We’re sure that at some point you’ve wondered what kind of a PC you could build if you had $3000 to treat yourself. Well, in the section below we’ve assembled the best $3000 PC build we possibly could. Spoiler alert, it’s magnificent.
And you know what the best part is?
Whether you’re looking to build your own $3000 PC from scratch or you just want to upgrade your existing rig, we’ve got you covered. We’ve done all the research, all you need to do is sit back, enjoy, and hopefully find something you like.
So without further delay, let’s hop into the build.
Table of ContentsShow
The Best $3000 Gaming PC Build For 2023
Updated: August 16, 2023
Click on the product images to view the product on Amazon, where you can see more images in high resolution and check the current price.
 | CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 5900XThe AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is a stupidly powerful processor that will put everything else you’ve ever used to shame |
 | CPU Cooler | Noctua NH-D15 chromax.blackThe Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black is one of the most powerful CPU coolers on the market with only the Deepcool Assassin III as a rival |
 | GPU | MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X TrioThe MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio is a magnificent, premium, Titan-level card for true gaming enthusiasts and even 3D animators that simply crushes all expectations |
 | RAM | Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 32GBFor a premium build it's only logical to choose premium RAM, and from its performance to RGB lighting, the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro is just that |
 | Motherboard | ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO Wi-FiGaming and durability-focused, the ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO Wi-Fi will support you through numerous heated gaming and overclocking sessions without fail |
 | SSD | Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB1 TB of the Samsung 970 Evo Plus's lightning-fast storage will have your eyes struggling to keep up |
 | PSU | Corsair RMx 850W 80+ GoldWe needed something beefy and efficient to power all these amazing components which is precisely why we chose the Corsair RMx 850W. The wattage will be enough to feed power to all of the components, while the 80+ Gold rating will help relieve the stress on your wallet from the power-hungry RTX 3090 |
 | Case | Corsair iCUE 4000X RGBPutting you premium components in just any case absolutely wouldn’t do, which is why for this build we’ve chosen the Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB that will keep your system cool and look amazing while doing it |
PC Overview
There isn’t much that $3000 can’t get you when it comes to PC hardware. This means that as a gaming rig, there is very little this PC can’t do, be that gaming in 4K, Streaming, VR, or running Crysis Re-mastered.
Theoretically, the possibilities are endless.
8K Gaming
There’s really no point in talking about how amazing this PC is in 4K when it can run some games at 60FPS in 8K (not that many people can enjoy this resolution for the time being).
Streaming and VR
After what was said above it shouldn’t be surprising that this PC also works phenomenally for streaming and VR. Streaming will work perfectly in 1440p, and you won’t have to worry about whether your PC can run a game or not regardless if we’re talking about regular or VR titles.
Upgradeability
When it comes to a monster PC such as this one, upgradeability should be the last thing on your mind for at least a couple of years. After all, this system is equipped with some of the best components the market currently has to offer, and it’ll be a while before video games catch up to them.
However, no computer can stay the best forever, and eventually, something better will come along, which is why we’ve made sure to include a beefy power supply that will be able to support possible future upgrades.
The motherboard is also relatively future-proof as it is an X570 model, which means it’s compatible with AMD’s 2nd, 3rd, and 5th-gen processors and supports PCIe 4.0. In all likelihood though, AMD’s next generation of processors will sport a new chipset which is why you’ll have to get a new board if you decide to upgrade.
The PC Build
Instead of talking about it any longer, it’s time to see for yourself what you can get for $3000!
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
The battle between Team Red and Team Blue continues with the release of Intel’s latest Alder Lake lineup, and the scales are beginning to even out once again as Intel regains its footing. That said, AMD’s value in the $400-$500 range holds up firmly, which is why we chose to stick with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X for this build.
This is a 12-core, 24-thread processor with a base clock of 3.7GHz and a maximum boost clock of up to 4.8GHz. The Ryzen 9 5900X is a truly phenomenal CPU that will handle content creation, video editing, streaming, VR, gaming, and anything else you can think of with utter ease.
