The Tech Buyer's Guru

The Best $3000 Corsair RGB Gaming PC Build – July 2022

The Best $3000 Corsair RGB Gaming PC Build – July 2022

By Ari Altman | Published June 23, 2022 | Updated June 23, 2022

Game 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 the latest in addressable RGB lighting and case design! We didn’t just add “RGB” to the name of this build without making sure it delivered on the looks front. The case fans, cooler, RAM, and motherboard can all be color-coordinated to make your build more than just blingy… it will be a work of art!

This Month’s Build, Featuring Intel, Nvidia, and Corsair!

For July 2022, the $3,000 Gaming PC Build gets more upgrades, thanks to another round of price drops. It all starts with the fire-breathing Intel Core i9-12900KF CPU, a 16-core, 24-thread gaming monster. It’s backing up a seriously-fast GPU, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 12GB, which nearly matches the RTX 3090 for far less money.

The rest of the system relies heavily on Corsair’s market-leading suite of components, starting with the iCUE 5000X RGB case, which stands out like no other chassis on the market. For storage, we go with a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 drive, the fastest on the market, along with 32GB of Corsair DDR4-3600 Vengeance RGB RAM. Keeping the system cool and looking great is the Corsair H150i Elite LCD 360mm liquid cooler with built-in display. Finally, keeping this system powered up is the awesome Corsair RM850X Gold-rated power supply. Feel free to post your build questions in our YouTube review of the 5000X case.

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

  • CyberpowerPC
    Click to Buy
    The Ultra-High-End Gaming PC –

    CyberpowerPC GXiVR8080A30 12900KF/RTX 3080 Ti

    $3140
    EXTREME DEAL! Not ready to build your own PC? No problem! This awesome system from CyberpowerPC is equipped with a liquid-cooled Intel Core i9-12900KF 16-core, 24-thread CPU and the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 12GB GPU, along with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a 500GB NVMe solid-state drive, plus a 2TB hard drive. Plus it comes with Windows 11 pre-installed to make the most of the Intel Alder Lake processor!
    The Guru’s Tip

    If you're not ready to build your own, this system offers equivalent speed to our DIY PC for a great price!

The DIY Build

  • Intel Core i9-12900KF
    Click to Buy
    CPU –

    Intel Core i9-12900KF

    $550
    Intel reclaimed the gaming lead with its 12th-Gen “Alder Lake” CPUs, and the 12900KF is the CPU to get for extreme performance when cost is no object. It handily beats the Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X in gaming, and with its 8 multi-threaded performance cores plus 8 efficiency cores, it’s also a beast for content creation or multi-tasking!
    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 Z690-Plus
    Click to Buy
    Motherboard –

    ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi D4

    $272
    Asus as usual packs tons of performance into its “Plus” series motherboard, and this Socket 1700 model is a perfect match for Intel’s latest CPUs. It features robust 14+2-phase power stages, four PCIe Gen 4 M.2 slots, a PCIe Gen 5 video card slot, eight USB ports (including a Type-C port), and integrated WiFi 6. Note that it conforms to the DDR4 RAM standard, allowing the use of less expensive memory while maintaining similar performance versus DDR5 RAM.
    The Guru’s Tip

    Most importantly for this build, this board has the best ARGB controller and software in the industry, and it's fully compatible with Corsair gear too!
  • Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti
    Click to Buy
    Video Card –

    Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Ti OC 12GB

    $1090
    For extreme gaming, nothing less than the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 12GB will do! This model offers up a sweet triple-slot, triple-fan cooler, and a nice factory overclock. It will rip though any game, beating everything in AMD’s stable while serving up Nvidia-only features like DLSS and dedicated Ray Tracing cores.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This GPU is now well under MSRP, making it a steal!
  • Click to Buy
    Memory –

    Corsair 4x8GB Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4-3600 C16

    $180
    We go big with 32GB, which will be more than enough for any usage scenario imaginable. And at 3600MHz with 16-19-19-39 timings, this kit provides incredible speed in addition to its capacity. Of course, it also looks the part, with the best looking RGB lighting on the market! Plus, with all four slots filled, you’ll really get a light show!
    The Guru’s Tip

    We have specifically selected an Intel-based motherboard that supports DDR4 memory, as newer DDR5 offers far less performance per dollar.
  • WD Black SN850
    Click to Buy
    Solid-State Drive –

    WD_Black SN850 1TB NVMe

    $140
    The fastest M.2 drive on the planet…. that title has been held by many drives, but for now, the WD_Black holds it. Powered by amazingly-fast NAND flash, and maxing out the PCIe Gen 4 bus, it’s the one you want!
    The Guru’s Tip

    While the awesome speed of this Gen 4 drive may be overkill in a gaming system, we figure you only want the best at this level of build!
  • Click to Buy
    Case –

    Corsair iCUE 5000X RGB

    $190
    There’s simply no better case to use as a high-performance RGB showcase than the glass-covered 5000X from Corsair. It has four glass panels (front, top, and two sides), and includes three SP Elite RGB fans and a Node Core RGB controller pre-installed. Load it up with the additional gear we recommend in this guide and you will have an amazing performer and a system with looks that can’t be touched!
    The Guru’s Tip

    Corsair's iCUE software, which is what this case is named for, allows extensive control over RGB gear, including Corsair coolers, fans, RAM and peripherals, and even Asus motherboards like the one we recommend! Speaking of that board, we made sure to spec one with a Type-C header, so you can use this case's top-mounted USB Type-C port. Details matter, and we've got you covered!
  • Click to Buy
    Fan –

    Corsair iCUE SP120 RGB Elite

    $25
    This fan will connect right up with the controllers built into the case, allowing it to sync both for RPM and lighting control with the stock fans.
    The Guru’s Tip

    In this build, you'll be mounting this fan in the rear of the chassis, where it will complement the three SP Elite front fans and the fans on the Corsair 360mm CPU cooler.
  • Corsair RM850X 2021
    Click to Buy
    Power Supply –

    Corsair RM850x (2021)

    $140
    Corsair is legendary in the PSU market, being among the first to develop truly-premium offerings. This 850W Gold-rated unit power supply is the latest in a long series of RM850x units, redesigned in 2021 for even better performance. It offers fully-modular cables, extreme efficiency and stability, and a magnetic levitation fan for low noise and long life!
    The Guru’s Tip

    This model is fully-compatible with the slick individually-sleeved cables listed in our optional products section below, which will give your system a truly custom look!
  • Corsair H170i
    Click to Buy
    CPU Cooler –

    Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD CPU Cooler

    $290
    Corsair’s H150i Elite LCD offers more performance and features than any other 360mm cooler. Its big radiator is equipped with triple ML120 RGB Elite fans, which offer a great balance of performance and noise, and its pump has an awesome built-in LCD display, allowing you to monitor just about anything in your PC using the Corsair iCUE software.
    The Guru’s Tip

    This cooler includes the socket 1700 adapter required for the 12th-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 12th-Gen CPU!

Optional Products

  • Click to Buy
    Cable –

    Corsair Individually Sleeved PSU Cables Pro Kit – White

    $113
    These sleek individually-sleeved cables provide the ultimate custom look for your PC! While we love white, they are available in a wide variety of colors, all on the same product page.
    The Guru’s Tip

    The kit includes all the cables you'll need for this build and then some! Note that they sell out constantly and are completely optional, so you can always pick them up later on.
  • Corsair K70 RGB
    Click to Buy
    The Mechanical Gaming Keyboard –

    Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Rapidfire

    $136
    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

    $80
    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

    $180
    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

    $730
    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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