The Best $2500 Extreme 4K Gaming PC Build – May 2023
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 Intel and AMD!
For May 2023, the $2,500 Gaming PC Build continues to feature Intel’s awesome Core i7-13700KF, a 16-core, 24-thread hybrid masterpiece, which simply rips through games. It’s backing up a tremendous powerhouse of a GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB, which beats every previous-gen GPU by a landslide!
But this build is about more than just a fancy CPU and GPU. For starters, you’re getting 32GB of DDR5-7200 RAM (which offers a huge boost in performance versus even the best DDR4 kits) and a high-end 1TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive, both upgraded this month thanks to price drops. Defining the build is the high-airflow G500A mesh case from Phanteks, and it will be packing a huge liquid CPU cooler and a potent 850W Gold-rated power supply. In other words, it’s 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 Premium Gaming PC –
Skytech Eclipse 13600K/RTX 4080
$2800Skytech is all about delivering incredible power and hand-crafted quality at every pricepoint, and the Eclipse is no different. You get a fantastic gaming chip, the Intel Core i5-13600K, a 14-core, 20-thread beast, along with the ultra-fast Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 16GB video card. Also on this list are 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive, a massive 360mm AIO liquid cooler, a 1000W Gold-rated power supply, and Windows 11.This may be slightly more expensive that the build we spec out below, but it also has a faster GPU, which on its own would represent half the budget of our system if bought at retail!
The DIY Build
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CPU –
Intel Core i7-13700KF
$391 The Guru’s TipThis CPU doesn't come with a cooler, so make sure to pick up the high-powered model we list later in this guide!
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Motherboard –
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR5
$260 The Guru’s TipThis board requires DDR5 RAM, which is of course what we recommend in this guide.
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Video Card –
XFX Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB MERC310
$980 The Guru’s TipThe 7900 XTX has been in short supply since launch, but with pricing and availability now in order, it's a must buy!
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Memory –
G.Skill 2x16GB Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-7200 CL34
$180 The Guru’s TipThis RAM is the perfect match for this build's DDR5-based motherboard.
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Solid-State Drive –
WD_Black SN850x 1TB NVMe
$80 The Guru’s TipWhile a Gen4 drive isn't necessary for gaming, the price-performance of this blazing-fast drive is hard to pass up!
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Case –
Phanteks Eclipse G500A Digital RGB
$160 The Guru’s TipThis case's ARGB lighting can be controlled via the motherboard.
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ARGB Fan –
ARCTIC P14 PWM PST A-RGB
$19 The Guru’s TipWhile it may seem like a small change, adding this big fan to the back of this build's case will dramatically improve cooling performance!
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Power Supply –
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 850W Gold
$130 The Guru’s TipThis PSU will easily handle the CPU and GPU in this system, which together will draw around 600W at max load.
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CPU Cooler –
DeepCool LT720 360mm
$140 The Guru’s TipThis cooler includes the Socket 1700 adapter required for use with the Intel processor we recommend.
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Operating System –
Windows 11 Home (USB)
$136 The Guru’s TipWin11 is what you want on a new system!
Optional Products
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The 32" 4K 144Hz Gamer's Dream Monitor –
Gigabyte M32U
$680 The Guru’s TipThere's no better way to show off what your 4K gaming rig than with this awesome, value-packed 4K monitor!
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The Mechanical Gaming Keyboard –
Razer BlackWidow V3 Clicky
$118 The Guru’s TipOnce you try a mechanical board, you'll never go back!
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The Ultralight Gaming Mouse –
Logitech G Pro X Superlight
$145 The Guru’s TipThere are plenty of ultralight mice out there, but Logitech's is a great ultralight!
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The Deluxe PC Headset –
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless
$142 The Guru’s TipThis offers sound quality on par with much more expensive headsets!
Total Cost: $2484
The Pre-Built Option
The DIY Build
- CPU – Intel Core i7-13700KF ($391)
- Motherboard – MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR5 ($260)
- Video Card – XFX Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB MERC310 ($980)
- Memory – G.Skill 2x16GB Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-7200 CL34 ($180)
- Solid-State Drive – WD_Black SN850x 1TB NVMe ($80)
- Case – Phanteks Eclipse G500A Digital RGB ($160)
- ARGB Fan – ARCTIC P14 PWM PST A-RGB ($19)
- Power Supply – Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 850W Gold ($130)
- CPU Cooler – DeepCool LT720 360mm ($140)
- Operating System – Windows 11 Home (USB) ($136)