The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $2000 Premium Gaming PC Build – January 2022

The Best $2000 Premium Gaming PC Build – January 2022

By Ari Altman | Published December 31, 2021 | Updated December 31, 2021

CoolerMaster MB511CRITICAL UPDATE:

Due to the ongoing cryptocurrency mining craze, it’s currently impossible to buy video cards at retail prices. Therefore, you have two options if you want to game now. Either buy a pre-built gaming PC with a great GPU or build up a new PC using a GPU selling for over the retail price. We present both options in this guide. Based on current market conditions, we do not believe this generation of GPUs will ever return to MSRP, so lower prices will have to wait until late 2022 when the next generation arrives!

Treat Yourself to a Premium Gaming PC Experience!

Looking to build the best gaming PC possible for $2,000? This is it! Incredibly stylish, ultra-quiet, and most importantly, brutally fast, this build offers the very best balance of CPU power, GPU power, and cooling performance out of any of the gaming PCs we profile. We call it “premium” for a reason! And take note: this build doesn’t skimp on the wheels and chassis just to cram in a “big engine”. We’re all about long-term thinking here at TBG, and this is a seriously long-term build!

This Month’s Build, Powered by AMD and Nvidia!

For January 2022, the $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build features the blazing-fast AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, a 6-core, 12-thread gaming powerhouse, which punches way above its price class, easily beating almost every CPU Intel has ever released. And it will be put to good use in this system, which is built around the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB. While the price is above MSRP, that’s just par for the course right now. We think it’s time to stop waiting for “normal” to return, because that’s not going to happen!

Beyond the CPU and GPU, this build includes all the other components that will give you that extra edge: 16GB of ultra-fast DDR4-3600 RGB RAM, a 1TB PCIe-based solid-state drive, and a 650W Gold-rated power supply. Topping it all off is a great-looking high-performance case from Corsair and a high-powered tower cooler from Scythe.

Parting Thoughts

We also list plenty of ways to accessorize the $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build – just scroll down to the end of this guide to see our top picks among gaming keyboards, mice, and monitors. If you want to see even more options, check out our Monitor Buyer’s Guide and Peripherals Buyer’s Guide!

We update this build every month, and provide direct links to Amazon or Newegg. Our Amazon links will auto-convert for readers in the UK, Canada, and several countries in the EU, with regional substitutions made where necessary. Your use of these links is the only thing that keeps this site on the ‘net!

The Pre-Built Option

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

    Skytech Shiva 5600X/RTX 3070

    $2000

    HOT DEAL!!! 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

    The GPU in this PC sell for about 2/3 the price of the entire system, which just goes to show what a good deal the PC is!

The DIY Option

  • Click to Buy
    CPU –

    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

    $290
    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 a cooler, but we list a much quieter model later in this guide!
  • Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    MSI B550 Gaming Edge WiFi

    $185
    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.
  • XFX RX 6900 XT MERC319
    Click to Buy
    Video Card –

    XFX Radeon RX 6700XT 12GB Speedster QICK319 BLACK

    $989

    It’s time to get gaming again! This Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB from XFX has impressive gaming power, going head to head with the RTX 3070, while actually being available to order today! Sure, the price is above the original MSRP, but it’s pretty clear at this point that prices have been reset permanently, so rather than wait for a price drop that will never come, grab a great GPU today and get into your games!

     The Guru’s Tip

    Sure, this is selling for 2x MSRP, but that's par for the course right now. If you'd like a better deal, we suggest you go with the pre-built PC we listed earlier in this guide.
  • Click to Buy
    Memory –

    Crucial 2x8GB Ballistix RGB DDR4-3600 Red

    $92
    This awesome 16GB kit will provide more than enough capacity for any game today and for years to come, and thanks to its mind-blowing DDR4-3600 speed and 16-18-18 timings, it will keep your fast CPU fed with data. Plus it offers sweet RGB effects!
    The Guru’s Tip

    Crucial continues offering the best deals on RAM, because it makes not just the modules but the RAM chips as well!
  • Click to Buy
    Solid-State Drive –

    XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB NVMe

    $98
    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

    While you could go for a PCIe Gen 4 drive in this system, it doesn't deliver any benefits for gaming. This drive is plenty fast for that!
  • Click to Buy
    Case –

    Cooler Master MasterBox MB511

    $101

    This sleek-looking case from Cooler Master offers plenty of style along with fantastic performance. That’s thanks to the three 120mm ARGB fans mounted in front, behind a full mesh intake to allow for great airflow. It’s also big enough to fit big tower coolers up to 165mm tall.

     The Guru’s Tip

    This case's ARGB fans can be controlled using the motherboard's lighting controls.
  • EVGA Supernova
    Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    EVGA Supernova 650 G6

    $75

    EVGA offers a ton of value in its Supernova line, and the 650 G6 is no exception. You get 650W of Gold-rated power, fully-modular cables, and a zero RPM mode under low loads for silence and increased lifespan. Even when the fan is spinning, it’s quiet thanks to its fluid dynamic bearings. The best part: an incredible 10-year warranty and EVGA’s unbeatable customer support.

     The Guru’s Tip

    This PSU is a fantastic deal, with most competing models going for a lot more!
  • Click to Buy
    CPU Cooler –

    Scythe Fuma 2

    $60
    Offering amazing performance thanks to its big heatsink and dual 120mm fans, along with excellent compatibility thanks to its offset design and 155mm height, this is our favorite cooler at any price.
    The Guru’s Tip

    While you could get by with the stock cooler included with the 5600X processor we recommend, this will be infinitely quieter, while also allowing for higher boost levels.
  • Click to Buy
    Operating System –

    Windows 10 Home USB @Newegg

    $140
    Windows 10 is the most popular operating system in the world, and Microsoft continues to support users not only with regular security updates, but with major content releases every year. Note that you can alternatively purchase the downloadable version. All you need on hand to use it is a USB drive with 8GB+ of capacity.
    The Guru’s Tip

    Windows 11 has launched, and will be rolled out as a free update to all users of Win10!

Optional Products

  • Click to Buy
    The Mechanical Gaming Keyboard –

    Corsair K60 RGB Pro Low Profile

    $79
    For the very fastest gameplay, there’s nothing better than the K60 Low Profile. Thanks to Cherry’s unbeaten low-profile MX Speed switches, you get amazing response and feel, plus low noise.
    The Guru’s Tip

    For the very fastest gameplay, there's nothing better than the K60 Low Profile. Thanks to Cherry's unbeaten low-profile MX Speed switches, you get amazing response and feel, plus low noise.
  • Click to Buy
    Mouse –

    Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro

    $80
    Offering up awesome functionality, a sleek design, and an ultra-fast 18,000 DPI sensor, the Dark Core Pro simply has no competition at its pricepoint.
    The Guru’s Tip

    Sync the mouse's lighting using the Corsair iCUE software!
  • Click to Buy
    The Deluxe PC Headset –

    Corsair Virtuoso Wireless Headset

    $180
    Combining ultra-high-end performance with incredible comfort, this wireless headset from Corsair is the ideal all-day companion for listening to the latest market news. This headset also has an audiophile-grade microphone, perfect for teleconferencing.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This is the headset we've used as our daily driver for over a year - still solid as a rock!
  • Click to Buy
    The 27-inch G-Sync Gaming Monitor –

    Gigabyte M27Q

    $340
    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

    This model was designed around AMD's FreeSync technology, but Nvidia has enabled its use on GeForce cards, which means you save money versus a G-Sync monitor!

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