PC Build


My 1440p Gaming PC Build for 2026 (Built for a Weird Market)

This build is meant to be a strong all around PC for 1440p gaming, streaming, school or work tasks, and everyday speed.

It is not the cheapest possible build. The goal here is simple. Spend money where you actually feel it, and stay flexible where prices are inflated.

Right now RAM prices are higher than they should be, so this system is designed with easy upgrades in mind.

PCPartPicker list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/zPxyph

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X processor

Image courtesy of AMD (amd.com)

The Ryzen 5 9600X just makes the whole system feel quick. Games run smooth, Windows stays responsive, and you are not paying for extra cores you might never fully use.

At 1440p, the GPU does most of the heavy lifting. This CPU keeps up without draining your budget.

CPU Cooler: Thermalright Assassin X Refined SE RGB V2

Thermalright Assassin X Refined SE RGB V2 air cooler

Image courtesy of Thermalright (thermalright.com)

This is one of those upgrades you notice every day. Lower temps, less noise, and a calmer system under load.

Simple air cooling like this is reliable, low maintenance, and hard to beat at this price.

Motherboard: MSI PRO B650-A WIFI

MSI PRO B650-A WIFI motherboard

Image courtesy of MSI (msi.com)

Not flashy. Just solid. AM5 support, built in WiFi, and a clean upgrade path.

It gives you flexibility later without overspending now.

Memory: 16GB DDR5 (1 x 16GB) With Room to Upgrade

Crucial DDR5 desktop memory module

Image courtesy of Crucial (crucial.com)

Normally, I would recommend dual channel memory right away. Two sticks give better bandwidth and slightly better performance.

But RAM prices are inflated right now. Instead of overpaying for 32GB today, the smarter move is one 16GB stick now and add a second matching stick later.

At 1440p, the GPU is doing most of the work anyway. When prices calm down, drop in another 16GB stick and you are running 32GB dual channel without buying at peak pricing.

Storage: TEAMGROUP QX 2TB SATA SSD

TEAMGROUP QX 2TB SATA SSD

Image courtesy of TEAMGROUP (teamgroupinc.com)

Instead of using a mechanical hard drive, this build uses a 2TB SATA SSD.

That means faster load times, no spinning noise, and a smoother overall feel. It is not NVMe fast, but it is far better than HDD.

GPU: PowerColor Hellhound OC Radeon RX 9070 16GB

PowerColor Hellhound OC Radeon RX 9070 16GB graphics card

Image courtesy of PowerColor (powercolor.com)

This is what makes the build feel serious. 16GB of VRAM is exactly what I want for long term 1440p gaming.

If you do not want to lower texture settings two years from now, this kind of headroom matters.

Case: Lian Li Lancool 207

Lian Li Lancool 207 PC case

Image courtesy of Lian Li (lian-li.com)

Good airflow. Clean layout. Easy to build in. It just makes the whole process smoother.

Power Supply: Gigabyte UD750GM PG5 V2 750W Gold

Gigabyte UD750GM PG5 V2 750W power supply

Image courtesy of Gigabyte (gigabyte.com)

750W Gold gives comfortable headroom for this tier of GPU. Fully modular keeps cable management clean and gives you room to upgrade later.

Final Thoughts

This is not about building the flashiest system possible. It is about building something strong now while staying flexible.

Invest in the GPU and platform. Stay smart with RAM timing. Upgrade when the market makes sense.

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