Best Gaming PC Under 4000 USD – The Ultimate PC Build Guide

If you have the budget for it, you can build an absolute MONSTER PC for under $4000. This gaming PC is capable of 4K and 8K gaming with the RTX 3090.

Have you ever wondered what a $4000 PC Build would look like?

Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore because in this article we’ve put together some of the best and most expensive components we could find, and, if we do say so ourselves, what we got looks pretty darn magnificent.

To be honest, with $4000 there are very few things you can’t buy when it comes to PC hardware, so you can be sure that the items on this list are the best of the best.

Now, we are well aware that not many people have $4000 to throw to the wind.

But even if you’re not looking to buy an entirely new state-of-the-art PC, but simply upgrade one of your existing components, or enjoy some gorgeous RGB eye candy, this PC build guide has got you covered!

Table of ContentsShow

The Best $4000 Gaming PC Build For 2024

Updated: March 11, 2024

Click on the product images to view the product on Amazon, where you can see more images in high resolution and check the current price.

AMD Ryzen 9 5950XCPU

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is currently the most powerful gaming CPU on the market and the perfect choice for an RTX 3090 system.
NZXT Kraken Z73 360mmCPU Cooler

NZXT Kraken Z73

In both performance and style, the NZXT Kraken Z73 is a real beast.
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X TrioGPU

MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio

Holding back was not an option for this build, which is precisely why we chose the MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio to spearhead this system.
Corsair Vengeance RGB PRORAM

Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB

Corsair has always been known for its supreme quality, reliability, and the most vibrant RGB there is which is exactly why their Vengeance RGB Pro RAM sticks are the best fit this premium system.
Gigabyte X570 AORUS MASTERMotherboard

Gigabyte X570 AORUS XTREME

Gigabyte X570 AORUS XTREME is a high-end motherboard that can overclock anything you throw at it without sacrificing other features such as cooling and connectivity.
Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TBSSD

Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB

For a build such as this one we couldn’t have gone with anything less than 2TB of the Samsung 970 Evo Plus.
EVGA Supernova 1000W G5 80+ GoldPSU

EVGA Supernova 1000 G5 80+ Gold

Better safe than sorry. A 1000W of the EVGA Supernova G5 80+ Gold can withstand anything you can throw at it, and it has a 10-year warranty to boot.
Cooler Master MasterCase H500MCase

Cooler Master MasterCase H500M

A Master Case for a master build, the Cooler Master MasterCase H500M is a perfect home for these brutally powerful components

PC Overview

If you have $4000 to spend on a PC, you can be pretty sure that your machine will be able to do practically anything, which is why this section is going to be short and sweet.

4K Gaming

We almost wish there was something to complain about with this PC, but alas…

This $4000 beast feels so much at home in 4K at ultra settings that you won’t have to do any tweaking when it comes to the graphics settings since this card can even run 8K with a whopping 60FPS in some titles.

Essentially, with this PC you can play any game you can think of in 4K at a comfortable 60FPS or more. Just crank up all the graphics sliders to the max, and enjoy!

Streaming and VR

Naturally, with the CPU-GPU power couple we’ve chosen for this build, both streaming and VR will work like a charm with all your settings maxed out.

Upgradeability

Of course, we made sure to leave you with plenty of upgradeability options as well.

Namely, we’ve made sure to leave two RAM slots open in case you wish to add more at some point, and you can always get a better GPU in a few years, once something better than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 comes out.

Storage is not a problem either seeing as both the case and the motherboard have enough room to house them.

What is a bit unfortunate, however, is that this is likely the last time we’ll be seeing the AM4 socket on AMD motherboards, so if you decide to upgrade the CPU in the future, you will have to purchase a new motherboard along with it.

On the other hand, some amazing improvements might come with the new socket, so we look forward to what AMD will offer up next.

The PC Build

But enough rambling, let’s move on to the actual build! Here are the components for the best PC build under $4000 right now.

This PC build was made with enthusiast gamers in mind, so it made sense to go all out. Additionally, considering the GPU we chose, this PC needed all the processing power it could get, and the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X was where the graphics card found its match.

Based on the Zen 3 architecture, the Ryzen 5000 series of processors are the perfect choice for both gaming and heavy workloads, combining high clock speeds and a mad core count.

The Ryzen 9 5950X is a computing beast with 16 cores, 32 threads, a base clock of 3.4GHz, and a max boost clock speed of up to 4.9GHz. This is absolutely insane.

