Best Gaming PC under $2000

Best Gaming PC under $2000 in 2021

We take a look at the best gaming PC you can build or buy for under $2000.

Table of Contents

If you’re looking for a high-end PC that can handle 4K resolutions and VR gaming without breaking a sweat then you’ve come to the right place. Our $2000 gaming PC is constructed of the best parts you can get for your money, and you can be sure it comes with a GPU and CPU that pack a punch. 

For your $2000, you’re not only getting a machine capable of some impressive feats in terms of graphics and framerates, but a PC you can trust to perform tasks quickly and efficiently. From video rendering, to surfing the internet with 400 tabs open at once, you can be confident that this machine does what you need. 

What You Get For $2000

With a high-end machine, comes high-end components, and this build is no exception to that rule. You’ve got a very versatile motherboard, an extremely powerful Ryzen CPU and of course one of the best graphics cards currently available, rocking a huge 8GB of VRAM. 

With this sort of set up, advanced features like ray-tracing and ambient occlusion are more than accessible to you, without impacting your overall performance. Plus, you’ll be able to utilize the newest generation of VR products with ease, with none of the immersion-breaking quality drops getting in your way. 

If you plan on rendering a lot of video work, or creating your own computer graphics, then you’ll find yourself well equipped here. With the powerful CPU and GPU working together there aren’t many tasks that you’ll struggle to get done. 

Perhaps most importantly, the build comes with an excellent 1TB SSD to ensure your PC is booting as quickly as possible. No longer will you have to bring a novel with you to read while you wait for the desktop to appear.

How We Made This Build

As with all of our builds, we used our team’s cumulative decades of experience to pick out the best components needed within our budget. We rigorously research, build, and test each of the builds on our site so that you can be sure you’re getting the absolute best PC you can for the price. 

We run the PCs we build in our offices every day to ensure that they’re capable of anything you could throw at them. From the cheeky lunch break gaming session to the rigours of day-to-day work, these builds are put through their paces in every situation imaginable. 

You can be sure that if this PC can do it, we’ve tested it. That includes the PC gamer’s gold standard of overclocking the hardware. Just make sure you know what you’re doing before attempting it yourself.

Our Recommended Custom Build Details

Looking for your best possible PC for only $2000? Well, you’ve found it. Now let’s take a look at this gaming PC.

2000 dollar gaming pc

Our $2000 AMD Custom Gaming PC Build

When you’re putting this much money into a machine, you want to be sure that every penny counts. You can be sure that you’re getting a lot of excellent value components, and of course it’s all tied up into a very aesthetically pleasing package.

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X is a top choice when it comes to building your high-end gaming rig. Not only does it provide you with excellent single-core performance, beating out Intel’s similar CPUs, but with 8 cores and 16 threads, you’re getting a real powerhouse of a processor. 

When it comes to multi-tasking, this little monster will not leave you wanting more. When it comes to surfing the internet while you’ve got your other programs open to make people think you’re working, this CPU can manage it all and much more.

Motherboard

Asus TUF Gaming X570-PRO (WI-FI6)

If you want a multi-featured motherboard that won’t buckle under the pressure of overclocking, then the Asus TUF Gaming X570-PRO is your perfect choice. Built-in WiFi, fast RAM support and high durability are just some of the reasons that this is a great starting point to build your PC from.

CPU Cooler

EK 240mm AIO D-RGB All-in-One Liquid CPU Cooler

When you’re running components this powerful, not just any standard heat sink will do. The EK 240mm AIO D-RGB All-in-One Liquid CPU Cooler will keep your CPU running cool, and look damn good doing it too. Of course, this means you’re much more likely to have a quieter gaming experience too, so it’s a bit easier to get a late-night gaming session without waking up the neighbours.

RAM

Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 3600MHZ CL18

16GB is more than enough RAM for anyone to be working with, unless you really do want 400 tabs open at once. This Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 3600MHZ CL18 16GB RAM kit is perfect for your needs. Not only is this DDR4 RAM with a high clock speed, but it also comes with added RGB to keep your inner gamer happy.

GPU

ASUS ROG Strix AMD Radeon RX 5700XT Overclocked 8G

There’s nothing closer to a PC gamers heart than their graphics card, and the ASUS ROG Strix AMD Radeon RX 5700XT Overclocked 8G is a great choice for a build of this calibre. Not only are you getting 8GB of GDDR6 RAM, but you’re also getting precision cooling that’ll prevent this beast from buckling under the pressure. 

