Build a PC / gaming & streaming

$6,000 streaming PC, part by part

An Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus with the GeForce RTX 5090, and the 6 parts around them that fit it: $5,983 all in.

1440p gameplay with a live encode running beside it. Every part here was checked against every other for fit, and picked for frame rates with headroom for the encoder and the chat. Typical US prices read on 2026-09-09, not a live checkout total: no operating system, shipping, tax, screen, keyboard or mouse.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the GeForce RTX 5090 are well matched at 1440p.

Change the budget or the job

Fit for the job

Flagship

$5,983 of $6,000

The Gigabyte B860 Aorus Elite WiFi7 goes onto the Montech Air 903 Max's tray: ATX, B860, nine standoffs.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus drops into the LGA1851 socket, lever down: 24 cores, up to 5.5 GHz.

The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240's block sits on the chip and its 240 mm radiator bolts to the roof; rated 280 W against 250 W.

Two sticks of Corsair Vengeance 48GB (2x24GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 White click into the second and fourth slots: 48 GB at 6000 MT/s.

The WD Black SN850X 1TB screws into the first M.2 slot under the card.

The GeForce RTX 5090 slides into the x16 slot and latches: 330 mm in a case that takes 400 mm, 32 GB of memory.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1200W goes into the basement, 1200 W for a build that draws about 1100 W flat out, one native 16-pin cable to the card.

Side panel on, 4 case fans spinning. Fit for the job: 92 of 100.

Build order

Eight steps, the way a builder works through the case. $5,983 all in.

Gigabyte B860 Aorus Elite WiFi7 on the tray
Core Ultra 7 270K Plus in the socket
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 on top
2 sticks of memory
WD Black SN850X 1TB on the board
RTX 5090 in the x16 slot
1200 W supply in the basement
Panel on, power on

PartScore for the jobTypical price

ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus

Highest gaming & streaming score the budget allows next to this card: 24 cores, boosts to 5.5 GHz.

2 swaps that still fit

Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus-$104, -13 ptsBuy on Amazon
Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF-$31, -8 ptsBuy on Amazon

89

$324

MotherboardGigabyte B860 Aorus Elite WiFi7

B860 board for the LGA1851 socket, DDR5, 3 M.2 slots, Wi-Fi.

76

$170

MemoryCorsair Vengeance 48GB (2x24GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 White

48 GB DDR5 at 6000 MT/s CL30; 32 GB or more is the floor for gaming & streaming.

84

$139

Graphics cardGeForce RTX 5090

32 GB of video memory, index 100 at 1440p; tuned for frame rates with headroom for the encoder and the chat.

2 swaps that still fit

ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 16GB White OC-$3,150, -24 ptsBuy on Amazon
MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G Gaming Trio OC White-$3,130, -24 ptsBuy on Amazon

100

$4,830

CPU coolerArctic Liquid Freezer III 240

Rated 280 W for a chip that turbos to 250 W.

2 swaps that still fit

Thermalright Frozen Notte 360+$4, -10 ptsBuy on Amazon
Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 White+$4, -10 ptsBuy on Amazon

88

$51

Power supplyThermaltake Toughpower GF3 1200W

1200 W, 80 Plus gold; this build draws about 1100 W at full tilt, native 12V-2x6 cable.

92

$159

CaseMontech Air 903 Max

4 fans in the box, 3 of them lit, 4 is the least 825 W of parts needs behind a mesh front. Takes EATX/ATX/MATX/ITX boards and cards up to 400 mm.

2 swaps that still fit

Phanteks XT Pro Ultra-$4, -4 ptsBuy on Amazon
Montech Air 903 Max Whitesame price, same scoreBuy on Amazon

82

$90

StorageWD Black SN850X 1TB

1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe, 7,300 MB/s reads, with cache.

3 swaps that still fit

Crucial MX500 1TB-$76, -48 ptsBuy on Amazon
Kingston NV3 1TB-$63, -28 ptsBuy on Amazon
Crucial T500 1TB+$5, -4 ptsBuy on Amazon

86

$220

Total, typical prices8 parts$5,983

The same list, more or less money

$5,500 streaming PCWhat $500 less buys, and which parts change.$6,500 streaming PCWhat $500 more buys, and where it goes.

$6,000 spent on a different job

The same money buys a different machine when the work changes.