The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $1250 Quiet Gaming PC Build – December 2022

The Best $1250 Quiet Gaming PC Build – December 2022

By Ari Altman | Published November 23, 2022 | Updated November 26, 2022

BLACK FRIDAY PRICING IN EFFECT – SAVE OVER $50 TODAY!

Game Hard, Run Silent!

Want a high-powered Quiet Gaming PC Build that delivers an excellent gaming experience while running in near silence? Then the $1,250 Quiet Gaming PC Build is the system for you! Every component has been chosen to maximize performance in both games and applications, while minimizing noise.

This Month’s Build, an All-AMD Machine!

For December 2022, the Quiet Gaming PC Build starts with AMD’s value-packed Zen 3 platform. In this build, we’re going for the Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core, 12-thread CPU, which offers unbeatable performance for the price. It’s supporting the equally-amazing AMD Radeon RX 6800 16GB video card. This combo can handle resolutions up to 2560 x 1440 with ease, and the GPU is also very quiet thanks to its excellent efficiency and cooler.

As for the other components, the Quiet Gaming PC Build is loaded up with 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, a 1TB NVMe solid-state drive, a silent CPU cooler, and an efficient power supply. Bringing it all together is the stylish NZXT H510 tempered glass case.

Parting Thoughts

We also list a few of our favorite accessories to complete the Quiet Gaming PC build, including a responsive keyboard, a great low-cost mouse, and an excellent 165Hz gaming monitor, but feel free to check out our dedicated Monitor Buyer’s Guide and Peripherals Buyer’s Guide for more options.

We update this build on a monthly basis to incorporate new product releases or major price adjustments, so check back often. Throughout our guides, we provide direct shopping links to Amazon for our readers in the US, which will auto-convert for readers in other countries, including Canada, the UK, and parts of the EU, with automatic substitutions made where necessary. Your use of these links helps keep this guide alive!

The Pre-Built Option

  • Skytech Shiva
    Click to Buy
    The High-End Gaming PC –

    Skytech Shiva 5600X/RTX 3070

    $1250
    This system punches way above its price class thanks to the GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GPU is comes equipped with. Also on board is the potent AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core, 12-thread CPU, 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, and a 1TB solid-state drive. It’s all wrapped up in the stylish In Win 101 chassis.
    The Guru’s Tip

    Grab this system at an amazing discount while you can!

The DIY Build

  • Click to Buy
    CPU –

    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

    $159
    AMD’s Zen 3 architecture made a huge splash in the PC industry. Beating Intel on a clock-for-clock basis for the first time in decades, and with far lower power consumption, the Ryzen 5 5600X is the perfect CPU for this build. And it brings along with it an advanced yet cost-effective platform, which will provide upgrade potential down the line should you wish to drop in an even more powerful CPU.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This CPU comes with a cooler, but we recommend a much quieter aftermarket model later in this guide.
  • MSI B550-A Pro
    Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    MSI B550-A Pro

    $140
    This feature-packed board gives you everything you need for a PC build at a great price. That includes dual M.2 PCIe slots for high-speed SSDs (the top slot being Gen 4), a PCIe Gen 4 graphics card slot, and eight USB ports (including a Type-C port).
    The Guru’s Tip

    With this board, you'll be able to upgrade the CPU down the line to other Zen 3-based models.
  • XFX RX 6800 XT
    Click to Buy
    Video Card –

    XFX Radeon RX 6800 16GB SWFT319

    $500
    It’s time to get gaming again! The Radeon RX 6800 16GB has impressive gaming power, matching the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, while offering double the VRAM, which makes it far more future-proof! And this model has a powerful 3-fan cooler to keep temperatures in check.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This GPU offers shocking value, vastly outperforming both other AMD GPUs and all Nvidia GPUs in its price range!
  • Click to Buy
    Memory –

    Corsair 2x8GB Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200

    $50
    Because just about every application can take serious advantage of RAM speed on the latest CPUs, we’re spec’ing a fast DDR4-3200 kit for this build. The Vengeance LPX kit is a best seller thanks to its competitive price, low-profile design that provide excellent compatibility, and Corsair’s well-deserved reputation for quality!
    The Guru’s Tip

    The motherboard we recommend supports high-speed RAM like this kit.
  • Click to Buy
    Solid-State Drive –

