The Best $2500 Extreme 4K Gaming PC Build – September 2024

By Ari Altman | Published September 5, 2024 | Updated September 5, 2024

Game to the Extreme!

If you’re looking to play all the latest games on a 4K or ultra-wide monitor, you’re going to need extreme processing power. And that’s what the $2,500 Gaming PC Build delivers – every component has been selected with one and only one goal in mind: maximum high-resolution performance for $2,500, with a healthy dose of style thrown in!

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

For September 2024, the $2,500 Gaming PC Build continues to feature AMD’s shockingly-fast Ryzen 7 7800X3D, an 8-core, 16-thread gaming masterpiece. The only trouble is that it’s been selling out, because thanks to its 3D V-cache, its gaming performance is still leagues ahead of even AMD’s next-gen 9000-series. We figure if you’re interested in serious 4K gaming and not much else, you might as well optimize for maximum framerates! The 7800X3D is backing up a powerhouse of a GPU, the GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16GB, which equals AMD’s best in older games and offers far superior performance in the latest Ray Tracing titles and with DLSS enabled.

But this build is about more than just a fancy CPU and GPU. For starters, you’re getting an amazing 64GB of DDR5-6000 RAM (vs. 32GB in our lower-end builds) and a high-end 2TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive. Defining the build is the high-airflow Lian Li Lancool 216 case, in which you’ll be mounting a 360mm liquid CPU cooler and a potent 850W Gold-rated power supply. In other words, this build is great in every way!

Parting Thoughts

We highlight our favorite accessories for this build in the optional components section at the end of this guide, including the best high-end peripherals and monitor. If you’re looking for more options, feel free to browse our Monitor Buyer’s Guide, Peripherals Buyer’s Guide, and Speaker/Headset Buyer’s Guide for all our favorite picks!

Throughout this guide, we provide direct links to Amazon or Newegg in the US, and our Amazon links will auto-convert for readers in other regions, including Canada, the UK, and parts of the EU, with substitutions made where necessary. To help support the continued development of this guide, please use the links we provide if you purchase products we recommend.

The Pre-Built Option

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The Ultra-High-End Gaming PC –
Skytech O11V 7800X3D/RTX 4080 Super Gaming PC
$2500

Want amazing performance but not ready to go the DIY route? Then pick up this stellar system from Skytech! While Skytech always offers a lot of bang for the buck, with the O11V, it’s offering seriously-premium gear at a discount! It features a liquid-cooled AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8-core CPU, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16GB GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 2TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive, and a 1000W Gold-rated power supply. But what really sets it apart is the gorgeous Lian Li 011 Vision chassis, which is definitely not what you typically get with a pre-built PC. No-name cases are much more par for the course to cheap out on the spec sheet, but not so here!

The Guru’s Tip
This system will go toe-to-toe with the custom build we spec out below!

The DIY Build

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CPU –
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
$419

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
This CPU doesn't come with a cooler, so make sure to pick up the powerful liquid cooler we list later in this guide.
Click to Buy

Motherboard –
ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi
$260

This B650E board from Asus allows you to tap into the potential of AMD’s cutting-edge AM5 platform at a great price. You get a potent 12+2 phase power solution, a PCIe Gen 5 video card slot (which is what the “E” in the chipset name signifies) plus three PCIe additional slots, three M.2 slots (one being Gen 5, two being Gen 4), and built-in WiFi 6E. On the back you have 12 USB ports, including two Type-C ports.

The Guru’s Tip
While AMD has announced new 800-series chipsets, the main improvement they offer is the addition of PCIe Gen 5 graphics across the board, something the B650E already has. The CPU in this system will still be able to push huge framerates in a few years, so having that upgrade path open is critical, but you don't need to wait for the B850 to get it.
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Video Card –
PNY GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16GB Verto
$960

The RTX 4080 blew away the previous king-of-the-hill RTX 3090 Ti while using far less power, and with much more advanced Ray Tracing and DLSS technology. And this “Super” model offers even more cores, more memory bandwidth, and even lower power use, all for less money.

The Guru’s Tip
While the competing Radeon RX 7900 XTX performs similarly in older games, the 4080 Super has a huge advantage in the latest titles, plus a superior suite of features.
Click to Buy

Memory –
G.Skill 2x32GB Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO
$205

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 making the most of the AM5 platform. It allows for the highest overall performance thanks to running in 1:1 sync with the memory controller. And this 64GB Trident Z5 Neo kit from G.Skill is specially designed for AM5, thanks to the extraordinary 30-40-40-96 AMD EXPO timings. It offers tremendous capacity and speed in a single package!

