[MAY 2022] The COMPLETE Guide to Gaming PC Builds

The purpose of this page is to guide you through the PC build that’s most suitable for pure gaming and possibly educate people on possible hardware configurations for different budgets and performance requirements. This build may not be the perfect suit for other uses, although it is still possible.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, cryptocurrency mining, and silicon/NAND shortages, certain parts, particularly processors and graphics cards, may not be available to purchase. Due to this fact, these builds may only feasibly be built in the future or with the integrated graphics.

1. Starter (~$500) The best bang-for-your-buck build in this entire page. It goes neck-and-neck with the base PS4 and Xbox One in gaming performance while offering the flexibility you need, such as if you prefer fancier graphics or frame rate smoothness.
2. 60 FPS Build (~$800) This build is suitable for playing at medium to high graphics settings for most games, on 60 Hz refresh rate.
3. High Refresh Rate Build (~$1100) This build is suitable for playing at medium to high graphics settings for most games, on refresh rates higher than 60 Hz.
4. Zero Ultra Build (~$2500) This build is suitable for playing at high resolutions such as 1440p/4K and high frame rates such as 144 Hz and 240 Hz.

STARTER

The most affordable build on this entire page. It goes neck-and-neck with the base PS4 and Xbox One in performance while offering the flexibility in your gaming experience, such as if you prefer fancier graphics or frame rate smoothness. This build is suitable for running most modern games at 1080p/30fps/low settings.

It provides for PC versatility, as well. Do you want to play at 144 fps on a 144 Hz monitor for your First-person shooters? Perfect. Lower your settings and your frame rate shoots up. Do you care less about the frame rate than the extreme-quality visuals? Wonderful. Crank those dials up and witness the glory.

This build originally targeted pretty strictly around $500, but it’s been adjusted various times to include slightly more expensive parts deemed important.

PCPartPicker Part List

Do not forget to overclock the memory, as every kit of memory always runs at JEDEC 2133 MHz by default. Depending on the motherboard, the memory overclock may be called DOCP (Direct Over Clock Profile), EOCP (Extended Over Clock Profiles), or XMP (eXtreme Memory Profile).

Augmentations

• Don’t take our words for the case! Cases are subjective, you can look at any case you want, just make sure the video card and any aftermarket CPU cooler fits!
• Not sure if you need an SSD? head to the FAQ down below
• 2TB HDD for more storage (Add ~$50)
• Case fans to keep the system cooler (Add ~$10 per fan, ~$40 for a 5-pack)

Benchmarks

• Ryzen 5 5600G Benchmark

60 FPS BUILD

A mid-range computer in the $800 range. This build is suitable for playing at ultra graphics settings for most games at 1080p, on 60 Hz refresh rate. With the components in this build, it will be able to support VR.

PCPartPicker Part List

Do not forget to overclock the memory, as every kit of memory always runs at JEDEC 2133 MHz by default. Depending on the motherboard, the memory overclock may be called DOCP (Direct Over Clock Profile), EOCP (Extended Over Clock Profiles), or XMP (eXtreme Memory Profile).

Augmentations

• Don’t take our words for the case! Cases are subjective, you can look at any case you want, just make sure the video card fits!
• Not sure if you need an SSD? head to the FAQ down below
• 2TB HDD for more storage (Add ~$50)
• Case fans to keep the system cooler (Add ~$10 per fan, ~$40 for a 5-pack)

Benchmarks

• RTX 3050 Benchmark

HIGH REFRESH RATE BUILD

This build is suitable for playing at high graphics settings for most games, on refresh rates higher than 60 Hz. This build gets as close to 144 FPS as possible without spending a large amount of money.

PCPartPicker Part List

Do not forget to overclock the memory, as every kit of memory always runs at JEDEC 2133 MHz by default. Depending on the motherboard, the memory overclock may be called DOCP (Direct Over Clock Profile), EOCP (Extended Over Clock Profiles), or XMP (eXtreme Memory Profile).

Augmentations

• Don’t take our words for the case! Cases are subjective, you can look at any case you want, just make sure the CPU cooler and video card fits!
• Not sure if you need an SSD? head to the FAQ down below
• 2TB HDD for more storage (Add ~$50)
• Case fans to keep the system cooler (Add ~$10 per fan, ~$40 for a 5-pack)

Benchmarks

• RTX 3060 Benchmark
• RX 6600 XT Benchmark

ZERO ULTRA BUILD

A zero compromises build capable of handling any game you throw at it with the highest resolutions and frame rates. This build is suitable for playing at high resolutions such as 1440p/4K and high frame rates such as 144 Hz and 240 Hz.

A zero compromises build capable of handling any game you throw at it with the highest resolutions and frame rates. This build is suitable for playing at high resolutions such as 1440p/4K and high frame rates such as 144 Hz and 240 Hz.

PCPartPicker Part List

Do not forget to overclock the memory, as every kit of memory always runs at JEDEC 2133 MHz by default. Depending on the motherboard, the memory overclock may be called DOCP (Direct Over Clock Profile), EOCP (Extended Over Clock Profiles), or XMP (eXtreme Memory Profile).

Augmentations

• Don’t take our words for the case! Cases are subjective, you can look at any case you want, just make sure the video card fits!
• Not sure if you need an SSD? head to the FAQ down below
• 2TB HDD for more storage (Add ~$50)
• Case Fans to keep the system cooler (Add ~$15 per fan, ~$45 for a 5-pack)

Benchmarks

• RTX 3080 Ti Benchmark
• RTX 3090 Benchmark

Disclaimer: List courtesy to r/pcmasterrace