Category: Hi-end PC

What you get for your $5,000

You could in theory buy fewer components and water-cool a gaming PC for under $5000 but we are here to help you build your dream machine without the liquid. At the $5000 mark, you are close to the elites of custom PCs. There are no compromises on aesthetics, performance, or quality in this price range. The bottom line is, that for such a premium price, you can be sure to get the very best components out there.

All of the builds we recommend here at WePC are, of course, split into different budget categories. That being said, when your budget is $5000, you can pretty much have any computer you desire. For hardcore gamers, this is probably going to be one of the best experiences you will ever have when gaming, with insanely high frame rates and some of the best graphical fidelity in the business – as long as you have the best monitor to support it. Casual and 4K lovers don’t worry, this PC will allow you to achieve unreal FPS counts even in the highest of resolutions. We try our best to keep these custom PC builds within the budget target, but from time to time, the price can fluctuate. This fluctuation is mostly down to Amazon’s market, but we will be regularly checking the build to ensure it’s the best recommendation throughout the year.

This Gaming PC build will not disappoint you when it comes to performance. We see a flagship Ryzen 9 CPU feature, which is currently one of the best CPUs on the market. The CPU in this rig is partnered with one of the best GPUs in the business to take care of all demanding workloads and will future-proof your setup for years to come.

To back up the powerful components, we have gone with arguably one of the best motherboards currently available. This mobo will stay strong and give you the reassurance you need to push your system to its limits. To help boost the performance, we see high capacity, fast  RAM included, too, which goes a long way with Ryzen processors. Lastly, to finish off the build, we see a large NVMe M.2 to give you all the speedy boot times you need.

Upgradability and Future-Proofing

This high-end gaming PC is full to the brim with heavy-duty components, and there is almost no room for upgrades, however, this becomes inevitable as time and technology advances. The rig is future-proofed almost to the max, and it will bring some seriously good results for many years to come. The only logical next step is, of course, the RTX 4090 and a custom water cooling loop.

Overclocking

This PC build has no need to be overclocked, it’s one of the best you can buy but that doesn’t mean it can’t be boosted. There are customers out there who will always look to squeeze more value out of their components, and we have you covered. We have ensured we pick products that have overclocking capabilities and won’t leave you with a big burning hole (in your pocket or case).

Remember to double-check your RAM speeds once installed as it will unlikely to run at its full potential out of the box, you will have to enable an XMP/EXPO overclock. Don’t worry though, the motherboard is designed to handle overclocking, so all you need to do is go into the BIOS and enable an AMD EXPO or XMP  profile to get the motherboard to recognize whatever your rated Memory speed is.

Ease Of Building

The $5000 build is nothing out of the ordinary, in fact, building it was pretty much the same as the $2000 build we recommend. The selected case is unbelievably spacious and makes the whole process extremely simple. There were no clearance issues, and the CPU cooler radiator fit like a glove. A plus with this case was the included pre-installed fans, keeping the system cool and saving you from buying extras. As mentioned, the case manufacturer is really at the top of the game, and you can see this with quality cable management options.

A screwdriver was the only tool required to complete the build, but if you want to ensure you protect your components fully, then invest in anti-static equipment. It is worth noting that the cooler will come with a small tube of thermal paste for you to apply some fresh paste on your CPU. We advise wiping off the old thermal paste and applying a branded type like the ones from our best thermal paste roundup. The better the thermal paste and application mean, the better your thermal performance will be.

Finance and purchase options

$5,000 is a lot of money, but that’s not to say you have to have the money at hand all at once to build your dream PC. Now, we’re not recommending you get into debt, but there are a number of “pay in 3” or 0% interest purchase options for a number of months. Always make sure you can afford the repayment when getting things on finance. You can also browse the 2nd hand market for parts of which to build your $5,000 PC. You can save a lot of money and save on electronic waste by shopping second-hand. There are only a couple of bits that we don’t recommend you get second hand and those are power supplies and Hard drives.

Build A Gaming PC By Price

Check out some of our price-focused custom PC build guides below.

Other Related Custom PC Guides:

Related Prebuilt Gaming PC Guides

Check out some of our related prebuilt PC guides below.

More than a decade after its debut on antiquated consoles, Grand Theft Auto 5 is still a cash cow for Rockstar and its parent company Take-Two. Speaking today during Take-Two’s Q4 quarterly earnings call with investors, CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed that the game has now sold “approximately” 200 million copies, up from the “over 185 million” copies it had sold as of August last year.

