Whether a PC is prebuilt or DIY, different budget levels can drastically affect what kind of computer you are looking to buy. Of course, with higher budgets come more options, like higher-spec hardware or aesthetic differences.
If you are looking for the best gaming PC under $2,000, look no further. Right around the $2,000 budget mark is where PCs can handle pretty much any game thrown their way, so while these won’t always be top-of-the-line PCs, they are pretty dang good. Of course, $2,000 might be too much for some people, but luckily we have put together the Best 3 Gaming Builds for Under $500 for all budget levels.
Best Budget CPUs
Our Builds For The Best 3 Gaming PCs Under $2,000
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AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
When looking at the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, you’ll find it’s a perfect intro price to the new generation of CPUs. You can finally access PCIe 5.0, DDR5 RAM, and the switch from pins on the CPU (which have a really high chance of bending) to having the pins on the motherboard instead.
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Asus PRIME B650-PLUS ATX AM5 Motherboard
While not the most flashy motherboard, the Prime B650-PLUS AM5 motherboard from Asus has an impressive feature set, making it a good home for budget-friendly and top-of-line components. This motherboard is ATX and has 4 DDR5 memory slots, 3 M.2 NVME connectors, and built-in 2.5 Gb/s LAN.
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Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming OC 12G
$830 $900 Save $70
The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070TI is an easy recommendation given the price point it currently trades at and the fact that it has a capable vapor-chamber and additional overclocking headroom on the card itself
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Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RGB Gaming 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL40 Memory
The Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RAM has faster frequencies, greater capacities, and lower voltages offering excellent gaming performance. In addition, the aluminum heat sink, available in black or white, quickly dissipates heat from the RAM and allows for long-term high performance.
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Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB M.2 SSD
$70 $160 Save $90
The Crucial P5 Plus M.2 SSD delivers remarkably fast speed with a transfer rate of up to 6600MB/s and excellent data protection. This drive is designed specifically for intensive workloads, like gaming and creative applications.
Although you will get the most performance using it with a Gen 4 slot, this drive is also backward compatible with Gen 3.0 slots.
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Corsair iCUE 4000X ATX Mid Tower Case
$130 $145 Save $15
The Corsair iCUE 4000X ATX Mid Tower case is a beautiful case that is easy to build in, making it a perfect starting point for any PC build. In addition, this case has excellent cooling potential with space for 6x 120 mm or 4x 140 mm cooling fans and multiple radiators, including a 360 mm in front and 280 mm in the roof.
The tempered glass side panel makes it easy to admire your PC build, and there is way less of a scratch risk than there is with plastic side panels.
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Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler
The Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler is all about maximizing your CPU’s cooling, doing so with as little noise as possible. Using the bundled dual Noctua NF-A15 PWM fans and low-noise adapters, the NH-D15 is a capable air-based CPU cooler that has a no-frills, all-business approach to its job of cooling some of the beefiest CPUs available in the market assisted by the bundled high-end NT-H1 thermal paste.
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NZXT C1000 PSU
The C Series fits any ATX case and supports most of the latest NVIDIA 30 series and AMD 6000 series GPUs. This PSU uses DC-DC technology to allow the operation to generate less heat to reduce the fan RPM. The 135 mm PWM silent fan ensures the power supply can silently operate at a high load.
The fully modular design eliminates clutter at the bottom of the case, ultimately keeping your PC cooler.
Total Estimated Cost: $1,859
Right out of the gate, this PC build can handle any game you can throw at it. Pairing the powerful and energy-conserving AMD Ryzen 5 7600X with the equally powerful but energy-hungry RTX 4070 Ti. Regarding the RTX 4070 Ti, there are a ton of options out there, but we recommend going with the RTX 4070 Ti from Gigabyte with the 3-fan cooler because, as said earlier, this card can get pretty hot under heavy gaming loads. Because the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X doesn’t generate a ton of heat like its Intel counterparts, the cooler does not need to be overkill. The Noctua NH-D15, while not cheap, will ensure this CPU won’t run into thermal throttling as long as the case gets a decent amount of airflow.
Speaking of which, the Corsair iCue 4000X can easily be the home for each of the builds we will go over here. While not overly big, this mid-tower case is easy to build in and will comfortably fit a full-length GPU and larger CPU coolers. RAM and storage are not the most flashy components of a PC, but they are crucial to having a well-performing PC. For storage, we went with the Crucial P5 NVME SSD at 1 TB, this is a good starting point for most gamers, but if you need more space, you can always throw in second drive or go for the higher capacity 2 Crucial P5 drive. 32 GB of RAM is enough for most games and creative applications today. However, if you want to upgrade down the line, the motherboard in this build has 4 RAM slots, so you can buy another set of this RAM to go up to 64 GB.
