I need your opinion about this Computer

AMD - Ryzen 7 7700X Raphael AM5 4.5GHz 8-Core Boxed Processor
Gigabyte - B650 Gaming X AX V2 AMD AM5 ATX Motherboard
G.Skill - Flare X5 Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-6000 PC5-48000 CL36 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit F5
6000J3636F16GX2-FX5
Gigabyte - AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT GAMING Overclocked Triple Fan 16GB GDDR6 PCIe 5.0 Graphics Card
Inland - Performance Plus 2TB 3D TLC NAND PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD
Montech - X5 Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case
MSI MAG A1250GL 1250 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply - ATX 3.1 Compatible
Thermalright - Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler
Microsoft - Windows 11 Home 64-Bit FPP USB - English

😎

• To play video games (GTA, Fortnite, Ready or Not, etc.)
• School (coding)

(Seems like I can't post links yet)

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=77c59e97-6c2d-4e91-8513-fb4c657e6c17

I appreciate your time and attention!

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X Vermeer 3.7GHz 12-Core AM4 Boxed Processor

I went with the 5900X because, at the time, it was the perfect mix of gaming performance and core count. As gaming was my main priority, this was a must-have for me. After using this processor for almost three years at time of writing, I can honestly say that I have not regretted my choice even a little bit! AMD has done very well with their Ryzen processors in the gaming, productivity, and creative worlds.

Motherboard: ASRock X570 Taichi AMD AM4 ATX Motherboard

I had a few motherboards I was looking at while I was deciding on parts, but I ultimately decided on the ASRock Taichi. I wanted an X570 motherboard that had front panel USB Type-C support as well as Type-C on the board itself. I had two NVMes that were brought over from my old build, and I planned to get a third, new one to go with this new build, so three NVMe slots was a must. I know how hot NVMes get, so I made sure that my motherboard has heatsinks to cover all available slots to help keep them cool. I definitely wanted to make sure that I had the latest (at the time) AX Wi-Fi, since we didn’t have a way to run cables from my router. The reinforced PCIe slots were a must, with how heavy graphics cards are getting now. The VRM heatsinks not only have heat spreaders, but they also have a tube that helps to vent them even further. I always say that you can tell a motherboard's quality by how heavy it is, as better boards will have more and better capacitors, diodes, and metal parts in general. This is a hefty board and most definitely fits that category! All motherboards I was looking at had all the features I wanted, so I picked this board mainly because I like the way that it looks. This board has served me well and has endured the trials that I have put it through!

RAM: G.Skill Trident Z Neo Series RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 PC4-28800 CL16 Dual Channel Memory Kit

G.Skill has been making good RAM for a long time, and the Trident Z Neo is no exception. This particular kit looks very nice, and I love how it matches my motherboard - it fits the theme, which is mostly white and silver with black. Beyond aesthetic, I wanted to make sure that my RAM would work well with my processor and not hold it back. I knew I had to have CL16, 3600Mhz speed and a kit with 2x16GB sticks. This configuration was the best bang for your buck at the time. I wanted 32GB to make sure that I could handle any game that would come out in the near future and also let me edit without running out of RAM. I was also planning on making a computer with enough RGB lights to keep my neighbors up through the night, and the Trident Z Neo fits the bill!

SSD: Samsung 980 Pro SSD 1TB M.2 NVMe Interface PCIe Gen 4x4 Internal Solid State Drive

The 980 Pro was the best SSD on the market when I was putting this build together, and I want to have the best in my PC. Samsung makes very good products, and they are extremely reliable. I had considered a 500GB model, but with the speed differences I decided on the 1TB. This is the drive that I use for my operating system, programs and some demanding games when I run out of space on my other drives.

Game SSDs: 2 x 1TB Intel 670p NVME SSD, 1TB Samsung 860 EVO SATA SSD, 750GB Crucial MX500 SATA SSD

These are a mixture of 3.0 NVME SSDs and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. They are drives I was using in older builds that I carry over with me from build to build. They are all fast enough to play games on, so I don’t really put anything specific on each one. Since they are all varying ages, if they stop working, I don’t have to worry too much. I only keep video games on them and when they go out, I can just reinstall the games.

Graphics Card: ASUS GeForce RTX 3080 TUF

The graphics card is the heart of a gaming computer and arguably the most important part for gaming. Of course, the processor, RAM, and GPU are all extremely important and need to work together so they can perform properly. The graphics card does, however, make the most difference in gaming performance for a well-balanced computer build. I went with ASUS TUF RTX 3080 because I was planning on playing in 4K, 120hz on a TV for most game content in the near future. I was already using a 1440p, 144hz monitor and would continue using it for some gaming content, like competitive shooters, but I wanted to make sure that I had a graphics card that could handle it all with the best settings on the newer games! The 3080 was one of the best graphics cards on the market when I got it. NVIDIA was blazing a Ray Traced trail at the time, and I wanted to be a part of it. I was interested in Ray Tracing for not only the gaming aspects but also the video editing aspects.

Power Supply: EVGA 850W Platinum Power supply

The power supply is the computer part that is extremely important but easily overlooked. They don’t just give your PC power; they regulate that power to keep your components safe from power fluctuations. One of the most important things that I looked at when choosing my power supply is that it has enough wattage to handle not only the computer's normal use, but also the spikes in power draw when gaming. Additionally, having twice the wattage as the computer’s draw makes it so that the power supply doesn’t get too stressed. That said, it is possible to have too much wattage and end up on the wrong side of the efficiency bell curve. That leads to the next thing that I look for: Efficiency! This power supply is Platinum certified. I always recommend at least a Gold or better for gaming machines (you can see a full breakdown of what that all means over here). Having good efficiency is important to me because I’ll be able to save more money on electricity and have less wasted energy that turns into excess heat. Most of the higher-end power supplies are fully modular, which is a really nice feature that helps keep the case looking cleaner because you only connect the cables that you are actually using to the power supply. Also, it’ll make for better airflow because you won’t have a knot of unused cables clogging up your case. It is also easier to route the cables when they aren’t connected to the power supply already. The EVGA 850W ticks all of those boxes, making it a great addition to any build!

Case: Lian Li Lancool II MESH Type C RGB Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Snow White

Most cases are mainly a question of aesthetics. This one fit in the white part of my theme. Of course, you want to make sure you get a case that will fit all of your parts and have space for any planned upgrades. You also want to make sure that it can keep your components cool, which has become a large concern lately with all the hotter running components. Outside of those factors, I chose this case specifically because of price, quality and ease of building/upgrading in. I knew that I would be upgrading parts and cleaning my PC build in the future, and the Lancool II made it easy. The case looks amazing with the RGB strips in the front and was a very reasonable price at the time. 

CPU Cooling: NZXT Kraken X72 All in One Water cooling Kit

The NZXT Kraken X72 is a 360mm radiator, all-in-one water cooler. I chose this because NZXT makes some of the best water coolers on the market. There are lots of good choices, but this is the one that I had with my previous build, so I continued to use it. The braided cables give the whole thing a nice aesthetic and the pump head on the CPU is gorgeous. I wanted a 360mm radiator, as they offer better cooling that some of their smaller counterparts. The 5900X is notorious for getting hot and I wanted to keep it as cool as possible. I did use some Thermal Grizzly Kryonaught for the reapplication, but the NZXT thermal paste is also pretty good out of the box too!

Fans: Lian Li UNI FAN SL120 Fluid Dynamic Bearing 120mm Case Fan w/ Controller - 3 Pack White

The look isn’t complete without my RGB fans! I could have brought fans over from my previous build, but I wanted a matching look. These fans are functional and stylish! I used the push pull fan layout on my radiator, because I wanted to see the RGB on both sides. It’s not always the best idea to push and pull on a radiator, since differences in fans can cause problems. I didn’t have to worry about that, because I have the exact same type of fans on both sides. As this was completely a cosmetic choice and I just wanted it to look nice, I wasn’t too concerned.

Some people prioritize functionality and some prioritize form. This was the culmination of all my builds up to this point, having started on prebuilt machines and then moving on to upgrading them and using hand-me-down parts! I had prioritized both. At the end of the day, the best part about building custom PCs is the flexibility that you get in making what works best for you!

More from the Micro Center Community:

Looking for more information about Building a PC? We’ve got PC Build Guides as well as articles on How to Choose Parts for you Custom PC Build, Product Reviews, and Part Comparisons. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to post a new discussion and the Community will be happy to help!

Or, if you want to see more Champion PCs, check out Jula V's Media Center!

Building a PC on a budget doesn't mean you have to skimp on power. By taking advantage of bundles and high-powered, affordable parts you can put together a PC that can absolutely crush 1080p gaming and easily break into high-frame-rate, 1440p esports and AAA titles!

Not only does this build feature one of the latest GPUs from AMD, the RX 7600, but it also uses the Micro Center exclusive AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D, a processor specifically designed to take your gaming PC to the next level without destroying your budget. The 5600X3D is part of a bundle that includes the processor, a motherboard, and RAM and will make up the core of this build, all the while saving you over $130!

So, how do we do it? Check out our parts list and find out!

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D Vermeer AM4 3.3GHz 6-Core Boxed Processor

Unsurprisingly, the Ryzen 5 5600X3D is the heart of the bundle. This Micro Center exclusive processor uses AMD's 3D V-Cache technology to greatly expand its cache, delivering snappier load times and higher frame rates. Don't believe us? We've got the proof in our benchmarks. But act fast! The Ryzen 5 5600X3D is a limited run processor - when they're gone, they're gone for good!

Cooler: DeepCool LT520 Premium 240mm Water Cooling Kit

The Ryzen 5 5600X3D is an incredibly powerful processor, and incredibly powerful processors deserve more than air cooling. The DeepCool LT520 is an incredibly water cooling solution that not only keeps your processor running at low temperatures, but looks absolutely stunning all the while.

Motherboard: ASUS B550-PLUS TUF Gaming WiFi II AMD AM4 ATX Motherboard

The backbone of the 5600X3D bundle, the ASUS B550-PLUS is a fantastic motherboard that will last you for years. ASUS TUF components are, as the name implies, designed to be hearty computer parts, built with military-grade components. Beyond the construction, the B550-PLUS is ready to go out of the box, with WiFi built-in, so you don't need to worry about finding an adaptor or running ethernet cable through your whole house!

Ram: G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 PC4-25600 CL16 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit 

The final piece in the 5600X3D bundle, this 16GB kit of RAM from G.Skill is plenty to get you gaming. 16GB is the minimum we recommend for gaming rigs nowadays (even some internet browsers can eat up a good chunk!), and, with only two sticks, it still leaves enough room to upgrade if you decide you need a bit more memory.

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7600 ROG Strix Overclocked 8GB GDDR6

AMD's RX 7600 is their most recent GPU release and comes packed with power for budget-friendly builds. The 7600 is more than capable of handling the latest releases at 1080p and, in our testing, could even handle some of the most intense games of recent memory, like Cyberpunk 2077, at a very playable 30FPS at 4K! So if you're looking for a card that's more than ready to take on 1080p and 1440p without overextending your budget, this is it.

SSD: Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD 1TB M.2 NVMe Interface PCIe 3.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive with V-NAND 3 bit MLC Technology

At this point, SSDs are a must have. Not only do they greatly reduce boot times, but new games, like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, are starting to require them for the best experience. Samsung's 970 EVO Plus comes with 1TB of storage, more than enough to get a new builder up and running with several games. And, if you find yourself needing more storage, you can always add additional 2.5" SSDs!

Power Supply: PowerSpec 650 Watt 80 Plus Bronze ATX Semi-Modular Power Supply Active PFC SLI Crossfire Ready Gaming PC

If you're looking to build a PC on a budget, you definitely shouldn't skimp on the quality of your power supply. However, opting for a non- or semi-modular power supply can save you a bit over their fully-modular counterparts. The semi-modular power supply we've chosen here has a few permanently attached cables, but still has several detachable cables for easier cable management.

Case: Lancool 205 Mesh Type C Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case

Just because you're building on a budget doesn't mean you have to build in a case that looks like it's from 2003. The Lancool 205 is a stylish case that comes with a tempered glass side panel and RGB fans, giving your PC a modern, stylish edge.

Check out (and customize!) the full parts list here:

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder-amd.aspx?load=1a132afc-c58a-4af8-b6d7-c24f39fd934c

While the new Meta Quest 3 is designed to be an entirely wireless, portable VR headset, it can connect to computers for PC-based VR experiences. So, to make the most of that, we designed a PC that has amazing PC VR capabilities - and looks awesome at the same time.

My inspiration for this build is the all-white aesthetic of the Meta Quest 3: featuring an all-white chassis, motherboard, cooler, and graphics card. I also wanted to highlight the Thermaltake P6 case, as it’s a hidden gem amongst many all-glass cases, as well as the new Lian Li Galahad II Trinity SL INF All-in-One cooler. 

CPU, Motherboard, and RAM: Micro Center Intel Core i7-13700K Bundle

For the CPU, motherboard, and RAM, I am using one of our Micro Center bundles for this build. This bundle features the Intel i7-13700K, the ASUS Z790-P PRIME Wifi motherboard, and G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB RAM and saves you aboutr $280.

The i7-13700K is an extremely powerful processor with 16 cores and 24 processing threads - great for high-demand VR games. The motherboard in the bundle also matches the all-white aesthetic and adds a nice silver finish. For connectivity, the motherboard has a 2.5Gb LAN port to ensure a fast, stable internet connection. Very importantly, a USB 3.2 Type-C port so we connect our Quest 3 with the MetaVR link cable. To top it all off is 32GB of incredibly fast DDR5 RAM, plenty to get you gaming with the latest and greatest VR titles.

GPU: Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Aero

The Gigabyte 4070 Ti Aero is one of the best gaming GPUs for the price point, especially when it comes to VR gaming. These games can be more demanding in comparison to regular 1080p or 2K gaming - but a 4070 Ti will be more than enough for the job. While there are many choices when it comes to the 4070 Ti, the Gigabyte version in particular features an all-white design that looks extremely clean and sleek and will fit perfectly with my Quest 3 inspired aesthetic. 

Storage: Samsung 980 Pro SSD 2TB M.2 NVMe

I have always been a huge fan of the Samsung SSDs. For this build, we are starting with a 2TB M.2 NVMe 980 Pro SSD. Considering the size of modern Triple-A games, which have been known to top 100GB, a terabyte can be filled up in no time. Luckily, the motherboard has multiple slots for additional SSD drives, and we can always expand on storage later down the line. Of course, you can also include some traditional HDDs as well, for cost-effective storage expansion.

Power Supply: Seasonic USA Focus GX-850 850 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

Seasonic recently released an updated version of their Focus GX Series power supplies that features an additional ATX 3.0 12V connector. This new connector allows us to plug the GPU - which takes the 12V connector - directly into the power supply. The single cable can deliver up to 600 watts of power and takes away the clutter inside of the PC thanks to a singular, direct connection (and not having to use the adapter between the GPU and PSU). As the 4070 Ti is extremely efficient and the i7 is not as power hungry as some of its siblings, an 850W is more than sufficient.

