Gaming PC build ideas - $1,200 - $1,400 budget (including monitor)

Hey everyone.

Up until now, I’ve been stuck relying on a laptop just because I had to be mobile all the time.
Now that I’m not forced to live out of a backpack, I’m finally putting together my first PC—my last desktop was back when I was a kid.

The list I pulled together came after way too many hours of reading up on stuff. I’m no expert, I just waited forever for the right moment to pull the trigger so I wouldn't screw it up. Planning on picking everything up in Washington, D.C.

Conf -->https://pcpartpicker.com/user/hhadzi/saved/#view=GXFV7P
Looking ahead, this rig is gonna run me about $1,350 including the monitor.

I'd love for some veterans in the PC Build scene to take a look and throw some suggestions my way.

1) Is this pretty much the ceiling for this kind of budget?
2) Could I potentially swap things around to squeeze in a 2070S by cutting costs elsewhere? It brings up more questions regarding the monitor price. I think I'll go with an IPS, but grabbing a 144Hz 1440p IPS might cost me an extra $100 if I want G-Sync compatibility. I'm looking at the LG 27 GL850 or maybe the AD27qd Giga AORUS—both solid AMD FreeSync options. Still undecided on the monitor though; I'm honestly losing my mind trying to figure out panels between IPS glow, bleed, contrast, and ghosting.
3) Do I actually need a dedicated CPU cooler if I have zero intention of overclocking?
4) I really need help picking a CASE—I'm worried about thermal performance since I'm running a 5700XT. What kind of CASE and cooling setup will actually cut it?

Aside from the CASE, I just picked whatever looked available and reasonably priced for the future.

Thanks in advance. 🙂

Looks decent at a glance, but we can't see any US pricing here. You should've just pasted your cart from Future

1) Of course you can cut corners somewhere, the question is how much you're willing to sacrifice

2) Nvidia supports FreeSync, so feel free to check out FreeSync monitors regardless of which card you pick

3) That CASE looks pretty overpriced; you don't need a tank for a build like this. The 5700XT doesn't run super hot, and the CPU is low power.
Any basic CASE with at least three 120mm fans should do the trick

1 * MSI video card Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 VENTUS SUPER OC GDDR6 8GB/256bit, 1785MHz/14000MHz, PCI-E 3.0 x16, 3xDP, HDMI, TORX 2X Cooler(Double Slot) Backplate, Retail
Retail Code: RTX_2070_SUPER_VENTUS_OC - $1445

1 * GIGABYTE GAMING AORUS AD27QD Monitor 27, 10bits IPS, Non Glare, Edge LED backlight, HDR, 2560x1440, QHD 144Hz, FreeSync, 1ms, 12M:1, 350cd/m2, 2xHDMI, DP, USB 3.0, Audio line out, Headphone Port, Swi
Retail Code: AD27QD-EK - $1470

1 * Asrock B450M PRO4-F
Retail Code: 0202248 - $200

1 * Kingston DDR4 HX Fury, 16GB (2x 8GB), 3200MHz
Retail Code: king-x432c18fbk-16 - $243

1 * AMD Ryzen 5 3600 code
Retail Code: 0400496 - $566

1 * CASE PHANTEKS Eclipse P300 MidiTower, Tempered Glass, White
Retail Code: PH-EC300PTG_WT - $183

1 * Seasonic FOCUS plus 550 Gold, 550W
Retail Code: 0151454 - $239

1 * SSD 500GB KIN A2000 PCIe M.2 2280 NVMe
Retail Code: 0141203 - $197

Total: $4542

Grab an extra CPU cooler like the one you picked if you plan on overclocking. Otherwise, don't bother.

George, this build is solid. I think you're definitely on the right track here. 🕺

wiredotter14 said:Just picked up one Eclipse P300 MidiTower with Tempered Glass in White.
White Code: PH-EC300PTG_WT - $183

Just picked up a Seasonic FOCUS plus 550 Gold, 550W.
Retail Code: 0151454 - $239

Thanks a lot, guys.

I didn't realize I could actually get away with a 550W unit; honestly, everything I was digging up online made it seem like I absolutely had to aim higher, maybe around 600 or 650W just to be safe. Does having more wattage actually offer any kind of buffer if the power starts fluctuating or acting up, or at the end of the day, does it really just come down to whether you bought a high-quality PSU from a brand that isn't total garbage? Sorry, electricity and I have never exactly seen eye to eye—I think the last time I even thought about how it works was during a field trip to a science museum over in Chicago. 😁

Quote:>

electricowl22 says: Thanks, guys. Really. I had no idea I could get away with 550W. Everything I read online suggested I needed more—like 600 or 650. Does having higher wattage actually help with safety when there are voltage fluctuations or whatever? Or does it just come down to whether you have a high-quality PSU from a decent brand? Sorry, electricity and I never really clicked. I did visit a tech museum over by the Potomac once, though. 😁>

The RTX2070 pulls up to 200W, then the rest of the build takes another 100-200W, putting your peak at around 400. It’s about quality, not raw wattage—especially when you're talking about handling surges and long-term reliability. That Seasonic unit is top-tier.