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GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming PC Build: Mid-Range Yet Powerful

By: Henz Llarves | Date Posted: February 3, 2023

GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming PC Build: Mid-Range Yet Powerful

Nvidia has now announced the RTX 3060 graphics card. The RTX 3060 is based on the latest Nvidia Ampere architecture and offers a significant boost over previous graphics cards in its class. The card packs 3584 CUDA cores and can boost up 1.78Ghz.

The RTX 3060 also offers a very respectable 360GB/s of memory bandwidth. As games become more and more demanding, the best way to ensure that you achieve your desired frame rates is by having graphics cards with higher clock speeds or packing in additional CUDA cores for single-precision calculations. In this regard, Nvidia has gone straight for the jugular here with its new Ampere architecture which will undoubtedly result in some seriously good performance figures as it pertains to gaming applications.

Furthermore, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 now has support for DLSS and Ray Tracing technologies. They are both enabled by default on this card’s drivers so you can start experiencing them without having to do any setup or tinkering whatsoever. In-game ray tracing is one of those features that will require a lot more time before it starts showing up in games (most likely in at least another year). But when it does, Nvidia promises frame rates with near-zero latency – which should make for some stunning visual effects.

The GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card is one of the best options for gamers who want to play at high settings but don’t have a lot of money to spend. This article will show you what parts are needed for the build and how much they cost so that you can make an informed decision on whether this is a good choice or not.

Also, we also have a list of monitors for the RTX 3060, which might help you if you are currently looking for one.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

Parts list for this PC Build:

GeForce RTX 3060Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

  • Ray Tracing: Yes
  • Architechture: Ampere
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Ryzen 5 3600AMD Ryzen 5 3600

  • Cores/Threads: 16 Cores/12 Threads
  • Max Clock Speed: 4.2 GHz
  • Overclockability: Yes
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B550M MortarMSI B550M Mortar

  • Chipset: B550
  • Form Factor: Micro-ATX
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Ballistix 3600MHz 16GB CL16Crucial Ballistix 3600MHz 16GB CL16

  • Size: 16GB
  • Speed: 3600MHz CL36
  • Brand: Crucial
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970 EVO SSD 500GBSAMSUNG 970 EVO SSD 500GB

  • Size: 500GB
  • Type: NVME SSD
  • Brand: SAMSUNG
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Hyper 212 Black RGBCooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition

  • Size: ‎6.29 x 3.93 x 9.09 inches
  • Type: Air Cooler
  • Brand: Cooler Master
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Eclipse P300APhanteks Eclipse P300A

  • Brand: Phanteks
  • Form Factor: Mid-Tower ATX
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SuperNOVA 650 G3EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3

  • Wattage: 650W
  • Type: Fully Modular
  • Efficiency Rating: 80+ Gold
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ML120 PROCorsair ML120 PRO

  • Scale: 120mm
  • Brand: Corsair
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CPU – AMD Ryzen 5 3600

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

We decided to choose the Ryzen 5 3600 processor because of its high single-core and multi-core performance, which will be crucial for gaming.

The Ryzen 5 3600 processor packs an impressive 6 cores and 12 threads, and a base clock speed of 3.6GHz up to 4.2GHz (Boost). This CPU also features TSMC 7nm FinFET, which brings new levels of power efficiency and improved cost as well as support for PCIe 4.0.

One of the most important features for gamers is single-core performance, and this chip delivers in an excellent way. Also, thanks to AMD’s commitment to quality engineering principles like support for Extended Frequency Range, which provides you with better control over your CPU’s clock speed so you can extract more power from it as needed without overclocking.

The best CPU we found that would be able to handle the RTX 3060 graphics card was the AMD Ryzen 3600 Processor due to its high single-core and multi-core performance as well as support for PCIe Gen 4. It also comes with HMB (High Memory Bandwidth) needed for future ray tracing games!

As a result, we are confident that this is an excellent choice when pairing with RTX 3060 graphics cards because it balances outperformance in all areas: gaming, video editing, or content creation.


Motherboard – MSI B550M Mortar

MSI B550M Mortar

The second part after choosing a CPU and GPU combo is deciding what motherboard to get. We’ve decided to choose the MSI B550M Mortar M-ATX motherboard for this build, as it packs all the features you need to max out the full capability of your other components.