The clock speeds might appear a little disappointing on paper considering that the i9-10900K promises up to 5.3GHz max boost frequency, but the processor rarely ever hits that upper limit, while the Ryzen 9 5950X frequently exceeds its max advertised clocks.

Not to mention that this particular CPU has yet to find its match among Team Blue’s processors. Although this might change soon with the release of Intel’s Alder Lake series, so stay tuned!

But with great power come high temperatures, so our next section is dedicated to CPU cooling.

Related:The Best CPUs For Gaming (2023 Reviews)

In any other situation, we would have recommended you use an air cooler. They are cheaper and despite what their price suggests, they do a great job at keeping the CPU running smoothly, especially the top-tier ones such as the Assassin III or Noctua NH-D15.

So if you prefer air coolers, or you just want to save some money, we suggest you go with one of these two. However, when money is no issue there is no reason not to go with a water cooler.

Related:The Best CPU Coolers (2023 Reviews)

And not just any water cooler! The Kraken Z73 is NZXT’s most powerful water cooling solution. It will not only keep your CPU running at more than optimal temperatures, but it also has an amazing new feature native to the Kraken Z series – an LCD on the CPU block.

The cooler boasts a 360mm radiator with three 120mm static pressure fans and a near-silent 7th gen Asetek pump.

Some of you may be disappointed that the Z series doesn’t come with RGB fans, but we don’t think it’s a bad compromise considering that instead, you get an entirely customizable LCD screen that can display anything from the current CPU temperature to an image or even a gif.

There are plenty of other ways to include RGB in your build, but this kind of feature is unique to the Kraken Z series of water coolers, and it’s a one-of-a-kind way to personalize your PC.

NZXT Kraken Z73 Cooler

Some of you might think that a 360mm radiator is overkill for only one component, but hey, a little overcooling never hurts. After all, the Ryzen 9 5950X will get pretty hot, especially if you intend to overclock it. And besides, a larger radiator will give you better passive cooling which will, in turn, take the load off the fans and allow them to run more quietly.

We know that usually, the first things that come to mind when you think of water cooling are the colorful tubes and a complicated installation process. But this kind of water cooling is called open-loop and it requires you to buy all the parts separately, and assemble them yourself.

While it looks stunning and performs admirably, we don’t recommend you do this unless you are certain you know what you’re doing since this kind of a loop is much more prone to leakage due to human error, and you certainly don’t want that in a $4000 build.

Related:Liquid vs Air CPU Cooler – Which Should I Choose?

And here’s the piece of hardware that will be rendering all of your games, the MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio!

While this is a Titan-level card and Titans have so far been marketed and used as mostly heavy-duty workstation GPUs, this time around Nvidia has been pushing it as the gaming graphics card. And it may be a good thing what with all of the new-gen games launching, or preparing to launch recently.

Now, whether you look at it as a gaming or productivity-focused card, the fact remains that this is without a shadow of a doubt the most powerful GPU that currently exists. And if it’s the best then it belongs in this build.

The RTX 3090 is so stupidly powerful it can pull off 60FPS in 8K in some games. Just let that sink in.

Related:What Is The Best FPS For Gaming?

While we know 8K gaming is not exactly the norm, and there aren’t many panels that can support it yet, we hope to see more options out there now that the card is here.

But let’s move on to the specifics.

The RTX 3090 has a staggering 24GB of GDDR6X memory that’s much faster and 15% more efficient than GDDR6. In addition to that Nvidia went above and beyond with their RTX technology finally giving us what was promised when the 2000 Series launched.

Streamers will also have a great time with Nvidia Broadcast that can, as Nvidia says, “turn any room into a broadcast studio” thanks to its numerous effects such as background noise canceling and green-screen effects without a green-screen, all at a click of a button. This isn’t limited to the RTX 3090, it has been made available for all RTX cards, but it’s a cool new feature worth mentioning.

But enough of the broad descriptions, let’s take a look at what this particular Gaming X Trio card from MSI has to offer.

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio Back

There’s not much of a difference in the base performance of any one type of card out there, and the RTX 3090 is no exception, so you can expect all versions of this card from all reliable manufacturers to give you a very similar level of performance. What makes the biggest difference from manufacturer to manufacturer is how they handle cooling, build, and design.

