Need the best gaming PC build for 2022? This guide gives you five of the best computer builds and prebuilt 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 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.)
And, normally, this would be especially true if you were to take it upon yourself to build your own gaming desktop. However, with global supply chain issues, the cost of purchasing individual components to build your own system has gone up significantly.
In fact, right now it’s more affordable to purchase a prebuilt gaming computer, a custom gaming PC, or a gaming laptop. You can still build a PC, but the cost of graphics cards at the moment make it difficult to do so at an affordable price.
In this guide, though, 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. FAQ: Buying/Building the Best Gaming PC
II. Quick-Look: Best Gaming PCs
1. Elite $2,000 Gaming Computer
2. $1,750 RTX 3070 Ti Gaming PC
3. High-End $1,500 Gaming Computer
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 PS5 or XBox Series X), we’ve put together a list of answers to some questions you likely have.
1. Which PC is best 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. Can you build a gaming PC in 2022?
In fact, whereas building your own PC was always more cost-efficient than buying a similarly-specced prebuilt gaming PC, with the shortages it is now more affordable to purchase a prebuilt system. The reason for this is that companies that supply prebuilt desktops are able to purchase their components in bulk, which allows them to acquire those components at prices that are still reasonable.
For all of the recommended builds below, we’ve included a link to a similarly-specced prebuilt system. And, if you’re looking for the best deal for your money, those are your best bet right now. If you do want to build your own system, though, you could opt to search the used market (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.) for a graphics card, though, and that will help you bring your cost down.
3. Is $2,000 good for a gaming PC?
And, even with the shorage in GPUs, a $2,000 budget will allow you to build a powerful desktop if that’s the route you choose to go. Just note, though, that you’ll have to accept a less powerful graphics card if you choose to build your own system at the moment.
4. Is building a gaming PC hard?
5. Is Intel or AMD better for gaming?
The reality is that, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the two processor 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 generally provide a decent performance boost over similarly-priced Intel processors in multi-threaded applications. So, if you need the extra power in multi-threaded applications, that might be one reason to justify choosing an AMD CPU over an Intel CPU in the same price range.
But, if your main aim is pure gaming performance, it is best to just choose the option that comes with a lower pricetag (and, that includes the cost of a compatible motherboard, as well.)
6. Should I get a gaming laptop or a desktop?
The new RTX 3080 laptops, RTX 3070 laptops, and RTX 3060 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.
7. Which is better? A gaming PC, PS5, or XBox One X?
For starters, certain titles are only available on consoles. MLB The Show and the God of War Series 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.
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 2022.
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.
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HIGH-END
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BALANCED
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VALUE 4K
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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.
**Due to extreme graphics card supply shortages, it is currently very difficult to find new graphics cards at reasonable prices. As of right now, if you want a new gaming PC, your best bet is to check the used market for a video card, or look at a pre-built gaming PC instead of building your own system.
1. Elite $2,000 4K Gaming PC 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 i7-12700K processor, an RTX 3080 graphics card, and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. The combination of the RTX 3080 and the i7-12700K 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 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 Cooler Master MasterCase H500 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 3080 Laptops to see what kind of laptop options you have.
Part List for $2,000 PC Build
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-12700K | |
| AIO | MSI MAG P240 | |
| MOBO | ASUS Prime Z690-P | |
| GPU | MSI RTX 3080 | |
| RAM | Kingston 16GB | |
| SSD | Samsung 1TB | |
| CASE | MasterCase H500 | |
| PSU | Thermaltake 850W | |
| ODD | Use USB to Install O.S. | |
| OS | Windows |
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 costs ~$100 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.
12700K + RTX 3080 Benchmark
2. $1,750 RTX 3070 Gaming Computer
For a price of $1,750, the sky is the limit in terms of performance. Seriously, with an RTX 3070 Ti 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 3070 Ti graphics card, this build features an Intel Core i7-12700K, a high-end CPU cooler, and a 850W Gold power supply. You will also get a 1TB SSD and 16GB of 5600MHz 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 i7-12700K | |
| AIO | MSI MAG P240 | |
| MOBO | ASUS Prime Z690-P | |
| GPU | ASUS RTX 3070 Ti | |
| RAM | Kingston 16GB | |
| SSD | Samsung 1TB | |
| CASE | MasterCase H500 | |
| PSU | Thermaltake 850W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
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 costs ~$100 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.