    Silicon Power 1TB NVMe

    $56
    You simply can’t do better for the price than this value-packed SSD, which uses the speedy PCIe 3.0 interface and TLC NAND to vastly outperform all the SATA drives that sell for around the same amount! Note that to install this drive, you’ll affix it in an M.2 slot on your motherboard using a jeweler’s-type screwdriver.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This drive will fit into one of the two M.2 slots on the motherboard, leaving another slot free for future upgrades!
  • NZXT H510 Red
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    NZXT H510 Red/Black

    $60
    The H510 is the world’s top-selling case for a reason: it offers great style and performance at a great price. It serves up two 120mm fans, a tempered glass side panel, and plenty of space for your components. Note that this case comes in three colors: black on black, white-on-white, and red-on-black, and the latter really stands out as the most eye-catching while still being classy.
    The Guru’s Tip

    The solid steel front panel will keep this system running very quiet. We happen to like the red and black version for its extra style, but feel free to get the standard all-black version.
  • Corsair RM650
    Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    Corsair RM650

    $80
    Corsair offers a ton of value in its RM line, and this model is no exception. You get 650W of Gold-rated power, fully-modular cables, and a fan that doesn’t even spin at low loads for total silence. The best part: Corsair’s excellent customer support.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This quality power supply is selling for far less than its competitors!
  • Deepcool AK400
    Click to Buy
    CPU Cooler –

    DeepCool AK400

    $35
    This cooler is the perfect pick for a mainstream PC Build. It offers robust cooling potential and nearly-silent operation thanks to an excellent heavily-swept, 9-blade fan design.
    The Guru’s Tip

    The CPU we recommend for this build includes a cooler, but you'll want this one to keep things quiet!
  • Microsoft Windows 11
    Click to Buy
    Operating System –

    Windows 11 Home USB

    $139
    Windows 11 take everything people loved about Windows 10, and then takes it to 11! It adds significant under-the-hood changes to make it faster and more secure, and of course, the interface is sleek too!
    The Guru’s Tip

    It took a while for Microsoft to launch Win11 at retail after making it available as an upgrade to existing users, but now that it's here, it's what you want on your new PC!

Optional Products

  • Click to Buy
    Wireless Card –

    TP-Link Archer T5E AC1200/Bluetooth 4.2

    $30
    Need wireless networking? Look no further than this ultra-high-speed 802.11ac PCIe-based card!
    The Guru’s Tip

    Thanks to having Bluetooth on board, this is the perfect 2-in-1 card, allowing the use of a wide range of wireless peripherals.
  • Click to Buy
    The 24-inch 165Hz Gaming Monitor –

    Asus VG248QG

    $189
    Asus pioneered the high-refresh rate gaming monitor years ago, and has returned to the mid-range market with the VG248QG, which boasts amazing specs for the price. It gives you a 24″ 1920×1080 TN panel with a refresh rate overclockable to 165Hz (144Hz is standard), plus a 0.5ms (GTG) response time. It boasts adaptive-sync technology to provide stutter and screen tearing, plus a highly-adjustable stand to dial in just the right ergonomics.
    The Guru’s Tip

    Connect this monitor via DisplayPort to take advantage of its high refresh rate.
  • K55 Pro
    Click to Buy
    The Budget Gaming Keyboard –

    Corsair K55 RGB Pro

    $50
    Pick up a great keyboard at a great price with the K55. It offers IP42-rated dust and spill resistance, zoned RGB backlighting, dedicated macro and media keys, plus quiet keys with a tactile bump to provide great feedback with low noise levels!
    The Guru’s Tip

    To set the keyboard's backlighting, you'll want to download Corsair's iCUE software.
  • Click to Buy
    The Pro Gaming Mouse –

    Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed Wireless

    $35
    Offering cutting-edge performance, there’s nothing like the Basilisk X for anywhere near the price. Ultra-sensitive sensor, Razer’s awesome HyperSpeed wireless system, and perfect ergonomics. It’s a great mouse!
    The Guru’s Tip

    Avoid all the knock-off brands that often top the sales charts - they won't come close to offering the same performance and quality.
  • Corsair HS65
    Click to Buy
    The Mainstream Gaming Headset –

    Corsair HS65 Surround

    $70
    If you need a good headset at an unbeatable price, we recommend Corsair’s excellent HS65 Surround headset. Light, comfortable, and stylish without being in your face, it’s a great headset for gaming, and can even be used with mobile devices that have a 3.5mm analog jack.
    The Guru’s Tip

    The HS60 Pro Surround offers up a virtual 7.1 Surround mode via an included USB adapter.

Pin It on Pinterest