The Best $3500 Ultimate Gaming PC Build – January 2023
Jump Into Ultra-High-End Gaming Today!
If you’re looking for the ultimate $3,500 Gaming PC Build, truly the best of the best, then this is the build for you! Sure, you could spend more, but in most games you won’t see better performance than what this PC Build can provide. It’s a showcase of the very best tech available in PC gaming today. And while the $3,500 Gaming PC Build isn’t exactly a bargain, it’s custom-tailored to deliver flat-out extreme gaming performance!
This Month’s Build, Powered by Intel and Nvidia!
For January 2023, the Ultimate $3,500 Gaming PC Build features Intel’s shockingly-fast Core i9-13900K, a 24-core, 32-thread chip that blows away everything that has come before it, including the vaunted 12900KS and AMD’s entire Zen 4 lineup. Simply put, it is the CPU of choice for serious gamers. It will have a worthy GPU to feed in the form of Nvidia’s superb GeForce RTX 4080 16GB. It beats out every previous-gen card, while coming in at a reasonable price and boasting extreme efficiency!
Of course, the rest of the system is up to the task of keeping this system fed with data, thanks to 32GB of ultra-fast DDR5-6400 RAM, along with an extreme 2TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive. Completing the $3,500 Gaming PC Build is the ultra-high-airflow Lian Li Lancool III RGB chassis, a powerful 360mm liquid cooler, and an awesome 1000W Gold-rated power supply!
Parting Thoughts
Note that we list a number of “Optional Components” at the end of this guide that highlight the accessories we think best match a system of this caliber, including our favorite keyboard, mouse, and monitor picks. To browse even more options, check out our Monitor Buyer’s Guide, Peripherals Buyer’s Guide and Speaker/ Headset Buyer’s Guide, which provide our picks for the best accessories at every pricepoint.
Throughout this guide, we provide direct links to Amazon or Newegg, and our Amazon links will auto-convert for readers in the UK, Canada, and parts of the EU, with automatic substitutions being 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 Ultra-High-End Gaming PC –
Skytech Pro Eclipse 13900K/RTX 4090
$4000Want mind-blowing performance without having to build your own PC? Then go for the incredible Pro Eclipse by Skytech. This system features an Intel Core i9-13900K 24-core, 32-thread processor cooled by a massive 420mm liquid cooler, a GeForce RTX 4090 24GB video card, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 solid-state drive, a Phanteks P500A case, and a massive 1200W power supply. In other words, it’s locked, loaded, and ready to rock the latest games!This pre-built is almost too good a deal to pass up. You couldn't build a PC with these specs for anywhere near the price!
The DIY Build
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CPU –
Intel Core i9-13900K
$600 The Guru’s TipThis chip runs ultra-hot, so the liquid cooler we recommend later in this guide will be put to good use!
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Motherboard –
MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi
$480 The Guru’s TipWhile older Z690 boards could support the 13th-Gen chip we recommend, going with Z790 gets you enhanced PCIe lane functionality, plus firmware that is guaranteed to support the CPU out of the box!
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Video Card –
Zotac GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Trinity OC
$1260 The Guru’s TipThe 4080 offers exceptional all-around performance in its price class. While the 4090 is faster, it's also about $1000 more!
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Memory –
G.Skill 2x16GB Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6400 CL32
$210 The Guru’s TipWe've gone with DDR5 RAM and a matching motherboard to ensure that nothing holds back this build's performance!
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Solid-State Drive –
WD_Black SN850X 2TB NVMe
$170 The Guru’s TipYou don't really need a drive this fast for gaming, but it's always nice to know you won't be held back!
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Case –
Lian Li Lancool III RGB
$205 The Guru’s TipThis case is also available in white, listed on the same product page.
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Power Supply –
Corsair RM1000x Gold (2021)
$190 The Guru’s TipGiven the massive firepower of this system, we've given it an equally-massive PSU. The PC will draw about 700W at load, meaning you'll make good use of this unit's capacity!
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CPU Cooler –
DeepCool LT720 360mm
$140 The Guru’s TipThis 360mm model will fit easily in the top of the case 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 Typist's Gaming Keyboard –
Logitech G915 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Clicky)
$229 The Guru’s TipThis is the keyboard we've used since it was released in late 2019, and we've never even considered using another!
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The Ultralight Gaming Mouse –
Logitech G Pro X Superlight
$138 The Guru’s TipWhile there are plenty of other ultralight mice out there, you want one that's backed by a company with legit engineering behind it. That's Logitech!
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The Deluxe PC Headset –
Corsair Virtuoso Wireless Headset
$170 The Guru’s TipAnother feature we really like is the ultra-high quality mic. You'll be heard loud and clear on this headset, as it's a completely different league than any other headset on the market.
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The 32" 4K 144Hz Gamer's Dream Monitor –
Gigabyte M32U
$579 The Guru’s TipThis monitor will allow you to truly take advantage of all the power your new PC can deliver!
Total Cost: $3484
The Pre-Built Option
The DIY Build
- CPU – Intel Core i9-13900K ($600)
- Motherboard – MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi ($480)
- Video Card – Zotac GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Trinity OC ($1260)
- Memory – G.Skill 2x16GB Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6400 CL32 ($210)
- Solid-State Drive – WD_Black SN850X 2TB NVMe ($170)
- Case – Lian Li Lancool III RGB ($205)
- Power Supply – Corsair RM1000x Gold (2021) ($190)
- CPU Cooler – DeepCool LT720 360mm ($140)
- Operating System – Windows 11 Home USB ($139)