The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $2000 Premium Gaming PC Build – April 2024

The Best $2000 Premium Gaming PC Build – April 2024

By Ari Altman | Published April 3, 2024 | Updated April 3, 2024

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 by AMD and Nvidia !

For April 2024, the $2,000 Premium Gaming PC Build continues to rely on AMD’s game-crushing 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 Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super 16GB. Nvidia boosted the performance of this Super version while keeping the price the same, giving it the overall win versus the Radeon RX 7900 XT. From a gaming point of view, the 7800X3D/4070 Ti Super combo delivers amazing value per dollar.

And the quality runs deep in this system, as proven by the premium 2TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive, offering plenty of speed and capacity for a serious gaming collection, 32GB of ultra-fast DDR5-6000 CL30 RAM, and a 750W Gold-rated power supply. Bringing it all together is the Lian Li Lancool 216 high-airflow case and a powerful but quiet air cooler from Thermalright.

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

  • Gamer Supreme
    Click to Buy
    The Premium Gaming PC –

    CyberpowerPC 7800X3D/RTX 4070 Ti Super Gaming PC (SLC8480A3)

    $2000
    Want amazing performance but not ready to go the DIY route? Then pick up this stellar system from CyberpowerPC! It features a liquid-cooled AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8-core CPU, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super 16GB GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 2TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive, along with built-in WiFi and Windows 11 preinstalled.

    The Guru’s Tip

    This system will be every bit as fast as our DIY system, and come in at the right price!

The DIY Build

  • AMD Ryzen 7800 X3D
    Click to Buy
    CPU –

    AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

    $390
    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!
  • MSI B650 Tomahawk
    Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi

    $200
    This B650 board from MSI 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, a PCIe Gen 4 video card slot plus two additional slots, three M.2 slots (all being Gen 4), plus built-in WiFi 6E. On the back you have 10 USB ports, including a blazing-fast 20Gbps Type-C port.

    The Guru’s Tip

    Remember, this motherboard requires DDR5 memory, which is what we spec in this guide.
  • RTX 4070 Ti Super
    Click to Buy
    Video Card –

    Asus GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super 16GB TUF

    $800
    The RTX 4070 Ti Super improves upon the 4070 Ti by using the GPU behind the impressive 4080. That means it gets 16GB and a robust 256-bit memory bus, plus more GPU cores. Translation: it beats last gen’s king-of-the-hill RTX 3090 Ti while using far less power and at a far lower price. And this model from Asus is fitted with a powerful triple-fan cooler for excellent performance and low noise.

    The Guru’s Tip

    While it's a very close call between this GPU and the Radeon RX 7900 XT, we think the added benefits of the Nvidia ecosystem, including superior Ray Tracing performance, give the nod to the 4070 Ti Super.
  • TeamGroup VulcanZ
    Click to Buy
    Memory –

    TeamGroup 2x16GB T-Force Vulcan DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO

    $103
    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 T-Force Vulcan kit is specially designed for AM5, thanks to the enhanced 30-36-36-76 AMD EXPO timings.

    The Guru’s Tip

    To take advantage of this kit's speed, engage the EXPO profile in the motherboard's UEFI.
  • Lexar NM790
    Click to Buy
    Solid-State Drive –

    Lexar NM790 2TB

    $148
    Lexar knocked it out of the park with its ultra-high-performance, bargain-priced NM790 PCIe Gen 4 drive. Optimized for excellent real-world performance, it easily keeps up with much more expensive drives. This 2TB model can provide sequential read speeds of 7400MB/s and write speeds of 6500MB/s.

    The Guru’s Tip

    While you don't need a drive this fast for gaming, the price is right on this one!
  • Lian Li Lancool 216
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB

    $100
    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.
  • Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120
    Click to Buy
    CPU Cooler –

    Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120

    $35
    Thermalright is legendary in the CPU cooler business, having designed some of the very first premium tower coolers in the early 2000s. Their focus has always been on performance per dollar, providing a lot of metal for your money. And with the Phantom Spirit 120, that metal comes in the form of 7 chunky 6mm heatpipes, which you won’t find on any other cooler at this pricepoint. Also included are two large towers and two 120mm fans. All in all, you get class-leading performance at a price that no other manufacturer can touch!

    The Guru’s Tip

    This cooler requires the use of low-profile RAM, which is what we spec in this guide.
  • DA750R
    Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    SilverStone DA750R

    $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 150mm length, it’s very easy to install, allowing you to minimize cable clutter by leaving out cables you don’t need for this build. It’s also forward-looking, with both traditional video card power cables and a 12V-2×6 connector (an improved version of the 12VHPWR connector), allowing you to directly connect to any current or future GPU. The best part: thanks to its Gold-rated efficiency and zero-fan mode, the power supply will operate in silence most of the time!

    The Guru’s Tip

    750W offers plenty of headroom for this build, which will pull about 450W at full load.
  • Microsoft Windows 11
    Click to Buy
    Operating System –

    Windows 11 Home (USB) @Newegg

    $139
    Windows 11 built on everything people loved about Windows 10, and then took 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! Note that we’re linking to Newegg, because Amazon long ago stopped selling this physical USB version of Windows, which is the most convenient one to use.

    The Guru’s Tip

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

Optional Products

  • Corsair K70 RGB
    Click to Buy
    The Mechanical Gaming Keyboard –

    Corsair K70 RGB Pro MX Red

    $150
    The Corsair K70 set the standard for mechanical gaming keyboards and is still the benchmark by which all others are judged. With its solid aluminum construction and detachable wrist rest, it’s a truly premium option. It features Cherry’s classic MX Red switches, PBT Doubleshot keys for durability, a magnetic soft-touch palm rest, and 8,000Hz hyper-polling for amazing responsiveness. And yes, it also is fully blinged out with RGB!

    The Guru’s Tip

    You can control everything on this board using the Corsair iCUE software.
  • Razer Basilisk Ultimate
    Click to Buy
    The Ultimate Wireless Gaming Mouse –

    Razer Basilisk Ultimate HyperSpeed

    $90
    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

    $87
    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

    $388
    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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