MSI did a pretty decent job at adhering to the proper standards with this card. When it comes to cooling, the Gaming X Trio has three fans with the new TORX FAN 4.0 design. This means that the fan blades are linked together in pairs which is meant to help focus the air instead of dispersing it, resulting in improved cooling and making them quieter.

Besides this, there have been some changes to the core cooling components within the card, with the improved core pipe design for better contact with the heatsink, and the addition of Airflow Control which is essentially meant to steer the cool air in the direction of the hottest part of the card.

When it comes to build and design, MSI, as usual, did not disappoint. The RTX 3090 is a chunky card, which is why the reinforcements built into it, and the support bracket that comes with the purchase are such welcome additions.

And as for the design, it’s a matter of taste, but in our opinion, you can’t go wrong with the standard design with a dash of RGB. It’s classic, it’s subdued and classy in a way, and stylish without being garish.

What more could you ask for?

We won’t bother you with the details any longer. If you wish to know more, take a look at the link to MSI’s website mentioned in the text above, but we hope you’ve at least gained some understanding of what to expect from a card like this.

As long as you can get your hands on this card, your year will be a blast.

Related:The Best Graphics Cards For Gaming (2023 Reviews)

$4000 is a lot of money, even for the ultimate gaming PC, which means that there is room in the budget to go a little overboard. Thanks to this we were able to fit 32 GB of the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro into this build.

We chose two sticks of 16GB to reap the full benefits of dual-channel memory, but also just in case, if one of the sticks ends up faulty, you’ll still have something left until the stick is replaced. The sticks also run at 3600MHz which is more than optimal, but even if you need more they can be easily overclocked.

When it comes to aesthetics, these look pretty amazing. Corsair is known for its immaculate performance and high-quality RGB, and these certainly live up to the expectations.

Related:How To Choose RAM

While 32GB should be enough even for the most avid gamers, we should still mention one important thing when it comes to these or any other RAM sticks.

Namely, you should keep in mind that your RAM runs only as fast as the slowest stick on your motherboard. This means that if you’re planning on upgrading to, say, 64GB, you should make sure that you get 3600MHz sticks so as not to slow down the ones you already have in your system, otherwise splurging on the Vengeance RGB sticks would have ended up being in vain.

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The Gigabyte X570 AORUS XTREME is an amazing high-end motherboard made without any compromises. It has both amazing VRMs for worry-free overclocking and a bunch of USB ports and other connectivity options that we suggest you check out on Gigabyte’s website.

The AORUS line of motherboards has always been made with high quality in mind and this one is no different.

First of all, it’s an AM4 chip that can house the Ryzen 2000, 3000, and 5000 processors. It has no less than 3 M.2 4.0 slots, it supports up to 128GB of RAM and RAM speeds of up to 4400MHz. The VRMs and heatsink are especially beefy allowing you to overclock even the most powerful processors out there, including the R9 5950X.  

Welcome additions to this motherboard are the BIOS flash and clear CMOS buttons, as well as the USB Type-C port on the rear I/O. It also has Wi-Fi 6 and even dual BIOS, the latter of which will be a particularly welcome feature to those who like to tinker with their PCs on a daily basis.

Now, it’s clear that the additional features on this board are aimed at people who do a lot of overclocking and messing around with the BIOS, so if you’re not one of those people, you could go for a cheaper board and not lose much in the process. On the other hand, if you have a passion for all things PC, you’ll be sure to appreciate some of the features here.

Whichever camp you belong to, you won’t be disappointed by the Gigabyte X570 AORUS XTREME.

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Long past are the days when we had to deal with chunky, slow hard drives. Even the cheapest of PCs nowadays sport at least a 2.5 SSD, so it’s only natural that for a mad build such as this one we would choose the best possible storage, the one SSD to rule them all – the Samsung 970 Evo Plus.

Samsung has been ruling the consumer SSD market for years, and the Samsung 970 Plus is currently the second-best storage they have to offer (right next to the 970 Evo Pro), and that’s got to say something.

With the baffling 3.5GB/s read and 3.3GB/s write speeds, this is the storage you want to have if you are a hardcore gamer or a media professional. And in case anything happens, you also get a 5-year warranty from Samsung to cover any problems.

