The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $3000 Ultra-Extreme Gaming PC Build – February 2023

The Best $3000 Ultra-Extreme Gaming PC Build – February 2023

By Ari Altman | Published February 5, 2023 | Updated February 5, 2023

P600sGame Hard and Look Good Doing It!

If you want a $3,000 Gaming PC Build that’s a true showcase, not just another black box, then this is the one for you! In addition to the best gaming components available, it sports a sleek and refined look, along with ultra-quiet components to keep it humming while you are pushing it to the max!

This Month’s Build, Featuring Intel and Nvidia!

For February 2023, the $3,000 Gaming PC Build features the fire-breathing Intel Core i7-13700KF CPU, a 16-core, 24-thread gaming monster. It’s paired with a seriously-fast GPU, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 16GB, which offers mind-blowing performance and easily beats every previous-gen GPU!

For storage, we go with a 2TB PCIe Gen 4 drive, along with 32GB of  DDR5-6400 RGB RAM. It’s built up in the classy Phanteks P600S case, which offers both silent and airflow modes and an ultra-premium feel. Keeping the system cool is a huge 360mm liquid cooler, and powering this system is an 850W Platinum-rated power supply.

Parting Thoughts

If you’re looking for new accessories to add to your $3,000 Gaming PC build, check out our Monitor Buyer’s Guide, our Peripherals Buyer’s Guide and our Speaker/Headset Buyer’s Guide for all the latest and greatest accessories, although we list our top recommendations for the $3,000 Gaming PC Build later in this guide.

Throughout this guide, we provide direct links to Amazon or Newegg, and the Amazon links will auto-convert for our readers in the UK, Canada, and parts of the EU, with regional substitutions made automatically when 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

  • MSI Aegis RS
    Click to Buy
    The Ultra-High-End Gaming PC –

    MSI Aegis RS 13700KF/RTX 4080

    $2980
    HOT DEAL! MSI has endowed this system with amazing performance, thanks to the liquid-cooled Intel Core i7-13700KF 16-core processor and the ultra-high-end Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 16GB video card. That alone would be enough, but then MSI piles on the goodness with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB solid-state drive and a 2TB hard drive. In other words, it’s locked, loaded, and ready to rock the latest games!
    The Guru’s Tip

    If you're not ready to build your own, this system comes at a great price, and it's nearly as fast as our DIY build below!

The DIY Build

  • Intel 13700K
    Click to Buy
    CPU –

    Intel Core i7-13700K

    $418
    With the 13700K on the market, it’s game over for AMD! The 13700K blows away Intel’s previous leader, the 12900KS, which was already unbeatable, and in doing so, drives a serious bargain at the extreme high-end of PC gaming performance. Offering up 16 cores, 24 threads, and the pumped-up cache and clockspeed, it’s the chip every serious gamer will want in their system!
    The Guru’s Tip

    This CPU does not come with a cooler, and it needs a serious one, so make sure to pick up the huge liquid cooler we recommend later in this guide!
  • Asus Z790-A
    Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    Asus Prime Z790-A WiFi 6E

    $310
    The Asus Prime line is legendary for offering up excellent features and performance for the price, and this Socket 1700 model based on the Z790 chipset is a perfect match for Intel’s latest CPUs. It features a massive 16+1 Phase VRM, four M.2 slots (all being Gen 4 x4), a PCIe Gen 5 video card slot, eight USB ports (two being Type-C), and integrated WiFi 6E. Note that it conforms to the DDR5 RAM standard, providing the ultimate in performance for high-end Intel processors.
    The Guru’s Tip

    We're going with a DDR5 motherboard here, so of course we recommend DDR5 RAM in this guide!
  • Zotac RTX 4080 Trinity
    Click to Buy
    Video Card –

    Zotac GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Trinity OC

    $1260
    The RTX 4080 does the impossible, blowing by the previous king-of-the-hill RTX 3090 Ti while using far less power. It doesn’t hurt that it comes in at the original MSRP of the lower-end RTX 3080 Ti! And this model from Zotac is fitted with a powerful, stylish cooler, with sweet RGB lighting for a custom look!
    The Guru’s Tip

    This sleek GPU is the perfect match for this build's streamlined looks!
  • G.Skill Trident Z5
    Click to Buy
    Memory –

