PC Build Navigation:
- $1500 Gaming PC Build for January 2022
- $1000 Gaming PC Build for January 2022
- $800 Gaming PC Build for January 2022
- $500 Gaming PC Build for January 2022
- Gaming PC Peripherals & Components Ideas
The January 2022 Gaming PC Build hardware updates: Happy New Year! Welcome to the best gaming PC builds for the new year in 2022. It sure has been an interesting past year, with graphics supply shortages and the drastic increases in costs to certain types of hardware. It has been speculated that chip shortages actually may improve in 2022, however you really may have to wait another half year or so, according to Micron (according to this Bloomberg article).
Now, in terms of the best PC builds for right now — the below have what you need. There has been an improvement in graphics card supplies, and even though most cards are still more expensive than they should be, the prices have easier over the past month. With that being said, it does look like there was a slight increase in costs for things like storage SSD’s, and even motherboards, but I assume this is because we have just gotten out of the holiday season where there was a larger demand for hardware in general.
Below you will find the best budget builds up to date for the start of 2022 this January from $1500 to $1000, $800, $500 and all in between, maximizing performance per dollar spent. Please keep in mind that every PC is and can be unique to its builder, so feel free to swap things like cases if you had your eye set on something more unique to you — and if you have any questions as per compatibility, please feel free to leave a comment.
Which January 2022 PC Build is right for you?
Included in the gaming PC builds of the month, you will find builds anywhere in-between $500, $800, $1000, and $1500. This should accommodate most PC gamers out there that play in a multitude of gaming settings, maxing games anywhere from 1080p, 1440p and play really well into 4K.
If you are not sure which pc build is right for you based solely on your budget, then here is a quick breakdown of which build may be a right fit for you:
- $1500 PC Build: For gaming at 2K resolutions into 4K
- $1000 PC Build: For gaming MAX settings at 2K resolutions
- $800 PC Build: For gaming at MAX settings 1080p resolutions into 2K
- $500 PC Build: For being able to game in any game at 1080p.
Best of luck building the best possible gaming pc build this January 2022. If you have any questions be sure to leave a comment or simply join our new Facebook Group: Gaming PC Builders Facebook Group.
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The Best $1500 Gaming PC Build | January 2022
Performance: Game with Extreme settings and High FPS at resolutions of 1920×1080 (1080P) & 2560×1440 (1440p) + good gameplay at 4K
*This Gaming PC Build is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5600X CPU and an RTX 3070 Graphics Card
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
*Cost has gone down making this a very strong contender to its Intel competitor the i5 -11600K
- AMD's fastest 6 core processor for mainstream desktop, with 12 processing threads
- Can deliver elite 100+ FPS performance in the world's most popular games
- Bundled with the quiet, capable AMD Wraith Stealth cooler
- 4.6 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 35 MB of cache, DDR-3200 support
- For the advanced Socket AM4 platform, can support PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
Amazon Price: $289.99
2. Cooler: Stock AMD Wraith Stealth Cooler
The Ryzen 5600X is an amazing CPU in so many ways, in that it doesn't necessarily need to be overclocked and comes with a great Wraith Stealth Cooler, this saves you with a little more cash for other upgrades!
3. Motherboard: MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS Motherboard
- Supports 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen/ Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics desktop processors for AM4 socket
- Supports ddr4 memory, up to 4400+(oc) MHz
- Audio boost 4 technology with nahimic 3 software enhancement for immersive experiences
- Frozr heatsink with patented fan design – propeller blade technology and double ball bearings
- Pre-installed IO shielding is grounded and protects the IO ports from potential electrostatic discharge damage from the external environment
Amazon Price: $157.00
4. Graphics Card: MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 LHR 8GB
Cost (Amazon): $1146.99 (Keep in mind MSRP would put this card at $499)
*Note: Stock on GPU's has been limited, BUT stock does seem to be shifting to actually being available. The linked RTX 3070 is in stock at the time of posting this update, however, it is pricy. You can also try these alternative GPUS:
ALTERNATIVE GRAPHICS CARD CHOICES for the $1500 PC BUILD (in stock at posting)
- AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (~$849.99) - Performs *slightly less than the RTX 3070, but WAY better cost at the moment.
- GeForce RTX 3070 Ti (~$1400) - Performs *slightly better than plain RTX 3070
5. RAM: 16Gb Crucial Ballistix 3600 MHz DDR4 DRAM
16GB of RAM is the perfect spot for any high-end gaming pc - included is a 16GB kit of Crucial Ballistix 3600Mhz Gaming Kit - the perfect speed of RAM for this build.