Finally, the PSU from NZXT outputs 1000 watts, is fully modular and is 80+ Gold certified. All of that without breaking the bank. At 1000 watts, this PSU should be able to go with you for a couple of upgrades unless we get another generation of GPUs like the NVIDIA 30 series, which had a huge jump in need for wattage again.
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Intel Core i5-12600KF 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor
This 12th gen Intel CPU has 10 cores and runs at 3.7 GHz base clock and up to 4.9 GHz boost clock speed. Of the 10 cores there is 6 performance and 4 efficiency cores keeping the TDP fairly low at 125 W.
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GIGABYTE Z790 UD AC Gaming Motherboard
$195 $200 Save $5
The GIGABYTE Z790 UD AC Gaming Motherboard is an entry-level Z790 Motherboard that offers DDR5, Wi-Fi AC bundled with 3 M2 slots. Priced around the same range as most B760 motherboards, it promises exceptional value from a price-to-performance perspective
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XFX Radeon RX 7900XT GPU
$830 $1000 Save $170
The XFX Radeon RX 7900XT is based on AMD’s latest and most powerful graphics chips. The AMD RX 7900 XT is powered by the new RDNA 3 architecture, which delivers AI acceleration, a new AMD Radiance display engine, and a Chiplet design. There’s also an improved 2nd generation of ray-tracing and AMD Infinity Cache features.
This specific XFX GPU features 20 gigabytes of graphics memory on a 320-bit memory interface, a clock speed of 2400 MHz, and a powerful triple fan cooling solution.
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Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RGB Gaming 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL40 Memory
The Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RAM has faster frequencies, greater capacities, and lower voltages offering excellent gaming performance. In addition, the aluminum heat sink, available in black or white, quickly dissipates heat from the RAM and allows for long-term high performance.
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SABRENT Rocket 2230 NVMe 4.0 1TB SSD
$160 $270 Save $110
The Sabrent Rocket 2230 is a DRAM-less PCI-E 4.0 SSD backed by an excellent 5-year warranty (with mandatory registration) which offers impressive Gen 4 speeds coupled with reliability that makes it an essential addon storage option for your Steam Deck or ultraportable PC
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Corsair 4000D Airflow
$95 $105 Save $10
The CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW is a mid-tower ATX case with easy cable management and exceptional cooling. A steel front panel offers optimal airflow to your components, accompanied by two included 120 mm AirGuide fans designed with anti-vortex vanes that enhance cooling. The CORSAIR RapidRoute cable management system makes it effortless to route major cables through a single channel, with 25mm of routing depth.
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Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black blends stunning looks with outstanding cooling performance at an attractive price for all PC builders. The Halo Black improves on Cooler Master’s super popular Hyper 212 series with enlarged fan blades, and a black aluminum top cover design that fits in with almost any PC rig. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black offers dual-loop ARGB lighting effects, complimenting the most stunning-looking gaming PCs. The Hyper 212 Halo Black is compatible with AMD Ryzen AM5/AM4 and Intel LGA1700/1200 chip sets.
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Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 PE 850 W
The Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 PSU offers 850 W of power with full modular cables. This power supply is certfied 80 plus gold and it keeps cool with a 140 mm fan. Using a powerful single +12V rail ensures a stable and reliable supply to other PC components.
Total Estimated Cost: $1,804
This build combines the power of an Intel CPU and an AMD GPU, making it the black-and-white cookie of gaming PCs. The Intel Core i5-12600KF is an excellent price-to-performance CPU with 10 cores that run at 3.7 GHz. The XFX Radeon RX 7900XT can handle pretty much any game thrown its way, and for those VR gamers out there, you should have no issue playing to your heart’s content. Once again, for this build, we went for a 32 GB kit from Silicon Power, and the motherboard in this build has 4 RAM slots to easily upgrade the memory capacity in the future if need be.
For storage, the Sabrent Rocket 2230 NVME 1 TB drive will give you an excellent place to start a steam library, and if you want more storage, Sabrent offers higher capacity drives if you are willing to extend your budget a little bit. All of these components will easily fit in the Corsair 4000D Airflow case. As the name implies, this case offers excellent cooling performance, and when paired with the Cooler Master Hyper 212 cooler, thermal throttling should not be an issue.
Best PC Cases
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AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 8-Core 16-Thread Processor
The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D launched nearly 3 years ago and still holds its own against AMD’s and Intel’s best-in-class CPUs when it comes to gaming. That alone speaks volumes about the PC gaming heavyweight processor that has simply refused to die versus subsequent iterations of Intel CPUs.
