PC Build Navigation:
- $1500 – $2000 Gaming PC Build for March 2022
- $1000 – $1500 Gaming PC Build for March 2022
- $800 – $900 Gaming PC Build for March 2022
- $500 – $600 Gaming PC Build for March 2022
The March 2022 Gaming PC Build hardware updates: If you’ve been planning a gaming PC build for a while, then you’re in luck. From my perspective, it looks like graphics card prices are subsiding and are more widely available. I mean you could take from that what you wish, but it is getting better. And if you are just starting your first PC build, well you are also in luck as you may dodge the ‘I cannot find a Graphics Card’ bullet.
Nevertheless, welcome to the March 2022 Gaming PC Builds of the Month. All of the builds are now included in budget brackets (ie. $1500 to $2000) to capture realistic fluctuating budgets as they fluctuate within these ranges, and if you dive into each build deeper, I also include upgrade suggestions that you could use for more Performace and would be in these budget categories as well.
Below you will find the best budget builds up to date for the start of 2022 this March from $1500 to $2000, $1000 to $1500, $800 to $900 and $500 to $600 budget categories. These builds are budgeted in order to maximize 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 March 2022 PC Build is right for you?
The budgets included below 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 to $2000 PC Build: For gaming at 2K resolutions into 4K
- $1000 to $1500 PC Build: For gaming MAX settings at 2K resolutions
- $800 to $900 PC Build: For gaming at MAX settings 1080p resolutions into 2K
- $500 to $600 PC Build: For being able to game in any game at 1080p.
Best of luck building the best possible gaming pc build this March 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 to $2000 Gaming PC Build | March 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 Intel i5 12400 CPU and an RTX 3070 Graphics Card
1. CPU: Intel Core i5-12400
*Newer addition and faster than the previous Ryzen chip in this build.
- 6 Processor Cores and 12 Threads
- 4.4 Max GHz, 2.5 base GHz
- Compatible with Intel 600 Series Chipset based motherboards
- Intel UHD Graphics 730 included
- Intel Laminar RM1 Cooler included
Amazon Price: $208.90
2. Cooler: Intel Laminar RM1 (*Included with CPU)
The Intel i5 12400 comes with the Intel Laminar RM1 Cooler included. This cooler will work just fine, however, if you want to really get the most out of overclocking (should you choose to), then you may want to purchase a better CPU cooler.
3. Motherboard: ASUS Prime B660-PLUS D4 LGA 1700(Intel 12th Gen) ATX Motherboard
- Intel LGA 1700 socket: Ready for 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron Processors
- Comprehensive cooling: VRM heatsink, M.2 heatsink, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 2+
- ASUS OptiMem: Careful routing of traces and vias to preserve signal integrity for improved memory stability
Amazon Price: $139.99
4. Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 XC3 Ultra Gaming
The RTX 3070 is a phenomenal graphics card for gaming and will push your gaming performance to be able to play at the highest settings with high FPS into 1440p gameplay and beyond.
Cost (Amazon): $1075.99
5. RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 X 8GB) DDR4 3600 MHz
16GB of RAM is the perfect spot for any high-end gaming pc - included is a 16GB kit of Corsair Vengeance LPX.
Amazon Price: $69.99
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: $99.99
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: $106.81
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: $104.99
ESTIMATED PRICE (March 2022): $1805.67
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $1500 to $2000
The best $1500 to $2000 gaming pc build for March 2022 includes the newer Intel i5 12400 CPU, a newer Alder Lake series CPU from Intel that performs amazingly and outperforms the previous Ryzen CPU that held this spot — this includes single-core, multi-core and gaming performance.
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 to $2000 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 to $1500 Gaming PC Build | March 2022
Capability: Game with Extreme settings at 1920X1080 (HD) resolutions up to Higher Settings at 2560×1440 (2K)
Powered by the Intel i5 12400 CPU and the RX 6700 XT Graphics Card
1. CPU: Intel Core i5-12400
The Intel Core i5 12400 replaces the previous Ryzen 5600X in this spot and is on average better overall in both single-core and multi-core performance and in gaming.