The MSI B550M Mortar packs an impressive 8 + 2 +1 VRM design with an extensive VRM heatsink, which ensures that your CPU will be running at lower temperatures and maximizes overclocking potential of the Ryzen 5 3600 processor. It supports 128GB of DDR4 memory, which can overclock up to 4400Mhz. There is also a dual PCIe gen 4 x16 slot, one of which comes with a PCIe Steel armor, which is beneficial, knowing that the new GeForce RTX 3000 series is quite heavy.

The MSI B550M Mortar provides plenty of storage headroom, it comes with dual M.2 slots and 6 SATA III ports. When it comes to connectivity, there are plenty of USB ports on the rear I/O – 4x USB 3.2 ports, 2x USB 2.0 ports, and 5+ Optical S/PDIF (Realtek® ALC1200/ALC1220P Codec).

The design of the MSI B550M Mortar M-ATX is rather simple, with a black and silver color scheme. The board is well-built and doesn’t feel cheap, and delivers exactly what you need for both gaming and workstation build.


RAM – Crucial Ballistix 3600MHz 16GB CL16

Crucial Ballistix 3600MHz 16GB CL16

16GB is the most optimal size of RAM for gaming these days. Also, Gamers Nexus proved that 3200MHz at CL14 or 3600 MHz at CL16 is the most recommended for gaming. So, we’ve come up with the Crucial Ballistix 16GB 3600 MHz CL16 as it fits our criteria.

The Crucial Ballistix 16GB 3600 MHz CL16 is the best RAM for a Ryzen 3600 and RTX 3060 build. Despite being relatively cheap, the Crucial Ballistix 16GB 3600 MHz CL16 can outperform some of the more expensive RAMs in some games. Though the disadvantage is that it doesn’t come with an RGB, which might be an issue for some PC builders, the aggressive black design of the Crucial Ballistix RAM matches with my MSI Mortar B550M motherboard, which I found very satisfying as well.

It’s worth mentioning that the Crucial Ballistix 16GB 3600 MHz CL16 is hard to beat for the price and performance it provides. For those who want a good gaming experience without breaking their bank account, this would be a great choice.


Storage – SAMSUNG 970 EVO SSD 500GB

SAMSUNG 970 EVO SSD 500GB

500GB might not be enough for some PC gamers, however, you can always upgrade as the MSI B550M Mortar comes with a dual M.2 Slot as well as 6 SATA III ports for plenty of storage options. M.2 NVME SSD, has become the popular choice for PC enthusiasts due to its high performance and low power consumption.

For this build, we’ve chosen the SAMSUNG 970 EVO SSD 500GB. It is one of the very popular brands of NVMEs today and its performance is up there with the best. The SAMSUNG 970 EVO SSD sequential read speed of up to 3500 MB/s and write speeds of up to 2500 MB/s

Samsung included a five-year warranty with this SSD so you don’t need to worry about any potential issues down the line. The thing is that now there are new NVMEs coming out every month from different companies which means no one can be sure what specs they will come up with next.


CPU Cooler – Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black RGB

The Ryzen 5 3600 comes with a stock cooler (Wraith Stealth), which might not be enough especially when you plan to overclock it. For an after-market cooler, we’ve chosen the Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition CPU Air Cooler, which is a great all-around choice for any PC builder using Ryzen processors or other CPUs.

The cooler comes with four heat pipes and it has an average size of 120×79.6×158.8 mm (L x W x H). The cooling capacity is pretty decent as well with 57.35 cubic meters per minute airflow and 6.5 – 26 dBA noise level at max speed.

It also features an integrated controller that can change colors on your LED fan based on different effects you choose like a rainbow wave, breathing light mode, etc. It’s not only about looks though, but this controller also helps to make sure there are no temperature fluctuations in your system since you’ll be able to check how hot things are.


Case – Phanteks Eclipse P300A

Phanteks Eclipse P300A

Choosing which case might be the last part when building a gaming PC. The Case you choose should be able to accommodate all of your components. Also, aside from the looks, airflow should be one of your top priorities.

Phanteks is known for their innovative cases and we have seen many great ones being released in the past years, Phanteks Eclipse P300A stands out as one of the best when it comes to airflow thanks to its ultra-fine performance mesh front panel and tempered glass side panel which lets you view your components inside. As far as cooling goes with this case, there is a single stock fan provided that can easily be replaced by any aftermarket 120mm if needed.

