This $2000 gaming PC build goes where the lower-priced builds haven’t gone before. It’s VR ready and 4k ready with the performance power to run your favorite AAA without question. You’ll be getting premium, reliable components with the looks to match, so slotting this into your setup will give your friends and family envious thoughts. Unfortunately, due to various factors, the prices of the hardware listed fluctuate daily. We aim to update all of our builds as much as we can to ensure they are as close to the specified build price as possible.
- Last Updated - May 26, 2021
Build Details
The Ryzen 9 3900X we’ve selected for this build is a huge jump over the Ryzen 5 3600 we used in the $1500 gaming PC build. There’s a reason why AMD claims this CPU is the world’s most advanced processor for gaming as it offers up an insane 12 cores and 24 threads, which give you enough processing capabilities to maximize settings in almost any game you like. This one also comes with a base clock of 3.8GHz and overclocking capabilities of up to 4.6GHz, an improvement over the less powerful Ryzen 7 3800x which maxes out at 4.5GHz.
If you’ve seen our lower-priced gaming PC builds, a third-party CPU cooler is a new addition to what components are required. Because we’re getting into the best of the best, the games you’re going to be playing are more and more demanding thus generating more heat from your components. This Cooler Master CPU cooler is a big upgrade over the stock Wraith Spire that is bundled in with the 3900x showcasing an increased copper-based surface area, coupled with 4 dissipating heat pipes for maximum cooling potential when required. Additionally, the smart fan sensor picks up when anything gets near the fan blades, shutting off the main function to avoid any jams and broken parts.
This RGB Pro variant of the Vengeance range from Corsair utilizes top performing memory speeds to match the Ryzen 9 3900x processor in this build, while also showcasing luminant lighting. We’ve still gone for 16GB worth here rather than opting for 32GB as we believe it would be a little overkill. You may, however, want to increase that memory capacity if you want to upgrade this build for serious multitasking or have a much higher budget.
By this price point, the graphics cards we’re detailing are absolute powerhouses, giving you top performance is all of the latest AAA games. The RTX 2080 Super Windforce from Gigabyte is no different, giving you the latest Nvidia Turing architecture & real-time ray tracing making your games look the best they can, alongside top frame rates. This version of the 2080 series is of the Windforce family, meaning you will receive 3 Windforce fans for keeping your card from overheating.rt
An internal SSD can be the difference in making your games load fast or slow so investing in a top-notch, reliable storage solution is definitely worth it. The reason we’ve chosen the Seagate Barracuda 510 for this $2000 gaming PC is due to the insanely fast read/write speeds in conjunction with the reliability Seagate offers up. The aforementioned read/write speeds come in at up to 3400/3000MB/s making it a perfect fit for loading those intensive open-world games like The Witcher 3.
Fractal is known for producing some of the highest quality PC cases around and this Vector Rs variant is no exception. The design of this case is next to none with its bolt-free tempered glass side panels, subtle RGB light strip, and sharp angles. The counter-angled intake vents built into the case are designed for excellent airflow while also making for reduced overall noise. As well as a great design, this case has brilliant internal features with space for 6 HDDs and 2 SSDs, convertible top panel, and re-configurable layout.
A high wattage power supply is needed to make this culmination of high consuming components actually run. 750 watts should be more than enough to cover this, so this 80+ bronze rated power supply from EVGA offers quality and reliability, while also meeting the requirements. Additionally, the fan system EVGA has implemented runs almost silent therefore limiting the noise from your build overall.
What Games Can This PC Run?
With any gaming PC you’ll want to know what games it can run and what FPS you’re likely to be expecting. The list below shows off some of the more graphically intensive games as well as some popular ones for you to get an idea of how this $2000 rig is performing.
- Fortnite – Due to the well-optimized nature of Fortnite, 4k at max settings shouldn’t be a problem at all.
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – PUBG still needs optimization work so 4K is doable but if you want a smooth 60FPS, you’ll have to dial it back to 1440p.
- Monster Hunter: World – If you’re looking for max settings in 4k you’ll be getting playable frame rates of between 30 and 40. However, turning it down to 1440p will net you a huge boost.
- League of Legends – League of Legends is built to be played on pretty much any PC so there’ll be no trouble reaching 60FPS in 4k.
- Dota 2 – Same as above.
- Overwatch – Overwatch is more intensive than the two other esports optimized titles but you should still be able to achieve 60FPS in 4k.
- Rainbow Six: Siege – You’re looking at over 70FPS in 4k for Siege so no concerns here.
- Warframe – With Warframe, you’re going to hit over 100FPS in 4k making for a silky smooth experience.
- Grand Theft Auto V – Even though GTA V is an older game at this point, it’s still graphically intensive but you’ll still be looking at around 70FPS in 4k on ultra settings.
Building Tips
With this being a more entry-level build, you may be new to the whole PC building scene, so we’ve detailed a few tips and tricks to help you succeed. If you’re a more experienced builder you can skip this section, or potentially brush up on some techniques you might not have heard of.
Use Anti-static Equipment
Electrical components are fragile at the best of times so taking care when building is essential. However, what many don’t consider is the effect static electricity can have. If a static discharge occurs, it can damage your components beyond repair, which then means a whole lot of wasted money. You can avoid any potential component damage in a couple of ways, with the most common being; using an anti-static mat for your components and wearing an anti-static wristband when assembling.
Prepare your toolkit in advance
You’re going to want to get your tools ready because you don’t want to start to assemble your rig and not be able to due to not having the correct equipment. There aren’t masses of tools you need to successfully assemble a PC but what is essential, is a screwdriver with multiple bits. There are a few screws that are needed to secure both the components and assembling the case itself. These can usually be fitted using the same Phillips bit, with the most common being #2. However, make sure you have a #1 and #3 just in case.
Essential Software
Operating System
Now you have your fresh new build, you need some operating software to actually use the machine. There is no disk drive in this one so you may be wondering ‘how am I going to install my operating system?’ well, it can actually be installed via USB. Whether you go with Windows or Linux, you will have to download the respective files onto a spare USB and plug it in when booting.
Graphics Card Drivers
You want to be looking at the highest resolution possible and that means ensuring you have the latest graphics card drivers installed. This is vital in your new build as you could be stuck with stock drivers that are not only out of date but give you a sub-optimal resolution. Go to the maker of your graphics card website which in this case is Nvidia, and find the correct drivers.
Antivirus Software
You’re going to want to protect your PC from any attacks, so installing antivirus software is a must-have. There are a variety of providers with different levels of protection but if you’re just wanting a piece of free software, we recommend Avast. Avast’s antivirus protection is the most basic you can get, but for free, there’s no complaining from us.
Web Browser
Choosing the web browser that caters to all your surfing needs is always down to personal preference. We would recommend either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as these are the fastest browsers out there, and the most widely used across the world. Some argue that while Chrome is the fastest browser out there, it does utilize a lot of memory, so choosing Firefox could be the way to go if you feel the same.
Conclusion
As you can see from both the components we’ve listed, along with the gaming performance we have benchmarked, this $2000 gaming PC is hard to rival. You’d have to spend possibly another $1000 to really improve the specs and therefore, this high performing, VR ready machine is certainly future proof for the time being. If you did end up building this rig, enjoy your new PC! Be sure to check out our other articles if you have any issues or want to explore different options!