Case and Cooler: Thermaltake Core P6 Tempered Glass ATX Mid Tower Computer Case & Lian Li Galahad II Trinity SL INF 360mm AIO

Tying the build all together is the Thermaltake P6 and the Lian Li Galahad II Trinity SL INF 360mm cooler and two sets of Lian Li UNI Infinity fans. While the P6 case can be used in an open-air style, I prefer having the front glass panel attached for additional fans. The Galahad II Trinity has the same style as the UNI fans, with a heavy focus on infinity mirrors. That design adds a lot of depth to the build, helping it stand apart from the crowd.

While the Galahad AIO cooler can be mounted on either the top or the side, I find the side-mounted configuration fits perfectly and is a bit easier to work with. The side mounting bracket has just the right amount of space for the radiator and the fans to fit flush against the panel. 

Build your own:

If you want to build your own version of the White Infinity or use my design as a template to start from, you can check out the full build in the Micro Center configurator here:

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=c2627059-cae3-4cb2-8fdf-b21db12d4a77

And be sure to check out all of our coverage on the Meta Quest 3 - and test it out for yourself in select Micro Centers!

Black Friday and its deep discounts present an excellent opportunity to build a gaming rig without breaking the bank. From graphics cards to processors, Micro Center has sales that can unlock access to top-tier components at remarkably affordable prices, enabling you to build a budget-friendly PC setup that does not compromise performance. With that in mind, let’s dive into a high-powered PC build - great for 1080p or 1440p! - that will cost you less than $1000.

 Processor: Ryzen 5 5600X3D Vermeer AM4 3.3GHz 6-Core Boxed Processor - Heatsink Not Included – Part of a special Black Friday bundle, the Micro Center exclusive Ryzen 5 5600X3D is a formidable six-core, twelve-thread processor, delivering impressive power for both gaming and productivity tasks, with an emphasis on gaming. The 5600X3D features AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, boosting the chip’s cache capacity for faster load times and higher frame rates. Don’t believe us? Check out our in-depth review and benchmarks!

Not only do you get one of the best value CPUs on the market, but this bundle comes with a motherboard and RAM (more on those below) and saves you an additional $140 over buying the parts individually.

Motherboard: ASUS B550-PLUS TUF Gaming WiFi II AMD AM4 ATX Motherboard – The second piece in our Black Friday bundle, the ASUS B550-PLUS is the perfect compliment to the Ryzen 5 5600X3D. Built on military-grade components, the ASUS TUF line is known for its solid construction and reliability. This board also comes with built-in Wi-Fi, so you won’t need to pick up an adaptor or worry about running ethernet cable throughout the entirety of your house.

 Ram: G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit –  The final part of our Black Friday bundle, 16GB of RAM is plenty to get you started on your gaming journey and G.Skill Ripjaws is a great a great choice. DDR4-3200 pushes the upper limit of speed for last-generation processors and, with only two sticks included, you have room to easily upgrade if you find you need more.

 GPU: Sapphire Technology AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Pulse Dual-Fan 12GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card – The AMD RX 6700 XT may be a last generation card, but don’t write it off. It’s still a more than potent 1440p card, able to crush esports and AAA titles alike. The best part? Coming in at only $339.99 during our Black Friday sale, it won’t blow out your budget. A budget build doesn’t have to skimp on power!

 Case: DeepCool CH510 MESH DIGITAL Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case – At first glance, the DeepCool CH510 MESH DIGITAL looks like a fairly traditional computer case. Sure, it’s sleek black with a gorgeous tempered-glass side panel, but nothing out of the ordinary. Turn it on, however, and watch the front panel spring to life with active temperature monitoring. The built-in front display features a read out for your CPU and GPU temps, so you can easily keep an eye on your PC vitals.  

 Power Supply: DeepCool PQ850M 850 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply –

The one part you should never skimp on when building a PC is the power supply. Whether you’re building on a budget or have unlimited funds, a good power supply will keep your computer safe. Bad power supplies can fail and bring your PC down with it; one hiccup could wipe out your CPU, GPU, and storage. The DeepCool PQ850M is 80 Plus Gold certified, keeping your PC running efficiently and safely. Plus, as it’s a fully modular power supply, you can keep cables you don’t need in the box, rather than hanging loose in your case.

 SSD: Inland Prime 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen 3.0x4 M.2 2280 3D NAND Internal SSD –

Gone are the days of the HDD as a main drive. SSDs are far faster and more stable than their spinning platter counterparts. 1TB should be more than enough to support your OS as well as a few games. If you need more space, a 2.5” SSD or traditional HDD can be a great budget-friendly way to bolster your storage.

 Cooler: DeepCool AK400 ZERO DARK Performance CPU Cooler – While AIO coolers are absolutely the new hotness (or should we say coolness?), a good traditional air cooler can work just as well. One such cooler is the DeepCool AK400. The AK400 is a simple, matte black cooler that will do wonders for your build and your budget.

 Monitor: Acer 27KG3 M3bip 27" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 180Hz Gaming Monitor – While this build could handle 1440p, if you’re playing any sort of esport title, you’re going to want a high refresh rate monitor. At 180Hz, this 1080p monitor from Acer provides fast, smooth gameplay, perfect for a competitive edge in esports and a more cinematic experience in AAA titles.

Diving into the realm of PC building may seem daunting, but the sales and discounts Micro Center offers can make choosing your parts easier than ever. You’ll probably end up building a PC with more power than you expected, without going over budget! If you need help picking parts, stop by your local Micro Center today and our knowledgeable associates will be happy to help you pick out exactly what you need. We also offer custom build services, if you want the power of a custom PC but want to skip the hassle of putting it together!

 Build your own:

If you want to build your own version of our Black Friday Build or use my design as a template to start from, you can check out the full build in the Micro Center configurator here:

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=818ccb6a-33f8-4812-afcf-a40d6b4fc4ba

See the full build here

But that's not all - we've got tons more on sale, so be sure to check out our Black Friday Sale guide and then stop by your local Micro Center today and beat the holiday rush!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 might have the same name as the 2011 Call of Duty release, but this is a brand-new game. It’s a sequel to the revamped Modern Warfare 2 from 2022 and is built on an updated version of the Infinity Ward IW Engine. This is version 9.0, with its new water simulation system, improved AI, and better mobile support. It also enjoys all the upgrades of IW 8.0, with its tactical destruction, advanced shading, and textures with damage layers, among many other improvements.

All of this means that Call of duty: Modern Warfare 3 isn’t just going to look great, it’s likely to be the most demanding Call of Duty game ever. If you’ve been just about limping along with an old gaming PC playing older CoD titles on low settings, it might be time for an upgrade.

Here’s what you need to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.

Minimum System Requirements

•       CPU: Intel Core i5-6600, AMD Ryzen 5 1600, or better

•       RAM: 12GB

•       Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970, GTX 1650, AMD Radeon RX 480, or better

•       VRAM: 3GB

•       Storage: 65 GB SSD

•       Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit

 Sledgehammer Games has set the bar for entry relatively low with Modern Warfare 3, so just about anyone with a gaming PC made in the past five years should have no trouble getting it running. If you can meet or match these specifications, you can expect to enjoy the game at 1080p resolution with an average of at least 30 FPS, while most of the game settings remain on low.

The processors were mid-range for their time, but were released eight and six years ago, respectively, so they’re well past their due dates and easily beaten by a modern entry-level processor from the past couple of generations. Most importantly, the 6600 is a quad-core processor with no simultaneous multithreading (SMT), so you don’t need lots of cores to play this game. It’ll work just fine on older quad-cores – and even better if they have SMT support.

For RAM, it’s a shame to see 8GB not supported by these minimum system requirements, as a good 15% of Steam gamers still only have 8GB of RAM. However, most gamers have 16GB or more RAM, so this won’t gatekeep many. For those who are locked out of playing, 16GB of RAM is a very affordable upgrade in 2023.

As with most gaming requirements, the graphics card is the highest barrier to entry, but even that’s quite short. All of the recommended graphics cards are many generations old, and though the GTX 970 and RX 480 were relatively top-spec cards in their time, they’ve been replaced and supplanted several times over. You’ll get comparable performance with the most entry-level of modern cards, and if you have anything mid-range from the past few years, you’ll have a lot more power to bring to the table.

Storage requirements are pretty modest for a modern game, with some of the latest big releases running well north of 150GB. You’ll want an SSD for this one, though. While CoD may function on a hard drive, nobody should be gaming on anything but an SSD in 2023. They’re super affordable and even cheaper than some hard drives in smaller storage sizes, so don’t skimp there.

Buying a PC to meet the minimum requirements

If you don’t have a PC capable of running Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, then you aren’t likely to find one that will simply meet the minimum specs, outside of very old second-hand systems in flea markets or auction sites. If it wasn’t obvious, you should not be buying a system that old and that neglected.

Your best bet, if you can’t meet these requirements, is to simply buy (or build: see below) something new. You can easily put together a PC that will match or exceed this kind of hardware for a very affordable price, unlocking not only a better-looking and playing Modern Warfare III experience, but the power to play a range of other modern games.

With that in mind, one of the best options to play Modern Warfare III at entry-level settings, is the HP Victus 15L. It features an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor, with six Zen 3 cores, and a high clock speed. It supports simultaneous multi-threading, so we have way more processing power than this game needs at its minimum system requirements, and we’re years ahead of it from an architectural standpoint.

   • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5600G

   • RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200MHz

   • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050

   • Storage: 512GB SSD

   • Operating system: Windows 11

The Victus 15L has 16GB of fast DDR4 memory, so we meet and exceed the system requirements there, and the half terabyte of SSD storage is plenty of space for this game and many more besides.

As for graphics, it’s got an NVIDIA RTX 3050. That’s an entry-level GPU from the last generation, but it’s a successor to the recommended GTX 1650 with a far more powerful Ampere GPU. It also operates at higher clock speeds, and has double the VRAM, making it much more applicable for modern gaming.

One really important addition to that card, though, is its Tensor cores. Those allow it to utilize NVIDIA’s excellent upscaling algorithm, Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). That has the potential to massively boost frame rates in compatible games, and Modern Warfare III does support DLSS, helping this GPU punch well above its weight.

This system also supports Wi-Fi 6, helping you to have the fastest, lowest latency connection for competitive play, and it supports Bluetooth 5.3 if you have any wireless devices you want to connect.

It’s a fast, affordable gaming PC that easily outstrips the ancient minimum system requirements. With the HP Victus 15L, you should be able to enjoy the game at 1080p resolution at a steady 60 FPS. Perhaps with a few settings set to medium, and even high if you enable DLSS.

If you’re more of an AMD fan, you can swap DLSS support for a faster GPU with the PowerSpec G516 Gaming PC.

Building a modern PC to meet the minimum system requirements

More interested in building your Modern Warfare III gaming PC yourself? You’re a gamer after my own heart. In that case, you have the pick of the litter when it comes to hardware, so you can either build something more powerful to unlock greater frame rates, detail settings, and resolutions, or we can make something even more affordable.

The best bang for buck gaming processor is, at the time of writing, the Micro Center exclusive AMD Ryzen 5600X3D. To make it even better value, we have an awesome bundle deal for the CPU, a capable mid-range motherboard, and 16GB of fast DDR4 memory, all for under $300.

You can buy those components individually, but you’ll end up spending close to $400 for such a collection, and that’s money you can put into your graphics card instead. You won’t need a lot though. The AMD RX 6650 XT is an awesome 1080p gaming graphics card, available for just $235 at the time of writing. This is the specialized ASRock overclocked, triple fan version, too, so it runs faster than a stock 6650 XT and much quieter, too.

That will mean you won’t get DLSS support, but Modern Warfare III also supports FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), AMD’s upscaling algorithm. That works on just about any graphics card, too, so you can further boost your frame rates in this game using it.

If you’re leaning towards NVIDIA, you can grab an RTX 3060 for a comparable price and get that DLSS support. It is, however, a bit less powerful than the RX 6650 XT, so you’re leaving some general rasterization performance on the table if you go this route. Ray tracing performance is better, though, so if you play other games with RT support, it could be a better choice for you.

For storage, any SSD will do. The Western Digital Blue SN580 is available at 500GB and 1TB sizes for $40 and $60 each, so you can get a lot of very fast storage space for very little investment. If you want to go bigger and faster, you can always put a couple of drives in there, or opt for an affordable larger drive, like the Crucial P5 Plus 2TB.

As for the power supply, you want one from a reputable brand like Corsair, Seasonic, EVGA, or Cooler Master. You’ll want a capacity of at least 500W to make sure you have enough power for the graphics card and processor, though you can go for more if you want to. It’s a good idea to opt for a unit with an at least 80+ Bronze rating, as that will ensure the PSU is efficient and doesn’t waste too much power, helping to keep your energy builds down. It’s also a sign of quality components, so you can rest assured the PSU will last a good few years.

For the case, just ensure it can fit your motherboard. In our case, that’s a B550-M Micro-ATX board. Any mid-tower chassis will be able to fit it, but smaller ITX cases may not be able to, so don’t try to build an ultra-compact system with this kind of hardware.

Recommended System Requirements

•       CPU: Intel Core i5-6600, AMD Ryzen 5 1600, or better

•       RAM: 16GB

•       Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1070, RTX 3050, or AMD RX Vega 56

•       VRAM: 6GB

•       Storage: 65 GB SSD

•       Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit, or Windows 11

 The recommended system requirements for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III are more demanding, but not egregiously so. The CPUs are the same, so we should recognize that this game is not going to be CPU bottlenecked. Ensure your processor is decent, and you’ll have no trouble playing it at even higher settings.

Where we do see a leap in demand is in memory and graphics. Thankfully, the memory bump isn’t a big deal, as 16GB is in line with what most gamers already have in their PC. It won’t be a hard requirement to meet.

The graphics card requirements are heavier hitter than the previous options, but these are still cards that were either super-entry level (in the case of the 3050) or years old. Most gaming PCs made in the past few years will have absolutely no trouble hitting these kinds of specifications or exceeding them.

If you can at least match them, you’ll be able to enjoy the game at 1080p, with most settings on high, and a steady 60 FPS in most areas. If you enable DLSS on the RTX 3050, or FSR on the other cards, that 60 FPS should be all but guaranteed no matter what’s happening on screen.

Buying a PC to meet the recommended requirements

 If your PC can’t quite meet the recommended system requirements for this game, you may be able to just upgrade your graphics card to something modern to bring your PC up to spec. If not, though, all the hardware here is years out of date, so you’d only be able to find it second hand and, at this age, that’s really not advisable. You never know if graphics cards of that generation have been used for cryptocurrency mining, and with no warranty, there’s no help if something goes wrong.

You’re better off buying or building (see below) a new gaming PC to play Modern Warfare III, and we have the perfect PC for the job. The MSI Codex R is a mid-range gaming PC with a great selection of high-powered components.