The Ryzen 7 5900X, and the entire 5000 series lineup is based on AMD’s Zen 3 architecture. Thanks to this change in architecture AMD has managed the squeeze out a 19% increase in performance out of the new processors compared to their Zen 2 counterparts.
The improvements include higher clock speeds across the board, a significant uplift of IPC (instructions per cycle/clock), and reduced latency, which essentially makes these new-gen processors much faster and much more efficient compared to the previous-gen. This is quite a feat too, considering how impressive Zen 2 processors are.
Now, another amazing option for this build would be Intel’s new i7-12700K. This is a fantastic professor, and it even has a slightly better in-game performance than the 5900X.
Our main reasons for opting for AMD here were the fear of exceeding the $3000 budget, and the fact that the Intel Core i7-12700K’s in-game performance is only marginally better compared to that of the Ryzen 9 5900X, while maintaining Intel’s signature high power consumption levels.
That said, the Intel Core i7-12700K is indeed impressive and is definitely worth considering, especially if you hold brand loyalty toward Intel.
One thing worth mentioning is that the motherboards for Intel’s 12th-gen support DDR5 memory. The processors work fine with DDR4, and the difference in performance is negligible, for now, except for people looking to use their PC for something other than gaming. This is mostly due to DDR5 being relatively new, so once we see improvements in DDR5, the value of Intel’s Alder Lake will become significantly greater. For now, however, the two abovementioned processors are basically neck and neck and our advice is to choose the one that’s cheaper at the time of your purchase. Just remember that going for the DDR5 build will drastically bump up the price of the system.
Now, whichever of these processors you choose, you’ll need a solid cooler, especially if you want to overclock them, so in the following section, we will tackle the cooling solution that’s good enough for all of these high-end processors.
Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
The fact that the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X doesn’t come with any kind of cooling solution is an indication that none of the stock coolers AMD could provide would be sufficient to keep this CPU under control.
This is why you’ll have to get a powerful and reliable aftermarket cooler, and right now our number one recommendation is the Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black.
The cooler features a dual tower design with two 140mm fans and 6 heat pipes. It also comes with a 6-year warranty, which gives you a pretty good idea of how confident they are in their design.
The only other air cooler on the market that can compete with the NH-D15 is the ASSASSIN III from Deepcool, and that’s saying something.
Speaking of, an excellent alternative would be to get the Deepcool ASSASSIN III in case the Noctua happens to be out of stock. Whichever you opt for, you won’t have any problems with either the Ryzen 9 5900X, or any of the high-end Intel processors for that matter.
If, on the other hand, if you want to go with water cooling, you could try out some of the NZXT Kraken models. They are visually appealing and reliable, but keep in mind they’re also much more expensive.
GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio
And here it is, the component everyone was eager to see, the amazing RTX 3090!
When it comes to the basic specs, this GPU has a silly 24GB of the new and improved DDR6X memory, a whopping 10,496 CUDA cores, and a max frequency of 1.7GHz.
For this build, we went with the MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio. This card heavily focuses on cooling and noise reduction, which are both very welcome aspects when it comes to the 3000 series. Moreover, the card has metal reinforcement against bending and comes bundled with a support bracket that can be attached to any case, another welcome addition considering the sheer girth of the RTX 3090.
What we find even more encouraging is that, according to MSI’s website, this particular model is made with above-spec component quality. This means that they went above and beyond to make sure no unpleasant crashes or malfunctions happen as they did with some of the 3080 models.
Now let’s take a step back for a minute and talk about what this GPU can do.
This is a Titan-level card.
Although it’s heavily marketed as a gaming card, and we do not doubt that it performs phenomenally in games (and maybe Nvidia will launch an actual 3000 series Titan), but for all intents and purposes, this is a productivity-focused Titan.