Amazon Price: $80.72
6. SSD: Crucial P2 1TB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD Up to 2400MB/s - CT1000P2SSD8
- Capacity: 1TB but Up to 2TB with sequential reads/writes up to 2400MB/s/1900MB/s
- NVMe PCIe interface, marking the next step in storage innovation
- Includes SSD management software for performance optimization, data security, and firmware updates
- 5-year limited warranty
Amazon Price: $103.28
7. Power Supply: EVGA 220-G5-0750-X1 Super Nova 750 G5
- 80 plus Gold certified, with 91% efficiency or higher under typical loads
- Fully modular to reduce clutter and improve airflow
- 100% Japanese capacitors, active clamp +DC-DC converter design to improve 3.3V./ 5V. Stability
- Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan and EVGA eco mode for ultra-quiet operation and increased lifespan
- NVIDIA SLI & AMD Crossfire Ready
- Fully Modular to reduce clutter and improve airflow
Amazon Price: $115.50
8. PC Case: Corsair 4000D
- Combining innovative cable management, concentrated airflow, and proven CORSAIR build quality, the 4000D is a fitting choice for an immaculate high-performance PC.
- The CORSAIR RapidRoute cable management system makes it simple and fast to route your major cables through a single channel, with a roomy 25mm of space behind the motherboard for all of your cables.
- Includes two CORSAIR 120mm AirGuide fans, utilizing anti-vortex vanes to concentrate airflow and enhance cooling.
- A spacious interior fits up to 6x 120mm or 4x 140mm cooling fans, along with multiple radiators including 360mm in front and 280mm in the roof (dependent on RAM height).
- Put modern connections within easy reach with a front I/O panel including a USB 3.1 Type-C Port, USB 3.0 port, and a combination audio/microphone jack
Amazon Price: $94.99
ESTIMATED PRICE (January 2022): $1987.48 (With Current GPU Cost) - $1339 (If GPU at MSRP) -
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $1500
The best $1500 gaming pc build for January 2022 includes an AMD Ryzen 5600X CPU, a newer Ryzen 5000 series CPU that performs amazingly, especially for gaming. The 5600X has come down to a very respectable cost and is widely available now – so this one is a no-brainer.
This is paired with another powerfully new piece of hardware, the RTX 3070 graphics card, making this a very powerful gaming pc capable of extreme performance in games at higher resolutions. There are RTX 3070’s available now, however still well above MSR.P…but available and not quite as bad as it was in terms of GPU supply and costs.
If you are looking for an over-the-top, very fast-performing gaming PC build that you don’t have to worry about tweaking very much in order to max all games out at HD and higher resolutions, then this build is for you. However, unless you are wanting to get into seriously high-end 4K gaming, you shouldn’t need much more.
If you still think you need increased performances, you could upgrade your CPU or GPU if you have the excess funds to do so. If that is the case, you could simply consider upping the graphics card to something like an RTX 3080 (if you can find them in stock). This build also includes a very good gaming pc case, with great cooling, included and more.
$1500 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades
If you have more to spend, then you could check out some hardware alternative suggestions. This could be for either upgrading this build before or after you buy it. To do so, visit the full $1500 gaming pc builds overview here:
The Best $1000 Gaming PC Build | January 2022
Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 (HD) resolutions up to Higher Settings at 2560×1440 (2K)
Powered by the Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and the RX 6700 XT Graphics Card
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler
The Ryzen 5 5600X is a superb processor for any gaming pc build. If you planning an Intel gaming pc build and would prefer the Intel alternative, you could consider the Intel 11400F -- however, at the moment, this cpu is a tad more expensive than it should be.
Amazon Price: $289.99
2. Cooler: Wraith Stealth Cooler (Included)
This is the stock cooler that comes with the Ryzen 5600X. If you are wanting to do some overclocking and feel you need a better cooler, you can always add one in (see the hardware alternatives table on the Best $1000 Gaming PC Build page).
Price: *Included with Ryzen 5600X
3. Motherboard: ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming 4
This is a great budget B550 motherboard with the following specifications:
- Supports AMD AM4 Socket Ryzen™ 3000, 3000 G-Series, 4000 G-Series, 5000 and 5000 G-Series Desktop Processors*
- 8 Power Phase Design, Digi Power
- Supports DDR4 4733+ (OC)
- 1 PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 PCIe 3.0 x16, 2 PCIe 3.0 x1, 1 M.2 Key E for WiFi
- Graphics Output Options: HDMI
- AMD CrossFireX™
- 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC1200 Audio Codec), Nahimic Audio
- 6 SATA3, 1 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4 x4), 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen3 x2 & SATA3)
- 8 USB 3.2 Gen1 (2 Front, 6 Rear)
Amazon Price: $109.99
4. Graphics Card: XFX Speedster QICK308 Radeon RX 6600 XT Black Gaming Graphics Card
The 6600XT is a great graphics card for most standard gaming and is faster than previous cards in this bracket including the RTX 3060 or the 5700 XT.
