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$1,500 has long been the budget for a comfortable 1440p gaming PC. In 2026 it’s tighter: 32 GB of DDR5 alone cost around $400 in August (Tom’s Hardware), and graphics cards sold above launch price all year. So this guide is about priorities, with an example build and the reasons behind each part, rather than a fixed price list that would be out of date within weeks.
How to split the budget
- Graphics card first. At 1440p it decides your frame rate more than anything else. Aim for the RTX 5070, RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT class. See choosing a card for 1440p.
- A six- or eight-core CPU is enough. The Ryzen 5 9600X or Ryzen 7 9700X on AMD’s AM5 platform keeps up with those cards at 1440p, and AM5 leaves room for a later CPU upgrade.
- Memory: 32 GB if the budget allows. At 2026 prices 16 GB (two sticks) is a reasonable place to start, with a plan to go to 32 GB later. See how much RAM you need.
- Don’t cut the power supply or the airflow to pay for a faster part elsewhere.
An example build
Prices aren’t listed because they’ve moved so much in 2026. At August 2026 memory and graphics card prices this build costs more than $1,500; to bring it down, start with 16 GB of memory or pick the RX 9070 or RTX 5070 over the RX 9070 XT.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X. Eight cores and a 65 W default power rating, so a mid-sized air cooler handles it. Search on Amazon
- Graphics card: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT (16 GB) or NVIDIA RTX 5070 (12 GB). The RX 9070 XT has more VRAM; the RTX 5070 brings DLSS and multi-frame generation. RX 9070 XT, RTX 5070
- Motherboard: a B650 or B850 ATX board, such as the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi. Early B650 boards may need a BIOS update for Ryzen 9000, so check the board’s support page. Search on Amazon
- Memory: 32 GB (2 × 16 GB) DDR5-6000, such as G.Skill Flare X5. Search on Amazon
- Storage: a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, such as the WD Black SN850X. Search on Amazon
- Power supply: a 750 W unit from a known brand with the right cables for your card (12V-2×6 or 8-pin PCIe), such as the Corsair RM750e. Search on Amazon
- CPU cooler: a dual-tower air cooler such as the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120. Check its height against the case. Search on Amazon
- Case: an airflow-focused ATX case such as the Fractal Design North. Check its maximum graphics card length. Search on Amazon
How the parts fit together
- Socket: Ryzen 9000 uses AM5, so the board must be AM5 (B650, B850, X670 or X870 family).
- Memory type: AM5 takes DDR5 only.
- Board size: an ATX board needs an ATX case; the Fractal North takes ATX.
- Clearances: check the cooler height and graphics card length against the case’s listed limits.
- Power: see the estimate below.
Put your version into the part picker to check all of this automatically. It doesn’t show prices; its Check price links open the retailer.
A power estimate
Add the CPU and graphics card ratings, then about 50 W for the rest: roughly 65 W (Ryzen 7 9700X) plus 304 W (RX 9070 XT reference) plus 50 W, about 420 W under a gaming load. A 750 W unit leaves generous headroom for power spikes, a later graphics card upgrade and quiet fan speeds. Factory-overclocked cards draw more, so follow the card maker’s recommendation.
Assembly guide
- Prepare the motherboard on a flat surface. Seat the CPU (line up the triangle marker), install the M.2 SSD and fit the cooler’s mounting bracket before the board goes in the case.
- Install the memory. Use the slots the manual marks for two sticks, usually A2 and B2, and press until both latches click.
- Mount the board and route the cables. Run the 24-pin, CPU (EPS) and graphics card power cables behind the tray first. See cable management.
- Fit the graphics card last, after the front-panel leads are connected, and push its power connector in until it sits flush.
- Mind static. Work on a hard floor rather than carpet, and touch bare metal on the case before handling parts, or wear an anti-static strap.
Then work through BIOS setup on the first boot.
Where to upgrade later
- Memory to 32 GB if you started with 16 GB: replace the kit rather than adding sticks.
- Graphics card when newer cards arrive; the 750 W supply leaves room.
- CPU: AMD has confirmed AM5 support through 2029, so later Ryzen CPUs should drop into the same board after a BIOS update.