In the PC Overview section, we mentioned that according to Nvidia, this card can run games at 60FPS in 8K and we have no doubts that it can. But the fact of the matter is, for gaming, this card is way ahead of its time. There are very few people who have an 8K display or the means to buy one, and there are very few games (if any) that can take advantage of even half of the VRAM this card has.
Having said this, this is not the best-value card you can get since you likely won’t be using it to its full potential – the RTX 3080 is. However, without a doubt, the RTX 3090 is the best graphics card available anywhere at the moment, period.
So now the question is, do you want the best value, or do you want the best?
We can’t answer that question for you, so you have to be able to come to a decision yourself, but if you decide an RTX 3080 is enough of a beast, then take a look at our $2000 PC Build, or simply take the existing components of this build and replace the RTX 3090 with the 3080. You will get a machine that won’t fail you for years to come even as better components come along because PC hardware is developing way faster than the software can keep up.
However, while cheaper builds are created to present the best value possible, premium builds such as this one are focused on gaming enthusiasts who want the very best. Therefore, if you have $3000 and you’re dead set on spending it on a PC, then it’s our job to present you with some of the best components you can find for the money, and the RTX 3090 is one of them.
Is it overkill? Yes.
Is it glorious? Yes.
Is it expensive? Hell yes.
Is it worth it? That’s entirely up to you.
RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 4000MHz (32GB)
As regards the RAM, these four stylish Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro sticks are a great option for this build. The sticks have 8 GB of RAM and a speed of 4000MHz each for a total of 32GB of RAM.
Full disclosure, this is a bit over the top if all you intend to do with this PC is play video games. However, if you plan on doing any kind of video/image manipulation, graphics design, video editing, content creation, streaming, and so on, you’ll definitely need it.
This, of course, doesn’t mean that you can’t make a different choice. We’ve chosen a 32GB kit because the budget allowed us to, but in case you want a fancier motherboard, or an expensive water cooler for your CPU, and you think 16GB of RAM will be plenty for your needs, definitely go for it!
16GB of RAM is by no means little. In fact, it’s currently the optimal amount, and it will be a while until 32GB becomes the norm for simple gaming rigs, so don’t think you’d be missing out (unless, of course, you’re a content creator of some sort).
Essentially, while this list was created to benefit gamers, you are more than free to adjust your choices according to your personal needs. It’s for this very reason that we did our best to leave a little wiggle room in the budget in case you want some creative freedom.
And lastly, the reason we chose the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro sticks in particular (besides the top-of-the-line performance, and reasonable price) is their aesthetic. The sleek design with stylish RGB placement looks and feels classy and seamlessly fits into any system. It was simply a perfect choice for this high-end build.
Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO (Wi-Fi)
As we’ve already learned to expect from the TUF series, the ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO Wi-Fi motherboard is truly something. It was created with ultimate durability and gaming performance in mind and it shows.
This motherboard can support and overclock the Ryzen 5000 series processors, which means that the already amazing AMD Ryzen 9 5900X will be able to reach even greater heights. Although we would advise against overdoing it as, no matter how good it is, it’s still a mid-range motherboard and it’s not meant for extreme overclocking.
One thing we are thankful for with this board is the fact that it has a metal-reinforced GPU slot, which is especially welcome considering that this system will be running an RTX 3090.
Other than that, the TUF GAMING X570-PRO Wi-Fi has a typical black, gray, and yellow design with discreet RGB lighting. While the color scheme is unique and appealing, it doesn’t fit every system, so we’re glad that this time the yellow is not as prevalent and obvious as it was on some previous TUF models.
The motherboard is equipped with Wi-Fi 6, 2.5 GB Intel Ethernet, dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, and the ever-useful BIOS Flashback button.
Finally, the board has great audio, and especially clear recording quality without any static you’ll be sure to appreciate it if you play a lot of competitive multiplayer games.
If you want to know more details about the motherboard and its connectivity options, we suggest you visit Asus’ website since it would take too long to list them all here, but we hope we at least got you interested since this is truly an amazing gaming motherboard.
