The Best $2000 Premium Gaming PC Build – May 2022
Treat Yourself to a Premium Gaming PC Experience!
Looking to build the best gaming PC possible for around $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 Intel and Nvidia!
For May 2022, the $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build gets yet another overhaul, thanks to rapidly-falling prices on CPUs and GPUs. This build now features the blazing-fast Intel Core i5-12600K, a 10-core, 16-thread gaming powerhouse, which punches way above its price class. And it will be put to good use in this system, which is built around the amazing Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 10GB, which has dropped about 50% in price in just the past few months!
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 RAM, a 1TB PCIe-based solid-state drive, and a high-wattage Gold-rated power supply. Topping it all off is an airflow-focused case from Lian Li and a powerful yet quiet 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
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The Premium Gaming PC –
MSI Aegis R 12700F/RTX 3070 Ti @Newegg
$1965HOT DEAL – START GAMING TODAY! Don’t want to build your own? Then go for this sweet pre-built machine from MSI. Its Aegis R is equipped with an Intel Core i7-12700F 12-core, 20-thread CPU, a blazing-fast GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB video card, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB solid-state drive. The system also has built-in 802.11ax wireless networking and Windows 11 pre-installed!
The Guru’s TipThis system is nearly as fast as the DIY build we spec out below, so don't feel bad if you decide you'd rather just skip the whole building process!
The DIY Option
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CPU –
Intel Core i5-12600K
$278 The Guru’s TipThis CPU does not come with a cooler, so make sure to pick up the one we recommend later in this guide.
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Motherboard –
MSI PRO Z690-A WiFi DDR4
$230 The Guru’s TipThis board has the advanced USB Type-C header required to connect the Type-C port on this build's modern case.
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Video Card –
MSI GeForce RTX 3080 10GB Ventus 3X
$850 The Guru’s TipAfter yet another price cut, the RTX 3080 is now within striking distance of its original MSRP, and is the clear choice over the AMD competition!
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Memory –
Patriot 2x8GB Viper Steel DDR4-3600 14-16-16
$88 The Guru’s TipRemember to engage this kit's XMP profile to take advantage of its insane speed!
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Solid-State Drive –
WD Blue SN570 1TB NVMe
$90 The Guru’s TipWhile you could go with a Gen 4 drive in this system, we've allocated the budget to the CPU instead, where you'll get a lot more payback!
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Case –
Lian Li Lancool II Mesh RGB
$130 The Guru’s TipThis case's ARGB fans can be controlled using the motherboard's lighting controls.
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ARGB Fan –
ARCTIC P12 PWM PST A-RGB
$17 The Guru’s TipWhile it may seem like a small change, adding this fan to the back of the case as an exhaust will dramatically improve thermal performance!
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Power Supply –
SilverStone ST75F-GS-V3 Gold
$107 The Guru’s TipThis PSU is a fantastic deal, with most competing models selling for a lot more!
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CPU Cooler –
Scythe Fuma 2 Rev. B
$66 The Guru’s TipThis cooler includes the Socket 1700 adapter required for use with the 12th-Gen Intel platform.
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Operating System –
Windows 11 Home USB
$139 The Guru’s TipAfter launching Windows 11 as an update in late-2021, it took Microsoft six months to pack it up into a retail product, but now it's here and it's what you want!
Optional Products
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The Mechanical Gaming Keyboard –
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Rapidfire
$133 The Guru’s TipCorsair's powerful iCUE software allows for endless customization of this keyboard.
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Mouse –
Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE
$80 The Guru’s TipSync the mouse's lighting using the Corsair iCUE software!
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The Budget Wireless PC Headset –
SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless
$97 The Guru’s TipWe've long believed that wireless is the only way to go with a gaming headset - no getting tangled up in the heat of the action!
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The 34-inch Gaming Monitor –
AOC CU34G2X
$410 The Guru’s TipStepping up to an ultra-wide will give you a whole new view on gaming, and luckily the $2000 Gaming PC Build can drive it to the max!
Total Cost: $1995
The Pre-Built Option
The DIY Option
- CPU – Intel Core i5-12600K ($278)
- Motherboard – MSI PRO Z690-A WiFi DDR4 ($230)
- Video Card – MSI GeForce RTX 3080 10GB Ventus 3X ($850)
- Memory – Patriot 2x8GB Viper Steel DDR4-3600 14-16-16 ($88)
- Solid-State Drive – WD Blue SN570 1TB NVMe ($90)
- Case – Lian Li Lancool II Mesh RGB ($130)
- ARGB Fan – ARCTIC P12 PWM PST A-RGB ($17)
- Power Supply – SilverStone ST75F-GS-V3 Gold ($107)
- CPU Cooler – Scythe Fuma 2 Rev. B ($66)
- Operating System – Windows 11 Home USB ($139)