•       CPU: Intel Core i5-13400F

•       RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800MHz

•       Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 4060

•       Storage: 1TB NVMe Gen3 SSD

•       Operating system: Windows 11

 This is far faster than the recommended requirements, making you well equipped to play this game at not only higher settings and frame rates, but other modern games too. It’s also priced very affordably – and has a big discount at the time of writing, so take advantage of it while you can.

The Intel Core i5-13400F CPU is one of the best bang for buck gaming processors of its generation. It has 10 cores, which is the kind of power you’d only get in flagship processors a couple of generations ago. Six of those are performance cores, too – this isn’t a low power laptop chip. The four additional efficiency cores help boost its multi-tasking and multi-threaded power, which is perfect for running loads of browser tabs at once, or you want to edit together some clips of your gaming highlights.

The 16GB of DDR5 memory will ensure that your Intel CPU is running at peak performance all the time, and there’s enough of it to support almost all modern games. There are a handful that benefit from 32GB, but that’s a very cheap upgrade in the future if you need it.

The real centerpiece of this build, however, is the NVIDIA RTX 4060 graphics card. This GPU has all the power you need to play Modern Warfare III at maximum settings at 1080p, with a high frame rate. Working together with the 13400F, you can expect a stellar gaming experience at 1080p, and in games like this one that support DLSS or FSR, you can even dabble with 1440p resolution if you’re willing to accept lower settings or frame rates.

With a terabyte of SSD storage, there’s plenty of space for Modern Warfare III and a number of other big AAA games, with space to spare. It also supports 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, for very fast local networking and support for the latest of Gigabit and faster internet connections. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to use wireless, there’s also native support for Wi-Fi 6E, which is just as fast as Ethernet if you can get close enough to the router to fully utilize that 6GHz frequency.

Building a modern PC to meet the recommended system requirements

If the MSI pre-built gaming PC above doesn’t suit your fancy, or you just want to give building your own PC a go, you’re in for a treat. We can easily match or exceed the recommended system requirements with modern hardware, and picking and choosing individual components gives us the greatest selection, with lots of scope for additional features and performance should you want them.

Considering the CPU recommendations haven’t changed between the minimum and recommended system requirements, you’re still best off opting for the excellent Ryzen 5 5600X3D bundle with included B550 motherboard and 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz memory. It’s still one of the best gaming processors available today, and at its super affordable bundle price, you have so much to spend on additional components to bring your system’s performance up to the level we’re looking for.

The only downside to this bundle is it does lock you into an older generation with limited upgrade potential down the line. If you’d rather opt for something newer with future upgrade potential, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and Intel Core i5-12600K offer comparable performance, and they’re good for overclocking, too.

Just make sure if you go those routes, you buy a compatible motherboard and cooler to go with them.

Whatever processor you pick, we need to partner it with a powerful graphics card to rival or exceed the performance of our two recommended GPUs. You could get an RTX 3050 as it recommends, but that’s a very low power graphics card and it’s not particularly cost effective. We can do better.

If we’re only spending a few hundred on the processor, motherboard, and memory, we can afford to go a little bit more extravagant on the graphics card. At around $330 after recent discounts, the AMD RX 6700 XT is an amazing graphics card for this sort of game. Being an AMD graphics card, but it only supports FSR in its place, which is a great framerate boosting tool, should you choose to use it.

The ASRock AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Challenger GPU

Alternatively, NVIDIA fans can opt for a 4060 Ti, which offers roughly comparable performance, though is a bit more expensive. If you want to push the budget a tad further, you can get the AMD RX 7700 XT instead, which is a big leap over all of these cards and a true next-generation performer.

Storage needs are no different at this tier, so spend as much or as little as you like – just make sure you use an SSD for your boot and game drive. If you want to keep your budget tight so you can focus on other components, an affordable SSD like the Western Digital Blue SN580 is great, and is available at 500GB and 1TB sizes. If you want something faster, more modern, and larger, the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB model is available at a steep discount – grab it while stocks last.

What do you need to play Modern Warfare III at 1440p?

Playing Modern Warfare III at 1440p isn’t that demanding since the game itself isn’t, but it does represent a jump in graphical power requirements. That means we’ll need a more powerful graphics card, and for my money, I’d probably upgrade the CPU too, just so that it was definitively capable enough to prevent any CPU bottlenecks.

I’d probably be tempted to upgrade the memory to 32GB as well, especially since it’s such an affordable upgrade.

If you’re upgrading your existing PC to do this, you’ll want to make sure that your power supply can handle all of these improvements too, since the latest generations of graphics cards are particularly power hungry.

Buying a PC to play Modern Warfare III at 1440p

The quickest and easiest way to get a PC capable of playing Modern Warfare III isn’t to build one or upgrade what you’re got, though, it’s to buy one. On the more affordable end of the spectrum, the Asus ROG Strix GA15 is a great buy for playing this sort of game, at these sorts of settings. The CPU and platform are a generation old with limited upgrade potential, but the RTX 3080 is a stellar graphics card from the last generation and would have cost almost as much as this whole system alone when it was first launched.

This PC will be able to play Modern Warfare III with all settings maxed out at 1440p, and at 100+ frames per second throughout the entire game, no matter what you’re doing. Turn DLSS on, and it’ll probably crest a comfortable 150 FPS at times.

If you have a bigger budget and want to get something a bit more powerful, a bit more modern, with a better upgrade path for the future, the PowerSpec G714 is a super-powered alternative. It comes fitted with the Ryzen 7800X3D CPU, the best gaming processor ever made, and 32GB of super-fast DDR5 memory. To top that off, it has an NVIDIA RTX 4070 graphics card, which is not only super-fast, but supports DLSS 3 frame generation, so in compatible games can boost frame rates even more with some AI generated content. It’s a real game changer.

Building a PC to play Modern Warfare III at 1440p

Building a PC gives us a little more scope to pick individual components to really maximize performance and your budget.

For the processor, get the AMD Ryzen 7800X3D. It’s probably overkill for what we have here, but it’s so much more powerful than any other chip in its price range that you might as well. Especially at its newly discounted price. Check reviews on some of the mid-range B650 motherboards and get one that has everything you need and not much else – it’s not worth blowing much budget on fancy motherboards when you won’t be doing much overclocking. The 7800X3D might be super powerful, but it doesn’t have much scope for more.

Memory speed does tend to effect AMD processors more readily than Intel ones, so you’ll want a fast kit of RAM. Fortunately, like SSDs, RAM prices have fallen to new lows for the latest generation DDR5 modules. Grab an awesomely fast 32GB of G.Skill Flare X5 6000 MHz memory for under $100.

The Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT GPU

For graphics, one of the best bang for buck 1440p graphics cards in 2023 is the AMD RX 7700 XT. It’s brand new, very affordable for the performance it brings, and it has enhanced ray tracing accelerators, so in games that support ray tracing, it’s ready to go. It also supports FSR, so you can boost frame rates even more.

Just make sure you have a powerful enough PSU for it. AMD recommends a 700W model for the 7700XT.

What do you need to play Modern Warfare III at 4K?

To play Modern Warfare III at 4K, we’re going to need to upgrade our graphics card. There’s little more demanding for a gaming PC than playing at 4K (save for high-level ray tracing) so you’ll want a top card. You’ll want a decent CPU to go with it too, to make sure it’s not bottlenecked – though there’s no need to go for the very fastest option unless you want to do some heavy work outside of gaming.

As for everything else, we can keep it pretty close to the spec of our 1440p PC. Yes, 4K is more demanding, but mostly on the graphics card. It won’t need more than 32GB of memory and the storage sizes aren’t changing. Depending on your GPU of choice, though, a power supply upgrade may be in order.

Buying a PC to play Modern Warfare III at 4K

Jump right into 4K gaming in Modern Warfare III and just about any other game out there, with the HP Omen 45L. This high-end system features an AMD Ryzen 7900X 12 core processor, so it’s right up there with the top chips when it comes to raw CPU performance. It’s paired with 32GB of fast DDR5 memory, and a terabyte of SSD storage, so it will boot up super fast and remain responsive even over long gaming sessions.

The real powerhouse in this machine, though, is its graphics card. The NVIDIA RTX 4080 is one of the most powerful GPUs ever made and is ready and raring to play Modern Warfare III at 4K resolution and the highest of high settings.

Better yet, it comes with a free copy of Alan Wake 2, and it’s on a heavy discount at the time of writing. Snap this one up while it lasts.

Building a PC to play Modern Warfare III at 4K

If you’re building a PC to play any game at 4K, you can throw the kitchen sink at it if your pockets are deep enough. But to maximize your budget, let’s take a look at some components which really stand out for their bang for buck, even at this kind of level.

Despite newer competition, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still the bang for buck gaming king. You could end up spending more than double on a competitor chip and see maybe a 1% improvement in your frame rates. It’s just not worth it. This CPU is powerful, affordable, and you’re starting off on AMD’s first generation of Zen 4 motherboards, so you’ll be able to upgrade at least a few more times before having to change your motherboard in the future.

Pair it with 32GB of fast memory and however much SSD storage space you need.

The ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ROG Strix GPU

As for graphics, you could opt for the most powerful graphics card ever made: The NVIDIA RTX 4090. It’s the best 4K gaming graphics card ever made. However, you have to pay a lot for that privilege, and it’s arguably overkill for Modern Warfare III, even at 4K. Though if you’re planning on running the latest and greatest AAA titles for years to come, its not a bad investment. A slightly more modest solution is the AMD RX 7900 XTX. It is the most powerful GPU AMD has ever made, and it’s more than capable of playing Modern Warfare III (and any other game besides) at 4K and beyond.

Conclusion

Modern Warfare III might not be a super demanding game, but it’s a good looking one, and if you want to have high frame rates to remain competitive, you’ll need to bring a decent PC to the table to play it. If your existing system isn’t up to the task, Micro Center has a range of pre-built gaming PCs that will suffice, or a range of affordable components you can use to build your own.

Whatever you decide, good luck out there soldier.

As the highly anticipated expansion for CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty draws near, gamers worldwide are gearing up to explore the next chapter in the neon-drenched dystopia. To truly savor this electrifying experience and immerse oneself in the intricate, ever-evolving world of CyberPunk 2077, CD Projekt Red has released new PC specs. The demands of modern gaming have never been higher, and keeping pace with the latest specifications ensures that players can fully appreciate the game's visual splendor, seamless gameplay, and captivating narrative. In this quest for an exceptional gaming rig, we embark on a journey to craft the perfect PC setup, tailored to the updated specs of the Phantom Liberty expansion, promising an unforgettable journey through the neon-lit streets and thrilling adventures that await.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D 4.4GHz 12-Core Boxed Processor

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D emerges as an excellent choice for crafting a high-performance PC build in anticipation of Phantom Liberty. Sporting a formidable 12-core and 24-thread architecture, this processor unleashes immense computational power, ensuring a seamless and immersive gaming experience within the expansive universe of CyberPunk 2077. With a base clock speed of 4.4GHz and Precision Boost technology, it effortlessly handles multitasking and resource-intensive tasks, allowing you to navigate the intricacies of the game world with ease. Paired with support for lightning-fast DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 connectivity, the Ryzen 9 7900X3D guarantees rapid data transfer rates and responsiveness, making it perfectly suited for handling the graphical and computational demands of modern gaming. Whether you're exploring the neon-lit streets or embarking on thrilling missions, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D ensures that you're equipped to enjoy a stellar Phantom Liberty experience.

Motherboard: ASRock X670E Steel Legend ATX Motherboard

When I think of phantoms, I think of a white ethereal ghost, so we’ll go with a white theme for our build. What better motherboard than the ASRock X670E Steel Legend to give our build its ethereal phantom look? Designed for enthusiasts and gamers alike, this motherboard is a powerhouse, delivering a compelling blend of performance, aesthetics, and durability. Equipped with AMD’s X670E chipset, it's ready to harness the power of our 7900X3D, ensuring you're at the top of your game while playing the Phantom Liberty expansion. The X670E Steel Legend offers an array of advanced features, including PCIe 5.0 support for lightning-fast data transfer, Wi-Fi 6E for lag-free online gaming, and a robust power delivery system to overclock with confidence.

Ram: TeamGroup T-Force Delta Alpha RGB 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-5600 CL40 Memory Kit - White

The TeamGroup T-Force Delta Alpha RGB DDR5 32GB DDR5-5600 memory kit in the white finish isn't just about aesthetics; it's a powerful addition that ensures our PC meets the new minimum 20GB RAM requirements for CyberPunk's upcoming expansion. This memory kit seamlessly blends elegance and performance, accentuating the sleek white aesthetic of our build. Its ultra-fast AMD EXPO certified DDR5-5600 speed ensures data is processed swiftly, eliminating bottlenecks during gaming, and providing ample memory capacity to explore every detail of CyberPunk's expansive world. Beyond its impressive performance, the integrated RGB lighting adds a touch of customizable flair, enhancing the visual appeal of our rig while meeting the demands of the gaming experience. In this fusion of style and substance, the TeamGroup T-Force Delta Alpha RGB DDR5 memory kit is the key to unlocking the full potential of your CyberPunk adventure.

GPU: ASRock AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Taichi White Overclocked Triple Fan 24GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

Elevate your gaming experience to unprecedented heights with the ASRock 7900 XTX in stunning white. Designed to meet the demands of the most ambitious gamers, this powerhouse GPU delivers an astounding minimum of 60 frames per second at 4K ultra settings, ensuring that you won't miss a single detail of the expansive cyberpunk world. With its cutting-edge technology and relentless performance, the ASRock 7900 XTX delivers seamless, lag-free adventures through the neon-lit streets of Night City. Its clean white design not only exudes elegance but also perfectly complements our phantom-themed PC build. Don't settle for less when Night City beckons – arm yourself with the ASRock 7900 XTX in white and embark on a gaming journey like no other. And don’t forget, if you want to take advantage of CyberPunk’s RT Overdrive settings, switch this up for any RTX 4080 or better for maximum performance.

SSD: Crucial T700 1TB TLC NAND Flash PCIe Gen5x4 NVMe M.2 SSD

The Crucial T700 1TB NVMe SSD stands as a pinnacle of high-speed storage solutions, positioning itself as one of the fastest drives available in the market. With top-tier performance that leaves no room for compromise, it's the ideal companion for experiencing the immersive world of CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty at its best. This cutting-edge NVMe SSD delivers lightning-fast read and write speeds, significantly reducing load times and providing seamless gameplay. Whether you're navigating the neon-lit streets or engaging in adrenaline-pumping combat sequences, the Crucial T700 ensures that your in-game experience remains fluid and responsive, making every moment within the Phantom Liberty expansion a thrilling adventure. With this SSD, you're not just playing a game; you're immersing yourself in a cyberpunk dystopia with unrivaled speed and precision.