As for some great alternatives, the MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK is a fantastic choice if you need beefier VRMs, and the ASRock X570 Taichi is great if you want more SATA ports and a flashier design. Whichever you choose you won’t regret it, just remember that the Taichi is about $100 more expensive than the other two.
SSD: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB
We’d love to say that we chose this storage after hours of exhausting research and deliberation, but in fact, we didn’t have to think about it at all. Including an HDD in this kind of a build would have been plain silly, and at this point, the regular 2.5 SSDs have also become too mainstream. For this build, we needed something special, and for that, there was no other brand we could turn to but Samsung.
Samsung’s EVO line of NVMe SSDs pushes the boundaries of what we thought storage speeds could achieve, and here we have for you 1 TB of such storage! The only way we could have gone further was if we included another 1 TB NVMe stick, or if we opted for the Samsung EVO Pro line of SSDs, but, unbelievable as that might sound, those are still overpriced, even for a $3000 build.
That said, there’s no need to feel robbed because the Samsung EVO Plus is right up there among the top storage choices on the market. With storage this powerful, your PC will be working so fast your eyes won’t be able to keep up.
Power Supply: Corsair RMx 850W 80+ Gold
When it comes to the power supply, you can never really go wrong with Corsair. For this $3000 build, we chose an 850W PSU that will do an amazing job supporting all of the abovementioned components and then some.
This PSU is fully modular meaning that it doesn’t have any cables attached to it.
In most cases, we wouldn’t bother recommending a fully modular power supply for non-portable PCs. This is simply because they are unnecessarily expensive compared to semi-modular ones without adding anything significant to the table since you’re going to be plugging in all the cables a semi has anyway.
However, this time the budget was more than enough to accommodate a fully modular 80+ Gold certified PSU with a high enough wattage without the slightest issue, so we went with it because we know there are people out there who will appreciate it.
This isn’t a must-have feature, but it can be convenient to have depending on what kind of a user you are.
The second reason is that this particular PSU has a 10-year warranty which we always like to see as it gives us some additional faith in the product.
And finally, this PSU is 80+ Gold certified, meaning that it offers efficient power consumption which you’ll definitely need with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and the RTX 3090 running together.
If by some stroke of misfortune this PSU is not available when you decide to shop for it, you can easily find a different one that will fit this build, just make sure that the wattage is at least 750W, that it has an 80+ Bronze certification, or above, and that it’s from a reputable brand such as Corsair, EVGA, SeaSonic, Thermaltake, and the like.
Case: Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB
Finally, we’ve come to our last component for this $3000 PC, and we’re excited to tell you more about it!
When choosing a case, you obviously want to get something that looks great because it’s the most eye-catching part of your build. However, this isn’t the only thing you should worry about, and it’s far from being the most important either.
But with such a vast pool of cases to choose from, the search can prove overwhelming. Luckily, you have us, and we’ve found a case for you that perfectly combines functionality and style – the Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB!
It comes with three 120mm Corsair RGB fans and is quite roomy, allowing not only for optimal cooling but also for easy installation of your components.
In fact, this is one of the main reasons we chose this case. First of all, the spaciousness is quite important seeing as it will be housing a massive 12.3” RTX 3090, and good airflow is essential in helping to maintain low temperatures within the case.
No matter how good of a CPU cooler you have, or how well the fans on your GPU are optimized, if your case is just one big shiny box without proper airflow, you will encounter some very unpleasant issues due to overheating.
For those of you who plan on using water cooling, the Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB also supports up to 360mm radiators in the front, as well as a 240mm radiator on the top, so you should be good to go if water cooling is your thing.
The iCUE 4000X RGB also boasts a full PSU shroud, two tempered glass panels, easily removable magnetic filters in the front, top, and bottom, ventilation gaps, and room for up to two 3.5 HDDs and two 2.5 SSDs. Lastly, the case only has one USB 3.0 Type A port, one USB 3.1 Type C port, and a headphone/microphone jack right next to the power button and reset buttons.