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In order to keep all of the abovementioned components running smoothly, you will need a sturdy power supply, and for that, we went with 1000W of EVGA Supernova 1000 G5. You might think that a thousand Watts is a bit overkill, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

The PSU is arguably the most important component of any PC. Without it, the system doesn’t work, and if it crashes it has the potential to burn all your other components. This is why, when picking a PSU it’s imperative that you pick a quality product from a reliable manufacturer.

Related:How To Choose A Power Supply

This particular power supply is fully modular, which is always a great help when it comes to eliminating unnecessary cables, but also when it comes to portability.

In addition to this, the Supernova is 80+ Gold certified, which means it’s more efficient as it wastes less power than the non-plus models. In fact, EVGA promises 91% efficiency or higher under regular loads.

This PSU also boasts one fluid dynamic bearing fan for a near-silent experience. Unfortunately for RGB fans, this PSU doesn’t have an RGB fan (pun intended).

However, this isn’t really an issue because, for one, RGB in a power supply is rather superfluous as the fan is often installed face-down, and two, in the case we’ve chosen the PSU is entirely hidden in the back of the case, which we think is an amazing choice more manufacturers should aim to adopt.

Overall, this is an insanely powerful and reliable PSU that could potentially see your PC through several iterations.

A good case shouldn’t just look good, it should be well-built, have plenty of cable management space, enough clearance for all your components, and above all else, excellent airflow. The case that has all of this is the Cooler Master MasterCase H500M.

This is an ATX Mid Tower with plenty of space in the main compartment for all of the abovementioned components, including the humongous RTX 3090, and enough space behind the motherboard for efficient cable management.

The case was made with excellent cooling in mind, so it comes with two 200mm RGB fans in the front and a 140mm RGB fan in the back. These are great fans that do an awesome job at keeping the air constantly moving within the case, while also staying very quiet due to their size.

This fan placement leaves room for 3 more 120mm or 2x 140/200 mm fans on top of the case, but if you use the NZXT Kraken Z73 to cool your CPU, its 360mm radiator will take up all the space on the top.

Cooler Master MasterCase H500M Above

So if you want more fans to move the air through the case, you should think about using an air cooler for the CPU, in which case we suggest the Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black. However, even without this, the three fans that come with the case should be plenty to keep all your components running smoothly.

When it comes to aesthetics, you can see that for yourselves. The case looks powerful more than anything else, and it truly is. It’s a steel case that comes with a tempered glass side panel and two interchangeable front panels (steel mesh and glass) that you can use depending on whether you’re more interested in looks or airflow.

So as not to make this too long, you can check out the link above for more information about connectivity, but yes, the case has a Type-C USB port and 4 additional USB 3.0 ports readily accessible, right next to the power button, and plenty of SSD and HDD slots.

The Cooler Master MasterCase H500M is overall an excellent case in every sense of the word, but it’s also quite expensive. So if this does not suit you, take a look at the link below for more options.

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Peripherals

We really hope you liked our picks for the main build, but every PC needs its peripherals, and that’s what we’re going to be dealing with in this section.

Granted, most of you probably already have some or even all of these components left over from previous builds, and that’s completely fine.

However, what we want to do here is show you which peripherals would correspond to this build, and maximally enhance your gaming experience.

And trust us, while some of these come down to personal preference, others can make or break your immersion.

We know there are many Linux fans out there, and we completely understand that. However, when it comes to gaming we can’t in good faith recommend anything other than Windows. At least not yet.

We do admit that strides have been made in the improvement of user gaming experience with other operating systems, but Windows still stands above every other OS. This is in no small part owing to its support of DirectX 12 and its ability to get the most out of the CPU and GPU, allowing for a supreme gaming experience.

Not to mention that it also has the largest number of games available to it than any other OS.

Related:What Is The Best OS For Gaming?

When it comes to the version we recommend the Windows 10 Home, mainly because the Pro version is mainly meant for office use and won’t give you as a gamer any additional benefits.

This isn’t to say that Windows doesn’t have its downsides, and we all know what they are, but the fact remains that it’s still the top gaming OS, so if you want to have the best gaming experience possible, Windows is the way to go.

After much deliberation, we decided to go for one of LG’s 4K models. While there are plenty of good 4K monitors out there, none of them tick just as many boxes as the LG-27GN950-B.

The LG-27GN950-B has a 27″ Nano IPS panel, so the colors and viewing angles as good as they can get unless you have money to burn on an OLED display.

Related:Is An OLED Monitor Worth It?

