The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $2000 Premium Gaming PC Build – September 2023

The Best $2000 Premium Gaming PC Build – September 2023

By Ari Altman | Published September 2, 2023 | Updated September 4, 2023

Lian Li Lancool 216 RGBTreat 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 Exclusively by AMD!

For September 2023, the $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build gets a big gaming upgrade, moving to AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which after a big price cut has become the only CPU to consider for a pure gaming PC. It will be driving the beastly AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB, which offers extreme performance for the price, easily beating the more expensive GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB. From a gaming point of view, the 7800X3D/7900 XT combo delivers unbeatable value per dollar.

And the quality runs deep in this system, as proven by the 2TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive (upgraded from 1TB in past months thanks to huge price cuts), 32GB of fast DDR5-6400 CL32 RAM (upgraded to RGB this month), and a 750W Gold-rated power supply. Bringing it all together is the Lian Li Lancool 216 high-airflow case and an powerful but quiet air 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 Siege
    Click to Buy
    The Premium Gaming PC –

    Skytech Siege 12700F/RTX 4070 Ti Gaming PC

    $2000
    Not ready to build your own? No problem! Skytech is offering up tremendous value as always with its latest Siege desktop. It’s equipped with the Intel Core i7-12700F 12-core, 20-thread CPU, a big 240mm AIO liquid cooler, and comes packing serious heat with a GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB! Also on the build list is 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, a 1TB PCIe SSD, and an 850W Gold-rated PSU.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This 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 Build

  • AMD Ryzen 7800 X3D
    Click to Buy
    CPU –

    AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

    $384
    AMD has done it again with its 3D cache technology, turning an average CPU, the 7700X, into the 7800X3D, the best gaming CPU ever released! This CPU can take on any CPU, regardless of price, when it comes to gaming, thanks to its advanced stacked cache design. It also has a leg up on Intel by offering the latest connectivity standards thanks to the AM5 platform.

    The Guru’s Tip

    With a recent price cut, it's simply impossible to recommend anything other than this CPU for the premium gaming PC - this is your gaming chip!
  • Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX
    Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX

    $199
    This B650 board from Gigabyte allows you to tap into the potential of AMD’s cutting-edge AM5 platform at a great price. You get a potent 14+2+1 Phase power solution with 70A Power Stage, a PCIe Gen 4 video card slot, three M.2 slots (one being Gen 5, the others Gen 4), plus built-in WiFi 6E.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Remember, this motherboard requires DDR5 memory, which is what we spec in this guide.
  • XFX RX 7900 XT
    Click to Buy
    Video Card –

    XFX Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB MERC310 Ultra

    $780
    AMD broke new ground with its RX 7900 series, and the 7900 XT is a perfect showcase for that. Offering RTX 3090 Ti-stomping performance for far less money, it immediately put every last-gen GPU in its price range out of contention. And with 20GB of VRAM, it’s future-proof too! This awesome model from XFX uses the stylish and effective MERC310 cooler, which is even better than the reference cooler from AMD!

    The Guru’s Tip

    The 7900 XT got lukewarm reviews at launch due to being overpriced, but thanks to a swift and steep price cut, it's now the best value in the high-end market!
  • G.Skill Trident Z5
    Click to Buy
    Memory –

    G.Skill 2x16GB Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO

    $115
    To get the most out of AMD’s latest CPUs, you want fast RAM, and DDR5-6000 is the sweetspot not only in terms of price, but in terms of the AM5 platform. It allows for the highest overall performance thanks to running in 1:1 sync with the memory controller. And this Trident Z5 Neo kit from G.Skill is specially designed for AM5, thanks to the extraordinary 30-38-38-96 AMD EXPO timings.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Remember to engage this kit's EXPO profile in the motherboard's UEFI to take advantage of its speed!
  • WD Black SN850X
    Click to Buy
    Solid-State Drive –

    WD_Black SN850X 2TB NVMe

    $119
    WD took its vaunted SN850 and endowed with even greater speed, creating the 850X. Powered by amazingly-fast NAND flash, and offering transfer speeds up to 7,300MB/s, it’s the one you want!

    The Guru’s Tip

    While we previously recommended 1TB drives in this build, given recent price drops, we've bumped it up to 2TB. You'll never regret having more capacity on your system drive!
  • Lian Li Lancool 216
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB

    $110
    The Lancool 216, which traces its heritage back to the trailblazing Lancool gaming cases of the early 2000s, is simply amazing for the price. You get dual 160mm (not 120mm or 140mm!) ARGB fans in the front, along with a 140mm fan in the rear, meaning this system has more cooling power than some cases that cost twice the price. To make the case even better, Lian Li equips it not only with mesh in the front, but mesh on the lower panels, so you can mount upward-facing fans on the PSU shroud to keep your GPU ice cold with a constant stream of fresh air. Simply put, Lian Li is making every other manufacturer look bad by offering premium cases at a budget-friendly price!