Meanwhile, the audience for both GTA 5 and GTA Online grew by 35% and 23% respectively during the last fiscal year. That period has seen GTA 5 appear on subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, which hosted GTA 5 for six months in 2023, and Sony’s PS Plus service. Leaving that aside, to sell around 15 million units of an 11-year-old game is still significant. Just for the fun of it, compare those 15 million units with the best selling game of 2023, Hogwarts Legacy, which sold 22 million as of January 2024 (it released in February 2023).

Hard drive failure can be a demoralizing disaster, resulting in system crashes or even permanent data loss. And there’s nothing worse than losing a lifetime’s worth of family photos, videos, and important documents. The good news is that there are warning signs that can indicate an impending hard drive failure, giving you time to take action. In this post, we’ll explore the top signs of failure, so you can take proactive measures to protect your data.

Strange Noises

A failing drive can oftentimes produce strange noises, such as the following. Bear in mind though, these are more applicable to HDD (aka mechanical drives) rather than SSD:

• Clicking or ticking sounds: Indicating a mechanical failure or a faulty head assembly.
• Whirring or grinding sounds: Signaling a motor or bearing failure.
• Beeping or buzzing sounds: A sign of a failing power supply or electrical issue.

Corrupted Data

If you notice files are becoming corrupted, can’t be opened, or just missing altogether, it’s a sign that your hard drive is experiencing errors. This could mean failure is imminent, but it could also be a sign of more benign issues like fragmentation or corrupted sectors. We’d recommend running some other disk check utilities like System File Checker or chkdsk to pinpoint the extent of the issue.

Blue Screens of Death (BSODs)

BSODs can occur due to various reasons, including hard drive failure. If you’re experiencing frequent BSODs, you can usually find the cause by Googling the error code produced. If it’s hard drive related, the interwebs will tell you. If it’s not, well, now you have another problem to fix…

SMART Errors

Your system should have an included utility called SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology), a built in BIOS application designed to monitor and alert to potential hard drive failures. If you receive a SMART alert, especially after a crash of some type, don’t ignore it! It’s extremely likely that’s an indication that hard drive failure is imminent.

Checking for SSD Failures

Generally speaking, SSDs have better longevity than do HDDs, but that doesn’t mean they’re infallible. For example, all SSD have a finite number of TBW (Total Bytes Written) which is essentially the amount of times they can be written/rewritten before wearing out.

Most SSDs come with a proprietary utility for monitoring drive health, unique to each manufacturer (Samsung Magician for Samsung, Crucial Storage Executive for Crucial, etc). If yours is a Velocity Micro PC, this utility will be preinstalled but if not, you may need to download and install it yourself. Each utility is a little different, but all will rate the drive health, TBW, and usage of each drive. These are handy for proactively monitoring your hardware.

Other Errors Indicating Hard Drive Failure

• New message indicating drive is not formatted (can be caused by software or by electrical surges)
• Boot loops: possible virus or Trojan in the boot sector
• System lock ups and freezes: possible bad sectors or can be software or resources related
• Drive not found: Check connectors (SATA and Power), BIOS settings, RAID settings if appropriate
• Operating System not found: Check BIOS settings, possibly a Hard Drive priority is the cause

If you experience any of these signs, it’s a good idea to back up your data immediately and start making plans for a hard drive replacement. Remember, all Velocity Micro systems come with a lifetime upgrade program to help with issues like this!

Hard drive failures got you down? Configure a new PC built by our experts, starting here.

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Josh has been with Velocity Micro since 2007 in various Marketing, PR, and Sales related roles. As the Director of Sales & Marketing, he is responsible for all Direct and Retail sales as well as Marketing activities. He enjoys Seinfeld reruns, the Atlanta Braves, and Beatles songs written by John, Paul, or George. Sorry, Ringo.

At PC Geeks, we understand the frustration of a slow computer. Whether you’re battling sluggish boot times, experiencing program crashes, or simply noticing a decline in overall performance, a sluggish PC can disrupt your workflow and hinder your productivity. The good news is that keeping your computer running smoothly doesn’t require a degree in computer science. By following a few simple tips and incorporating them into your regular routine, you can prevent performance issues and ensure your PC runs like a champ.

Declutter Your Digital Space: Free Up Disk Space

Just like a cluttered room can feel overwhelming, a cluttered hard drive can slow down your computer. Regularly review your files and remove anything you no longer need. This includes old documents, unused downloads, and temporary files.

Utilizing Built-in Tools: Most operating systems come with built-in disk cleanup utilities that can help identify and remove unnecessary files. Additionally, consider uninstalling programs you no longer use. Unused programs can take up valuable storage space and even run background processes, further contributing to slowdowns.