12700K + RTX 3070 Ti Benchmark
3. $1,500 High-End Gaming PC
For $1,500 you’re getting a very similar computer to our $1,250 build. The only difference? You get a better CPU/motherboard combination
While the Intel Core i5-12600K in this system won’t give you a significant performance increase over the i5-12400 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—and, you can overclock it to squeeze even more performance out of it.
This system also features an RTX 3070 video card, 16GB of DDR5 5200MHz memory, a standard ATX motherboard with plenty of RGB lighting features, a 1TB 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 i5-12600K | |
| AIO | MSI MAG P240 | |
| MOBO | ASUS Prime Z690-P | |
| GPU | Gigabyte RTX 3070 | |
| RAM | XPG Hunter 16GB | |
| SSD | Samsung 1TB | |
| CASE | Antec NX410 | |
| PSU | EVGA 650W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
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 costs ~$100 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.
12600K + RTX 3070 Benchmark
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 Intel Core i5-12600K procesoor, an RX 6700 XT graphics card, an RGB-friendly motherboard, 16GB of memory, a 1TB 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 i5-12600K CPU and the AMD RX 6700 XT GPU will still give you a ton of performance.
Part List for $1,250 PC Build
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| CPU | Intel Core i5-12600K | |
| AIO | MSI MAG P240 | |
| MOBO | ASUS Prime Z690-P | |
| GPU | XFX RX 6700 XT | |
| RAM | XPG Hunter 16GB | |
| SSD | Samsung 1TB | |
| CASE | Antec NX410 | |
| PSU | EVGA 650W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
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 costs ~$100 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.
12600K + RX 6700 XT Benchmark
5. Balanced $1,000 Intel 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 Intel Core i5-12400F CPU, an AMD RX 6700 XT GPU, 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz RAM, and a 1TB 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 utilizes 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 3070 Laptops.
Part List for $1,000 PC Build
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| CPU | Intel Core i5-12400F | |
| MOBO | Gigabyte H610M | |
| GPU | XFX RX 6700 XT | |
| RAM | TEAMGROUP 16GB | |
| SSD | Samsung 1TB | |
| CASE | Zalman S2 | |
| PSU | EVGA 650W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
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 costs ~$100 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.
Hi Really useful guide, I am assembling the 1,250 PC build but I wanted to replace the air cooler with a Liquid one that can be found here: https://www.pccasegear.com/products/40356?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8I_IvM6W3QIVQqSWCh2EZQVbEAkYDSABEgK9ffD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
anyway, I was asking if this coolant system would fit as I am paranoid that I will spend all my money and end up unable to assemble them.
Thanks! -Morgan
Hey Morgan, yes, that AIO cooler will work with the $1,250 build and the Thermaltake G21 case that it comes with. You’ll have to install it on the front panel of the case, though.
Hey is the 1,000 build good enough for me to run games like destiny 2 and stream at the same time?
if not can you recommend a build and or set up. thanks
im converting from console here! lol so much reseaerch, please help.
EVGA CLC 280 comes with Thermal paste. Is there any reason I need the EGC High-Performance Thermal Paste Compound.?
On the 2K build, you include the EVGA CLC 280 Liquid/Water CPU Cooler, RGB LED Cooling 400-HY-CL28-V. I was told that AIO Water Coolers are “better”. What are your thoughts and if you agree which one would you recommend?
Hmmm, this might have been a stupid question. I don’t know much about Liquid cooling.
Sorry for the delay on this. The EVGA CLC is an AIO water cooler. There’s really only two types of liquid cooling: AIOs and custom loops. AIOs come ready to use right out of the box, whereas custom loops have to be assembled. You can achieve better cooling results with the right custom loop, but AIO coolers are much easier for the average user to utilize.
Your 2k builds includes the Phanteks Enthoo Pro case. Is there a difference (other than color) between the white one you sourced (Phanteks Enthoo Pro Full Tower Chassis PH-ES614P_WT White) and the black one (Phanteks Enthoo Pro Full Tower Chassis with Window Cases PH-ES614P_BK)?
Hey David, thanks for commenting.
Yep, they’re both the same case, minus the color!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
All the Best,
Brent