Case: NZXT H9 Flow Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - White

The NZXT H9 Flow case in a sleek white finish is the perfect complement to our phantom-themed PC build, epitomizing the fusion of aesthetics and functionality. Its minimalist yet striking design, featuring clean lines and subtle accents, seamlessly integrates with our build's overall white-themed aesthetic. Beyond its elegant exterior, the H9 Flow offers remarkable airflow, ensuring that our high-performance components stay cool even during the most intense gaming sessions in the world of CyberPunk 2077. With its spacious interior, cable management options, and support for various cooling solutions, this case not only showcases our build's visual prowess but also enhances its overall performance. It's a perfect encapsulation of form meeting function, ensuring our phantom-themed rig looks stunning while providing the ideal environment for top-tier gaming experiences.

Power Supply: Seasonic USA Vertex GX-1200 1200 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

The Seasonic Vertex GX-1200 1200W power supply is a pinnacle of power and reliability in the realm of PC components. With a robust 80 PLUS Gold certification, it not only offers a substantial power output but also operates with exceptional energy efficiency, reducing electricity consumption and heat generation. Its fully modular design allows for a clutter-free and organized cable management system, ensuring optimal airflow within your PC case. The Vertex GX-1200 is equipped with top-quality components, such as a high-performance fluid dynamic bearing fan, generating less noise and heat than standard power supplies. This power supply unit is the backbone of any high-end gaming or workstation build, providing ample power to run multiple graphics cards, high-performance CPUs, and other power-hungry components without breaking a sweat. With the Seasonic Vertex GX-1200, you can be confident that your system is powered by a reliable and efficient source, ready to tackle the most demanding computing tasks.

Cooler: NZXT Kraken 360 Elite RGB 360mm All in One Liquid CPU Cooling Kit - White

The NZXT Kraken 360 Elite in a white finish, featuring a brilliant 2.36" LCD display, is the ultimate addition to our white-themed phantom build. This all-in-one liquid cooler not only ensures optimal thermal performance but also complements the aesthetic appeal of our rig. Its vibrant LCD display can be customized to show vital system information, animated logos, or even a touch of personal flair, making it the centerpiece of our build. Beyond its visual appeal, the Kraken 360 Elite provides exceptional cooling efficiency, allowing us to push our CPU to its limits without worry. With its advanced CAM software, we can effortlessly fine-tune fan speeds, monitor temperatures, and create dynamic lighting effects to match the captivating world of CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. In every aspect, the NZXT Kraken 360 Elite enhances the functionality and aesthetics of our build, ensuring that our phantom-themed PC stands out as a true masterpiece.

Case Fans: NZXT F120 RGB Core Fluid Dynamic Bearing 120mm Case Fan - White 3 Pack

The NZXT F120 RGB Core Fluid Dynamic Bearing 120mm Case Fan in a pristine white finish, available in a convenient 3-pack, is the perfect addition to complete our white phantom-themed build. These fans are more than just cooling solutions; they're aesthetic enhancements that elevate the overall visual appeal of our rig. With customizable RGB lighting, these fans allow us to synchronize and harmonize the lighting effects with the theme of CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. The fluid dynamic bearing technology ensures quiet and efficient operation, while their 120mm size provides ample airflow to keep our components cool under pressure. Not only do these fans offer top-tier performance, but they also embody the perfect blend of style and function, making them an essential element in our phantom-themed PC that's sure to turn heads and enhance our gaming experience.

See the full build here

AMD's newest GPUs launched just last week and they are very exciting for budget-minded 1440p builders! We've got some early benchmarks in our launch article (we'll have more in-depth breakdowns and benchmarks coming soon!), and the results don't lie: the RX 7800 XT pulled over 100 FPS in both Cyberpunk 2077 and Horizon: Zero Dawn at 1440p! And starting at only $499.99, the 7800 XT is a dream come true for everyone who wants to experience the next level in visual fidelity without destroying their budget. To support that dream, we put together a parts list that will get you gaming for under $1,500 making use of some Micro Center bundle deals. Let's get to it.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Raphael AM5 4.5GHz 8-Core Boxed Processor

The centerpiece of our CPU/Motherboard/RAM bundle, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is part of AMD's latest lineup of processors and is a stellar uppper-mid-range processor. The new AM5 processors support DDR5 RAM, PCIe 5.0, and WiFi 6E, so no matter what your doing, whether its browsing the internet or getting ready to crush the competition, you're going to have a fast, snappy PC!

Cooler: DeepCool LT520 Premium 240mm Water Cooling Kit

We talked about the DeepCool LT520's bigger sibling not that long ago, and pretty much everything we can say about that applies to the LT520, just in a slightly smaller package. The LT520 is a powerful, two-fan AIO that looks as good as it performs - which is to say absolutely stunningly.

Motherboard: MSI B650-P PRO WiFi AMD AM5 ATX Motherboard

Another piece of our bundle, the MSI B650-P is a great motherboard and the perfect compliment to the Ryzen 7 7700X CPU. The B650-P has the DDR5 and WiFi 6E support needed to really make the most of your new processor. It also has plenty of ports - seven USB-A and one USB-C - to ensure that you won't have to choose between keeping your keyboard or your mouse connected!

Ram: G.Skill Flare X5 Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-6000 PC5-48000 CL36 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit

The las piece of our bundle, G.Skill is know for solid, reliable RAM and their DDR5 offerings continue that trend. 32GB of high-speed DDR5 RAM is plenty for just about anything you might want to do, from relaxing and streaming some TV to creating your own TV in video-editing software. If you still need a bit more, you've got two empty slots to double your RAM all the way up to 64GB!

GPU: ASRock AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger Overclocked Dual Fan 16GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

Released just last week, the Radeon RX 7800 XT is a great way to get into 1440p gaming. It features all of the bells and whistles of the latest lineup of AMD GPUs like FSR support and an industry-leading chiplet-based design. Our testing saw it hit 100+ frames in several AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077, but it even held its own at 4k, with Horizon: Zero Dawn clocking in at 81 FPS. Now is the time to see what high-resolution gaming is all about!

SSD: Inland Performance Plus 2TB 3D TLC NAND PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

We cannot stress that, if you're building a PC in 2023, you really should be using an SSD at minimum, but preferably an M.2 SSD. M.2 SSDs like the 2TB Inland Performance Plus offer crazy fast speeds and increased stability over traditional HDDs. They've also come way down in price in recent years, making them an absolute staple of modern PC building.

Power Supply: Corsair RMx Series RM850x 850 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

A PC with this level of power behind it deserves a fully modular power supply. You don't want to ruin your vibe with a bunch of miscellaneous cables just hanging out of your case, do you? The Corsair RMx series delivers on both great reliability and a fully modular setup so you only have to use what you need to use.

Case: Fractal Design North Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - White/Oak

Speaking of cases, the North from Fractal Design continues to reign supreme as the king of great-looking minimalist cases. With gorgeous wood featured prominently on the front, this is a case that can blend in seamlessly with any room of the house. Play games on the big screen in your living room without guests wondering about your rainbow glowing box (though we do love a rainbow glowing box here)!

Check out (and customize!) the full parts list here (price does not include bundle discount):

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=1c722d74-e7d5-403d-8ab0-42702fabc9ce

As a designer, I often work with some very powerful systems. These systems could be solid gaming systems, but they often require some additional, specialized hardware to interface with specific tools, both of the hardware and software variety. These requirements, on top of the need for a powerful creative machine, can make it daunting for the working creative to build a professional machine. In light of that, I’ve pulled together a parts list for two machines great for digital art: one top-of-the-line and one a bit more accessible. Both are based on the gorgeous North case from Fractal, designed to feel right at home in a professional setting.

Let’s dig into it!

Option One: The ProArt Pro

The Case

I first want to talk about the aesthetics of the build and the case directly ties into that. For my studio, I have a clean desk with a couple ultra-wide displays, and so I want that case to look clean and sharp. Currently, the Fractal Design North has a look and feel we have not seen in a while, and it harkens back to the clean lines and warm materials used during the Mid-Century Modern designed houses in the 40s-70s. The black case, with gold trim and real walnut slats on the front’s air intakes, use a pair of 140 mm intake fans and, despite looking compact, the case can accommodate an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 video card with ease. The inspiration for the case fits beautifully with the ASUS ProArt Motherboard and Video card I have selected here as well - black with gold accents. I’ve been itching to put all these components together.

The Motherboard, Processor, and RAM

For this build out, I was looking for a board that has not only the latest and fastest chipsets, SSD interfaces, and RAM speeds supported, but I was looking for that one aspect that you don’t typically find in a gamer board: the Thunderbolt 4 port. This is used heavily by designers to interface with a myriad of specialized storage devices, CNC machines, and MIDI Controllers. The Thunderbolt 4 not only supports data transfer speeds of 40 Gbps, but gives you USB 3, DisplayPort, HDMI, High Speed charging, and multiple 4K display support from a single interface. In my personal case, it would be to plug into an external RAID drive array. To match all those requirements, I opted for the ASUS Z790-Creator ProArt Wi-Fi.

Design applications are optimized for lots of CPU cores, so to match with the ProArt Pro model, I went to the Intel 13900K. This will give you plenty of processing power to use. If you need to, you can even create Virtual Machines with ease. Capping it all off is 64 GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM.

The Onboard Storage

Large and fast storage is a must if you do not have access to vast amounts of external storage. Thankfully the pricing of NVMe onboard storage is getting to be so competitive, making it easy to pick a 2 TB Samsung 990 Pro drive for storage of things like the OS and applications. I’ve also added a nicely priced Inland 8TB secondary drive in a second NVMe slot for scratch space when working with video editing or rendering. I have found the Inland SSD to be very good drives and carry the awesome Micro Center lifetime warranty.

The GPU

In keeping with the look while getting great performance I opted for an ASUS ProArt Nvidia 4080. This card will support multiple monitors and give great performance for advanced Revit, AutoCAD, and Illustrator work. Less lag leads to more production!

Power Supply

Take a look at the ASUS TUF line of power supplies! The cables are very attractive sleeved cables that you used to only be able to find as aftermarket accessories that cost an arm and a leg. Now you get performance and style without overspending. It also has the dedicated 12 pin video card connection, a must for this build. 850 watts is perfect for this build.

Keeping Cool

Part of the theme is keeping the RGB to a minimum, but I did opt for an NZXT Kraken Z53 so that I can keep tabs on system performance using the LCD screen on the pump. The North supports up to 280mm fans and/or radiator, and the Z53 uses the full 280mm. Things will look nice and tight in there, but the case will have no issue supporting it. It’s a great CPU cooler with and the monitoring tools are just the icing on the cake.

When all said and done this system checks in at around $4,500, but will meet the needs of heavy, specialized design work. But I also know that a build this robust is not going to be necessary for all digital artists. With that in mind, I also pulled together an alternative parts list that keeps the same spirit and design motif but shows off more of the ProArt Line. I’ve made some adjustments to get the cost to nearly half while providing an attractive system that meets the needs of photo editing, CAD work, and graphic design.

Option Two: The ProArt Elemental

With this one I wanted something that was in the roughly $2,500 range, which is still pretty beefy for a “work PC” but wanted to feature some of the rest of the line. Rather than dive deep into each piece of this build, this is more of a low-cost reflection of the Pro, so we’ll refer to that for more thorough explanations. We’re going to keep the case and power supply as is but step down the following components.

Motherboard: ASUS B660-Creator ProArt D4

This motherboard uses DDR4 memory and lacks the built-in Wi-Fi and Thunderbolt 4 connection but will provide a great basis for a more budget-focused build.

Processor: Intel Core i7-13700K

The 13700K is still a very capable CPU that offers overclocking. While it does not have the same core/thread count of its older sibling, it can still handle visual work with aplomb.

RAM: Corsair Vengence DDR4 (32 GB)

32Gb of DDR4 RAM should be more than enough for any work you may need. But if its not, you can easily double it to 64GB.

Storage: 1TB Samsung 980 Pro & 4TB Inland Performance

Here I cut the size of both drives in half, still leaving plenty of storage but without as steep of a cost. Of course, you still have all sorts of SATA options. The case will support four 3.5-inch Platter drives, or six 2.5-inch SATA SSD, or any combination therein.

GPU: The ASUS 4070 Ti ProArt

A small step down from the 4080, the 4070 Ti is still one of the most powerful current-gen cards on the market. Unless you’re really pushing the art envelope, this should work great!

Cooling: DeepCool AK620 & Lian Li UniFan P28

I’ve opted for air cooling here, as it will save you some money on your build and still perform admirably.  I also wanted to mention the new Lian Li UniFan P28, which link up to four fans together but without RGB. The P28s move up to 92 CFM (cubic feet per minute), achieving static pressure of 4.79 (MMH2O) compared to 58.54 CFM and 2.64 (MMH2O) of similar fans. That’s a big difference, especially when you’re pushing your build to its limits while creating!

A Final Note:

ASUS does also make AMD versions of the ProArt line, with support for the AM4 and AM5 line of CPUs, if you prefer AMD. To fill out any build, they also offer several displays, mice, keyboards and even some highly specialized 14” Ultrawide Multi-Touch displays that can be added to your system as a form of drawing tablet, whether you use your fingers or a stylus.  The ProArt series is one of it’s fastest growing new lines with a focus on performance for digital artists, and including them in your build can help elevate it – and your art! – to the next level.

In a month jam-packed with launches, Alan Wake 2 is looking to be the game that pushes computers to their limits - and with good reason. Remedy's return to Bright Falls already looks stellar, with gorgeous environments and textures, all backed by incredible, ray-traced lighting. As a result, however, the specs to get Alan Wake up and running are a bit steep.

If you've been looking forward to slaying monsters and saving writers but find your PC a bit underpowered, worry not! We've pulled together a build that will get you ready to revisit Cauldron Lake for under $1,500 - and will keep you ready for AAA titles for years to come!

Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Raphael AM5 4.5GHz 8-Core Boxed Processor

AMD's Ryzen 7 7700X is at the center of AMD's latest generation of CPUs, making it not only a great processor that well exceeds the requirements for Alan Wake, but one that will keep your computer future proof for years. The 7700X comes ready to game with a 8 core, 16 thread architecture, ensuring your new build can crush both single- and multi-threaded tasks. It's also DDR5 ready, so you can be positive you're getting the fastest speed available - prefect for keeping moody games like Alan Wake moving along without getting stuck at loading screens.

And speaking of DDR5 RAM, the Ryzen 7 7700X is part of a bundle which we'll be using to save an extra $231, allowing our build to be on the cutting edge without cutting a hole in our budget!

Motherboard: MSI B650-P PRO WiFi AMD AM5 ATX Motherboard

The MSI B650-P PRO, also included in our bundle, is a fantastic backbone for any system. Ready for whatever you throw at it, this board is a great choice whether you're planning on stalking the streets of Bright Falls or knocking out some work so you can get back to gaming. The B650-P PRO is equipped with some of the latest technology, like Wi-Fi 6E for stable, fast wireless connections and PCIe 5.0 for the quickest data transfers available. It uses a minimalist, sleek black design, making it a perfect fit for just about any case and aesthetic. Especially when you're aesthetic is mirroring the dark Cauldron Lake.