The Eclipse P300A also has a front panel that is made of mesh, making it perfect for an ultra-fine performance build. The tempered glass side panel showcases your PC’s internal components and makes the case look awesome while being functional as well. The open interior design of the Phanteks Eclipse P300A provides plenty of space for all of the gaming PC components’ needs such as roomy ATX motherboards or water-cooling loops while still maintaining a clean and easy-to-work design.

The accessibility of the I/O panel is an area where Phanteks Eclipse P300A really shines as it offers many ports including audio, microphone, and USBs all in a nicely organized fashion which not only looks good but also provides ease of access while building or working inside the case. The front-loading HDD trays are very convenient for installing up to three hard drives. On top of that, there’s plenty more space for PSU installation meaning your cable management will be on point!

Lastly, with lots of space to work on inside the chassis, this Phanteks will make building any system easy thanks to its great design and engineering which are backed by quality manufacturing!


Power Supply (PSU) – EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3

EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3

The PSU of this build doesn’t need to be stylish but it needs to be efficient. The EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3 does just that with a sleek design and 80+ Gold efficiency rating, without reducing performance by using only Japanese-made capacitors.

The EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3 is a 650w PSU, which is more than enough for this build, and features a fully modular cable connection (which means you can have more control over the cables to make sure your system looks clean) with multiple connectors for every type of peripheral you may need. The power supply is also 80-Plus Gold rated, which means that you’ll get an excellent efficiency rating from your power supply. With up to 100% pure Japanese capacitors inside, you won’t need to worry about debris building up or aging over time like some other products on the market.

Overall, the EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G3 power supply has a great price for what it offers. The size of this PSU is the perfect fit for most PCs and will be able to provide enough juice without being too bulky or taking up too much space.


System Fans – Corsair ML120 PRO

Corsair ML120 PRO

Corsair products have been widely used in computer components and gaming peripherals. Regarding case fans, Corsair is one of the best providers of system fans on the market. The Corsair ML120 PRO is one of their best-selling system fans, designed with performance in mind first and foremost.

When it comes to airflow, the Corsair ML120 PRO can output 47.3 CFM, allowing for a cool and quiet experience during your gaming sessions. With noise levels at 25.0 decibels or less (depending on the speed), this fan will not disrupt anyone in the vicinity of where it is being used.

Also, the Corsair ML120 PRO features a magnetic levitation bearing to dramatically reduce the friction of a fan blade. This provides for lower noise and better performance, as well as dynamic RGB lighting capable of producing vivid blasts of light and color with four independent LEDs in the center.

The included CORSAIR Lighting Node PRO enables stunning dynamic lighting effects on your fans or synchronizes them by connecting ML120 PRO with other Corsair LINK-supported devices like keyboards, mice, motherboards, and more. The complete PWM control allows you to dynamically change the speed from 400 RPM up to 1600 RPM via software so that no matter what your needs are, this is one case fan that will provide proper airflow without making too much noise!

When you’re looking for new fans to add some flair to your system, look no further than the Corsair ML120 PRO! This powerful yet subtle magnetic levitation-bearing fan is encased with RGB lighting technology that can be controlled via CORSAIR LINK software and other compatible devices. The four independently-controlled RGB LEDs are capable of producing vibrant colors while also having control over effects like strobing and breathing patterns; giving users complete customization options when it comes to how they want their PC’s case window to look.


My Final Thoughts About This Build

I would say that this is an amazing build for the price! You are getting a mid-range yet capable graphics card, excellent gaming & entry-level workstation CPU, and a good motherboard with plenty of connectivity options, which is beneficial if you want to future-proof your build. Not to mention that the airflow and looks of this build are amazing too!

1080p gaming on this build will be a breeze, and you will be able to achieve excellent frame rates in most games on high or even ultra settings. If you are looking to do any video editing or 3D rendering, this build will also be able to handle those workloads without any issues.

The parts that I have selected for this build should last you several years down the road before needing an upgrade, and by then, the prices of the newer components would have come down as well. Overall, I believe this is an amazing value for the money GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming PC Build!

Henz Llarves

Henz Llarves

I'm Henz Llarves and I'm passionate about writing and gaming. I've been building gaming PCs for a long time, and I've been writing about them as well.

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