The lack of any additional USB 3.0 ports is a bit of a downer, but other than that, this is a great case with excellent airflow and stunning looks for a relatively affordable price. If, however, you are bothered by the single, lonely USB 3.0 port, a fantastic alternative is the Cooler Master MasterCase H500. And if you want to see a few more options before you commit, check out the link below.
Peripherals
Now that we’re finished with the main build, we’d like to offer you some suggestions on the kind of peripherals you might want to have with a high-end PC such as this one.
The peripherals were not included in the price of the build as most people already own some of them from their previous systems, or they simply don’t want or don’t need everything we have listed down below.
Nevertheless, while some of what we have on our list is entirely optional and depends entirely on your personal preference, other peripheral items such as the monitor can make or break your gaming experience depending on what kind of a monitor you choose. So take a look down below to see what we’ve prepared for you.
Operating System: Windows 10
This one is a no-brainer. It’s indisputable that Linux has its own advantages, and WINE represents their admirable step forward in improving users’ gaming experience, but in the end, when it comes to gaming Windows takes the crown hands down.
Admittedly, Windows is expensive, and not everyone can afford it, but for those already buying a PC this pricey, a few more bucks for an OS that will give you the best gaming experience should be seen as an investment.
While we firmly stand by our recommendation, we understand that some of you may not be big fans of Windows, so in that case, SteamOS might be a somewhat good enough replacement.
Monitor: LG 27GN950-B
We’ve mentioned that monitors are vital when it comes to your gaming experience, and there are several reasons for that.
First of all, your experience will depend on the type of panel the monitor has. In most cases, we would suggest choosing an IPS panel because those have better viewing angles and better color accuracy than any other type of panel, but at the expense of the response time.
Or at least that’s how it used to be.
The second factor is the response time, which is basically how long it takes for the pixels to change color, but we won’t get into the details of it here. If you want to know more, we have a whole article written about the subject that you can check out.
What we will talk about, however, is the refresh rate. This is important because the monitor can, in a way, bottleneck your GPU if your GPU is too strong and the monitor refresh rate too low. Essentially, no matter how strong your GPU is, your FPS will be limited by the refresh rate of your monitor. That said, the refresh rate you should be aiming for is definitely 144Hz in a powerful PC such as this one.
Well, we think we’ve found the perfect monitor that combines all the abovementioned things into one glorious product. The LG 27GN950-B is a 27-inch IPS, 4K monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time.
With this monitor, you can finally enjoy both the splendor of 4K IPS gaming and the insane response time so widely coveted by competitive gamers that used to be exclusive to TN panels, without having to sacrifice your refresh rate and FPS. There is no longer a need to sacrifice the visuals, and resolution only to get that 1ms response time.
Additionally, the monitor is compatible with G-Sync and FreeSync, has an HDR 600 display and virtually invisible bezels.
All of this said, this monitor is pricey, but it’s no wonder considering what it has to offer. Although it does have a few flaws such as the stand, for example, that’s unusually high even at its lowest, as well as the lack of HDMI 2.1. If this is something that might bother you, we have a few other suggestions.
For those of you who prefer to game on ultra-wide, you might want to look into something like the Alienware AW3418DW or even better, the ASUS Predator X35. If you’re more into the super ultra-wide gaming and have deep enough pockets, then you can take a look at the Samsung CRG9 or the Dell U4919DW, but keep in mind they are not without their disadvantages either.
Also, if you’re into competitive gaming, and you don’t want to pay a premium, you might be in the market for a monitor with a TN panel in which case you’d want to check out something like the Viotek GFT27DB, which is a 1440p, 144Hz monitor with FreeSync.
The one specific thing that makes this monitor amazing is its enhanced color reproduction and improved viewing angles more reminiscent of a VA panel without sacrificing any of the speed. This is not exactly a high-end monitor, but it does have interesting perks worth looking into.
With all of this said, we want you to keep in mind that these are just recommendations. There are plenty of amazing monitors out there in different price ranges, and what works for some of you might not work for others. In the end, the one who chooses what to buy is you, and you should get whatever you think will suit you best.