If you’re looking for 4K gaming then you’ve come to the right place, and the RGB accents on the card are a bit more understated than you usually find these days. Plus there’s even a kill switch on the card, so if you don’t want your PC glowing like a christmas tree for some reason you have the option.

SSD

Sabrent 1TB Rocket NVMe 4.0

You need speed when it comes to your storage solutions, and Sabrent’s 1TB Rocket NVMe 4.0 is a perfect choice. You get a full terabyte of storage, with insanely quick 3.5Gb/s read speed, and 2.5Gb/s write speed. All of that in one insanely affordable package. Even better, for just a little extra you can get a pre-installed heatsink too.

PSU

Seasonic FOCUS GX-750

Now comes the time to supply your shiny gaming machine with some juice, and the Seasonic FOCUS GX-750 is stepping up to the plate. You’re getting 750 watts of gold-efficiency-rated power, which is more than enough to keep you gaming long into the night. You can also be sure that it’s going to last with this PSUs stellar build quality.

PC Case

Phanteks Eclipse P600S

When it comes to both aesthetics and functionality, the Phanteks Eclipse P600S might just take the prize for both. Not only does it look great with that big glass panel to see all of your components doing their job, but it also comes with two different configurations that you can swap between. 

In silent mode, the case has acoustic dampening panels to reduce the noise you’re hearing from inside. In performance mode, those panels are removed, allowing even more airflow to keep your rig as cool as a cucumber. 

No matter which model you prefer, you can be sure you’ll be getting a great-looking case. Plus there’s 3 colors to choose from, and you can’t say fairer than that.

Things to Consider

Budget & Upgradability

If you’re looking for high-end gaming experiences, then this high-end gaming PC is the perfect choice for you. With this rig you should be able to play pretty much every triple A game released over the next few years with decent performance and quality settings. If you’re not particularly interested in running the latest and greatest games, you may want to consider going for a more budget-friendly PC build instead. 

If you do go for this build, you can be sure that there are a few places left for you to upgrade in the future to ensure you stay up-to-date with gaming trends. While the GPU we’ve featured is certainly powerful, these days there are even more powerful cards out there (if you can get your hands on one.) 

Just remember, high-end parts incur high-end costs, so make sure you’ve got the budget before you start springing for those next-gen GPUs. You’ll also want to check that your PSU is giving you enough power for your new card before taking the plunge. 

Overclocking Capabilities

As with many gaming PCs, overclocking this build is not to be taken lightly. We’ve done everything we can to ensure high-performance and low sound emissions, but we’ve also ensured that you can overclock some of the parts if your heart truly desires it. 

The motherboard can handle overclocking with ease, so you can squeeze some extra cycles out of the CPU. You can also do the same with the RAM for a bit of a boost in the memory department. Bear in mind, the GPU in this build comes overclocked by default from the factory, so chances are that you won’t be getting much extra out of that card. 

Ease of Building 

As with any PC build, you’ll probably want to invest in anti-static equipment and a PC builder’s toolkit before you start. Other than that, putting this dream machine together is incredibly easy. Phanteks did a great job of ensuring that the case is easy to fit everything into, and we did a great job of ensuring that all of the parts fit together well and are 100% compatible. 

With a handful of cable ties you can ensure that there’s not an unsightly sprawl of cables making the inside of your machine look untidy. It would be a shame to ruin the case’s well-thought-out airflow design, not to mention the aesthetics of your entire rig. Make sure you’re applying high-quality thermal paste as well. With your fancy water-cooling solution, it’d be a shame to be bottlenecked by rubbish thermal paste. 

Non-Gaming Performance

While your main focus is probably going to be on gaming, you will be happy to know that this rig can handle a lot more on the side. If you find yourself streaming a lot, writing a lot, or producing your own videos and music then you’ll be able to do it all with this machine. You’ll also find multi-tasking a complete breeze with the power you’ve got on your hands.

Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $2000

If you’ve got this far and just don’t see yourself putting together this build for yourself then don’t panic. It’s easy to be overwhelmed when it comes to all of these components, especially if it’s your first time trying to build. Instead, we offer you an option for a decently powerful pre-built gaming PC that is as close to budget as possible. Just remember, when it comes to pre-built PCs, you’re losing some of that cost efficiency to pay for the convenience of getting a pre-built. 

