The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build – September 2021

The Best $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build – September 2021

By Ari Altman | Published September 1, 2021 | Updated September 1, 2021

bequiet Pure Base 500DXCRITICAL 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 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!

For September 2021, 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 AMD’s Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB GPU. It’s finally in stock, after launching way back in March of this year, and while the price is above MSRP, that’s just par for the course right now, and 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 750W Gold-rated power supply. Topping it all off is a great-looking high-performance case from be quiet! and a high-powered tower cooler from Scythe. Learn more about this build and ask questions in our YouTube video overview.

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, Newegg, or B&H. 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

  • Click to Buy
    The Premium Gaming PC –

    Zotac MEK Hero G1 5800X/RTX 3070 @Newegg

    $2200

    HOT DEAL! Zotac, a leading manufacturer of Nvidia GPUs, jumps into the pre-built race with its awesome MEK Hero G1, which undercuts most of the no-name manufacturers with an awesome price and top-notch components. It packs in the unbeatable AMD Ryzen 7 5800X eight-core, 16-thread CPU that clobbers Intel’s offerings (and AMD’s previous-gen CPUs as well), along with a Zotac GeForce RTX 3070 8GB video card. Also on the component list is the premium EK 240mm AIO liquid cooler, four EK Vardar S ARGB case fans, 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, a 1TB NVMe solid-state drive, and a 1TB hard drive for plenty of game storage space. It’s built up in a classy Thermaltake S100 mATX case and powered by a Thermaltake Gold-rated 700W power supply. Note that this one’s a Newegg exclusive, so that’s where we’re linking to here!

    The Guru’s Tip

    The RTX 3070 has been virtually impossible to buy ever since it launched in October 2020!

The DIY Option

  • Click to Buy
    CPU –

    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X @Newegg

    $273
    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 recommend an awesome upgraded cooler in this guide to guarantee flawless performance!
  • Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    MSI B550 Gaming Edge WiFi

    $190
    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.
  • PowerColor RX 6700 XT
    Click to Buy
    Video Card –

    PowerColor Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB Red Devil

    $850

    It’s time to get gaming again! This Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB from PowerColor 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

    Look at the price this way: it's way less than the 2080 Ti was in mid-2020, despite offering the same performance!
  • Click to Buy
    Memory –

    Crucial 2x8GB Ballistix RGB DDR4-3600 Black

    $110
    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 –

    Samsung 980 1TB

    $130

    There’s lots of competition in the SSD market, but SSD pioneer Samsung has put all the other mid-priced offerings to shame with its 980 1TB. It uses the speedy PCIe 3.0 interface and Samsung’s superior TLC NAND to vastly outperform every other PCIe 3.0 drive! To achieve performance any faster, you’d have to spend at least 50% more!

     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 –

    be quiet! Pure Base 500DX White

    $100
    The Pure Base 500DX offers new levels of performance around the $100 pricepoint. It has three high-quality 140mm fans (front, top, and rear), integrated RGB lighting in the front panel and interior of the case, plus a tempered glass side panel to show it all off! Note that you’ll have to hurry to catch this in stock, as it sells out constantly.
    The Guru’s Tip

    be quiet! was the undisputed king of quiet computing cases, but is now a serious contender in the gaming market as well thanks to the 500DX!
  • Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    SilverStone ST75F-GS-V3 Gold

    $101
    Offering up 750W of power and top-notch build quality, this PSU is a great value among high-end models. Thanks to its fully-modular cables and compact design, it’s very easy to install, allowing you to minimize cable clutter by leaving out cables you don’t need for this build. The best part: thanks to its Gold-rated efficiency, the power supply will operate in virtual silence!
    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 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 11 is coming soon and will be a free upgrade to owners of Win10!

Optional Products

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    The Mechanical Gaming Keyboard –

    Corsair K60 RGB Pro Low Profile

    $90
    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 SE @Newegg

    $90
    Offering up awesome functionality, a sleek design, and an ultra-fast 18,000 DPI sensor, the Dark Core Pro SE simply has no competition at its pricepoint.
    The Guru’s Tip

    The SE model is able to charge on any flat Qi charger, adding to its versatility.
  • Click to Buy
    The Deluxe PC Headset –

    Corsair Virtuoso Wireless Headset

    $160
    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

    $297
    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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