Ram: G.Skill Flare X5 Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-6000 PC5-48000 CL36 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit

Lastly - but certainly not least - in our bundle is 32 gigs of DDR5 RAM from G.Skill. This absolutely crushes the recommended 16GB of RAM, and will keep you ahead of the curve for at least a few more years. And, at DDR5-6000 speeds, you've got the bandwidth to do some serious work when you're not busy escaping Cauldron Lake. Or, if you're streaming your Alan Wake experience, do both at the same time! Plus, the Flare X5 comes in a simple, clean black, complimenting the motherboard perfectly.

GPU: Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Windforce Overclocked Triple Fan 12GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

What's better than building a PC designed to handle an upcoming launch? Building a PC designed to handle an upcoming launch then getting that game for free. Right now, if you buy select NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series cards, you get a copy of Alan Wake 2 for free! And luck for this build, the GeForce RTX 4070 Windforce from Gigabyte is on that list.

The GeForce RTX 4070 will, according to Remedy's requirements, get your game running at a buttery smooth 60 FPS at 4K. Or, if you want to dig deep into ray tracing, you can expect solid performance at medium settings. And, if you've played a Remedy game in the past, you know that their medium settings still looks absolutely incredible. Don't lose your immersion with stuttering from a sub-par GPU!

SSD: Samsung 980 Pro SSD 2TB M.2 NVMe

SSDs are becoming more and more common as a requirement, and Alan Wake 2 is no exception. SSDs enable some incredible speeds, both while gaming and just booting your PC. The recent PC launch of Ratchet &Clank: Rift Apart showcased the power of SSD gaming with hidden loading for seamless transitions between worlds. What Alan Wake 2 can do with it is yet to be seen, but it promises to be fast and impressive.

Alan Wake 2 is going to take up 90 gigs of your SSD. While that's not the biggest game out there, it's still a decent chunk of space. So, we've opted for a 2TB SSD to ensure that you have the space to get your OS as well as a few extra games going. And don't forget, you can always expand with additional SSDs or even HDDs!

Case: Fractal Design Meshify 2 Black ATX Flexible Light Tinted Tempered Glass Window Mid Tower Computer Case

Fractal's Design Meshify 2 is a stellar case. It has great airflow and is easy to build in. But it also fits the Alan Wake theme well. With an all black design, our motherboard and RAM will fade into the background of the case, giving it the impression of dark, inky depths like a certain Cauldron Lake. And the textured front gives the whole thing a subtly uneasy look, with a design that looks to be buckling under the weight of reality. Don't just play Alan Wake 2, do it in style!

Power Supply: PowerSpec 850 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

When you've got a build designed to evoke the imagery of depth and darkness, the last thing you want to do is clutter the whole thing up with a bunch of unnecessary cables. This 850W power supply from PowerSpec is plenty of power to keep your build running and is fully modular, so you don't have to leave all the HDD power cables attached - especially when you're not using an HDD! Plus, its got a bit of extra headroom, so if you do decide to upgrade, you can do so without needing to rewire your whole system for a new power supply.

Cooler: DeepCool LT520 Premium 240mm Water Cooling Kit

Our champion @Rye_Bread gushed at length about the DeepCool LT720 AIO a few months back. However, for this build, we're opting for it's smaller sibling, the LT520. The LT520 is a two-fan cooler, but no less competent or stylish than the LT720. It's one of the best looking AIOs on the market and will add just a bit of light to our build - just enough to make the shadows in the Meshify look a bit darker. But its not all about the style. The LT520 has more than enough cooling capabilities to keep our Ryzen 7 7700X running at optimal temperatures. No need to fret about an overheating CPU as you're walking through the gorgeously rendered Bright Falls!

See the full build here: https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder-amd.aspx?load=59b0ba2f-5337-49fd-bc69-baad6f4fc50e

Bundle discount not shown

Intel's new 14th Gen processors have arrived and with them comes some big changes to their i7-14700K. While all chips do see some improvement (check out our benchmarks here!), the i7-14700K gets a pretty big boost thanks to increased thread and core counts. Compared to last gen's i7-13700K, the 14700K has four more E-Cores and an additional four threads, bringing it up to an astounding 20 cores and 28 threads. So how do you make the most of that? With a high-powered build!

Processor: Intel Core i9-14700K

The i7-14700K saw some big changes from 13th Gen, with Intel adding an extra four E-Cores and four threads to an already powerful CPU. The result is significant performance increases for multi-threaded workloads - perfect for gamers and creators! It also includes Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, which is perfect for our....

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite X WiFi 7 Intel LGA 1700 ATX Motherboard

You could theoretically use a DDR4 motherboard with Intel 14th Gen, but you'd be sacrificing a lot of potential to do so. DDR5 provides the most power and speed, ensuring you're not bottlenecking your build. It's also equipped with Wi-Fi 7, the latest and greatest in Wi-Fi technology for stable connections and high-speed browsing and gaming.

Graphics Card: Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Windforce Overclocked Triple Fan 12GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

If you're looking to build a mid-range system at the upper end of the power potential, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is a great choice. The 4070 Ti delivers stellar 1440p performance (and we've got the benchmarks to prove it!) and doubles as a great creator GPU for video editing and streaming. OF course, if you want more power, you could opt for a GeForce RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 for the ultimate in gaming!

RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-6000 PC5-48000 CL30 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit

If you're building a modern system, you owe it to yourself to use DDR5 RAM especially if you're working with Intel 14th Gen processors. You could, theoretically, get by with DDR4, but your PC would be noticeably slower than a similar build utilizing DDR5 RAM.

Storage: Samsung 990 PRO 2TB Samsung V NAND 3-bit MLC PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

We've talked at length about why an M.2 is important for the speed of your system (they boot your OS and games a lot faster than traditional HDDs), but a stealth benefit is the absolute lack of cables. Stop worrying about hooking up SATA and power cables, let along where to put your hard drives for optimal cable management!

Power Supply: Corsair RMx Series RM1000x 1000 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

While you could get by with a bit lower wattage - 800 watts or so - springing for a bit of extra headroom can give you some wiggle room if you choose to upgrade later in the future. Plus, as a fully modular PSU, you can pick and choose the cables you want to use. No need for HDD power cables if you don't have an HDD!

Case: Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Gray - Micro Center Exclusive Model

Lian Li makes incredible cases, and their 011 Dynamic is no exception. Not only does the Dynamic feature the stellar air flow and build quality that you'd expect from Lian Li, but it is completely reversible, so you can choose which side you want to feature! The Harbor Gray model is a Micro Center exclusive, adding a spark to your build that you won't find anywhere else!

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder-intel.aspx?load=cc36dcb8-28e8-4c56-90cc-d5cbfaaea38f

Intel's new line of 14th Gen processors are available now at Micro Center. Be sure to check out our Intel 14th Gen Overview for all the new specs and benchmarks!

AMD's brand-new processor launched today! The Micro Center exclusive Ryzen 5 5600X3D is out now, and we've got a full benchmark and breakdown right over here. This budget-friendly chip is equipped with AMD's 3D V-Cache technology to give it a whopping 96MB of L3 cache to increase data transfer speeds, helping games run super smooth with increased framerates. It's a 6-core, 12-thread chip with boost speeds of up to 4.4GHz, making it a processing monster without breaking the bank. And right now, the 5600X3D is even more budget-friendly, thanks to Micro Center's 5600X3D bundle.

The 5600X3D bundle has everything you need to start your build off right. Not only does it come with the brand new 5600X3D, but a motherboard and RAM as well. The motherboard, an ASUS B550-PLUS TUF Gaming motherboard, is built with military-grade materials and is WiFi ready - no need to run an ethernet cable through your whole house! The RAM is 16GB of G.Skill DDR4-3200, for lightning-fast computing. And bundled together, you save over $100 instead of buying them all separately! So, to celebrate, we've put together a build that'll make the most of these parts, all without breaking your budget!

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D Vermeer AM4 3.3GHz 6-Core Boxed Processor

The Ryzen 5 5600X3D is an incredible chip. In our testing, we saw it perform consistently within the margin of error of its bigger sibling, the 5800X3D. It even overtook it in Cyberpunk 2077, beating it out with a higher frame rate (check it out!). There's no denying this chip offers just fantastic value, especially when paired with everything else in the bundle.

Motherboard: ASUS B550-PLUS TUF Gaming WiFi II AMD AM4 ATX Motherboard

The B550-PLUS TUF is a killer motherboard if you're looking for a long-term board. The TUF lineup is solid, with high-quality components backed by military-grade materials. The B550-PLUS offers multiple M.2 slots, onboard WiFi, 10/100/1000/2500Mbps LAN speed, and a plethora of features.

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200

When you're using an X3D processor, you want to make sure your whole build is fast. 3200Mhz is definitely on the "speedy" side of consumer-grade DDR4 RAM, so you won't find your rig slowed down by underwhelming RAM speeds.

GPU: ASRock AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT Challenger Pro Overclocked Triple Fan 12 GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

AMD's RX 6750 XT is a killer budget-friendly card, scoring high on our in-house benchmarks. This card can handle just about anything you can throw at it in 1080p, and is more than capable of working with 1440p on a wide range of titles, including esports.

Cooler: DeepCool AK500 ZERO DARK High-Performance CPU Cooler

The Ryzen 5 5600X3D is a powerful chip and powerful chips demand powerful cooling. The last thing you want is to thermal-throttle your brand-new CPU. DeepCool's AK500 is designed with high-performance CPUs in mind, and the 5600X3D definitely qualifies.

SSD: Samsung 980 Pro SSD 2TB M.2 NVMe

Don't throw away all that speed with a traditional HDD. NVMe's are lightning fast so you can boot your PC fast and get into games even faster. It's your turn to sit in menus waiting for your friends to finish loading in! And with 2TB of storage, you have plenty of space for your OS, games, and anything else!

Power Supply: Corsair RMx Series RM750x 750 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

More wattage is always good - you don't want to underpower your PC! - but there is such a thing as too much power. This 750 Watt PSU from Corsair is the perfect middle ground, with enough power for your whole PC but not blowing your budget out of the water. It's even modular, so you won't wind up with a ton of loose cables!

Case: Fractal Design Pop XL Air RGB Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Black

Fractal makes stellar cases, and the Pop XL Air is no exception. The XL Air is here to make sure that all of your components are getting the airflow they need to keep them running at peak proficiency. Plus, it's just a good-looking case and a great way to show off your completed build!

Check out the full build here:

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder-amd.aspx?load=2d636f09-eafa-40c1-af8d-5d552a25825d

The Ryzen 5 5600X3D bundle can be found over here! And if you'd rather pick up a pre-built PC featuring the 5600X3D, the PowerSpec G516 is also available!

Building a budget PC can be a great way to get the performance you need without breaking the bank. Whether you're a student, gamer, or just looking to save some money, building your own PC can be a rewarding and cost-effective experience. In this article, we'll explore the best components for a budget PC build and provide some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your investment.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 Vermeer 3.5GHz 6-Core AM4 - Wraith Stealth Cooler Included

Just because we’re on a budget, doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice higher performance and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a powerful processor that offers excellent performance and value for a budget PC build. With its 6 cores and 12 threads, it's perfect for multitasking and demanding applications like gaming and video editing.

Motherboard: Gigabyte B550M K AMD AM4 microATX Motherboard

The Gigabyte B550M-K is an affordable and reliable motherboard that's perfect for a budget PC build. It supports AMD Ryzen processors, including the Ryzen 5 5600, and features PCIe 4.0 support for fast data transfer speeds. With its compact Micro-ATX form factor, the B550M-K is also a great choice for small form factor builds or those with limited space.

Video Card: ASRock AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT Challenger D Overclocked Dual Fan 8GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

For the budget PC build, ASRock AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT Challenger D Overclocked Dual Fan 8GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card is a great choice for any budget-conscious build. With its overclocked core clock speed and 8GB of GDDR6 memory, it can handle demanding games and applications with ease. The dual fan design helps to keep the card cool under heavy loads, ensuring that it delivers stable and reliable performance.

Ram: TeamGroup T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit - Gray

The TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan-Z 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 RAM kit offers high clock speed and low latency at a reasonable price. The 16GB capacity is also enough for most users, providing ample space for multitasking and running multiple applications simultaneously.

Power Supply: PowerSpec 650 Watt 80 Plus Bronze ATX Power Supply

PowerSpec’s 650W Bronze ATX fixed power supply is a great budget option. With its 80+ Bronze efficiency rating, it delivers efficient and stable power to your components. The fixed cables make cable management easier, while the fully sleeved cables add a neat and clean look to your build.

SSD: Intel 670p Series 1TB QLC 3D NAND M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe SSD

The Intel 670p 1TB QLC NVMe SSD is a great storage option for a budget PC build. It provides fast read and write speeds, thanks to a PCIe Gen3 x4 interface and 3D NAND technology, ensuring that your system boots up quickly and applications load fast. The 1TB capacity provides plenty of storage space for your operating system, applications, and files. It also leaves plenty of room for future storage upgrades, if needed.

Case: ASUS Prime AP201 microATX Mini Tower Computer Case - Black

The Asus AP21O is an affordable Micro-ATX case that isn't just a great budget case, it's a great case, hands down. With its sleek and minimalistic design, it fits well in any workspace or gaming setup. It features a 90-degree motherboard mounting design that helps to improve airflow and cooling, ensuring that your components stay cool under heavy loads. The case also has a tempered glass side panel that showcases your build and adds a touch of style.

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home 32/64-Bit USB

With its modern design and improved performance, Microsoft’s Windows 11 USB installer provides a smooth and efficient user experience. The USB installation method makes it easy to install on your new PC, and the 32/64-bit compatibility ensures that it's compatible with a wide range of applications and software. 

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

I own two separate PCs that perform separate tasks at home - one for everyday use, and one for a media center “TV” computer. While my main machine is equipped with an RTX 3080 and a Ryzen 9 5900x, I actually want to talk a little bit about my media center PC instead. 

This is my current media center build: 

• CPU: Intel i5-11400 
• Motherboard: B560i MSI 
• Storage: 1TB 970 EVO Plus 
• Ram: DDR4-3200 32GB
• Graphics card: EVGA 1080 ti
• Power Supply: EVGA SFX 650W
• Case: Lian Li A4-H2O case
• Cooling: EK-240mm cooler 
• TV: LG 65” OLED C1
• Keyboard: Logitech MX mechanical mini 
• Mouse: Logitech MX Master mouse
• Controller: Xbox wireless controller

I love this little computer because I can use it to open streaming sites freely without being bound to smart TV software and even run Steam games on my TV. 

While we don’t carry many of the parts in this machine anymore, such as the i5-11400 processor and the 1080 Ti, there are parts we carry now that work equally as well if not better. For example, you can get the i5-12400 processor or even the i5-13400 processor. These processors use the LGA1700 socket, and you can pair it up with an ITX board such as the Gigabyte B760i motherboard. Since we are not running heavy computing tasks, editing video, or playing AAA games on this computer, a non-overclockable processor is perfectly fine for the task. 