Embrace the Power of Updates: Keep Software Current

Software updates often include performance enhancements, bug fixes, and security patches. Keeping your operating system, applications, and drivers up-to-date is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and protecting your system from vulnerabilities.

Windows users: Access updates through Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Mac users: Updates are available through System Preferences > Software Update.

Stop Startup Slowdown: Manage Startup Programs

Many programs like chat applications or media players are configured to launch automatically when you boot your computer. While convenient, these programs can slow down your startup time.

Windows users: Disable unnecessary startup programs through Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) > Startup tab.

Mac users: Manage startup programs through System Preferences > Users & Groups > (Your User) > Login Items.

Give Your PC a Breather: Restart Regularly

Just like us, computers benefit from an occasional reboot. Restarting your PC clears temporary files from memory (RAM) and allows for a fresh start. Aim to restart your computer at least once a week, or more frequently if you use it heavily.

Protect Your System: Utilize Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software

Malicious software (malware) can significantly slow down your computer and even damage your files. A robust antivirus and anti-malware solution can protect your system from these threats and ensure smooth operation.

Consider a Hardware Upgrade: Invest in More RAM (if necessary)

While software optimization can significantly improve performance, there are limitations. If your computer is constantly running low on memory (RAM), it can lead to slowdowns and sluggishness. Upgrading your RAM can provide a noticeable performance boost, especially for users who run memory-intensive programs.

Bonus Tip: For a Deeper Clean (Advanced Users)

Disk Defragmentation (HDDs only): This process reorganizes fragmented files on your hard disk drive (HDD) for faster access times. Note that this is not necessary for solid-state drives (SSDs).

By following these tips and incorporating them into your regular routine, you can keep your computer running smoothly and efficiently. If you continue to experience performance issues or require further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact the expert technicians at PC Geeks and use our computer repair service. We’re always happy to help!

Our best Mini-ITX gaming PC build is for the space-conscious gamer with limited desk space or someone who just loves a clean-looking setup. This may be a small form factor system, but the components offer big performance. This custom mini build is even capable of 4K gaming, with some incredible FPS counts thanks to the powerful CPU/GPU combination. So throw out your console, and let’s get building this mini gaming rig.

With airflow, cooling, and affordability all improving over recent years, it is finally viable to build a mini-ITX gaming PC without breaking the bank or creating a mini oven. We haven’t built this with a budget in mind, but we were aiming to keep this high-end build as cost-effective as possible, without compromising on performance.

PC hardware deals

If you are planning on building out your next gaming PC, then finding deals on some components is the best way to get something better for cheaper. In that case, you can find deals on GPUs, CPUs, coolers, motherboards, power supplies, and cases. There are always some discounts to be found even if it’s not any special sales time so you can save a few bucks here and there.

What you get for your money

While a small form factor PC build isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, a Mini-ITX gaming PC is a great option for space-conscious gamers or users who are frequently on the move with their system. In the past, it could often be too costly to build a mini ITX PC and, in some instances, not worth the trade-off with limited component compatibility. Now though, with many motherboard manufacturers offering excellent quality ITX boards, the mini build is certainly worth a look but beware ITX components could increase the budget.

Performance

As mentioned, this PC is made to be powerful, and this machine’s gaming performance alone is of stellar quality. Inside we see one of the best price to performance CPUs on the market, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X. This multi-threaded CPU comes with 6 cores running at 4.7GHz out of the box and 12 threads. Furthermore, the processor can be overclocked to an impressive 5.3GHz for improved performance. This CPU won’t let you down, and it also offers some workstation performance too!

Backing up the CPU is very powerful graphics card, which will easily run any AAA game you throw at it in immense detail. This GPU will smash anything in 1080p but impressively has shown to perform well while playing in 1440p and 4K, without getting poor FPS counts on those demanding titles.

Reinforcing those strong components, we see a reliable, feature-packed motherboard. This mobo will handle overclocks without a sweat, giving you the reassurance you need to push this system to its full potential. To help boost the overall gaming performance, we have included 16GB of fast RAM, which works hand in hand with the Ryzen CPU. Lastly, a generous 1TB M.2 SSD has been included, to store your operating system, applications, and games, while also saving on space.

AMD vs Intel

We wanted to get the absolute most out of this Mini-ITX build, so naturally went for AMD over Intel. This isn’t to say Intel would be a bad choice. After all, they offer fantastic single-core performance for gaming and generally have cheaper ITX boards, but AMD’s value is undeniable. You are simply getting more for your money with the AMD CPU, and the added benefit of multi-threading with your day-to-day tasks is always a great addition to any build. While a small form factor PC build isn’t everyone’s concern, a Mini-ITX gaming PC is a great option for space-conscious gamers or users who are frequently on the move with their system. In the past, it would often be too costly and not worth the trade-off with limited component options suited to fit. Now though with many motherboard manufacturers offering excellent quality ITX boards, the mini build is certainly worth a look.