Amazon Price: $208.90
2. Cooler: Intel Laminar RM1 Cooler (Included)
This is the stock cooler for the Intel Core i5 12400. It would be recommended that if you want to overclock upgrade this to an after-market CPU cooler (see hardware alternatives for options).
Price: *Included
3. Motherboard: ASUS Prime B660-PLUS D4 LGA 1700(Intel 12th Gen) ATX Motherboard
This is a great budget B650 motherboard with the following specifications:
Amazon Price: $139.99
4. Graphics Card: Sapphire Technology Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT 8GB
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: $635.99
5. RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 X 8GB) DDR4 3600
Included is a total of 16GB in the best $1000 gaming pc build, which will be plenty of memory for this rig.
Amazon Price: $69.99
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: $49.99
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: NZXT H510 - CA-H510B-B1
- Front I/O USB Type-C Port and Tempered glass side panel with single screw installation
- Enhanced cable management: Our patented cable routing kit with pre-installed channels and straps makes wiring easy and intuitive
- STREAMLINED COOLING: 2 Aer F120mm fans included for optimal internal airflow and the front panel and PSU intakes include removable filters, removable bracket designed for radiators up to 240mm - simplifies the installation of either closed-loop or custom-loop water cooling
- Motherboard support: Mini-ITX, MicroATX, and ATX
Amazon Price: $69.99
Estimated Cost (March 2022): $1269.84
Overview | $1000 to $1500 Best Gaming PC Build 2022
The $1000 build for March 2022 includes an Intel i5 12400 CPU (same as the above $1500 pc build) and includes a stock 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 6600 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 to $1500 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 to $900 Gaming PC Build | March 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: $174.97
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: $43.99
3. Motherboard: MSI B560M-A PRO ProSeries Motherboard
Amazon Price: $97.99
4. Graphics Card: ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 OC Edition Graphics Card
The GTX 1650 can handle games at 1080p up to 60FPS depending on settings.
Price: $318.00
5. RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 X 8GB) DDR4 3600
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: $66.99
6. SSD: Crucial P2 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
- Capacity: Up to 2TB with sequential reads or 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
- Backed by a limited 5-year warranty or up to the max endurance rating of 150 TBW
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: $52.46
8. PC Case: Cooler Master MasterBox NR600 ATX Mid-Tower
- Minimalistic mesh design - Elegant design elements are applied to mesh for optimal thermal performance.
- Optimal thermal performance – the full mesh front panel and ventilated top panel provide a high potential for thermal performance.
- Flush Tempered glass Side panel design – The tempered glass Side panel, fastened by thumbscrews on the rear panel, keeps the surface flush and unobstructed.
- Graphics Card support up to 410 millimeter – Generous clearance space is provided to support the latest graphics cards.
- With/without ODD support – depending on preference, an odd version of the chassis is available. If an odd is not preferred, a cleaner appearance and more cooling options on the top and front panels are supported.
- Headset jack – the single 4 pole headset jack features both Audio and microphone capabilities simultaneously so that separate jacks are not needed.
- Cable management – high quality, longer length rubber grommets and generous clearance behind the motherboard offers ample room for cable management.
Amazon Price: $76.49
Estimated Price (March 2022): $883.88
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $800 to $900
The March 2022 $800 to $900 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 to $900 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 to $900 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 to $600 Gaming PC Build | March 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: $218.98
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: $109.99
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 (2 X 8GB) DDR4 3600 MHz
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: $69.99
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: $34.99
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: $39.99
8. PC Case: BitFenix Nova Mesh SE Edition PC Gaming Case
- 2 x White Fans Pre-Installed
- Dual Protection Design As Air Purifier
- Removable Modular Hard Drive Cage
- Steel Side Panel
- 2 Color Options for your style
Amazon Price: $39.51
Estimated Price (March 2022): $513.45
(*Using integrated graphics)
Overview | Best Gaming PC Build for $500 to $600
The best $500 to $600 budget Gaming PC build for the month this March 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 to $600 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 to $600 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 to $600 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 to $600 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 | Download and install Windows on a USB (Need another PC) |  |
|
| Ubuntu (Linux OS) | Ubuntu – Desktop | Free (open source) |  |
| SteamOS | SteamOS – “Build your own Steam Machine” | Free |  |
March 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.