Price: $649.99 (actual) - $379.00 (RX 6600 XT MSRP)
5. RAM: Crucial Ballistix 3600 MHz DDR4 DRAM Desktop Gaming Memory Kit 16GB (8GBx2) CL16
Included is a total of 16GB in the best $1000 gaming pc build, which will be plenty of memory for this rig, plus it's rated at 3600 MHz, which is a great spot for Ryzen CPUs.
Amazon Price: $84.99
6. SSD: Crucial P2 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
- Capacity: 500GB but up to 2TB with sequential reads/writes up to 2400MB/s/1900MB/s
- NVMe PCIe interface, marking the next step in storage innovation
- Includes SSD management software for performance optimization, data security, and firmware updates
- 5-year limited warranty
Amazon Price: $58.18
7. Power Supply: EVGA 220-G5-0650-X1 Super Nova 650 G5, 80 Plus Gold 650W
The sweet spot for this build is 650W of juice, and the EVGA 650 Ga 80 Plus Gold does the trick.
- 80 plus Gold certified, with 91% efficiency or higher under typical loads
- Fully modular to reduce clutter and improve airflow. Input Voltage:100 - 240 VAC
- 100% Japanese capacitors, active clamp +DC-DC converter design to improve 3.3V./ 5V. Stability
- Fluid dynamic bearing fan and EVGA eco mode for ultra-quiet operation and increased lifespan
Amazon Price: $74.99
8. PC Case: Phanteks Eclipse P300A
- Ultra-fine Performance Mesh front panel for the best optimal cooling performance; Tempered glass side panel to showcase your build
- Spacious open interior: supports ATX motherboards, 280mm radiator in front, supports a vertical GPU bracket (optional PH-VGPUKT_0), and full-size power supplies
- Easy accessibility to I/O featuring 2x USB 3.0, Microphone, Headphone, Power button, Reset button
- Front-loading HDD trays for easy installation, up to 4x SSD mounting locations, and a separate PSU compartment
Amazon Price: $69.99
Estimated Cost (January 2022): $1332.86 (With current GPU Cost) - $1062 (with GPU at MSRP)
Overview | $1000 Best Gaming PC Build 2022
The $1000 build for January 2022 includes a Ryzen 5 5600X (same as the above $1500 pc build) and includes its wraith Stealth cooler. You don’t have to spend any money upfront for a cooler, however, if you want more superior cooling should you be overclocking, you could consider a better cooler (check out the $1000 gaming pc build page for upgrade alternatives),.
The real performance driver behind this build is the RX 6700 XT, which at the moment of posting this article is in stock and has improved significantly in cost this month.
This $1000 pc build will play games smoothly at a high refresh rate 1080p gameplay and really well into 1400p (2K) resolution gameplay.
$1000 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades
If you visit the full overview for the best $1000 build you’ll also find hardware alternatives and upgrades. This can be upgraded hardware including a better graphics card, more memory, or even more storage space should you need it.
The Best $800 Gaming PC Build | January 2022
Capability: Game at Smoothly with High settings and FPS at 1920X1080 resolutions in most games.
Powered by the Intel Core i5-11400 CPU and a GTX 1650 Graphics Card
1. CPU: Intel Core i5-11400
The Intel i5 1400 is the perfect CPU for this build. While not only being a very capable gaming processor, it also has integrated graphics -- giving you the option to opt-out of buying a graphics card and waiting for the perfect deal, while still being able to use your PC with lower-end gaming.
- Compatible with Intel 500 series & select Intel 400 series chipset based motherboards
- Intel Optane Memory Support
- PCIe Gen 4.0 Support
- Thermal solution included *Optional better cooler included below.
Amazon Price: $189.88
2. Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black
- Direct contact technology: 4 Heat Pipe with exclusive direct contact Technology effectively provides excellent heat dissipation; Air flow: 42 CFM; Noise level: 26.0 decibels
- Precise air flow: Stacked fin array ensures least airflow resistance which allows cooler air flow into the heatsink
- Smart fan sensor for jam protection: Never worry about your cables getting snagged or components being mucked up ever again
- Snap and play: Intuitive fan bracket design makes upgrading and removing the fan a breeze
Amazon Price: $39.99
4. Graphics Card: ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650
The GTX 1650 can handle games at 1080p up to 60FPS depending on settings.