As ITX boards only have two RAM slots, I would suggest maxing it out by getting a kit of two 16GB sticks. We do want to use low-profile RAM such as the Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4. For storage, this is pretty flexible - as it depends on whether you want to store media on the PC itself. I personally only have 1TB, but that's because I don't download a large quantity of movies or shows to my PC. Personally, I prefer to stream my media online, which is why 1TB works great for my needs. There are 2TB, and even 4TB options available at Micro Center. 

My graphics card is from an old machine, but if I were to pick something modern, I would definitely go with an RTX 3060. With this 30-series graphics card, I would be able to stream my favorite shows as well as run some of my multiplayer Steam games on the TV. I have my big PC for heavy competitive gaming and render-heavy open-world games, but for any game that uses a controller, I prefer playing it on the big TV. It really brings me back to the Wii console gaming in the mid-2000s and early-2010s. 

For cooling, we do need to go with a 240mm All-In-One liquid cooler. This is just due to the size restrictions of the case. The Strix 240mm cooler has amazing performance and aesthetics and will be compatible with the A4-H2O case. Speaking of size compatibility, this case uses an SFX, or small form factor power supply. Luckily, we do not need a ton of power to run the system. A 650W SFX gold-rated power supply is what I went with, but a larger one like a 750W will also work excellently. 

Overall, my favorite thing about this Media PC is the fact that it’s small, compact, and matches my space very well. I have the silver A4-H2O, but a black one would also look sleek and clean. Building inside of this case was a little bit of a challenge, but it was also a rewarding one at the end. 

I personally have the machine hooked up to my 4K LG TV, but this little powerful media PC will work regardless of the size or resolution of your TV. I mainly use it to watch shows online, watch live streams, listen to music through my TV speakers, and run some controller-compatible games such as Persona 5. When I have friends over, we are able to freely explore online together for what we want to watch and play on the big screen. For me, as a cable and smart TV app replacement, it can't get any better than this. 

Revised build based on what I have with newer parts: 

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder.aspx?load=0bde4a43-404e-4208-9bd5-b9585279b450

More from the Micro Center Community:

Looking for more information about Building a PC? We’ve got PC Build Guides as well as articles on How to Choose Parts for you Custom PC Build, Product Reviews, and Part Comparisons. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to post a new discussion and the Community will be happy to help!

If you’re looking for a new computer that’s perfect for your needs, whether it’s for gaming, working/learning from home, or business needs, Micro Center is here for you with our Same Day Build Service!

We can build an air-cooled or water-cooled with an all-in-one cooler and have it ready the same day if ordered at least 4 hours before the store closes!

To get started, you can pick out the PC parts using our Custom PC Builder, select the Pro Assembly option, and pay for it online. One of our build technicians will assemble your custom PC, then contact you once it’s ready for pick up. We’ve made the process super simple for you.

We also build custom water-cooled PCs with soft or hard tubing, but those are usually multi-day projects and require an in-store consultation with one of our build technicians to work out the details with you.

We offer five tiers of custom PC build service, depending on the build’s complexity, ranging from the standard air-cooled build Tier 1 through to Tier 5, a fully customized open loop PC with hard tubing. More info on the tiers are as follows:

I was really interested in a white or white and black theme and decided to use mostly ASUS ROG Strix components. It went almost perfectly according to plan except for finding that all-white Strix 3070. That said, it all turned out great because I got my follow-up choice, the 3070 KO! 

I bet you’ll be in a similar boat trying to figure out what to use it for and imagine how you want your first gaming PC to look like. Well, I hope my parts list, photos, and insight will help inspire you to build your first real gaming PC with us at Micro Center!

Case: Thermaltake - Core P3 Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Snow

 To me, it feels like you either pick a case you like or a graphics card you like and then make the build around that part. For me, it all started with the Core P3. After seeing this case online, I had to go see it in person at my store. I love that about Micro Center - being able to see all the parts up close and in person. This really helped solidify my ideal dream build and the courage to put the whole thing together.

 Processor: AMD - Ryzen 7 5700X Vermeer 3.4GHz 8-Core AM4 Boxed Processor

The Ryzen 7 was the perfect choice for my first gaming CPU. The 8-core, 16-thread processor with a boost up to 4.5GHz was powerful enough for my needs. I was able to get more into video editing as my new gaming PC was a beast and could handle 4k video footage. It was a blessing to be able to edit again with no hiccups! 

Of course, I took advantage of the bundle specials and saved some money in the process. 

Heatsink/WaterCooler: ASUS - ROG Strix LC II 360 ARGB All-in-one AIO Liquid CPU Cooler - White 

 Like I said, Strix all the way! The triple fan Liquid Cooler fits so well in this case and fills it out nicely! My temperatures were perfectly fine sitting around 60-70 degrees Celsius during gaming! Aura sync worked perfectly with my ASUS motherboard.  

Thermal Paste: Thermal Grizzly - Kryonaut Thermal Grease - 1g

 I know it comes with some standard paste, but I wanted something better and everyone I asked recommended thermal Grizzly. So, I went with the Kryonaut. It was so easy to reapply my own paste. 

 Motherboard: ASUS X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WI-FI) AMD AM4 ATX Motherboard

 The Strix board I used may not be available anymore, but we do have a great model with similar specs – the Crosshair VIII Hero. And it has the only thing I would have changed about my motherboard: built-in WiFi and Bluetooth! While I prefer to be hard-wired into the internet, and I can connect a long cable from my router, I can’t connect Bluetooth devices without another USB dongle. The Crosshair VIII has both built-in, so no extra dongles and it’ll work without the extra-long ethernet cable!  

Graphics Card: ASUS- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Dual Overclocked Dual Fan 12GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

While we don’t carry this ASUS 3070 GPU anymore, that doesn’t mean you can’t fully lean into ASUS. If I was building my rig today, I would have gone with the new ASUS 4070 OC GPU because it’s around the same price point bought my GPU for and would have cranked out a ridiculously high amount of frames for all of the games I had in mind on my 1440p setup. 

RAM: G.Skill - Trident Z Neo Series RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 PC4-28800 CL16 Dual Channel Memory Kit F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC - Black 

You might be thinking “Why didn’t he just go with the Trident Royals?” Believe me, I tried but I could barely find them when I built this a few years ago. If you want to jump for the sleeker-looking Royals now, they’re readily available! Either way, I love my G.Skill Trident Z Neo’s, they have been performing excellently! 

Hard Drive: Samsung - 870 EVO 250GB SSD 3-bit MLC V-NAND SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5" Internal Solid State Drive (boot drive) & Samsung - 970 EVO Plus SSD 1TB M.2 NVMe Interface PCIe 3.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive with V-NAND 3 bit MLC Technology (additional Storage)

My high school PC was a barebones kit with just integrated graphics and only one hard drive. After having an issue with my boot drive a long time ago, I learned my lesson and went with a multi-drive system to prevent losing all data from file corruption. I strongly suggest you do the same. 

Power Supply: ASUS - ROG Thor Platinum II 1000 Watt 80 Plus Platinum ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

This power supply was another MUST-HAVE for my build because the case allowed me to show off its LCD display and customized RGB! The display is a great way to tune your system and check power usage. Plus, it was perfect for my ROG theme and the case made it look like it’s floating! 

Case Fans: Lian Li - UNI FAN SL120 Fluid Dynamic Bearing 120mm Case Fan - 3 Pack White

Everyone loves the Uni Fans from Lian-Li! With the new “daisy-chain” technology, I was able to use 2 cables for 3 fans. This really helps simplify the cable management process. I was so stoked to upgrade my stock fans from my AIO.

RGB Add-ons: Lian Li - Strimer Plus V2 24-pin power extension & Lian Li - 8-Pin Addressable RGB V2 Power Extension 

Not mandatory, but very fun to have and customize! I love the patterns Lian Li includes with their controller! You can even use the L-connect software for more customization! 

Surge Protector: APC - SurgeArrest Home/Office Surge Protector, 10 Outlets, 4,320 Joules, 2-USB Type-A w/ 6 ft. Cord - Black 

Since this was the best PC build I ever made, I knew better than to use my old dusty power strips at home. I really liked how this APC model has so many outlets and a few built-in usb ports! 

 The Parts List can be found over on our Custom PC Builder!

More from the Micro Center Community:

Looking for more information about Building a PC? We’ve got PC Build Guides as well as articles on How to Choose Parts for you Custom PC Build, Product Reviews, and Part Comparisons. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to post a new discussion and the Community will be happy to help!

Up until recently, I was always a proponent of multiple-display setups, as each additional monitor offers more space to work with and, as a result, more utility. That was until I picked up an ultrawide monitor. I frequently work with programs like AutoCAD and have found that an ultrawide monitor just has far more options when it comes to drawing scales, as it isn't limited to the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio. As such, I thought I would share my newfound love by designing a PC with ultrawide monitors in mind!

For this build, I have put together a nice mid-range PC for typical home office work with an emphasis on ultrawide display capabilities. I chose to do a small-form-factor (or SFF) PC that will sit nicely on the table and compliment the focus on the display. The build features a nice clean, white design throughout. I’ve also picked out some nice looking and great sounding speakers to wrap up the entire package.

Processor: Intel Core i5-13600K Raptor Lake 3.5GHz Fourteen-Core LGA 1700 Boxed Processor

Intel's 13th gen is their latest and greatest, and the i5-13600k is no exception. This is a great middle-of-the-road, 14-core (6performance cores and 8 Efficiency cores) CPU running at 3.5 GHz. The performance-to-cost ratio is ideal for a small home office PC that can handle all of your daily tasks and a decently heavy workload to boot. It also doesn’t require a cooler that needs a lot of fans, helping to save on your budget and making it easier to build in smaller form factor cases.

Processor Cooler: Corsair iCUE H100i ELITE CAPELLIX XT 240mm All in One Liquid CPU Cooling Kit

The case - a HYTE Revolt 3 Mini, which we'll get to in a moment - works great with a 240mm radiator. Corsair’s AIO coolers have a great track record for performance and reliability. As an added feature, the RGB on the components can be set to create a nice ambient glow in the case.

Motherboard: ASRock Z690M-ITX/ax Intel LGA 1700 Mini-ITX Motherboard

Equipped with built-In WIFI 6, this board is ready for a nice productive life. The Z690M supports RAM speeds of up to DDR4-3000 with a maximum port capacity of 32 GB. There are a pair of NVMe M Key Slots and 1 E Key slot. It supports USB 3.2 and a has 1 PCI-E 5 16x slot for video card. This board also has ethernet speeds supported up to 2.5 GBPS and carries a 3 year manufacturer’s warranty. And, of course, itt also features white components on the board to compliment the theme. 

Graphics Card: ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Dual White Edition Overclocked Dual Fan 8GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0

A GeForce RTX 3060 may technically be a last-generation card, but that doesn't mean its not powerful. It has more than enough oomph to handle anything you can throw at it during a day of work with a bit left over for some light gaming, if that's your speed. 

RAM: Corsair – VENGEANCE RGB PRO SL 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 PC4-28800 CL18 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit CMH32GX4M2D36KW - White

If you have one RGB component, it can be smart to stick with the same brand for all RGB components, as it will make syncing and adjusting far easier. Both the Vengeance PRO RAM and AIO use Corsair's iCUE software for easy RGB setup. Its not all about aesthetic though - this RAM performs at lightning-quick 3600Mhz and offers the same reliability that Corsair has put out there for years.

Hard Drive: Inland - Performance Plus 2TB 3D TLC NAND PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

I have fallen in love with the Inland series of NVMe SSDs as the performance is great and the price is just fantastic.  With 7000 MBps read and 6850 MBps write speeds, this 2TB SSD has the room and speed to keep your PC at peak efficiency for years to come.

Power Supply: Lian Li - SP 750 GA 750 Watt 80 Plus Gold SFX Fully Modular Power Supply

Lian Li's SFX-size, fully-modular SP 750 power supply provides all you need for the components in this build. And not only does the color match up with the case selection, since its fully modular, you won't have extra cables cluttering up your small case!

Case: HYTE - Revolt 3 Mini-ITX Mini Tower Computer Case - White

This compact ITX case has an interesting look that stands on your desk like a cleanly designed model skyscraper. Ventilation and airflow is often a concern with SFF builds, but with mesh on all sides of the case, your fans have more than enough airflow to keep your PC cool. The Revolt 3 will sit nicely on the corner of any desk, comfortably tucked behind the corner of any curved, ultrawide display, but especially the one I've chose. Speaking of...

Display: Samsung - Odyssey Neo LS49AG952NNXZA G9 49" 5K DQHD (5120 x 1440) 240Hz UltraWide Curved Gaming Monitor

The ultra sharp, super fast, display is a 49” 240Hz Ultrawide curved monitor. While the Odyssey Neo is geared for gaming, it offers a nice, attractive, clean workspace for any project that would be helped by more space. The Neo has a 32:9 aspect ratio with a resolution of 5120x1440, which is approximately a pair of 2K displays, neatly condensed into a single panel. A truly massive 1.07 billion - yes, with a 'B' - colors are supported on this display, making it great for everything from gaming to CAD to photo and video editing. And right now, during Monitor Madness, this Neo is $600 off!

Speakers: Kanto - Living YU2 Powered 2 Channel Stereo Computer Speakers w/ Built-in USB DAC - Matte White

As someone who loves to listen to music while working, I have to include Kanto's Living YU2 speakers. As a pair of 25 Watt 3” 2way speakers, they'll fit comfortably on most desks without taking up too much space. That said, they will absolutely fill the space they don't take up with lush, vibrant sound.

Keyboard: Logitech G - G513 Carbon LIGHTSYNC RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - GX Red (Linear)

Did I choose this build because 513 is coincidentally the zip code of the Cincinnati Micro Center? Maybe. Is it a fantastic keyboard either way? Absolutely. With a sleek, subtle design and linear keys, it won't distract from the star of the show.

Mouse: Logitech G - G502 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse – White

A white mouse that pairs well with the Logitech gaming keyboard. I own three of these mice, and keep one with each of my systems, that's how good these mice are.

Mousemat: Glorious - Extended Gaming Mouse Mat - XXL Black

I am also a fan of the oversized mousemat that also sits under the keyboard. It protects the table top well and is really comfortable to work on.

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

Want even more Monitor Madness? Be sure to check out all our Top Deals for even more savings. On the Community, we have Champion Monitor recommendations and Gaming Monitor Guides. We'll be celebrating Monitor Madness all month long, so be sure to keep an eye on the Micro Center Community as we dig into PC build guides for high-end monitors, deals, and recommendations!

Building a custom PC can be an exciting endeavor that can be easily tailored to meet your specific needs and personal preferences. Selecting the right components for a high-end PC build can be a little daunting but hopefully, this guide can help make the process easier, with the help of Gigabyte’s Aero series. 

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Processor: Intel Core i9-13900k Raptor Lake 3.0GHz Twenty Four-Core Processor

Built on Intel’s advanced 10nm technology, the Intel Core i9-13900k features 24 cores and 32 threads, making it an ideal choice not only for gaming, but any highly demanding workloads such as video editing, 3D rendering, and streaming. Check out all of our benchmarks to see just how well it performs!

