The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $1,500 High-End Gaming PC Build – June 2021

The Best $1,500 High-End Gaming PC Build – June 2021

By Ari Altman | Published June 13, 2021 | Updated June 13, 2021

Critical Update: If you want to start gaming on a new PC any time before Fall 2021, you have two options: try to grab one of the few pre-built PCs still for sale, or build up a PC using an older GPU you have on hand. That’s because all new GPUs are sold out worldwide due to the latest cryptocurrency mining crisis. We present both options to you in this guide.

Do you want to build the best high-end gaming PC possible for $1,500? Then you’ve come to the right place! The build we profile here offers the best balance of CPU and GPU power you’ll find in any build on the ‘Net, along with high-end yet cost-effective parts in every other category. The goal: maximum frames per dollar without skimping on the stuff everyone else does, like a quality power supply and a big solid-state drive. The last thing you want is a hot rod engine in an old beater chassis, so we make sure your gaming PC build checks off all the boxes!

For June 2021, we recommend builders of the $1,500 High-End Gaming PC Build go for AMD’s amazing Ryzen 5 5600X, a six-core, 12-thread CPU that is by far the best value among high-end gaming chips. After six months of near-zero availability, it’s finally easy to buy most days, making it a clear choice. We recommend you add Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB to this build, which equals the last-gen RTX 2080 Super in performance. This build is also equipped with a fast 1TB PCIe solid-state drive and 16GB of high-speed DDR4-3600 RAM. For the case, we recommend a sleek tempered glass model from Corsair, while the build is anchored by a high-efficiency Gold-rated 700W fully-modular power supply. By the way, if you want to accessorize your new build, check out our top keyboard, mouse, and monitor recommendations at the end of this build guide. Learn more about this build and post your questions in our YouTube overview.

We update this build monthly, as prices and components in this market change quite frequently, and a few dollars here or there could buy you a lot of performance. If you need help building your system, check out our step-by-step Ryzen PC assembly guide!

Throughout our guides, we provide links to Amazon, Newegg, or B&H for our US readers, and our Amazon links will auto-convert for readers in Canada, the UK, and parts of the EU, with substitutions made based on regional availability. Your use of these links helps support this site, allowing us to continue to update this guide regularly.

The Pre-Built Option

  • Click to Buy
    The High-End Gaming PC –

    CyberpowerPC 11400F/RX 6700 XT

    $1779

    HOT DEAL – WON’T LAST LONG! – Jump into high-end PC gaming today with this awesome system from CyberpowerPC, which has Intel’s Core i5-11400F six-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, along with the ultra-fast AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB video card, which is by far the fastest GPU you’ll find in a pre-built PC anywhere near this price! Also on the component list is 16GB of RAM, a 500GB NVMe solid-state drive, and a 1TB hard drive.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This is a bit above our target price for this guide, but it's so underpriced versus everything else out there that it's definitely worth grabbing if you can!

The DIY Build

  • Click to Buy
    CPU –

    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

    $299
    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 the most advanced platform in the business, which will provide you tremendous upgrade potential down the line should you wish to drop in an even more powerful CPU.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This CPU comes with the Wraith Stealth cooler, and for this build, we recommend you use it.
  • Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    MSI B550 Gaming Edge WiFi @Newegg

    $188
    This feature-packed board gives you everything you need for a PC build at a great price. Dual M.2 PCIe slots for high-speed SSDs (the top slot being Gen 4), six USB ports (including a Type-C port), and built-in WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5. It also has the ample power delivery system required to support any Zen 3 processor.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This board also has a modern Type-C header, allowing you to use the Type-C port built into the case we recommend for this build.
  • Click to Buy
    Video Card –

    EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti XC 8GB @EVGA

    $470
    The new king-of-the-hill in the midrange segment is the RTX 3060 Ti 8GB, which offers simply exceptional performance per dollar, beating last-gen’s $700 RTX 2080 Super! Unfortunately, since its launch it’s been hard to find in stock, as with all the great GPUs launched around the same time.
    The Guru’s Tip

    While the RTX 3060 Ti was "launched" at $400, we don't anticipate ever seeing that price again. When it restocks, it will be closer to $500.
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    Memory –

    Crucial 2x8GB Ballistix DDR4-3600 C16 Black

    $94
    PRIME DAY DEAL – SAVE $19! To get the most out of your PC Build, you want 16GB of RAM, and this kit comes in at a great price. But more importantly, with a combination of serious speed (3600MHz) and serious timings (16-18-18), this isn’t just a slow 3200 kit rebranded to sell at a higher price, it’s the real deal!
    The Guru’s Tip

    With this 2x8GB (16GB) configuration, you'll still have the option to add another two sticks later on to bring the total up to 32GB!
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    Solid-State Drive –

    XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB NVMe

    $110
    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! Note that you’ll need a jeweler’s-type screwdriver to affix it.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This will slip right into one of the motherboard's M.2 slots.
  • Click to Buy
    Case –

    Corsair 4000D Airflow

    $95
    The 4000D is simply the best performance-oriented case you can get for the money, thanks to its fantastic airflow design, dual 120mm fans, and a plenty of builder-friendly touches, like excellent cable routing, captive screws, and plenty of fan mounts.
    The Guru’s Tip

    Get a closeup view of this case and ask questions about this build in our YouTube overview, shown at the top of this guide!
  • Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    SilverStone ET700-MG

    $92
    This awesome fully-modular 700W Gold-rated unit is easy to find in stock most days, unlike most other competing models, so grab it while you can! It provides plenty of power for this system, along with great efficiency and low noise levels.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This PSU has two EPS power connectors, which makes it future-proof, as most motherboards now use them.
  • Click to Buy
    Operating System –

    Windows 10 Home USB Flash Drive

    $130
    Windows 10 was a big step up from Windows 8.1, and Microsoft continues to support Windows 10 users not only with regular security updates, but with major content releases every six months. And the USB version installs in under 5 minutes, meaning you can get right into using your system!
    The Guru’s Tip

    Windows 10 can also be downloaded at a savings of around $10 - all you need is a flash drive with at least 8GB of capacity.

Optional Products

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    The Budget Gaming Keyboard –

    Logitech G213 Gaming Keyboard

    $47
    Pick up a great keyboard at a great price with the G213. It’s quick, quiet, and responsive, and it also has sweet RGB backlighting, of course!
    The Guru’s Tip

    The lighting on this model can be controlled via the GHub software.
  • Click to Buy
    The Pro Gaming Mouse –

    Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed Wireless

    $46
    PRIME DAY DEAL – SAVE $13! 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

    Remember, you're getting a great wireless mouse for the same price as many wired mice.
  • Click to Buy
    The Mainstream Gaming Headset –

    Corsair HS60 Pro Surround

    $50
    If you need a good headset at an unbeatable price, we recommend Corsair’s excellent HS60 Pro 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

    To provide surround effects, this headset uses a USB adapter, which you connect in line with the attached 3.5mm audio plug.
  • Click to Buy
    The 27-inch G-Sync Gaming Monitor –

    Gigabyte M27Q

    $320
    Offering up a 27″ 2560×1440 IPS panel capable of a 170Hz refresh rate, and enhanced with FreeSync 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

    FreeSync was once an AMD-only exclusive, but now it works on both AMD and Nvidia systems.