Mouse: Razer Viper Ultimate
Even among pro gamers, the Razer Viper Ultimate is an extremely popular mouse, and it’s clear why. It looks simply fantastic. But amazing looks are not the only thing this mouse has to offer.
The first thing we have to mention here is that it’s a wireless mouse.
Now, you might be used to the fact that wireless mice are usually not a good match for gaming because of their inferior responsiveness, short battery life, and their often considerable weight that doesn’t suit everyone.
With the Viper Ultimate, all of these problems are gone.
The mouse weighs only 74g, it has a battery life of an astounding 70 hours (without the RGB, but still amazing), 4 programmable buttons, improved feet, an incredibly over the top 20,000 DPI, and a whole new sensor which makes this wireless mouse feel like a wired one in all respects except that it doesn’t contribute to cable clutter.
The Viper Ultimate comes with a charging station that glows different colors depending on how close your mouse is to being fully charged, and it also comes with a USB dongle that you can use to charge your mouse via the computer, so you can continue using it wired while it’s charging.
On top of all this, it has an ambidextrous design so you can use it regardless if you’re right or left-handed. It also comes in two exclusive colors, white and yellow with a Cyberpunk theme, as well as pink and classic black.
Keyboard: Corsair K95 Platinum XT
When it comes to keyboards, you probably already know that you can either choose between mechanic or membrane keyboards.
There is nothing inherently wrong with membrane keyboards, but if you’re looking for a really good quality typing device, there is absolutely no reason not to get a mechanical one.
The reason why most people like mechanical keyboards is, for the most part, their recognizable clicky sound, but there is a lot more to it than that. In short, on mechanical keyboards, each key is registered separately, which gives it two advantages over membrane ones:
- The keys have a longer lifespan, and even if they malfunction, it’s easy to replace each individual key.
- When it comes to multiple keystrokes, mechanical keyboards register every single key pressed, and they do it in the correct order.
This second point is particularly important for gamers as membrane keyboards can fail to register some keys if they are pressed near-simultaneously, which can mean the difference between life and death in certain video games.
With this in mind, we’ve chosen an amazing mechanical keyboard from Corsair, the K95 Platinum XT.
Everything about this keyboard screams premium. It’s a full-sized keyboard with an aluminum frame. It looks absolutely amazing even with all the additional keys that can sometimes make a keyboard look cluttered.
Speaking of additional keys, the K95 Platinum XT sports 4 dedicated multimedia keys and a scrolling volume wheel, which is already a given on such a premium product, but it’s worth a mention, and 6 macro keys, which you could call the main attraction of this keyboard.
Namely, they are compatible with the Elgato Stream Deck software, so you can basically use them as a stream deck. You will need both the Elgato and Corsair software running though.
As always, Corsair’s RGB is on point and compared to the original K95 Platinum, the XT version actually has a usable wrist rest that’s plushy and comfortable. When it comes to the keys themselves, they have a slightly textured, almost gritty feel which might not suit everyone, but it does allow for a bit more control over the keys as you type, in our opinion.
And finally, it’s useful to mention that you can choose between Cherry silver, brown, and blue switches.
Overall, it’s a really solid keyboard with all the features you might need whether you’re working, gaming, or streaming, and a few extras as well.
Headset: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
The headset market is huge, and the competition is tight. There are a lot of amazing headsets out there, but sometimes having such a vast pool of items to choose from can be too much.
Luckily, there is one headset that everyone agrees is an amazing choice for gamers in particular, and that’s the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro.
This headset is not only incredibly stylish and durable; it’s also super-comfortable thanks to its memory foam padding that makes it easy to wear for hours on end. Additionally, it boasts a detachable microphone, and it has an abundance of padding despite being lightweight.
Now, it’s important to note that this is a wireless headset. This is something we actually love in gaming headsets just because it’s so convenient without being overly obstructive of your gaming if the battery runs out. But it won’t run out.