    The Guru’s Tip

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

    Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 750W 80+ Gold

    $100
    While nearly all high-end units from reputable manufacturers have increased dramatically in price over the past few years, this 750W Gold-rated model from Thermaltake is a true value, despite top-end specs. That includes a 140mm fan with fluid dynamic bearings, a zero-fan mode for silence at low load levels, and fully-modular cables.

    The Guru’s Tip

    750W offers plenty of headroom for this build, which will pull about 450W at full load.
  • Scythe Fuma 3
    Click to Buy
    CPU Cooler –

    Scythe Fuma 3

    $50
    With the Fuma 3, the best gets better, and amazingly enough, cheaper too! Perhaps the most innovative of all 120mm tower designs, the third incarnation of the Fuma returns to its roots, coming in at a price very similar to the original Fuma, but with far greater performance, better looks, and the best compatibility of any high-performance cooler. Thanks to its offset design, it’s just 154mm tall, and completely clears the RAM slots on any board. The Fuma 3 improves upon even the Fuma 2 with its on-trend blacked-out look, along with its updated Kaze Flex II fans that spin at up to 1500RPM. They continue to feature a trick no other manufacturer has grasped – counter-rotating blades for a “vortex” effect. Frankly, this is our favorite cooler at any price!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This cooler of course comes with an adapter in the box for the AMD AM5 socket.
  • Microsoft Windows 11
    Click to Buy
    Operating System –

    Windows 11 Home (Download)

    $130
    Windows 11 take everything people loved about Windows 10, and then takes it to 11! It adds significant under-the-hood changes to make it faster and more secure, and of course, the interface is sleek too! This version can be instantly downloaded and installed from any USB stick with 8GB or more capacity. If you don’t have one handy, we recommend you pick up a fast USB 3.1 thumb drive to install it, which can then be re-purposed for backup or file transfer use.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Running Windows 11 ensures you'll get the most out of your gaming rig!

Optional Products

  • Razer Blackwidow V3
    Click to Buy
    The Mechanical Gaming Keyboard –

    Razer BlackWidow V3 Clicky

    $100
    Razer has been in the gaming peripheral business a long time, and the BlackWidow is perhaps the most legendary bit of kit in history. It has practically defined the mechanical gaming keyboard market, and all the while has offered surprising value as well. That’s the story with the V3, which undercuts the other big names, while offering more style and more functionality. Razer’s Green mechanical switches deliver super-responsive tactile action. The keycaps are the high-quality Doubleshot ABS that enthusiasts pay extra for to fix other brands’ boards. And then there’s the stunning Chroma RGB effects that allow endless customization plus integration with countless games. In short, the BlackWidow is better than ever!

    The Guru’s Tip

    Once you go mechanical, you won't go back!
  • Razer Basilisk Ultimate
    Click to Buy
    The Ultimate Wireless Gaming Mouse –

    Razer Basilisk Ultimate HyperSpeed

    $80
    Razer is legendary in the gaming mouse market, and the Basilisk Ultimate, now discounted from its original introductory price, is an ultra-high-end bargain! Featuring a 20,000dpi sensor, Razer’s awesome HyperSpeed wireless system, and a perfect ergonomic design, this model can’t be beat! And in addition to its 100-hour battery life, it’s also incredibly light, at just 107g!

    The Guru’s Tip

    You can use the Synapse software to tune this mouse
  • Click to Buy
    The Budget Wireless PC Headset –

    ‎SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless

    $65
    SteelSeries has made a name for itself in the gaming headset world with its no-nonsense focus on performance. The Arctis 1 follows in this tradition with high-end drivers, lossless 2.4 GHz wireless for ultra-low latency wireless connectivity on both PC and PS4/PS5, a detachable bidirectional microphone, and 20 hours of battery life.

    The Guru’s Tip

    We'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!
  • Asus TUF
    Click to Buy
    The 34-inch Gaming Monitor –

    Asus TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B

    $470
    Are you ready for serious big-screen gaming? Then feast your eyes on this 34″ monitor from Asus, which breaks new ground in terms of features and performance per dollar. It has an ultra-wide 3440 x 1440 curved VA panel, a fast 165Hz refresh rate, and FreeSync Premium technology to keep your frames running smoothly. It also offers a height-adjustable stand (unusual at this pricepoint), plus built-in speakers (which are more for convenience than incredible performance, but hey, they can be useful in a pinch!).

    The Guru’s Tip

    Stepping 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!

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