Why should you consider a small form factor ITX PC?

An ITX form factor PC can be a great option for several reasons:

1. Size: ITX form factor PCs are smaller in size compared to traditional PCs, making them easy to fit in tight spaces, such as small apartments, home offices, or living rooms.
2. Portability: Due to their smaller size, ITX form factor PCs are more portable, making it easier to take them to different locations, such as trade shows, LAN parties, or friends’ houses.
3. Energy efficiency: Smaller PCs often use less power, which can lead to lower electricity bills and less impact on the environment.
4. Customization: ITX form factor PCs can be customized to suit specific needs, such as gaming, media center, or home server.
5. Cost-effective: ITX form factor PCs can be more cost-effective than larger PCs, as they typically have a lower price point and use fewer components.
6. High-performance: Despite its smaller size, ITX form factor PCs can have high-performance components, such as powerful CPUs and GPUs, that allow them to handle demanding tasks, such as gaming, video editing and 3D rendering.

In summary, ITX form factor PCs are a great option for those who are looking for a compact, portable, energy-efficient, customizable, cost-effective, and high-performance PC.

‘What if you could build Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory?’ is a question I’m surprised video games haven’t answered yet. It’s a natural next step for the factory-building genre, taking the fundamentals of a game like Satisfactory and theming it around the one fictional factory everyone knows about.

Chocolate Factory, developed by Tbjbu2 (who I presume was named by the developer’s cat walking across the keyboard), does exactly this. But it also asks a far less obvious, some might say unnecessary question, namely ‘What if Willy Wonka had a massive gun?’.

Just when the world thought the battle royale format was starting to dwindle, Call Of Duty sprung into action releasing arguably one of the most popular games of all time – Warzone. Warzone quickly became one of the highest played, streamed, and watched shooters to date while simultaneously refreshing the stale BR genre. It no longer became the end if you were to be shot dead, it was more of an inconvenience, with innovative 1v1 Gulag battles and in-game cash for extra lives.

Warzone always had strong player counts, and interest from new players, and surprisingly lots of console players are starting to consider switching to PC too. Warzone 2 provided much more of the same, with an altogether new experience for players. Now that Warzone 1 has had its servers shut down and 2.0 simply rebranded back to ‘Warzone’, we’re ready to check out MW2 & Warzone Season 6, and you can do the same with a fresh PC.

With this in mind, we are going to be putting together the best Warzone 2 gaming PC build, including the best CPU and best GPU for Warzone 2, throwing in a budget option, and a prebuilt PC for good measure.

The application of skill and dedication of time are the two main reasons most become ‘great’ at a game, however, when it comes to PCs you are going to need to ensure you have a smooth experience and leave any notion of lag or poor graphics at the theoretical door.

PC hardware deals

If you are planning on building out your next gaming PC, then finding deals on some components is the best way to get something better for cheaper. In that case, you can find deals on GPUs, CPUs, coolers, motherboards, power supplies, and cases. There are always some discounts to be found even if it’s not any special sales time so you can save a few bucks here and there.

Warzone 2 PC requirements

You should always take game requirements with a pinch of salt as they often include out-of-date hardware that can be quite tricky to get your hands on. We will take a look at what Activision set out as their recommended Warzone 2 system requirements before discussing what we think you should go for later on in the article.

Recommended:

• OS: Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update) or Windows 11 64 Bit (latest update)
• CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K / Core i7-4770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1400
• RAM: 12 GB
• Hi-Rez Assets Cache: Up to 32 GB
• Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580
• Video Memory: 4 GB

The game is optimized to the point where the recommended specs from Call Of Duty will serve you well, however, for a smooth experience or if you wish to push frame rates above 144 FPS without compromise, our Warzone 2 build is going to be the better option.

Best PC for Warzone 2

We are going to be putting together the best PC for Warzone 2, which means we want this to be well-priced, performance-focused, and affordable for the masses, so don’t expect this PC to play any game in 4K max settings.

Warzone 2 has a lot of in-game objects and players, so a combination of a strong CPU, GPU, memory, and fast storage should offer the perfect balance to bring flawless results. This guide is to help you build a PC for Warzone 2 but we will also recommend a prebuilt PC for Warzone 2 too, allowing everyone a chance to get stuck into the battle royale shooter, without the need for expertise or time.