Price: $324.99 (Actual) - $149 (MSRP)
5. RAM: Crucial 16GB Ballistix 3200 MHz DDR4
16GB of RAM is the sweet spot for any gaming pc out there and should be all you need -- however there is always room to upgrade!
Amazon Price: $63.99
6. SSD: WD BLACK 500GB SN750 SE NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State Drive
You can't go wrong with a great value per dollar spent on a WD Black NVMe SSD.
- Get into the action fast with sequential read speeds up to 3,600MB/s to boost system, game and level load times.
- Demolish the competition with PCIe Gen4 storage (backwards compatible with PCIe Gen3).
- The WD_BLACK Dashboard helps you maintain drive health and enable gaming mode (available Late Summer 2021) to help sustain maxed-out performance.
- Game longer before your next recharge with up to 30% less power consumption than its predecessor.
- Slim and light M.2 SSD form factor is built for
Amazon Price: $49.99
7. Power Supply Unit: Apevia ATX-PR600W Prestige 600W 80+ Gold Certified, RoHS Compliance, Active PFC ATX Gaming Power Supply
- Supports Dual/Quad/multi-core CPUs. Supports single 12V output for higher power usage
- Dc to DC converter design, provides superior dynamic response, greater system stability and maximizes the 12V DC rail output
- Multi-gpu technologies supported; 6 pin and 8 pin PCI-E connectors support all GPU platforms. Built in 1 x auto-thermally controlled black 135mm fan
- Connectors: 1 x 20/24pin main power, 1 x 4/8pin 12V, 2 x PCI 6+2pin, 4 x SATA, 4 x peripheral. All protections
- Apevia ATX-PR600W Prestige 600W 80+ Gold Certified, RoHS Compliance, Active PFC ATX Gaming Power Supply, 3 Year Warranty
Amazon Price: $51.99
8. PC Case: Zalman S4 ATX Mid Tower Gaming PC Case
- Bezel Design For Optimal Airflow
- Full Acrylic Tinted Side Panel Shows Your Custom System In Style
- High-Strength Chasis and Premium Black Coating for Corrosion Protection
- User Friendly Case I/O
Amazon Price: $54.99
Estimated Price (January 2022): $883.81 (With Current GPU Cost)
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $800
The January 2022 $800 budget gaming pc build is for those who just want to build a solid pc capable of 60FPS gaming at standard HD 1080P resolutions. This is truly the ‘every person’ type build for those that just want to get gaming on a PC and do it at fairly decent performance settings.
The $800 gaming pc build of the month can easily push well fast 60FPS at 1080P in most PC games on the market right now. The CPU included this month is the Intel i5 11400 CPU, which is a very capable CPU, which also has decent integrated graphics and is currently at a fantastic cost. So what this means is that if you want to wait for a better deal on the graphics card, this CPU will get you up and running without one in the meantime, and would enable some lower end gaming.
For the graphics card, we have a GTX 1650 4GB graphics card, which will push games to high settings under a 1080p resolution. This build is probably most of what any very typical “I just want to game” gamers out there as it does max games out easily at 1080p standard HD monitor resolutions.
$800 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades
The best $800 gaming pc build can be further upgraded — visit the full overview page for a full overview of this build including suggestions for hardware upgrades including a higher-performing CPU, a high-performing graphics card for those more intense games, or even a better pc case.
The Best $500 Gaming PC Build | January 2022
Capability: Game at 720p to 1080p resolutions in most games.
Powered by the Ryzen 5 5600G CPU with integrated Radeon RX Graphics
1. CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
(*You don't need a graphics card with this CPU as it comes with Integrated Radeon Graphics for smooth 1080p gaming)
- Features best-in-class graphics performance in a desktop processor for smooth 1080p gaming, no graphics card required
- 6 Cores and 12 processing threads, bundled with the AMD Wraith Stealth cooler
- 4.4 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 19 MB cache, DDR4-3200 support
- For the advanced Socket AM4 platform
Amazon Price: $258.93
2. Cooler: AMD Wraith Stealth Cooler (Included)
This cooler is included with the AMD Ryzen 5600G CPU
3. Motherboard: GIGABYTE B550M DS3H Motherboard
This motherboard is a quality budget Micro ATX sized board, that features everything you'd need in a $500 PC, including:
-
- Supports 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Processors
- Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- 5 plus 3 Phases Pure Digital VRM Solution with Low RDS(on) MOSFETs
- Ultra Durable PCIe 4. 0 Ready x16 Slot
- Dual Ultra-Fast NVMe PCIe 4. 0/3. 0 M. 2 Connectors
- High Quality Audio Capacitors and Audio Noise Guard for Ultimate Audio Quality
- GIGABYTE Exclusive 8118 Gaming GbE LAN with Bandwidth Management
Amazon Price: $107.99
4. Graphics Card: *Integrated Radeon RX Graphics Included
The Ryzen 5 5600G comes with integrated Radeon Graphics at a graphics frequency of 1900 MHz and a graphics core count of 7.
