The Best $1500 High-End Gaming PC Build – December 2024
Your Ticket to High-End Gaming!
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!
This Month’s Build, Powered by AMD and Nvidia!
For December 2024, the $1,500 High-End Gaming PC Build continues to features the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X eight-core CPU, a proven gaming processor at a great price. Despite the launch of the 9700X, the 7700X remains the clear choice for this build thanks to its nearly identical performance and much lower price. It will have no trouble making the most out of the best GPU ever released under $600, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12GB. While we previously suggested a six-core processor in this build, the latest gaming benchmarks suggest it’s finally time to make an 8-core the standard for high-end gaming. The combo of the 7700X and RTX 4070 Super will truly rip through resolutions up to 1440p.
But this build is about more than just a mighty CPU and GPU. It’s also equipped with 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 drive. The system is built up in a high-airflow case from Antec, anchored by a Gold-rated 650W power supply, and cooled by a powerful 120mm tower cooler.
Parting Thoughts
If you want to accessorize your new build, check out our top keyboard, mouse, and monitor recommendations at the end of this build guide. 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. Throughout our guides, we provide links to Amazon for our US readers, which 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
-
The High-End Gaming PC –
iBuyPower Slate 8 14700F/RTX 4070 Super
$1487Equipped with an Intel Core i7-14700F 20-core, 28-thread processor and a GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12GB GPU, this prebuilt PC is ready to game. Also on the component list is 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 2TB solid-state drive, and built-in WiFi 5 wireless networking.This pre-built system will provide nearly the same performance as the one we spec out below, and comes ready to go out of the box!
The DIY Build
-
CPU –
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
$289 The Guru’s TipThis CPU does not come with a cooler, so make sure to pick up the model we recommend later in this guide.
-
Motherboard –
Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX
$160 The Guru’s TipKeep in mind that this motherboard requires DDR5 RAM, which is what is spec'd in this build.
-
Video Card –
Asus GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12GB Dual Evo OC
$600 The Guru’s TipThe 4070 was the clear winner of the GPU wars in 2023, topping every "best of" list, and the 4070 Super takes performance to the next level!
-
Memory –
TeamGroup 2x16GB T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO
$95 The Guru’s TipThis RAM is really at the sweet spot for price-performance on the AMD platform.
-
Solid-State Drive –
TeamGroup MP44L 1TB PCIe 4.0
$55 The Guru’s TipThis drive provides plenty of gaming performance at a great price!
-
-
Power Supply –
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 650W
$80 The Guru’s TipThis system will pull about 350W at load, so this PSU won't even be stressed!
-
CPU Cooler –
Arctic Freezer 36
$25 The Guru’s TipThis cooler improves upon the venerable freezer 34 by adding a second fan at lower cost!
-
Operating System –
Windows 11 Home (USB) @Newegg
$139 The Guru’s TipWin11 is definitely what you want to support the latest games on your new PC build!
Optional Products
-
The Budget Gaming Keyboard –
Logitech G213 Gaming Keyboard
$40 The Guru’s TipThere are a lot of off-brand keyboards that sell for the same price - Logitech is a trusted name that's been making gaming gear for decades!
-
The Pro Gaming Mouse –
Razer Basilisk V3 X HyperSpeed Wireless
$49 The Guru’s TipIt's hard to overstate just how much freedom a wireless mouse gives you!
-
The 27" 1440p 180Hz Gaming Monitor –
Acer XV271U
$179 The Guru’s TipThis monitor will let you get the most out of your new high-end gaming PC!
-
The Budget Wireless PC Headset –
HyperX Cloud Stinger Core
$60 The Guru’s TipAfter a recent price cut, this headset is an unbeatable deal, coming in under the price of competing wired headsets!
Total Cost: $1523
The Pre-Built Option
The DIY Build
- CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 7700X ($289)
- Motherboard – Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX ($160)
- Video Card – Asus GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12GB Dual Evo OC ($600)
- Memory – TeamGroup 2x16GB T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO ($95)
- Solid-State Drive – TeamGroup MP44L 1TB PCIe 4.0 ($55)
- Case – Antec AX90 ($80)
- Power Supply – Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 650W ($80)
- CPU Cooler – Arctic Freezer 36 ($25)
- Operating System – Windows 11 Home (USB) @Newegg ($139)