Cooler: Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT 360mm All in One Liquid CPU Cooling Kit - White

Equipped with a large 360mm radiator and three ML RGB Series PWM fans, the cooler delivers exceptional cooling performance, ensuring that your CPU stays cool even under heavy loads. The cooler also features a customizable LCD display, allowing you to display system information or personalized graphics for a unique look. With its advanced iCUE software, you can easily monitor and control the cooler's performance, adjusting fan speeds, and RGB lighting to suit your needs. 

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 AERO G DDR4 ATX Motherboard

For those demanding the latest and greatest technologies, such as PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E, and Thunderbolt 4, look no further than the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G DDR4 motherboard. It has support for 128GB of ram with speeds up to 5333Mhz, making it just as fast as a DDR5 motherboard while saving you room in your budget for extra upgrades.

Graphics Card: Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 AERO Overclocked Triple Fan 16GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

Designed for ultimate graphics for high-end gaming and professional workloads, Gigabytes GeForce RTX 4080 Aero overclocked model is one of the best choices for our build. This card features a robust triple-fan cooling system and the new Ada Lovelace architecture, this GPU can ensure stable cool performance while delivering ultra-smooth frame rates and unparalleled visual fidelity. 

Ram: Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO SL 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit - White

Equipped with a customizable RGB led, the sleek and stylish Corsair Vengeance Pro SL kit is designed with a low-profile aluminum heat spreader that helps keep your ram cooled during your more intensive gaming sessions. This 32GB kit consists of two 16GB modules that can be XMP to run at 3600MHz for the best system performance, so whether you're a gamer or a content creator, this kit is an excellent choice.

SSD: Samsung 990 PRO 2TB  V-NAND 3-bit MLC PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD

The high-performance standard we’ve set previously continues with the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD built on Samsung’s latest in-house controller. With its massive 2TB storage capacity and speeds of 7450/6900 MB/s, the Samsung 990 Pro is perfect for professionals who require not only fast but vast storage space for their workloads, such as video editors, designers, and gamers who want to store their game libraries. Don’t forget to update to the latest firmware for maximum performance!

Power Supply: MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 1000W 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 80+ Gold Modular power supply is the perfect choice for anyone looking to build a high-performance, reliable, and efficient system. With its 80+ Gold certification, the power supply guarantees maximum efficiency, translating to lower energy bills and less heat output, ensuring longevity and stability in the long run. The modular design makes cable management easier, allowing for a clean and organized build.

Case: NZXT H9 Flow Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Case - White

With its uninterrupted glass panel, this case boasts a modern and stylish design to elegantly show off your new build. Its top and side mesh panels support multiple radiator and fan configurations to ensure ample airflow, keeping your system cool under the heaviest of loads.  Don’t miss out on this exceptional case and take your build to the next level.

Case Fans: Corsair QL120 White RGB Hydraulic Bearing 120mm Case Fan - 3 Pack with iCUE Node CORE

These fans are designed with 34 individually addressable RGB LEDs, allowing you to customize their lighting with a wide range of colors and effects. They are also equipped with PWM fan control, ensuring that they run quietly and efficiently, providing optimal airflow to your system. The fans come with a durable and stylish white housing that matches our build, while the translucent fan blades create a stunning visual effect when illuminated.

Monitor: Gigabyte M27Q 27" 2K WQHD (2560 x 1440) 170Hz Gaming Monitor

For the best in visual performance, this monitor is equipped with a stunning IPS panel and a resolution of 2560x1440, presenting crystal-clear images with stunning color accuracy and contrast. The monitor also features a lightning-fast 170Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for fast-paced gaming and demanding applications that require fast response times. With its FreeSync Premium and G-Sync compatibility, the monitor delivers smooth and tear-free gameplay, allowing you to experience every moment without any lag or stutter. 

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

More from the Micro Center Community:

Looking for more information about Building a PC? We’ve got PC Build Guides as well as articles on How to Choose Parts for you Custom PC Build, Product Reviews, and Part Comparisons. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to post a new discussion and the Community will be happy to help!

The next generation of AMD CPUs with AMD 3D V-Cache technology have arrived and they are gaming monsters. And a monster CPU deserves a monster PC to go with it - so we designed one! And be sure to check out our breakdown and benchmarks to see just how much power the Ryzen 9 7950X3D packs.

Whether you're gaming or hard at work, this is a PC that's more than ready for anything you can throw at it!

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Raphael AM5 4.2GHz 16-Core Boxed Processor

This is the first time AMD 3D V-Cache technology has been added to their top-of-the-line processor, making the Ryzen 9 7950X3D a king of all trades. Whether you're working hard on the next YouTube smash hit or gunning for the top spot on the leaderboards, the 7950X3D has the power to back you up.

The Ryzen 9 7950X3D doesn't come with a cooler, so you're going to want to pick one up. We'd recommend an AIO to really get the most of the CPU - something like the NZXT Kraken Z63 would work great!

Motherboard: Gigabyte X670E AORUS XTREME AMD AM5 eATX Motherboard

A build of this quality deserves some flair. We'll be sticking with a black theme with RGB highlights throughout - and that starts with the motherboard. The Gigabyte X670E AORUS XTREME weaves pops of RGB throughout the board, giving it an absolutely stunning look. It's also packed to the brim with high-end features like WiFi 6E, PCIe 5.0, and Clear CMOS buttons.

Graphics Card: ASRock AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming Overclocked Triple Fan 24GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

The ASRock RX 7900 XTX is the perfect complement to both the X670E motherboard and 7950X3D CPU. It's the top-of-the-line AMD GPU (and we've got the numbers to back that up) and comes in a gorgeous black aesthetic with subtle but noticeable RGB throughout.

RAM: Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5-5200 PC5-41600 CL40 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit CMT64GX5M2B5200 - Black

16GB of RAM is good, 32GB is better, and 64GB is where the best begin. Two sticks of Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 RAM - simple and black with light RGB - is just what the ultimate PC needs. And, if you find that 64GB isn't quite enough, you've got the room to double it to an eye-watering 128GB!

Hard Drive: WD Black SN850X 4TB 112L 3D TLC NAND Flash PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

With a build like this, its all about speed. And traditional HDDs just aren't going to cut it. That's why we're heading right for a massive 4TB M.2 NVMe drive. The WD Black has all the speed you'll need, whether you're booting up your PC or launching into a game with your friends.

Power Supply: MAINGEAR IGNITION 1000 Watt 80 Plus Platinum ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

Modern PC parts require a lot of power. And while the TDP of the 7950X3D is lower than its non-X3D counterpart, it's still a good idea to have a little bit of extra headroom. This way you can always upgrade your parts without having to wire in a whole new power supply!

Case: Fractal Design Torrent Compact RGB Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Black

Just like everything else, the Fractal Design Torrent is a gorgeous black case with just a hint of RGB throughout, bringing the whole build together for a beautifully minimalist design that's hiding enough power to run circles around nearly everything else on the market.

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and Ryzen 9 7900X3D are available now at your local Micro Center! Be sure to check out our AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D Breakdown and Benchmarks!

BYO month is here and we have a ton of great deals on a wide range of PC parts, including some stellar CPU bundle deals. In honor of these great bundles, we put together an AMD-themed build with the free G.Skill 32GB DDR5-6000 bundle as a our base. This is a build with a enough power to run pretty much anything with ease and look real good while doing it. Without further ado, lets get into it!

Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Raphael AM5 4.5GHz 8-Core Boxed Processor

To start us off, we've got a Ryzen 7 7700X (Part of this CPU/RAM bundle) . With a base operating frequency of 4.5 GHz, this is a great processor whether you're building your first PC exclusively for gaming or your 100th work PC. It also runs on AMD's new AM5 chipset, so you can use the latest DDR5 RAM and really see some incredible speeds.

Processor Cooler: NZXT Kraken Z73 360mm CPU Water Cooling Kit w/ LCD Display

The NZXT 360 mm Kraken Z73 is an old favorite of mine. I love the LCD screen and have seen it used for temp readouts, theme lighting, and even memes. It's also surprisingly easy to mount, as the AM5 socket designed with ease-of-build in mind.

Motherboard: ASUS X670E-F ROG STRIX GAMING WIFI ATX Motherboard

ASUS's X670E-F is perhaps the perfect compliment to the Ryzen 7 7700X. Both are flexible enough to work with basically any planned build, from the easy-to-use home PC (thanks to built in WiFi) to a high-end enthusiast build (thanks to ASUS's suite of DIY-Friendly Features, such as the BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS button)

Graphics Card: PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Red Devil Overclocked Triple Fan 24GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

AMD's newest flagship card, the 7900 XTX, is not just a looker, but an absolute powerhouse card. Behind that thin, sleek exterior is enough power to plant itself high, high up in the rankings for synthetic benchmarks.

RAM: G.Skill Flare X5 Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-6000 PC5-48000 CL36 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit F5-6000J3636F16GX2-FX5 - Black

You know what's great? 32GB of G.Skill's Flare X5 DDR5 RAM. You know what's even better? Getting 32GB of G.Skill's Flare X DDR5 RAM for free. And, with the purchase the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X used in this build, that's exactly what you're going to get. Put that RAM budget towards other parts!

Hard Drive: Samsung 980 Pro SSD 1TB M.2 NVMe Interface PCIe Gen 4x4 Internal Solid State Drive with V-NAND 3 bit MLC Technology (MZ-V8P1T0B)

Traditional hard drives still have their place, but in this speed-driven rig, the only option is an M.2 SSD. The Samsung 980 Pro has write speeds of up to 5,000MBps and read speed up to an eye-wateringly fast 7,000MBps. The days of your friends waiting for your game to boot are gone.

Power Supply: Corsair RM850e 850 Watt 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular Low-Noise ATX Power Supply

850 watts will do more than enough to power this PC and Corsair's RM850e is the PSU to provide them. It's fully modular design will keep your case looking clean, ever important for a case as nice as the HYTE Y60. Plus, the RM850e is tuned for low noise thanks to a specially calculated fan curve.

Case: HYTE Y60 Modern Aesthetic Dual Chamber Panoramic Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX Computer Gaming Case - Red

The HYTE Y60 is a popular case, and for good reason. It offers good cooling in a unique design and hides many of the fans under the video card platform and in the top of the case, giving your build an open and airy look. You can also put a pair of 140 MM fans in the back to bring more air in. This case is rather fun to build in as the cables are easily managed and hidden, thanks to the recessed trough running along the top and bottom.

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

Want even more BYO Month? We've got our sale highlights over here, and be sure to check out all of our Bundle Deals as well as our wide range of Top Deal offerings. And keep an eye on the Micro Center Community as we continue to celebrate BYO Month with plenty more BYO articles!

The Razer Quartz collection features a unique pink colorway that is sure to stand out in any setup. The Quartz peripherals, such as the keyboard and mouse, are built with the same high-quality and performance that gamers have come to expect from Razer. To match with the Razer Quartz accessories, we've got a custom PC build with a pink, silver/gray, and white color scheme to fully embrace the aesthetic look. 

Processor: Intel Core i7-13700K Raptor Lake 3.4GHz Sixteen-Core LGA 1700 Boxed Processor

We’re starting off strong with our 16-core, 24-thread Intel i7-13700k processor as the heart of our build, giving you a powerful PC in an elegant pink case. Since we're going to add an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 to this build, we have to make sure the processor is powerful too!

CPU Cooler: Lian Li Galahad 240mm RGB Water Cooling Kit - White

With its white and silver construction, the Lian Li Galahad 240mm RGB Water cooler is the perfect accent to our existing aesthetic. The Galahad features high-end braided tubing, a triple chamber pump design, and high static pressure fans. All these amazing features come together to make this cooler a great choice for our build.  

Motherboard: ASRock Z690 Steel Legend WiFi 6E DDR4

Did you know you can Chroma Connect your Asrock motherboard with Razer Synapse? This makes choosing the ASRock Z690 Steel Legend one of the best choices for our build. This motherboard also gives us our accent colors of silver gray and white, which we will see in our other components.

Graphics Card: Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 AERO Overclocked Triple Fan 16GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

Gigabyte is known for their ultra-durable design and the Gigabyte AERO RTX 4080 is the perfect find with its unique silver and white aesthetic which matches the accent colors of our motherboard. The RTX 4080 features Ada Lovelace Architecture and DLSS 3, giving us the latest in NVIDIA’s graphic gaming technology. 

RAM: G.Skill Trident Z Royal RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 PC4-28800 CL18 Desktop Memory Kit - Silver

With a crown-jewel-inspired design and sparkling silver heat spreaders, the G.Skill Trident Z Royals make for a luminous accent to our pink build. G.Skill took this ram one step further with its patented crystalline light bar, which will give our build a unique lighting display. 

SSD: WD Black SN850X 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

Everyone needs storage, so why not go big with a 2TB WD Black SN850X? With sustained read speeds of 7,300MBps, you not only have a lot of storage but super-fast storage as well.

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 GT 80 Plus Gold 1000W Fully Modular Power Supply

For our power supply, we have chosen to go with an EVGA superNOVA 1000 GT, giving us a bump in power to efficiently run our 4080. This 80-plus gold-rated power supply has a fluid dynamic bearing fan, eco mode (for quieter performance), and a fully modular design that makes cable management easy.

Case: Lian Li Lancool 205 Mesh Type C Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower - Pink

As one of the premier pink cases Micro Center carries, the Lian Li Lancool 205 Mesh Type C mid-tower case in pink is the only choice for our build. The case includes two 140mm aRGB fans and one 120mm aRGB fan that’s fully compatible with ASRock’s Polychrome Sync software.

Cables: Lian Li Strimer Plus V2 24-pin power extension

To hide the black PSU cables that come with our power supply, we’ll use the Lian Li Strimer Plus V2 24-pin power extension as it is overwhelmingly white - even the clips are white! - and has 120 LEDs to to further add a sense of style to our build. 

Keyboard: Razer Huntsman V2 Tenkeyless Optical Linear Red Switch Wired Gaming Keyboard - Quartz

The Razer Huntsman V2 TKL keyboard is a high-performance mechanical keyboard that features Razer's Linear Red optical switches. They provide a smooth, linear key press for fast and precise actuation, and are rated for 100 million keystrokes. Additionally, it has customizable Chroma RGB lighting, a durable aluminum frame, and a compact design that saves space on your desk.

Mouse: Razer Orochi V2 Mobile Wireless Gaming Mouse - Quartz Edition

Designed for the gamer on the go, the Razer Orochi V2 mobile wireless gaming mouse features both 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. With its advanced 5G optical sensor, gaming anywhere will always be met with absolute precision. 

Mousepad: Razer Pro Glide XXL Soft Mouse Mat

The Razer Pro Glide XXL Soft Mouse Mat is a large, high-quality mouse pad designed for gamers. It features a smooth, micro-textured cloth surface for precise tracking and a rubber base to prevent slipping.

