3 Best Gaming PCs To Build in 2024
12 Nov 2024
If you’re building a gaming PC in late 2024, AMD’s Ryzen X3D CPUs are likely at the top of your list. AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology pushed their processors to new heights in gaming performance. With Intel’s recent struggles with stability issues in their 13th and 14th-generation CPUs, along with the dissapointing gaming performance of the new Core Ultra lineup, it’s hard to recommend Intel CPUs for gaming builds right now. They simply don’t offer the same level of performance or stability. On the other hand, AMD’s X3D CPUs, deliver solid and stable frame rates and reliability, making them a clear choice for gamers looking to get the most for their money.
AMD and Intel have just launched their latest generation of CPUs, with no major updates expected soon (though AMD may release the 9900X3D and 9950X3D next year). Now is a pretty great time to invest in a future-proof gaming setup. To help you decide, we're going show three PC builds of different budgets: high-end, mid-range, and budget.
Best High-End Gaming PC
To maximize gaming performance, this build features the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU and GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4090, both currently leading the market in gaming performance. Games benefit significantly from AMD’s X3D cache technology, and on the 9800X3D, the cache has been newly positioned on the CPU, allowing heat to dissipate more efficiently. This design enabled AMD to boost clock speeds to 5.2 GHz. Additionally, AMD has enabled overclocking for the 9800X3D, eliminating previous downsides of choosing an X3D over a non-X3D CPU. The 9800X3D offers impressive speed, performing about 15% faster in games than the popular 7800X3D and 25% faster in games than Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K.
For those looking to build a similarly powerful system at a lower cost, here are a few recommended changes:
- Graphics Card: Downgrading to the RTX 4080 Super can save about $1,000. The 4080 still provides around 85% of the RTX 4090’s gaming performance, making it an excellent high-performance option for half the price.
- Motherboard: The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is also compatible with X670E motherboards, which cost around $250 less than the X870E models. This can further reduce costs without compromising performance.
- Memory: 32 Gb is plenty for Gaming, the (2x16GB) variant of the same Ram Kit can be used.
- Storage: Choosing the 1TB version of the Samsung 990 PRO SSD instead of 2TB.
With these changes, the total cost drops to around $2,700.
Best Mid-Range Gaming PC
The following mid-range build for a gaming PC balances performance and value. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor with the ASUS TUF GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC for good performance in demanding games at high settings. The MSI MAG X670E Tomahawk WiFi comes with robust connectivity options, including full support for high-speed DDR5 memory. For that, we've added the G.SKILL Flare X5 DDR5 32GB kit-6000MT/s, CL36-with AMD EXPO for optimal compatibility and performance with AMD processors. Meanwhile, for storage, the Crucial P3 Plus 1TB M.2 SSD reads with up to 5000 MB/s for quick game and application access. The Corsair RM750x Shift 750W PSU powers efficiently, leaving room for upgrades, while the NZXT Kraken 240 AIO cooler keeps CPU temperatures in order. All components are installed in the NZXT H5 Flow case, designed for easy assembly and optimal airflow. With the 7800X3D still offering 85% of the Gaming performance of an 9800X3D, and the 4070 Super showing 78% of the performance of a 4090, this build is ideal for gaming without any overspending.
Best Budget Gaming PC
For the budget gaming setup we use the AM4 platform, known for its great value. Thanks to the X3D CPUs, it is still competitiv in gaming scenarios. The Ryzen 7 5700X3D reaches 77% of the gaming performance of a high-end 9800X3D, making it an unbeatable value for gamers with lower budget. The MSI B550-A PRO motherboard provides solid support. We chose 32GB DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz, the max speed Ryzen 5000 CPUs can handle reliable. For graphics, the Radeon RX 6750 XT priced at around 300 Dollars, offers impressive value, delivering about 54% of the performance of the RTX 4090. The RTX 4060 from Nvidia is in the same price range, but around 10% slower. For cooling we chose the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, which is know for having good performance thanks to its super-flat contact with the CPU, even outperforming premium air coolers around $100.