It has a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time. It also supports G-Sync and is compatible with the FreeSync Premium Pro. It’s very similar to the Acer Predator models like the X27 for example but offers better response time and FreeSync support.

The 27GN950-B has some great technical features like height adjustment and 90-degree tilt options, as well as a customizable RGB ring on the back that’s incredibly bright and can offer some really impressive ambient effects.

That said, it’s not entirely perfect, and there are a few things that can be considered either oversights or intentional corner cuts. For example, the monitor is entirely made of plastic (albeit sturdy), can’t swivel, and doesn’t have HDMI 2.1. The lack of HDMI 2.1 is not exactly a big deal if you’re exclusively a PC gamer, but those who were hoping to connect their new-gen console to this monitor will likely find it disappointing.

LG 27GN950 B Back

Despite this, the 27GN950-B is still one of the overall best-value gaming monitors at the moment offering features that were privy only to the $1000+ monitors until just a few months ago. We would, however, like to see a 32″ version in the near future.

Of course, this outstanding monitor comes at an equally outstanding price, so if you are looking for something less expensive you can take a look at some of the options from the Predator line by Acer. On the other hand, you can check out the Acer Nitro XV340CK or the Dell U3818DW if you’d like to go ultra-wide, but in that case, you’d have to give up on 4K.

As always, in the end, it all comes down to personal preference, but keep in mind that a monitor is not like a phone you’re likely to replace in a year or two, it’s something that is meant to last a long time. And of course, as with anything, good quality comes at a price.

Granted, sometimes that price is outrageous, but quite frankly gaming on just any monitor would be an insult to the CPU/GPU combo that we have in this build. There is, after all, such a thing as a monitor that bottlenecks your GPU.

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Mice are one of those things a person needs to feel and choose for themselves. Or at least that’s how it usually is.

The Razer Viper Ultimate is a wireless version of the Razer Viper, and it’s almost unanimously lauded as the best gaming mouse currently on the market, and for a good reason.

Not many wireless mice can compare to the wired ones when it comes to performance and precision, and calling this one the best, well… we understand if some of you may be skeptical.

Allow us to convince you.

At 74 grams, the Razer Viper Ultimate is one of the lightest if not the lightest wireless mouse we’ve ever seen. It has a simple and symmetrical design with two programmable buttons on each side, perfect for both left, and right-handed gamers.

A big change from the wired version is the Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor that can go up to 20,000 DPI! Now, although this is pretty insane it is mostly unnecessary. The most important thing about this sensor is that it’s up to 25% faster and has a much more reliable connection than other wireless mice.

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What’s probably one of the most exciting things about this mouse is its battery life – 70 hours of uninterrupted usage. Granted, this doesn’t include the RGB, but still, it’s mighty impressive!

Speaking of RGB, the mouse, of course, has the standard RGB Razer logo. The colors, brightness, effects, and much more can all be customized through Razer Synapse.

One interesting thing about the RGB is that it shows different colors depending on how full your battery is. When on the charging station you will know exactly how far it’s charged.

Razer Viper Ultimate Dock

The Viper Ultimate has plenty of other amazing features, but unfortunately, we can’t possibly go through them all here, so if you want to know more, you can check out Razer’s website or one of the hundreds of reviews on Youtube. They will all say the same thing – objectively, this is the best quality wireless mouse you’ll find on the market at the moment.

Do keep in mind, however, that if you prefer heavier or larger mice, this obviously won’t be your cup of tea. But we encourage you to try it out anyway. You might find yourself falling in love with it.

For a premium gaming experience, you will need a premium gaming keyboard, and the Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT is precisely that.

This is a full-sized keyboard that uses Cherry MX switches. On purchase, you can choose between Blue, Brown, and Silver switches which are all decent options, and each one makes for a good choice depending on what type of gamer you are.

Besides the regular keys, the RGB PLATINUM XT also has dedicated multimedia keys, a volume wheel, and six macro keys with swappable keycaps.

What’s particularly interesting about this keyboard is that it supports the Elgato Stream Deck software, so the macro keys can transform into a stream deck if you need it. This is particularly helpful if you’re an up and coming streamer, or you simply enjoy streaming as a hobby but don’t want to spend $100+ on an actual stream deck.

It might not be an ideal solution since, if you’re using the keys as a stream deck, you automatically lose the macro keys. But, as we said, it’s a nifty feature to have if you’re in a pinch, or if you’re not yet sure if streaming is your thing, and you don’t want to commit to buying a stream deck just yet. 

