough to warrant an immediate upgrade, though, is another story.
But, there’s no harm in waiting to upgrade until after you see how your Ivy Bridge CPU performs with your 1080 Ti at 4K.
As for what CPU would be good… it really just depends on how much you want to spend. A 3rd Gen Ryzen 5 CPU (like a 3600X) or an Intel Core i5-9600K would probably be the minimum I’d go. If it were me, I’d probably go with an Intel Core i7 (or i9), or a 3rd Gen Ryzen 7 processor, though.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
All the Best,
Brent
Justin Deiter says
I am surprised to not see the amd 5700 or the xt version on your lists! Any particular reason?
Brent Hale says
Hey Justin, crazy timing! Was just updating the guide (it needed it.)
I’ve put the 5700 XT in the $1,000 build and it would work well in the $1,250 or $1,500 builds, too. I have the 5700 in our $800 build, as well, found on this page:
https://techguided.com/budget-gaming-pcs/
In any case, thanks for commenting!
All the Best,
Brent
James D says
On the ‘Elite’ setup what CPU cooler should I get? Doesn’t appear to have one with the processor. I appreciate all this info. Made it all much easier
James Halliday says
Hi I was trying to get my guide to my Email but it didn’t send.
I tried rebooting outlook and then my computer but nothing worked
tkcho says
The AIO is the cou cooler im pretty sure.