The Guru’s Tip
This RAM is the fastest kit you can run on this board's motherboard, leaving nothing on the table!
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Solid-State Drive –
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
$170

For primary storage, you don’t just want high-end, you want ultra-high-end, and that means going for the 990 Pro PCIe 4.0. It offers mind-blowing performance, up to 7,450MB/s read and 6,900MB/s, plus blistering random speeds that no other drive can touch. The 990 Pro will go down in history as the drive that truly maxed out the PCIe Gen 4 bus.

The Guru’s Tip
While a high-end Gen 4 drive isn't necessary for gaming, the performance of this blazing-fast model is hard to pass up!
Click to Buy

Case –
Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB
$95

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 ARGB lighting can be controlled via the motherboard.
Click to Buy

Power Supply –
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 850W Gold
$110

A power supply is about so much more than just a wattage rating, and with Thermaltake’s Toughpower GF A3, you get a modern platform to last you many builds. Of course it has an impressive 850W of capacity, but it also offers Gold efficiency certification, a fully-modular design, and an ultra-silent 120mm FDB fan with zero-RPM mode. But perhaps most important, and what really sets this unit apart, is the Gen5 12VHPWR PCIe connector, meeting the Intel ATX 3.0 specification standard. It means no adapters are required when paired with the latest power-hungry GPUs!

The Guru’s Tip
This PSU will easily handle the CPU and GPU in this system, which together will draw around 500W at max load.
Click to Buy

CPU Cooler –
SilverStone IceMyst 360
$136

There has been tremendous innovation in the AIO liquid cooler market over the past few years, and the IceMyst 360 is the perfect example of this. Not only does its advanced pump, radiator, and fan design provide a tremendous leap over previous-generation coolers on a noise-normalized basis (which is what counts!), you also have the option of adding up to three 70mm accessory fans to the pump to cool RAM, VRMs, or SSDs. This is a truly unique feature that sets the IceMyst apart and makes it the clear choice among 360mm AIOs!

The Guru’s Tip
You'll be mounting this cooler to the top of the case, with the fans set to blow through the radiator and out of the system.
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
Win11 is what you want on a new system!

Optional Products

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The 32" 4K 144Hz Gamer's Dream Monitor –
LG 32GR93U
$522

LG makes the best LCD-based gaming monitors, bar none. Known for its high-end TVs, it didn’t take long for LG to dominate the gaming monitor market once it entered the field, and its Ultragear line is synonymous with quality. The 32GR93U may not have a catchy name, but it certainly has the goods! Get a load of these specs: a 32″ 3840 x 2160 4K IPS panel, 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms (GTG) response time, FreeSync Premium, 10-bit color, 95% DCI-P3, and VESA DisplayHDR 400. While other products may seem similar on paper, LG’s Ultragear line is always a cut above!

The Guru’s Tip
There's no better way to show off what your 4K gaming rig than with this awesome, value-packed 4K monitor!
Click to Buy

The Mechanical Gaming Keyboard –
Corsair K70 RGB Pro MX Red
$120

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
Once you try a mechanical board, you'll never go back!
Click to Buy

The Ultralight Gaming Mouse –
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Wireless
$119

Sometimes a product is so far ahead of the competition comes along that it resets the entire industry. So it is with the DeathAdder V3. Featuring the same ergonomic grip as the original from years ago that set the gaming world on fire, this is nonetheless leagues ahead of that classic. Weighing in at a scant 63g, while offering up a 30K DPI sensor, optical switches, wireless operation, and an incredible 90 hours of battery life, this is as cutting-edge as it gets. To have all of this in a mouse that weighs half as much as the best wireless mice from a few generations ago shows you just how far the bar has been raised!

The Guru’s Tip
Download the Synapse software to control parameters of this mouse.
Click to Buy

The Deluxe PC Headset –
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless
$132

PRIME DAY DEAL – SAVE $25 TODAY! From humble beginnings as a mousemat manufacturer, SteelSeries has come to absolutely dominate the gaming headset industry. And that’s because it’s not rocket science, it’s audio science! SteelSeries took a careful look at what gamers needed and and then applied all the proven techniques to get them everything they wanted. That includes ultra-high-fidelity audio, 360-degree surround sound for immersive gaming, dual audio streams for simultaneous connection to a PC and a smartphone, multi-platform support, and amazing 38-hour battery life plus quick-charge over USB-C, providing a 6 hour boost in 15 minutes! It also has among the best microphones in business, providing clear audio for everyone you’re talking to!

The Guru’s Tip
This offers sound quality on par with much more expensive headsets!