The Best $3000 Ultra-Extreme Gaming PC Build – February 2023
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 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
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The Ultra-High-End Gaming PC –
MSI Aegis RS 13700KF/RTX 4080
$2980HOT 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!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
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CPU –
Intel Core i7-13700K
$418 The Guru’s TipThis 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!
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Motherboard –
Asus Prime Z790-A WiFi 6E
$310 The Guru’s TipWe're going with a DDR5 motherboard here, so of course we recommend DDR5 RAM in this guide!
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Video Card –
Zotac GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Trinity OC
$1260 The Guru’s TipThis sleek GPU is the perfect match for this build's streamlined looks!
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Memory –
G.Skill 2x16GB Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6400 CL32
$190 The Guru’s TipWe have specifically selected an Intel-based motherboard that supports this newer DDR5 standard.
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Solid-State Drive –
WD_Black SN850X 2TB NVMe
$180 The Guru’s TipWhile 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!
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Case –
Phanteks Eclipse P600S Anthracite
$190 The Guru’s TipThis case is also offered in a new, eye-catching matte white finish, listed on the same product page.
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Power Supply –
SilverStone PS-ST85F-PT
$160 The Guru’s TipThis power supply is a perfect match for the system, which will draw about 600W at load.
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CPU Cooler –
DeepCool LT720 360mm
$140 The Guru’s TipThis cooler includes the socket 1700 adapter required for the 13th-Gen Intel CPU we recommend.
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Operating System –
Windows 11 Home USB
$139 The Guru’s TipThis is absolutely the OS you want on your system to take full advantage of the Intel 13th-Gen CPU!
Optional Products
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The Mechanical Gaming Keyboard –
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Rapidfire
$148 The Guru’s TipThis board will look great paired up with an RGB rig!
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Mouse –
Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE
$70 The Guru’s TipSync the mouse's lighting using the Corsair iCUE software!
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The Deluxe PC Headset –
Corsair Virtuoso Wireless Headset
$174 The Guru’s TipThis is our daily driver and we love it!
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The 32" 4K 144Hz Gamer's Dream Monitor –
Gigabyte M32U
$700 The Guru’s TipThere's no better way to show off brutal gaming horsepower than with a big 4K monitor!
Total Cost: $2987
The Pre-Built Option
The DIY Build
- CPU – Intel Core i7-13700K ($418)
- Motherboard – Asus Prime Z790-A WiFi 6E ($310)
- Video Card – Zotac GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Trinity OC ($1260)
- Memory – G.Skill 2x16GB Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6400 CL32 ($190)
- Solid-State Drive – WD_Black SN850X 2TB NVMe ($180)
- Case – Phanteks Eclipse P600S Anthracite ($190)
- Power Supply – SilverStone PS-ST85F-PT ($160)
- CPU Cooler – DeepCool LT720 360mm ($140)
- Operating System – Windows 11 Home USB ($139)