Grand Theft Auto VI arrives on November 19, and only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar hasn't announced a PC version. If history is any guide, PC players will wait a while: GTA V reached PC about 19 months after its console launch, and Red Dead Redemption 2 took about a year.
So why write about a PC build now? Because I keep seeing r/buildapc build threads that list GTA VI "when it releases on PC" as a target, and those people are planning a PC anyway. They want something that plays Modern Warfare 4, Gears of War: E-Day and the rest of this year's big releases well today, and that won't feel dated if GTA 6 does come to PC. That's the brief for this build: 1440p at high refresh rates, sensible parts, nothing exotic.
The Background That Shaped My Choices
The clearest guide to what a heavy 2026 game wants is Activision's ray tracing spec for Modern Warfare 4: an RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT with 16GB of VRAM and 32GB of system memory. I treated that as the baseline. Nobody knows GTA 6's PC requirements because there aren't any yet, and I'd be wary of anyone who says otherwise.
Step 1: The Processor and Cooler
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the CPU I'd build around for gaming: 8 cores, 16 threads and 96MB of L3 cache on AM5. That extra cache is what helps in CPU-heavy open worlds with lots of traffic and crowds. It doesn't come with a cooler, so I'd add the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE, a dual-tower air cooler with seven 6mm heat pipes and AM5 mounting. At 154mm tall, it fits most mid-tower cases.
Step 2: The Motherboard
The MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI has what this build needs without paying for X870E extras: a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, two M.2 slots wired to the CPU at PCIe 5.0 x4, 5Gbps Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Update the BIOS before you install Windows. It is the step people skip, and it fixes a lot of memory and stability quirks.
Step 3: Memory
I'd use 32GB, as two 16GB sticks. The V-COLOR Manta XSky 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 runs 30-38-38-96 timings at 1.35V on SK hynix chips, and it has an AMD EXPO profile for one-click setup in the BIOS. DDR5-6000 CL30 remains the safe sweet spot for Ryzen.
There was a good thread on r/buildapc last week asking why 24GB isn't more common during the memory shortage. Single 12GB sticks are rare, but 48GB kits made from two 24GB sticks do exist, and they're worth a look if you stream or edit and 32GB feels tight.
Step 4: The Graphics Card
The SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 9070 XT is the GPU I'd pair with this build. It has 16GB of GDDR6, a boost clock up to 2970MHz and two standard 8-pin power connectors. It's a big card at 320mm and three slots, which is one reason I chose the case below. It's one of the two GPUs Activision names for Modern Warfare 4's ray tracing tier, and 1440p is an easier target than the upscaled 4K that tier is aimed at.
Step 5: Storage
I'd start with a 2TB drive that has its own DRAM, because it will be both the boot drive and the main game drive. The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB has a 2GB DRAM cache and is rated for up to 7,450MB/s reads and 6,900MB/s writes. The B850 board has room to add a second drive later, which is where I'd put a cheaper DRAM-less game drive.
Step 6: Power
The CORSAIR RM850e (2025) is a fully modular ATX 3.1 power supply with Cybenetics Gold efficiency and a native 12V-2x6 cable. The RX 9070 XT uses regular 8-pin connectors, and SAPPHIRE recommends 750W, so 850W leaves headroom and keeps the door open if you switch to an NVIDIA card with a 16-pin connector later.
Step 7: The Case
The Lian Li LANCOOL 217 comes with five fans, including two large 170mm front fans, and fits graphics cards up to 380mm and CPU coolers up to 180mm. That gives the 320mm PULSE and the 154mm Thermalright plenty of room. The front fans can also be raised to aim more air at the CPU.
A Few Things I'd Do After Assembly
- Enable EXPO in the BIOS so the memory runs at 6000 instead of the default speed.
- Check that TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are on. Modern Warfare 4 requires both on PC.
- Install the latest AMD chipset and graphics drivers before benchmarking anything.
Summary
This is a 9800X3D, RX 9070 XT, 32GB DDR5-6000 and 2TB build that handles this year's PC releases at 1440p and lines up with the top spec Activision publishes for Modern Warfare 4. If GTA 6 comes to PC, it'll be a solid starting point. If it doesn't for a while, you'll still have a fast gaming PC in the meantime. Compare more boards in Newegg's B850 motherboard listings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GTA 6 coming to PC? Rockstar has not announced a PC version. GTA 6 launches November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
How long did previous Rockstar games take to reach PC? GTA V reached PC about 19 months after its console launch, and Red Dead Redemption 2 arrived on PC about a year after consoles.
Is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D good for open-world games? Yes. Its 96MB of L3 cache helps in CPU-heavy games with lots of traffic and crowds, which is why I'd build a gaming PC around it.
Is 32GB of RAM enough for a 1440p gaming PC in 2026? Yes for gaming. Activision lists 32GB for Modern Warfare 4's ray tracing tier. Consider a 48GB kit of two 24GB sticks if you also stream or edit video.
What power supply do I need for an RX 9070 XT build? SAPPHIRE recommends 750W for the PULSE RX 9070 XT. An 850W ATX 3.1 unit like the CORSAIR RM850e adds headroom.
Read More
- Rockstar Games: Grand Theft Auto VI -- Official page with release date and platform information.
- Call of Duty Blog: Modern Warfare 4 PC Specs -- The official tiers this build was planned around.
- AMD: Ryzen 7 9800X3D -- AMD's official specifications for the 9800X3D.
- TechSpot: Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review -- Gaming benchmarks for the CPU at the center of this build.
- Newegg Insider: Modern Warfare 4 PC Guide -- How to check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot before you install.