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Gigabyte B550 UD AC ATX AM4 Motherboard
$120 $140 Save $20
The Gigabyte B550 UD AC ATX motherboard perfectly rides the line of luxury features and affordable pricing. This motherboard supports all AM4 CPUs, although it is worth noting that users may need to do BIOS updates for Ryzen 5 CPUs. With 2 NVME M.2 connectors running at PCIe 4.0 speeds, you can expect some blazing-fast read and write speeds from compatible SSDs.
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XFX Radeon RX 7900XT GPU
$830 $1000 Save $170
The XFX Radeon RX 7900XT is based on AMD’s latest and most powerful graphics chips. The AMD RX 7900 XT is powered by the new RDNA 3 architecture, which delivers AI acceleration, a new AMD Radiance display engine, and a Chiplet design. There’s also an improved 2nd generation of ray-tracing and AMD Infinity Cache features.
This specific XFX GPU features 20 gigabytes of graphics memory on a 320-bit memory interface, a clock speed of 2400 MHz, and a powerful triple fan cooling solution.
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XPG DDR4 D50 RGB 32GB (2x16GB) 3600MHz CL18
The XPG DDR4 D50 RGB 32GB (2x16GB) 3600MHz RAM kits are an excellent choice for users looking to upgrade to quality DDR4 rams that are compatible and up to speed with the latest Intel platforms while offering continued support for the large Ryzen market for processors from the 5000 series and under without costing an arm and a leg for very good-looking memory.
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SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus SSD 1TB
$55 $70 Save $15
The SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus 1TB SSD is an excellently-priced PCI-E 3.0 SSD that is known for its reliability and stellar performance while delivering excellent value at roughly half the cost of competing PCI-E 4.0 drives. While it isn’t fast enough to go toe to toe with some of the fastest in the market, it does deliver solid performance with excellent software in tow.
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Corsair 4000D Airflow
$95 $105 Save $10
The CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW is a mid-tower ATX case with easy cable management and exceptional cooling. A steel front panel offers optimal airflow to your components, accompanied by two included 120 mm AirGuide fans designed with anti-vortex vanes that enhance cooling. The CORSAIR RapidRoute cable management system makes it effortless to route major cables through a single channel, with 25mm of routing depth.
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Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler
The Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler is all about maximizing your CPU’s cooling, doing so with as little noise as possible. Using the bundled dual Noctua NF-A15 PWM fans and low-noise adapters, the NH-D15 is a capable air-based CPU cooler that has a no-frills, all-business approach to its job of cooling some of the beefiest CPUs available in the market assisted by the bundled high-end NT-H1 thermal paste.
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NZXT C1000 PSU
The C Series fits any ATX case and supports most of the latest NVIDIA 30 series and AMD 6000 series GPUs. This PSU uses DC-DC technology to allow the operation to generate less heat to reduce the fan RPM. The 135 mm PWM silent fan ensures the power supply can silently operate at a high load.
The fully modular design eliminates clutter at the bottom of the case, ultimately keeping your PC cooler.
Total Estimated Cost: $1,789
This is the most expensive build on this list, but if you want all-out performance with all AMD components, this is the best way to go while still sticking to under $2,000. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D launched nearly 3 years ago and still holds its own against AMD’s and Intel’s best-in-class CPUs when it comes to gaming. Pairing this CPU with the RX 7900XT, which has 20 GB of VRAM, can handle any triple-A game at high quality. In addition, the Gigabyte B550 UC AC motherboard has an excellent set of high-class features, including multiple M.2 slots and built-in Wi-Fi.
For the memory, we went for the XPG DDR4 D50 RGB 32 GB; it runs at 3600MHz and offers excellent support for the Ryzen series. Samsung makes a perfect M.2 SSD, so we chose the 970 EVO Plus 1 TB. Even though it is a PCI-e 3.0 drive, this SSD offers close to PCI-e 4.0 speeds for half the cost. All these powerful components need a good amount of cooling to ensure they do not thermal throttle, so again, we went for the Corsair 4000D Airflow. This case is easy to build in, and the steel mesh panel ensures that all your components will receive fresh air. Once again, we went for the Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler to cool the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. If the colorway doesn’t go with your aesthetic, Noctua does offer an all-black version, but it does cost a bit more.
Best Budget Graphics Cards
FAQ
Is A $2000 PC Good For Gaming?
If you are looking to game at resolutions at 1440p or 1080p at high refresh rates $2,000 is an excellent budget. These components should also keep up with gaming trends for at least 3 years so you won’t have to worry about replacing anything anytime soon.
Is It Cheaper To Build A Gaming PC?
Building a PC yourself is a great way to save a few bucks here and there. Prebuilt PCs charge a building fee most of the time, so you can pick up PC parts for close to the same price most PC building companies can, and you save the cost of building. You just have to be comfortable putting the components together, but with the amount of build guides available today it is easier than ever to build your own PC.