Skytech Shiva Gaming PC (3070)

Skytech are top-notch when it comes to putting together pre-built gaming PCs, and the Skytech Shiva Gaming PC (3070) is no exception. Rocking an elusive RTX 3070 means that these machines are selling fast, so hurry to snap them up before they’re gone forever.

Upgrade Path for Custom Build

Corsair Hydro Series H100i Pro RGB

One of the best things you can do for both the performance and increased lifespan of your build is to keep it cool. Part of that missing high-quality thermal paste and changing it regularly, but another part is high-end cooling solutions. While the EK 240mm AIO D-RGB All-in-One Liquid CPU Cooler already featured in the build is decent, the Corsair Hydro Series H100i Pro RGB is even better, and comes with various options for bigger fans to dissipate extra heat. This is an especially good choice if you plan on overclocking your machine. 

Operating System & Peripherals

Once you’ve decided on your perfect gaming PC, then you’ll probably need a few extras to go with it. We’ve put together a selection of the best extra bits you might need to get the most out of your system. 

Windows 10 Home USB 

If you’ve not already got an OS for your build, we highly recommend Windows 10. No other operating system offers you such a great level of compatibility with both contemporary and legacy software, and it’s easy to install and use. You can save yourself a buck or two by going for the OEM version, but bear in mind that you’ll only be able to install it onto one machine, so if you swap out your motherboard you might be in trouble. 

Logitech G Pro

When it comes to gaming mice, most pro-gamers avoid wireless options, but the Logitech G Pro might just change their minds. Backed up by Logitech’s HERO sensor, the G Pro is a favourite of hardcore gamers and even esports teams. The ergonomic grip will keep you comfy while you game, and the lack of wires means less resistance to get in your way. If you’re going to spend a lot of money on your gaming setup, then this is the mouse that will match that investment. 

BenQ Zowie EC2-B Divina

In the more traditional gamer-friendly sphere, the BenQ Zowie EC2-B Divina is one of the best gaming mice available. Designed with esports in mind, you can be sure of a high-precision mouse with an incredibly comfortable grip. There’s even a couple of different size options, so you can be sure that you’ll be getting a mouse that fits your hand perfectly. 

Corsair K70 MK.2 Low Profile

Mechanical keyboards are a must when it comes to gaming, and one of the best options going right now is Corsair’s K70 MK.2 Low Profile. As the name suggests, this keyboard has a bit of a less-imposing presence than other gaming keyboards, and comes with some fancy switches that give you the great tactile feel of mechanical keys but with less of the loud clicking noises that can be a distraction during your gaming sessions. You can tell this one was made with gamers in mind too, since there are swappable keys to highlight areas of the keyboard used frequently in FPS and MOBA games. 

SteelSeries QcK Gaming Surface

When it comes to your keyboard and mouse setup, you need to make sure that your optical sensor has the perfect surface, and that your keyboard isn’t slipping all over the place while you play. The SteelSeries QcK Gaming Surface is the perfect choice, combining great value with excellent build quality. You can also get this surface in various sizes, though we highly recommend the XL, which can fit both your keyboard and mouse comfortably. 

ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ 4K Monitor

There’s a reason that ROG stands for Republic of Gamers. The ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ 4K Monitor is the perfect monitor if you want the absolute best when it comes to your gaming experience. The 144Hz refresh rate means that even super high FPS counts won’t stress this thing out, and you can bet that the 4K resolution is as clear as crystal. It’s also insanely bright, so you should have no trouble picking out all of the little details in your games. 

Acer Predator XB271HU

If the rest of the build has left your wallet feeling a little empty, then the Acer Predator XB271HU is a bit more of a budget-friendly option. Packing the same 144Hz refresh rate, and special anti-motion-blur technology, you can be sure that you’re still getting a decent monitor, just with a more easily-affordable price. 

Mackie CR3-X 3-Inch Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors

If your sound is just as important to you as your graphics, or if you just want studio-quality sound, then the Mackie CR3-X 3-Inch Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors are your best bet. These professional-level pieces of kit make the perfect accompaniment to your gaming RIG, and provide you with a high range of frequencies, meaning you will feel the bass in your sound a lot easier. 

Sennheiser GAME ONE Gaming Headset

Sennheiser are one of the biggest names in sound technology, and it’s easy to see why. The Sennheiser GAME ONE Gaming Headset is perfect if you want a headset with excellent sound output, and equally excellent sound output.

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