    G.Skill 2x16GB Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6400 CL32

    $190
    For the ultimate in speed, you must go with DDR5 RAM, but not just any DDR5 RAM, because you need high-frequency DDR5 to blow past DDR4 RAM performance. And that’s what you get with G.Skill’s Trident Z5 kit running at DDR5-6400 with timings of 32-39-39-102 at 1.40V. This is the real deal when it comes to DDR5 performance!
    The Guru’s Tip

    We have specifically selected an Intel-based motherboard that supports this newer DDR5 standard.
  • WD Black SN850X
    Click to Buy
    Solid-State Drive –

    WD_Black SN850X 2TB NVMe

    $180
    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 the speed of this Gen 4 drive may be overkill in a gaming system, we figure you'll want it in this level of build!
  • P600S
    Click to Buy
    Case –

    Phanteks Eclipse P600S Anthracite

    $190
    Phanteks sets the standard for premium case design, with fit and finish that exceeds what any other manufacturer can offer. And the P600S is perhaps the most innovative case Phanteks has ever released, combining sleek lines with almost unlimited configuration options. It includes a solid noise-blocking front panel, which can easily be removed to reveal high-airflow mesh, so you can choose exactly what works for your usage. And either way, it will keep things cool thanks to the three include 140mm fans. Finally, this particular model comes in the trademark Phanteks Anthracite grey, which gives it a very upscale look that sets it apart from any other case on the market!
    The Guru’s Tip

    This case is also offered in a new, eye-catching matte white finish, listed on the same product page.
  • SilverStone ST85F
    Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    SilverStone PS-ST85F-PT

    $160
    SilverStone offers up amazing specs with its ST85F-PT, which puts out 850W of Platinum-rated power while staying cool and quiet, thanks to its zero-fan mode. It’s also very compact, providing easier cable management.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This power supply is a perfect match for the system, which will draw about 600W at load.
  • Deepcool LT720
    Click to Buy
    CPU Cooler –

    DeepCool LT720 360mm

    $140
    This 360mm liquid cooler is up to the task of cooling any CPU. It provides exceptional performance for the price, thanks to its high-performance fans, which use a heavily-swept 9-blade design that offers the optimal static pressure for extreme performance on radiators. It also has great looks, due to the ARGB lighting built into the infinite mirror cover on the pump.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This cooler includes the socket 1700 adapter required for the 13th-Gen Intel CPU we recommend.
  • Microsoft Windows 11
    Click to Buy
    Operating System –

    Windows 11 Home USB

    $139
    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!
    The Guru’s Tip

    This is absolutely the OS you want on your system to take full advantage of the Intel 13th-Gen CPU!

Optional Products

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

    Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Rapidfire

    $148
    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. And for the very fastest gameplay, there’s nothing better than the Rapidfire version, which uses Cherry’s unbeaten MX Speed switches. Their short throw give you amazing response and feel.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This board will look great paired up with an RGB rig!
  • Click to Buy
    Mouse –

    Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE

    $70
    Offering up awesome functionality, a sleek design, and an ultra-fast 18,000 DPI sensor, the Dark Core Pro simply has no competition at its pricepoint. This “SE” version can be easily charged with an Qi-compatible charging pad!
    The Guru’s Tip

    Sync the mouse's lighting using the Corsair iCUE software!
  • Click to Buy
    The Deluxe PC Headset –

    Corsair Virtuoso Wireless Headset

    $174
    Combining ultra-high-end performance with incredible comfort, this wireless headset from Corsair is the ideal all-day companion for listening to the latest market news. This headset also has an audiophile-grade microphone, perfect for teleconferencing. Free free to check out our full review right here!
    The Guru’s Tip

    This is our daily driver and we love it!
  • Gigabyte M32U
    Click to Buy
    The 32" 4K 144Hz Gamer's Dream Monitor –

    Gigabyte M32U

    $700
    It took seemingly forever for the elusive 32″ 4K 144Hz panels that gamers had dreamed of for years to finally hit the market, and surprisingly Gigabyte was first out of the gate with one widely available at retail. Known for its high-end video cards and motherboards, Gigabyte has quickly made a name for itself in the gaming monitor market, and the M32U simply astounds with its features. Get a load of these specs: a 31.5″ 3840 x 2160 4K IPS panel, 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms (GTG) response time, FreeSync, 10-bit color,  90% DCI-P3  and 123% sRGB color space, and VESA DisplayHDR 400. It even has a built-in KVM switch, allowing you to use it on multiple systems with the push of a button!
    The Guru’s Tip

    There's no better way to show off brutal gaming horsepower than with a big 4K monitor!

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