The Best $2500 Extreme 4K Gaming PC Build – December 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 December 2024, the $2,500 Gaming PC Build features AMD’s shockingly-fast Ryzen 7 7800 X3D, still the second-best gaming processor on the market (next to the unavailable 9800 X3D). It’s taken on renewed relevance given that Intel’s newest processors couldn’t come close to it. The 7800 X3D is backing up a powerhouse of a GPU, the GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16GB, which equals AMD’s best GPU 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 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM and a high-end 2TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive to store your entire gaming collection. 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 750W 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 Extreme Gaming PC –
Empowered Mantis V2 9700X/RTX 4080 Super
$2750Grab this gaming PC at an insane price with all the bells and whistles! Equipped with a blazing-fast AMD Ryzen 7 9700X 8-core, 16-thread processor and a GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16GB, it’s ready to rock every game you toss at it, and priced hundreds of dollars below similar pre-built systems. Also on the component list is 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB solid-state drive, a 3TB hard drive, and Windows 11!This is an amazing value - grab it while you can!
The DIY Build
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CPU –
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
$479 The Guru’s TipThe 7800 X3D is so dominant that neither Intel nor AMD's next-gen CPUs can come close to it in gaming!
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Motherboard –
ASUS Prime X870-P WiFi
$250 The Guru’s TipThis new board features the latest connectivity - the main differences between it and the still viable B650E boards we used to recommend is USB4 and WiFi 7.
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Video Card –
PNY GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16GB Verto OC
$1130 The Guru’s TipWhile 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.
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Memory –
TeamGroup 2x16GB T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO
$95 The Guru’s TipThis RAM is the optimal speed for an AMD system, leaving nothing on the table!
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Solid-State Drive –
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
$170 The Guru’s TipWhile running the very best Gen 4 drive isn't necessary for gaming, the performance of this blazing-fast model is hard to pass up!
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Case –
Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB @Newegg
$128 The Guru’s TipThis case's ARGB lighting can be controlled via the motherboard.
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Power Supply –
SilverStone DA750R Gold
$105 The Guru’s TipThis PSU will easily handle the CPU and GPU in this system, which together will draw around 500W at max load.
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CPU Cooler –
SilverStone IceMyst 360
$137 The Guru’s TipYou'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.
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Operating System –
Windows 11 Home (USB) @Newegg
$139 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 –
LG 32GR93U
$600 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 –
Corsair K70 RGB Pro MX Red
$130 The Guru’s TipOnce you try a mechanical board, you'll never go back!
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The Ultralight Gaming Mouse –
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Wireless
$99 The Guru’s TipDownload the Synapse software to control parameters of this mouse.
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The Deluxe PC Headset –
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless
$151 The Guru’s TipThis offers sound quality on par with much more expensive headsets!
Total Cost: $2633
The Pre-Built Option
The DIY Build
- CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D ($479)
- Motherboard – ASUS Prime X870-P WiFi ($250)
- Video Card – PNY GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16GB Verto OC ($1130)
- Memory – TeamGroup 2x16GB T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO ($95)
- Solid-State Drive – Samsung 990 Pro 2TB ($170)
- Case – Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB @Newegg ($128)
- Power Supply – SilverStone DA750R Gold ($105)
- CPU Cooler – SilverStone IceMyst 360 ($137)
- Operating System – Windows 11 Home (USB) @Newegg ($139)