The Best $2000 Premium Gaming PC Build

On the spec sheet, it offers a 96MB L3 cache and offers a 4.7GHz boost clock.

The Ryzen 5 7600X3D brings 6 cores and 12 threads, a 4.7GHz maximum boost, 96MB of L3 cache and a 65W rating, and it accounts for 12% of the parts total. It ships without a cooler, so the build pairs it with the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW. Its integrated graphics stay available as a backup display output.

AM5 is the socket on both the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the X870 AORUS Elite, which is the first thing that has to match. The board maker's support list names the BIOS version this processor needs. DDR5 is what the X870 AORUS Elite and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D share, and the Crucial Pro 6400 kit is DDR5. The two memory generations do not fit each other's slots, so this is a hard match rather than a preference. AM5 appears in the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW's supported sockets (AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700), so the bracket for the Ryzen 5 7600X3D comes in its box. To spend less, the Ryzen 5 7500F is 6 cores against 6, roughly 21% cheaper than the Ryzen 5 7600X3D; it keeps the same socket, memory type and cooler fit.

On the spec sheet, it offers a 12GB video memory.

12GB of GDDR6 and the RX 9070 GRE chip come with the Gigabyte Gaming 9070 GRE, which takes 29% of the parts total, more than any other part. For the supply, the maker's guidance for this chip is 650W.

The Pop 2 Vision takes cards up to 412mm. The listing for the Gigabyte Gaming 9070 GRE gives no length, so compare the card's spec page with that limit before ordering. For an RX 9070 GRE card the recommended supply is 650W, and the MSI MPG A1000GS PCIE5 II offers 1000W, a margin of 350W above that figure. The listing for the Gigabyte Gaming 9070 GRE does not name its power connector, while the MSI MPG A1000GS PCIE5 II lists two 12V-2x6 connectors and three PCIe 8-pin leads. Check the card's page for 8-pin or 12V-2x6 and count the leads you need. To spend less, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend is the RX 7800 XT with 16GB of GDDR6, against the RX 9070 GRE's 12GB, roughly 14% cheaper than the Gigabyte Gaming 9070 GRE; it still clears the supply and case limits in the table.

It also offers a 4 M.2 slot count and offers a 2.5Gbps wired network speed.

AM5 is the socket on the X870 AORUS Elite, a board with the X870 chipset, ATX size, 4 M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5GbE LAN that accounts for 10% of the parts total; its memory slots accept DDR5 and nothing else.

AM5 is the socket on both the Ryzen 5 7600X3D and the X870 AORUS Elite, which is the first thing that has to match. The board maker's support list names the BIOS version this processor needs. DDR5 is what the X870 AORUS Elite and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D share, and the Crucial Pro 6400 kit is DDR5. The two memory generations do not fit each other's slots, so this is a hard match rather than a preference. The X870 AORUS Elite lists 4 M.2 slots, so the MP600 Core XT 1TB has a home and a second drive can follow. The manual says which slot runs at full PCIe speed.

You get 32GB, DDR5, 6400MT/s, CL32 and EXPO and XMP profiles as a pair of sticks for 27% of the parts total; DDR5 pricing makes memory one of the larger lines in this build.

DDR5 is what the X870 AORUS Elite and the Ryzen 5 7600X3D share, and the Crucial Pro 6400 kit is DDR5. The two memory generations do not fit each other's slots, so this is a hard match rather than a preference. Because the Crucial Pro 6400 is a two-stick 32GB kit, the board manual's dual-channel slot pair is where it goes. A step up is the Flare X5 64GB: 64GB at 6000MT/s, roughly 121% dearer than the Crucial Pro 6400; the memory-type check still passes.

On the spec sheet, it is rated for 1TB.

The MP600 Core XT 1TB offers 1TB and PCIe 4.0 and takes 10% of the parts total.

The X870 AORUS Elite lists 4 M.2 slots, so the MP600 Core XT 1TB has a home and a second drive can follow. The manual says which slot runs at full PCIe speed. To spend more, the P310 2TB is 2TB on PCIe 4.0, roughly 26% dearer than the MP600 Core XT 1TB; the board's M.2 row is unaffected. In the $100 to $250 band, it is the fifth biggest of the eight lines, and a different pick would move about 10% of the total.

On the spec sheet, it offers a 1000W rated output and offers a 2 native 12V-2x6 cable count.

The MSI MPG A1000GS PCIE5 II is 1000W, Gold rated, ATX 3.1, ATX format, fully modular cables and two 12V-2x6 connectors and takes 6% of the parts total.

For an RX 9070 GRE card the recommended supply is 650W, and the MSI MPG A1000GS PCIE5 II offers 1000W, a margin of 350W above that figure. The listing for the Gigabyte Gaming 9070 GRE does not name its power connector, while the MSI MPG A1000GS PCIE5 II lists two 12V-2x6 connectors and three PCIe 8-pin leads. Check the card's page for 8-pin or 12V-2x6 and count the leads you need. The MSI MPG A1000GS PCIE5 II is a standard ATX unit, and the Pop 2 Vision listing does not name a power supply type, so confirm ATX fits in its manual.

On the spec sheet, it offers a 412mm GPU clearance and offers a 360mm largest radiator size.

The Pop 2 Vision lists room for ATX boards, graphics cards up to 412mm, a radiator up to 360mm and 4 fans in the box and takes 4% of the parts total.

ATX is the X870 AORUS Elite's size, and the Pop 2 Vision lists ATX, so the board has a place on its tray. The Pop 2 Vision takes cards up to 412mm. The listing for the Gigabyte Gaming 9070 GRE gives no length, so compare the card's spec page with that limit before ordering. The MSI MPG A1000GS PCIE5 II is a standard ATX unit, and the Pop 2 Vision listing does not name a power supply type, so confirm ATX fits in its manual.

The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW is a tower air cooler with 7 heatpipes, a 120mm fan (2 supplied), 160mm height and AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700 mounting, and it takes 3% of the parts total.

AM5 appears in the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW's supported sockets (AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700), so the bracket for the Ryzen 5 7600X3D comes in its box. The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW stands 160mm tall, but the Pop 2 Vision listing gives no cooler height limit, so check the case page for that figure before ordering.