The battery on this headset will last you up to 24h according to Razer. With the headset, you get a micro USB cable for charging, but also a 3.5mm cable in case you want, or need to use it wired. So even if you forget to charge it, you can just plug it in and continue playing.
The microphone on the BlackShark V2 Pro is pretty good, nothing to complain about, but the audio is where this thing really shines. It has a hard-to-beat 12Hz to 28kHz frequency range and 7.1 surround sound. If you listen closely enough, you might be able to hear ants moving underground.
There is virtually nothing this headset lacks, so if you are in need and you are ready to splurge a bit, we encourage you to go for it, you will absolutely not regret it.
Mouse Pad: HyperX Fury S
Mouse pads don’t add anything to your gaming experience, just get whatever and you’ll be fine… or so you’d think.
There are more aspects to a mouse pad than you probably imagine. How big it is, what material it’s made of, how densely the material is woven, what kind of stitching it has, what kind of rubber is on the bottom, etc. All of these are important aspects of a mouse pad, especially if you’re serious about gaming.
Well, we present to you the HyperX Fury S.
This is an XL gaming mouse pad, large enough to fit both your keyboard and your mouse with room to spare. It has a densely woven cloth surface that enables accurate optical tracking and prevents your keyboard from sliding. It also has seamless edges stitched in a way that eliminates fraying, and a textured rubber underside.
We won’t pretend like there’s some extreme science that goes into making a good mouse pad, if it did, they’d be much more expensive. But there is certainly a noticeable difference between a quality mouse pad and a carelessly made one, and the HyperX Fury S is definitely the former.
Controller: Xbox Series 2 Controller
These days, even if you’re a PC master-race subscriber, it’s impossible to fully immerse yourself in the world of gaming without a proper controller as a lot of the titles that were originally created for consoles tend to continue working better when played with a controller even after being ported for PC.
The Xbox Elite controller held the crown for the best controller for quite a while, but now that Microsoft has come out with their Xbox Series 2 Controller and when we’ve seen what it can do there’s no doubt in our minds that this is the next king of controllers.
The Xbox Series 2 Controller looks quite similar to its predecessor, but a closer look reveals numerous changes and upgrades.
First of all, the new controller comes in a case with all the replaceable thumbsticks and d-pads, but it also finally comes with a charger that can be used directly from the case (there’s an opening in the case for the cable to come through so it can charge while in the case), or taken out and used separately.
Another major difference is the upgrade to the USB Type-C charger and a switch to a built-in battery with a 40-hour lifespan between charging.
Other than that, Microsoft has gone above and beyond in making this controller as customizable as possible.
In addition to the already mentioned magnetic thumbsticks and d-pads, with the Xbox Series 2 Controller you can now have 4 profiles to switch between, three of which are entirely customizable while one is locked at stock settings. The adjustable hair triggers now have three modes (shallow, medium, and deep press), and, this is probably going to interest many of you, you can now adjust thumbstick tension!
Last, but not least, Microsoft included the option to designate a shift button. This means that all your other buttons aside from the shift button can gain an entirely new function adding a whole slew of new options.
This is quite an upgrade compared to the previous Elite controller, but if you’re worried about spending a lot of money on a fancy new gadget that won’t be compatible with later versions of Xbox, let us put you at ease. This controller is compatible with the new Xbox Series X. So if you want to treat yourself to a new controller, the Xbox Series 2 is the way to go.
VR: Valve Index
The PC build listed above is an absolute monster, and there is no doubt that with it you’ll be able to unlock whole new levels of VR magnificence, so it would be a real shame if you didn’t utilize it.
The Valve Index is currently the Headset that can offer you the best VR experience.
The Valve Index has adjustable lenses with an LCD 1600×1440 display each. This improved resolution compared to the Vive reduces motion sickness quite a bit, so if that used to be a problem for you, then the Valve Index might be the right headset to help you step into the world of VR gaming.