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The keyboard itself has an anodized aluminum frame for extra durability and sturdiness. Needless to say, it comes with a plushy wrist rest and amazing RGB. Speaking of RGB, Corsair has taken things to a whole new level with per-key illumination that allows you to add a bit of personality to your keyboard. Not to mention that it’s extremely helpful when gaming in the dark.

The RGB PLATINUM XT is one of the best keyboards you can get regarding both quality and looks, however, it does come with a hefty price tag.

So, for those of you who want something a bit less expensive, but still good enough to give you that premium feel, you can check out the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2, for example, or take a look at the link below to see a few more of our top picks.

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No true gamer can function without a proper headset which is why we’ve made sure to pick the best we could possibly find.

That isn’t to say there aren’t other, cheaper ones, that would work perfectly fine, or more expensive ones that would blow your socks off, but the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro combines all important features from aesthetics and comfort, to sound and mic quality in one magnificent package that we simply can’t help but recommend to enthusiasts.

First of all, the V2 Pro has a surprisingly light frame considering it’s a wireless headset and boasts memory foam padding on the ear cups and headband that makes prolonged use incredibly comfortable even if you wear glasses.

The sound is truly top-notch with a 12Hz to 28kHz frequency range, and TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers that offer studio-grade audio for the ultimate gaming experience.

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Gaming Headset

THX spatial audio is another awesome feature since Razer already has some titles on its repertoire where the audio profile is pre-tuned to work perfectly with Razer equipment. However, this headset is not limited to only those games. You have the ability to automatically generate spatial audio in every single game you own with breathtaking results.

Razer even included a 2.4GHz wireless connection which, while it doesn’t offer 100% lossless audio as they claim, does come remarkably close, especially when it comes to incoming audio. Any sound imperfections that exist are slight and happen only when the headset is extremely far away from the PC, but we don’t expect you’ll be going out on the street with your headset on, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.

But it’s not only the sound that’s amazing on this device. The V2 Pro has an ultra-clear detachable mic with a noise-canceling feature making your voice crisp and crystal clear, without any interference. No more misunderstandings with your teammates!

It would be nice if it weren’t as chunky, but we suppose you can’t have everything.

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People hardly ever know what to look for in a mouse pad, but when they come across a really good one they can feel it immediately. The HyperX FURY S is one such mouse pad.

Whether you’re a layman who just wants a suitable surface to place your mouse on or a seasoned gamer who knows precisely what they’re looking for, the HyperX FURY S is a mouse pad that won’t leave you wanting.

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The pad comes in four sizes, and several surface types and designs, so we’re pretty sure there’ll be something for everyone. The one we chose is the XL version mostly for aesthetic reasons, but needless to say, if you prefer the portability of smaller ones, or are limited by desk space, there are plenty of smaller options to choose from.

It comes with a smooth and comfortable, tightly-knit surface that works perfectly with any type of mouse, and it has a rubberized bottom so, it won’t slide around even during the most frantic gaming sessions.

What we’re particularly grateful for are the stitched edges that prevent fraying and deformations over extended use.

The one we tried out didn’t have a single wrinkle on it after unpacking despite having been rolled up the entire time, and it landed on the desk with a satisfying slap where, legend says, it still rests today without a single wrinkle or doggy ear. We must say, though, the black surface gets dirty easily, so make sure to keep it in good condition if you want your setup to look crisp at all times.

Related:How To Clean A Mousepad

While you probably play most of your PC games on a keyboard and mouse, you must have noticed that some games work a lot better with a controller. These are often games that were created for a console and later ported to PC.

Now, you don’t have to have a controller to enjoy PC gaming. However, we’d be lying if we said it wouldn’t significantly improve your gaming experience in some cases.

So yes, controllers can be very useful and convenient, but it doesn’t help to choose just any controller. We think enthusiast gamers would find the Xbox Series 2 Controller incredibly comfortable to use, and not just because of its ergonomic design.

The Xbox Series 2 Controller is an improvement on the Xbox Elite, but it’s not just a simple rehash.

This controller now finally has a USB Type-C port for charging, a 40-hour battery life, a portable charging station that can also be used within the case itself, several different swappable thumbsticks and D-pads, four paddles for the back of the controller, thumbsticks with adjustable tension, hair-triggers with three different depth levels, 3 completely customizable profiles you can switch between whenever you like, and the ability to designate a shift button.