*Alternative discrete graphics cards if you want future upgrades or better performance:
5. RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3200MHz
16GB is an upgrade to the $500 gaming PC build, and might even be more than you actually need. However, at the moment 16GB kits are close in cost to 8GB ones at the moment anyhow -- so it only makes sense.
Amazon Price: $62.99
6. SSD: Kingston 240GB A400 SATA 3 2.5 Internal SSD
The $500 pc build starts at 240GB and it's plenty for those with the $500 budget pc build and there is always room for growth.
Amazon Price: $29.99
7. Power Supply Unit: Thermaltake Smart 500W 80+ White Certified PSU, Continuous Power with 120mm Ultra Quiet Cooling Fan
500W is plenty for this pc build and the Thermaltake Smart 500W RGB does the trick perfectly.
- Delivers 500 Watt Continuous output at plus 40 degree. Compliance with Intel ATX 12 Volt 2.31 & EPS 12V 2.92 standards
- 80 PLUS Certified, 80 percentage efficiency under typical load
- Supports (2) PCI E 6+2pin Connectors. Active (PFC) Power Factor Correction, MTBF: 100,000 hours
- Industry Grade Protections: (OPP) Over Power Protection, (OVP) Over Voltage Protection, (SCP) Short Circuit Protection
- High Quality Components
- Equipped with a powerful plus 12 Volt rail, superior performance under all types of system loading
- 5 Year Warranty
Amazon Price: $29.99
8. PC Case: Zalman S2 ATX Mid Tower Computer PC Case
- Full Acrylic Side Panel for ATX Mid Tower Computer PC Case
- Front Design for maximized Airflow with two front 120mm fan pre-installed (& one rear 120mm fan pre-installed)
- Convenient Interface with one USB, 3.0 & two USB 2.0
- Power Supply unit dedicated space for improved cooling performance
- 7 PCI Expansion Slots with Bottom & Top Magnetic Dust Filter
Amazon Price: $54.99
Estimated Price (January 2022): $544.93
(*Using integrated graphics)
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $500
The best $500 budget Gaming PC build for the month this January 2022 will get you up and playing at standard HD 1080P resolutions with game settings scaled back for optimal FPS gameplay and it uses integrated graphics, which makes this the most accessible pc to game on out of all of the gaming pc builds of the month.
The $500 gaming pc build is currently powered by the Ryzen 5 5600G CPU with integrated Radeon RX graphics. This means you do not need a graphics card to get up and start gaming, which is a plus since cards are really inflated with regard to cost at the moment. This also gives you the option to also add a better graphics card for increased performance in the $500 gaming pc build of the month.
This gaming PC build is a back-to-the-basics type build that focuses solely on getting as much performance as we can out of each dollar spent. That means no bells and whistles, only pure performance and focusing on the necessities of our build.
This could be considered the gateway PC for those breaking free of the gaming console and jumping into PC gaming – or for those who want an affordable gaming pc that can play any game out there with scaled settings.
$500 Gaming PC Build of the Month Upgrades
As with all of the gaming pc builds of the month, there are plenty of upgrades that you could consider if you had just a bit more to spend. You can check these out here:
The best $500 gaming pc build can be further upgraded — visit the full overview page for a full overview of this build including suggestions for hardware upgrades including a higher-performing CPU, or a high-performing graphics card.
Operating Systems for Your Gaming PC
Do keep in mind that you will also need an operating system, however, it’s not too difficult to find keys for windows 10 online, you will need to install it using something like a USB key or external drive.
| OS Link | Price | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 or 11 | $99.99 (You can also download Windows 10 and install it on a USB yourself – simply google how to!) |  |
|
| Ubuntu (Linux OS) | Ubuntu – Desktop | Free (open source) |  |
| SteamOS | SteamOS – “Build your own Steam Machine” | Free |  |
January 2022 Gaming PC Builds of the Month Overview Video
A Step by Step on How to Build a Gaming PC this 2022
Looking for a step-by-step on how to build your pc? Then check out our article for 2022: A Step by Step on How to Build a Gaming PC this 2022 or simply leave a comment below with any questions!
Best of luck building the best possible gaming pc build for your budget! Questions? Leave them below.