The Best $1500 High-End Gaming PC Build

On the spec sheet, it offers a 32MB L3 cache and offers a 5.1GHz boost clock.

The Ryzen 5 7600 brings 6 cores and 12 threads, a 5.1GHz maximum boost, 32MB of L3 cache and a 65W rating, and it accounts for 14% of the parts total. A cooler comes in the box, so the build adds none. Its integrated graphics stay available as a backup display output.

Both the Ryzen 5 7600 and the B850M Pro RS are AM5, so the chip fits the board without adapters. A newer processor on an older board can need a BIOS update, so the support list is worth a look. The Vengeance RGB RS 16GB is a DDR5 kit, the type both the B850M Pro RS (DDR5) and the Ryzen 5 7600 (DDR5) accept. A kit of the other generation would not physically fit the board. The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO lists AM5 support (AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700), so its mounting kit fits the Ryzen 5 7600. A cheaper route is the Ryzen 5 8500G: 6 cores against 6, roughly 33% cheaper than the Ryzen 5 7600; it keeps the same socket, memory type and cooler fit.

It also offers a 12GB video memory.

12GB of GDDR6 and the RX 7700 XT chip come with the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, which takes 26% of the parts total, more than any other part. For the supply, the maker's guidance for this chip is 700W.

The D33 takes cards up to 435mm. The listing for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT gives no length, so compare the card's spec page with that limit before ordering. The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT is an RX 7700 XT card, and its chip maker recommends a 700W system power supply. The NZXT C1000 Gold Core is 1000W, which leaves 300W for the processor, drives and fans. The listing for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT does not name its power connector, while the NZXT C1000 Gold Core lists one 12V-2x6 connector. Check the card's page for 8-pin or 12V-2x6 and count the leads you need. To spend less, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB is the RX 9060 XT with 8GB of GDDR6, against the RX 7700 XT's 12GB, roughly 18% cheaper than the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT; the supply wattage and case length rows stay green.

Its 8+2+1 layout suits six- and eight-core chips.

AM5 is the socket on the B850M Pro RS, a board with the B850 chipset, Micro-ATX size, 3 M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5GbE LAN that accounts for 9% of the parts total; its memory slots accept DDR5 and nothing else.

Both the Ryzen 5 7600 and the B850M Pro RS are AM5, so the chip fits the board without adapters. A newer processor on an older board can need a BIOS update, so the support list is worth a look. The Vengeance RGB RS 16GB is a DDR5 kit, the type both the B850M Pro RS (DDR5) and the Ryzen 5 7600 (DDR5) accept. A kit of the other generation would not physically fit the board. 3 M.2 slots on the B850M Pro RS means the NM790 1TB plugs in without an adapter, with a slot spare for later; check the manual for the slot that gets the fastest lanes.

16GB, DDR5, 6000MT/s and EXPO and XMP profiles, sold as two sticks, accounts for 19% of the parts total and shows how pricey DDR5 is right now.

The Vengeance RGB RS 16GB is a DDR5 kit, the type both the B850M Pro RS (DDR5) and the Ryzen 5 7600 (DDR5) accept. A kit of the other generation would not physically fit the board. Because the Vengeance RGB RS 16GB is a two-stick 16GB kit, the board manual's dual-channel slot pair is where it goes. A step up is the Viper Elite 5: 32GB at 6000MT/s, roughly 64% dearer than the Vengeance RGB RS 16GB; it stays on the generation the board and processor take.

The NM790 1TB offers 1TB, PCIe 4.0, up to 7400MB/s sequential reads and no DRAM cache and takes 13% of the parts total.

3 M.2 slots on the B850M Pro RS means the NM790 1TB plugs in without an adapter, with a slot spare for later; check the manual for the slot that gets the fastest lanes. A step up is the P310 2TB: 2TB on PCIe 4.0, roughly 31% dearer than the NM790 1TB; the board's M.2 row is unaffected. By price it is the fourth largest of the eight parts ($100 to $250 when we checked), which is about 13% of the total.

The NZXT C1000 Gold Core is 1000W, Gold rated, ATX 3.1, ATX format, fully modular cables and one 12V-2x6 connector and takes 8% of the parts total.

The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT is an RX 7700 XT card, and its chip maker recommends a 700W system power supply. The NZXT C1000 Gold Core is 1000W, which leaves 300W for the processor, drives and fans. The listing for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT does not name its power connector, while the NZXT C1000 Gold Core lists one 12V-2x6 connector. Check the card's page for 8-pin or 12V-2x6 and count the leads you need. The NZXT C1000 Gold Core is a ATX unit and the D33 lists ATX or SFX, so the supply has a mount.

It also takes back-connect mATX BTF boards and has a front USB-C port.

The D33 lists room for Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, mATX BTF boards, graphics cards up to 435mm, coolers up to 172mm tall and a radiator up to 360mm and takes 7% of the parts total.

The B850M Pro RS is a Micro-ATX board and the D33 lists Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, mATX BTF, so the board mounts on the standoffs without adapters. The D33 takes cards up to 435mm. The listing for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT gives no length, so compare the card's spec page with that limit before ordering. The NZXT C1000 Gold Core is a ATX unit and the D33 lists ATX or SFX, so the supply has a mount.

The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO is a tower air cooler with 7 heatpipes, a 120mm fan (2 supplied), 160mm height and AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 mounting, and it takes 4% of the parts total.

The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO lists AM5 support (AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700), so its mounting kit fits the Ryzen 5 7600. 172mm is the tallest cooler the D33 lists, and the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO is 160mm, so the panel closes with 12mm to spare.