We would have run out of breath if we had to say all of that out loud.

The abovementioned shift button is a very nifty feature that allows you to designate a shift button, and by extension gain an additional function for every other button besides that one. If you know what a shift button does on a keyboard, it’s essentially the same.

Now, let’s be clear. All of these are not functions that you need, but they are functions you’ll be able to appreciate fully if you’ve ever used a cheap controller. So if you’re finally ready to treat yourself to something that will elevate your gaming to the next level, then the Xbox Series 2 Controller is the right place to start.

Related:Xbox One Elite Controller Review

Do you remember the time when we all dreamed of getting lost in a virtual reality world, not just following our favorite video game heroes, but actually being them? Well now that the technology has advanced enough that we can actually have that it would be a real shame not to use it to its full potential.

We present to you the Valve Index. Made by the company that gave us Steam, it’s a reliable piece of hardware that offers life-like experience in the virtual world. It’s also cool that you can play your games via Steam.

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It’s a bit of a heavy contraption compared to many other headsets, but still comfortable enough to allow you to play for hours on end without feeling it in the neck. It has a 1440 x 1600 per-eye resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate paired with amazing audio for a better-than-reality virtual experience. 

One cool thing is that, if you’ve used a Vive in the past, the Valve index will work with the base stations you already have. If not, however, you will have to get them along with the headset, but we would recommend you that anyway since the new beacons increase the “playing field” which will also increase your immersion.

The Herman Miller Aeron chairs have become sort of like legendary items for the simple reason that they are exceptional and also very expensive. But justifiably so.

When picking the chair for their setup many people go for the best-looking or the most comfortable option, not paying any attention to the fact that they’ll likely be sitting in it for a good portion of the day, and that, besides the two already mentioned things, a good chair also needs to be ergonomic.

Well, this chair is all of the above. It might not look like much of a “gaming” chair, but there’s not a better seat on the market even if you had more money to spare.

Related:Are Gaming Chairs Worth It?

Since we already have a detailed review of this chair on our website, we won’t bother you with the minutiae, you can find that here, but we will go over a few things worth noting.

This chair is only a step away from being custom made especially for you. The first thing you have to do when buying this chair is to pick a size depending on your height. This is very important since everything else will depend on it. Once you get your chair, you can customize every single thing that you ever wished you could customize on a chair to make it fit your body perfectly.

And when you’re done? You can recycle over 90% of it! But that won’t be happening any time soon.

You see, Herman Miller offers a 12-year warranty for this chair, so unless you decide to break it on purpose, you can be sure that you won’t have to get another one for over a decade.

As we’ve mentioned in the beginning, this is a very expensive chair, coming in at over $1000, but all things considered, it’s the best investment you can make if you’re in a situation where you sit in front of your PC all day long.

The keyboard we suggested above does come with a wrist rest, but we thought we’d suggest another one in case you don’t find that one satisfactory.

The HyperX Wrist Rest is probably the comfiest cushion we’ve ever laid our hands on.

It’s made of gel-infused memory foam that’s both incredibly comfortable and keeps your wrists cool during heated gaming sessions. It has an anti-slip grip, so it’s pretty stable, and of course, it fits all full-sized keyboards. It would have been better if it was magnetic, but aside from that, it’s a clean 10/10. 

Related:The Best Wrist Rests (2023 Reviews)

Closing Thoughts

And that concludes our ultimate $4000 PC Build.

We would have loved to have been able to include AMD’s new flagship CPU, but as we mentioned in the article above, that just wasn’t possible at the moment.

However, even if we disregard this minor issue, this is still a ridiculously powerful system, so much so that even our ultimate $5000 build is only better in terms of overclocking capabilities, but not in terms of gaming performance.

That said we’re excited for those of you who are on your way to make this amazing rig your own. You will likely run into a few hurdles when collecting your components, but even that is part of the charm of building a PC yourself, and it’s inevitable besides in today’s climate, so it’s better to embrace it instead of stressing about it. The end result will be more than worth the wait.

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Samuel Stewart

Samuel is GamingScan's editor-in-chief. He describes himself as a dedicated gamer and programmer. He enjoys helping others discover the joys of gaming. Samuel closely follows the latest trends in the gaming industry in order to keep the visitors in the flow.

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