Build the Ultimate Intel 4K Gaming Rig (2025 Edition)
Take your gaming to the next level with this balanced, powerful, and future-ready 4K gaming build. Equipped with Intel’s efficient 14600K processor and NVIDIA’s cutting-edge RTX 5080 GPU, this rig delivers ultra-high framerates, exceptional ray tracing performance, and smooth multitasking.
CPU
Intel Core i5-14600K is a budget-friendly powerhouse, offering top-tier single-thread performance for gaming and excellent multi-threading for content creation. It’s fully unlocked for overclocking and supports PCIe 5.0 and DDR5, making it highly future-proof. A perfect match for a 4K-capable GPU.
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Cores/Threads: 14 (6 Performance + 8 Efficiency) / 20 Threads
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Base/Boost Clock: Up to 5.3 GHz
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Socket: LGA1700
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Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD 770
Motherboard
We've selected the best-priced motherboard. In this case, ASUS PRIME Z690-P WIFI DDR5 DIMM PCIe 5.0 will boost your gaming performance. PCIe Gen 5 is going to bring you an extreme gaming performance by supplying enough power for high-end graphics cards. With PCIe 5.0, the transfer speed now hits 32 GT/s and up to 128GB/s bandwidth over an x16 lane connection.
Memory
G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6400
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Speed: DDR5-6400 CL32
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Design: Aluminum heatspreaders with customizable RGB
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Performance: Optimized for Intel platforms
Ideal for modern gaming workloads, this fast and stylish DDR5 kit offers low latency and high transfer speeds, enhancing system responsiveness and stability under load.
Storage
Crucial T500 2TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD
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Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 NVMe
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Sequential Read/Write: Up to 7,400 / 7,000 MB/s
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Endurance: 1,200 TBW (Total Bytes Written)
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Form Factor: M.2 2280
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Extras: Supports Microsoft DirectStorage and PS5 compatibility
The Crucial T500 is a top-tier Gen 4 SSD designed for gamers, creators, and professionals alike. With blazing-fast speeds nearly maxing out PCIe 4.0 bandwidth, this drive is perfect for rapid game load times, 4K video editing, and massive file transfers. It also includes a DRAM cache for improved sustained performance and responsiveness.
Graphic card
PNY NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 16GB
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VRAM: 16GB GDDR7
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Architecture: Ada-Next (RTX 50 Series)
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Ray Tracing & AI: 3rd-gen Ray Tracing Cores, 5th-gen Tensor Cores
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Key Features: DLSS 4, AV1 Encoding, PCIe Gen 5 Support
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Outputs: 3x DisplayPort 2.1, 1x HDMI 2.1
The RTX 5080 delivers flagship-level 4K gaming performance at a more accessible price point than the 5090. With DLSS 4 and hardware-accelerated ray tracing, it offers smooth framerates even with max settings enabled. PNY’s variant includes a triple-fan cooler and reinforced backplate for durability and thermals.
Power supply
MSI PCIe 5 Gaming PSU 1000W – 80 Plus Gold
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Wattage: 1000W
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Efficiency: 80 Plus Gold Certified
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Cabling: Fully modular with native 12VHPWR (PCIe Gen 5)
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Cooling: Zero Frozr fan mode with quiet operation
Ready for RTX 50 Series GPUs, this PSU includes everything you need for stable, efficient performance—even under overclocked loads. Japanese capacitors ensure durability and ripple-free power delivery.
Cooling:
Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB V2
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Radiator: 240mm low-profile aluminum
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Fans: Dual SickleFlow 120 RGB PWM fans
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Pump: Dual-chamber design for improved thermal efficiency
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Lighting: Addressable RGB on fans and pump head
Reliable, quiet, and stylish, the ML240L RGB V2 offers excellent CPU cooling in a compact form factor. It’s a great fit for most mid-tower cases and provides vibrant lighting to match your build theme.
The final price doesn't include accessories or peripherals either, so if you're going all-in on 4K gaming, you should pick yourself up a quality gaming monitor that'll make the most out of your GPU.
Estimated Build Budget
$2,700 – $3,200 USD
Note
4K Gaming Performance Snapshot
Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Ultra)
FPS: 90–100 (DLSS ON)
Details: Ray tracing enabled with ultra textures and path tracing in select scenes.
Alan Wake 2
FPS: 85+ (DLSS ON)
Details: Cinematic gameplay with full ray tracing and ultra settings.
Baldur’s Gate 3
FPS: 110+ (Native 4K)
Details: Smooth performance even during large-scale tactical battles.
Starfield
FPS: 80–90 (DLSS Quality)
Details: Open-world exploration with volumetric lighting and dynamic shadows.
Call of Duty: MW III
FPS: 120+ (DLSS ON)
Details: Competitive performance with ultra settings and low latency mode enabled.
This PC build targets the $2,000 range which will give you the ability to play games with high-definition, 4K graphics. Heavier workloads tasks such as streaming and video rendering will also be handled with ease.