Headset: Razer BlackShark V2 X Multi-Platform Wired Esports Headset w/ 7.1 Surround Sound- Quartz Edition

And finally, the Razer Blackshark is a wired esports headset designed for competitive gaming. It features a comfortable, lightweight design with powerful 50mm drivers and advanced noise-canceling technology for immersive audio.

See the full build here:

2022 was a banner year for PC parts. Intel and AMD both released impressive new processors, while AMD and NVIDIA both dropped the next generation of graphics cards. And, of course, Intel entered the GPU arena with their Arc graphics cards. With the year wrapping up, we thought it would be fun to design two builds, mixing and matching some of the biggest PC parts from this year to create two absolute monster setups for gaming, working, or just browsing the internet!

Intel Core i9-13900k/NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090:

Processor: Intel Core i9-13900K Raptor Lake 3.0GHz Twenty Four-Core LGA 1700 Boxed Processor

Intel launched their 13th Gen Raptor Lake processors back in October with updated Performance- and Efficiency-Cores, as well as an overhauled overclocking experience. We got to benchmark the top-of-the-line Core i9-13900K and it absolutely lived up to the hype, putting up incredible scores in all our tests.

Motherboard: ASUS Z790 ROG Maximus Hero Intel LGA 1700 ATX Motherboard

While Intel's 13th Gen processors are backward compatible with DDR4, if you want to get the most out of them you absolutely need a board that supports DDR5. The Maximus Hero does that and so much more with PCIe 5.0 and WiFi 6E support, advanced cooling, and customizable RGB.

Graphics Card: MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM LIQUID X 24G Hybrid Cooling 24GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

When the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 dropped in October, it absolutely blew our minds with killer ray tracing performance, incredible frame rates, and fully stable 8K gaming. The MSI SUPRIM version of the card is liquid-cooled, so you can push this already impressive card even further.

RAM: Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5-5200 PC5-41600 CL40 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit

DDR5 is a must-have if you're building the best PC you can and Corsair's Dominator Platinum line of RAM is a staple in high-end builds for a reason. With a 5200MHz speed, this is blazing fast even by DDR5 standards. It's also a massive 64GB of RAM in just two sticks, so you can add more if you need it.

Hard Drive: Inland Performance Plus 8TB 3D TLC NAND PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

If we're building for the best, we're completely skipping the old HDD. They're still great for backup storage and have a lot of uses, but when we're working for speed, that traditional HDD is going to slow us down. With 8TB of storage, you can fit a complete Steam Library on this NVMe and still have room left over for work!

Power Supply: Corsair HX1200 1200 Watt 80 Plus Platinum ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

There is a lot of power in this build. So while the Corsair HX1200 may be a little bit overkill, it's definitely worth springing for just so you're covered if you decided to add more parts or upgrade! And it's fully modular, which is absolutely a must-have for a build of this quality. You don't want your ultra-powered build to look messy, do you?

Case: HYTE Y60 Modern Aesthetic Dual Chamber Panoramic Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX Computer Gaming Case

We saw a lot of the HYTE Y60 on our Build Showcase this year and for good reason: it's an absolutely gorgeous, unique case and incredibly eye-catching. The exact type of case that a build of this caliber deserves! (By the way - did you know that if you submit a build to our Build Showcase, we'll send you a $25 coupon upon approval? It's true!)

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X/AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX:

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X Raphael AM5 4.5GHz 16-Core Boxed Processor

In September, AMD released their new set of processors and showed just how big of a leap this generation is. Built on the new AM5 socket, 7000 Series CPUs are the first AMD chip to support DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. The Ryzen 9 7950X even beat the Threadripper in out-of-the-box performance!

Motherboard: ASUS X670E-A ROG STRIX GAMING WIFI ATX Motherboard

The ASUS x670E-A isn't just a great motherboard to look at, it's also equipped with all the latest tech to make sure you're getting the most out of your Ryzen 9 7950X, like DDR5, PCIe 5.0, and WiFi 6E. It's also got a lot of fantastic quality-of-life features, like a PCIe quick-release button, CLR CMOS button, and BIOS flashback.

Graphics Card: PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Triple Fan 24GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

Arriving just this month, the Radeon RX 7000 Series of GPUs ended 2022 on an incredibly high note. The Radeon RX 7900 XTX showcases just how much AMD worked on the efficiency of their cards as it delivers killer 4K performance in a budget-friendly package.

RAM: TeamGroup T-FORCE DELTA RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-5600 PC5-44800 CL32 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit

TeamGroup is another RAM staple for high-end machines. They're lightning-quick and look right at home in any machine, thanks to well-designed aesthetics and a beautiful RBG light along the top. 32GB is a lot of RAM, but there's always room for more if you need it!

Hard Drive: Inland Performance Plus 8TB 3D TLC NAND PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

We could copy and paste what we said about the Inland NVMe above, but we're not going to because it's that good and deserves representation of that level. 8TB of storage is a lot of room for everything you need and the read/write speeds (up to 7000MBps/58--MBps!) will make it feel like every file has its own dedicated storage.

Power Supply: MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 1000 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

You absolutely do not want to undervolt a build this nice. It would be heartbreaking to put the whole thing together, turn it on, and realize that you don't have enough power to game efficiently. Skip the heartache and go with the MSI MPG 1000-watt power supply.

Case: Thermaltake Core P6 Tempered Glass ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - White

Why put together a build this nice and then not show it off? The Thermaltake Core P6 is almost fully open air so you won't have a single component hidden behind a solid box. Let the whole world see your ultra-powerful, clean, white gaming PC!

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

NVIDIA's long-awaited GeForce RTX 4070 Ti has arrived and is proving itself to be an incredible card for 1440p gaming, with 120+ FPS in modern, cutting-edge games like F1 2022 and A Plague Tale: Requiem. So, while it can absolutely handle 4K gaming (with some high frame rates!) we decided to design a build to maximize your 2K gaming, whether you're playing AAA titles or just getting ready to hit the esports circuit!

Processor: Intel Core i7-13700K Raptor Lake 3.4GHz Sixteen-Core LGA 1700 Boxed Processor

While you could absolutely spring for the Intel Core i7-13900K (and should, if you're planning on doing any intensive work on this PC!), the Core i7-13700K offers more than enough power for high-end 1440p gaming and won't leave your new GPU bottlenecked. Just don't forget a cooler!

Motherboard: MSI Z790-A Pro WiFi Intel LGA 1700 ATX Motherboard

The MSI Z790-A is a simpler motherboard, and that's perfect for this build. It's subtle, sleek, and, most importantly, supports DDR5 RAM. It also comes with WiFi 6 and PCIe 5.0 support, so your system will be speedy and won't need an overhaul for a while yet to come.

Graphics Card: ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti TUF Gaming Overclocked Triple Fan 12GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is the card for 1440p gaming. Delivering 1440p speeds up to 3x that of the last generation GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, the 4070 Ti is sure to claim the ray-traced crown of 1440p gaming!

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-5200 PC5-41600 CL36 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit F5-5200J3636C16GX2-RS5K - Black

The great thing about RAM is that it's incredibly easy to swap out or upgrade. We went with the 32 GB of G.Skill Ripjaws for its minimalist aesthetic and high capacity. But if you need more RAM, you can easily add in an extra set of sticks to double your capacity or swap them out for even high-speed goodness. You could even upgrade to RGB RAM to add a splash of color to your build!

Hard Drive: Samsung 980 Pro SSD 1TB M.2 NVMe Interface PCIe Gen 4x4 Internal Solid State Drive & Seagate BarraCuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA III 6Gb/s 3.5" Internal SMR Hard Drive

We love the M.2 SSD with a traditional HDD combo. It gives you all the speed of an M.2 for your boot drive (and most important games!) and all of the space of an HDD for everything else, all without breaking your budget. It's the best of both worlds and offers a lot of flexibility to pick how much storage you need.

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 850 GT 850 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

850 watts is plenty to power this potent PC! The EVGA SuperNOVA 850 has a bit of extra headroom for this build, so you can upgrade to that Core i9-13900K or add in some extra RAM. And it's fully modular so you won't end up with a bunch of unsightly loose cable flopping all around your build!

Case: Meshify 2 Clear Tempered Glass ATX Mesh Mid-Tower Computer Case - White

The case you choose is, of course, ultimately up to you. But we think the Meshify 2 in white would look stunning for this build. Given we've mostly chosen black parts with white accents, a full flip for the case - white with black accents - will give the whole thing an eye-catching pop without the need for oodles of RGB lighting

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

NVIDIA's brand new GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Graphics Cards are available now at Micro Center! Be sure to check out our NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Breakdown and Benchmark for all the new specs!

The next generation of AMD GPUs has arrived! The Radeon RX 7000 is now available at Micro Center, and we wanted to celebrate with a no-holds barred, push-it-to-the-max, absolutely crazy gaming rig that'll take advantage of the brand-new AMD RDNA 3 architecture (not sure what that is? Check out our breakdown over here). So, we did! Check out our design below.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X Raphael AM5 4.5GHz 16-Core Boxed Processor

When you're building with a top-of-the-line GPU, you absolutely should not skimp on the CPU, otherwise, you'll end up with some unfortunate bottlenecking. Thankfully, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is an absolute powerhouse, so you won't run into any issues there!

Motherboard: ASUS X670E ROG CROSSHAIR Hero AMD AM5 ATX Motherboard

ASUS's CROSSHAIR Hero is the motherboard. With advanced thermal management, PCIe 5.0, WiFi6E, and DDR5 support, this is a motherboard that doesn't just look good, it'll support you in whatever you put your computer through, be it work or play.

Graphics Card: PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Triple Fan 24GB GDDR6 PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

The centerpiece of the whole build, the brand-new AMD Radeon RX 79000 XTX is the new flagship of AMD's Radeon RX 7000 series, and for good reason. The Radeon RX 7900 XTX handles 4K gaming with ease and will keep you with an incredibly high frame rate for esports titles. And with FSR 3.0 coming next year, you'll be able to get even more power from it!

RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5-5200 PC5-41600 CL40 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit CMH64GX5M2B5200 - Black

DDR5 RAM is an absolute must-have for a build like this, and only partly because its required with the AM5 socket. DDR5 RAM is blazing fast and will keep your machine on the cutting edge for years to come. Plus, the Corsair Vengence RGB RAM just looks fantastic - a bit of RGB without going overboard!

Hard Drive: Inland Performance Plus 4TB 3D TLC NAND PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

HDDs are still great if you need to store a lot of data. But if you're building a new PC for speed and power, you should really use an M.2 NVMe. The read/write speeds on an SSD like the Inland Performance Plus will make your old HDDs feel like they're still from the 90s. And with 4TB of storage, you'll have more to enough room for all your game, playable at lightning speed!

Power Supply: MAINGEAR IGNITION 1200 Watt 80 Plus Platinum ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

The IGNITION from MAINGEAR may be a bit overkill for this build, but it's definitely better to err on the side of caution when you're playing with this much power. This is a PSU that'll keep your computer up and running, no matter how much power you need. It's also fully modular, a must-have if you want your build to look as nice as possible.

Case: HYTE Y60 Modern Aesthetic Dual Chamber Panoramic Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX Computer Gaming Case - Red

What's the point of having a build this nice if you don't show it off? The HYTE Y60 is an incredibly unique case with a distinct angle on the front of the case. Almost the entire case is wrapped in see-through glass, so you can proudly display your brand-new build!

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

AMD's brand new lineup of Radeon RX 7000 Series Graphics Cards is available now at Micro Center! Be sure to check out our RX 7000 Series Overview and Benchmarks for all the new specs!

The second card in NVIDIA's 40 Series has arrived! Today, the GeForce RTX 4080 was launched and, in honor of this fantastic mid-to-high-end card, we put together a build that won't just complement it well, it'll look really really good while doing so, thanks to a sleek silver and white theme running throughout!

Not sure what's new with the GeForce RTX 4080? Check out our breakdown over here!

The Build:

Processor: Intel Core i9-13900K Raptor Lake 3.0GHz Twenty Four-Core LGA 1700 Boxed Processor

Launched just last month, the new 13th gen processors from Intel continue to represent some of the best the tech industry has to offer, and the Core i9-13900K is no exception (check out our benchmarks if you don't believe us!). The 13900K is an incredibly high-powered processor and will work incredibly with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, especially if you're using your computer for gaming and creative work. And, as always, don't forget a gorgeous white RGB AIO for cooling!

Motherboard: ASUS Z790-A Prime WiFi Intel LGA 1700 ATX Motherboard

Once you've got your processor picked out, you can really start to lean into the style of your build, and the ASUS Z790-A isn't just a pretty board to look at it - it's got a great feature set as well, with DDR5 support, 4 M.2 sockets, WiFI 6 support, and plenty of USB ports. Plus, it has a quick-release button for your GPU so you don't have to try and find the tab when you're doing your yearly clean (you do clean yearly, right?).

Graphics Card: MSI NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Suprim X 

We're all here for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, and boy is the Suprim X an absolutely gorgeous version of this card. With a clean silver chassis and minimal RGB lighting on the rims of the fans, it's going to handle your work and gaming with ample style. It's also the card we benchmarked if you want to see how it stacked up!

RAM: TeamGroup T-FORCE DELTA RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-5600

In keeping with a silvery-white build and subdued RGB, we have the TeamGroup T-FORCE DELTA. And not only does it keep on theme, but it delivers 32GB of ultra-fast DDR5 speeds. It doesn't take up all of your DIMM slots either, so if you need even more memory, you can double up to a whopping 64GB of high-powered RAM.

Storage: Inland QN322 2TB SSD NVMe & Seagate BarraCuda 4TB 5400RPM SATA III 6Gb/s 3.5" Internal SMR Hard Drive

No matter what you're doing, you're probably going to need a lot of space and some of it needs to be fast. That's why we're splitting storage into two drives. We've got a lightning-quick 2TB M.2 for your OS, important projects, and, of course, those ever-so-important games. And then for backup storage and everything else, we've got a 4TB traditional HDD so you don't fill up your main hard drive with stuff you're not using.

Power Supply: MAINGEAR IGNITION 1200 Watt 80 Plus Platinum ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

Between the Core i9-13900K and GeForce RTX 4080, this is a computer that is going to need a lot of power. The MAINGEAR IGNITION 1200 Watt delivers all the power you need, plus a bit extra so you have room to upgrade and add parts. It's also fully modular, so you can keep your wires clean and minimal, without having to hide a bunch of extra wires that your didn't use.

Case: Lian Li O11 Dynamic XL ROG Tempered Glass eATX Full Tower Computer Case - White

A stylish build is nothing without a stylish case, and Lian Li knows everything about stylish cases. With tempered glass on the front and side panels, you can show off a build that's perfectly on theme with the case itself: silvery-white with just a classy smattering of RGB for a bit of personal flair.

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

NVIDIA's brand new GeForce RTX 4080 is available now at Micro Center! Be sure to check out our full breakdown of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080. And don't forget about our GeForce RTX 4080 benchmarks!