Moreover, if you already have the HTC Vive and want to upgrade, you’ll be happy to know that there is no need to change your setup completely, as the Index’s base stations fit right into Vive’s mounting points, so you just need to slide them into place and you’ll be ready to game.
Finally, there are some great features implemented into this premium headset such as the amazing adjustable speakers that may look silly, but will actually improve your overall VR experience quite a bit. A great thing is that you don’t have to use them if you don’t want to, you can simply use your earbuds instead, but it would be a real shame not to take advantage of the amazing audio these provide.
And the other new feature is the finger-movement recognition built into the re-designed controllers. While not 100% perfect, this might be a step in the right direction toward making VR feel much more life-like.
Chair: Herman Miller Aeron
Spending a couple hundred dollars on a chair of all things may seem like a waste of money, but as an increasingly sedentary society, we’re beginning to see the significance of a quality-made seat on both the posture and overall health.
We are well aware of the back pain that comes from spending the majority of the day in a poorly made chair, which is why we want to use this opportunity to urge you to invest in a quality-made chair before such pain even starts cropping up.
The Herman Miller Aeron is an exceptional example of such a quality-made seat.
Since this is a $3000 PC build, we also built the peripherals section with the assumption that if you’re willing to spend thousands of dollars on a gaming rig, you are unlikely to want to use just any peripherals, and this chair is no exception.
It doesn’t seem like a classic gaming chair, that’s for sure, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer you an equal amount of comfort, or better for that matter. This is an ergonomic chair with a high level of customizability. In fact, nearly every aspect of this chair can be adjusted to fit you perfectly.
There are two pads on the back of the chair that function as lumbar support that can be adjusted individually to fit the curvature of your spine. The backrest can be reclined into one of three positions, and the handles can be moved up and down, forward and back, and they can also pivot inward or outward depending on your preference.
Since everything about this chair can more or less be personalized, if you’re buying, make sure to get the right size as you can get them in different sizes depending on your height, weight, and general build to make sure it fits you perfectly. We also urge you to check out the reviews on Amazon since that’s where you’ll get the real idea of just what kind of a chair this is.
Wrist Rest: HyperX Wrist Rest
The keyboard we recommended above does come with its own wrist rest, but we are well aware that it won’t be to everyone’s liking.
If you are one of those people, we suggest you take a look at the HyperX Wrist Rest. It’s a simple wrist rest, but quite effective.
It’s not magnetic, and it has a red thread running along its edges that won’t suit everyone, but these shortcomings are overshadowed by its comfort and quality build.
The HyperX Wrist Rest is made of gel-infused memory foam that not only serves as a high-end pillow for your hands, but it also helps keep them cool even in hot environments.
This wrist rest fits any full-sized keyboard, so if you own one and are sick of resting your bones on uncomfortable edges of your keyboard, then this will certainly make your life much more comfortable.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of this magnificent $3000 PC build. A lot of research has gone into putting together the list for the main build along with a slew of peripherals you can choose from to complete this monster setup, so we hope our efforts haven’t been in vain and that you’ve been able to find something to your liking.
We know that building a PC from scratch is not an easy thing to do, especially if you’re a novice, but we also know how fun, exciting, and rewarding it can be, so we encourage you to give it a go. All the more so because you will never be able to find a PC that checks all the right boxes unless you build it yourself.
It has been a challenging year for DIY builders and there still doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s still possible to find decent parts and put together a great PC without having to give in to the scalpers. All you need is a bit of patience and persistence.
However, we do understand that some of you may need a PC ASAP and might not have the time or the nerves to look for and assemble all the individual parts. If that’s the case we recommend taking a look at what the prebuilt PCs have to offer.
They might not be anywhere near as good as custom ones, but they might be the only choice if push comes to shove. Besides, you can always upgrade them as you go.
Having said this, we still encourage you to try your hand at building your own rig. Putting the whole supply issue aside, there’s nothing quite like the sense of accomplishment after booting up a system you’ve put together yourself. The only potential problem is that you might get addicted to it.
