Gaming PC build under $8k?

Hey everyone, I could use some help here. A buddy of mine is looking for a gaming rig. He needs everything except for the drives, mouse, keyboard, and headset.

For the monitor, he's looking at a Dell UltraSharp U2414H 24-Inch, and for the CPU/GPU combo, we're thinking an Intel + NVIDIA setup.

Since I noticed Micro Center carries that monitor, maybe you could put a build together through them? Honestly, any shop is fine, just please, for the love of god, steer clear of Best Buy. We don't mind if it comes in under budget; the main goal is running World of Warcraft on high settings (it gets pretty demanding during raids) along with the occasional other game.

1) A top-tier i7 with that "+" designation paired with something like a GTX 1070 if he just wants to stick to the classics.

2) Or, if he really wants to go all out on the extravagance, go with a dual Xeon setup plus a GTX 1060. That card should be a perfect match for his monitor's resolution, and those two Xeons will definitely help him stay future proof.

Jeffrey Allen92 said:1) A high-end i7 paired with something like a GTX 1070 if he just wants to play the classics.

2) Or maybe go big with a dual Xeon + GTX 1060 setup (that card should match his monitor's resolution perfectly, and those two Xeons would be great for the future) if he really wants to go all out.

Honestly, he doesn't need an i7, and he definitely doesn't need dual Xeons. Thanks for trying, though.

Matthew Anderson said:He doesn't need an i7, and he definitely doesn't need dual Xeon setups. Thanks for trying, though.

In that case, there's really no point in talking about 8K, especially if we aren't including the drives... a standard processor can handle 4K just fine.

Wait, am I supposed to include the monitor in this price?

Jeffrey Allen92 said:then there's really no point in going for 8k, especially without any discs... you might as well just go for 4k with the processor

Look, it says up to 8k, and it also mentions 'the price could even fall below the budget.' I didn't clarify earlier, but the monitor is included in that price.

I’ve got one Intel Skylake Core i5-6400 (2.7GHz, 6MB, LGA1151) box ready to go.
I’ve got one set of Kingston DDR4 8GB 2400MHz HyperX Predator KIN memory modules here—specifically two 4GB sticks.
I've got one Palit GeForce GTX 1060 up for grabs. It comes with 6GB of DDR5 memory and features DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort outputs.
I've got one Dell UltraSharp U2414H 24-Inch monitor available. It’s a solid FHD display featuring an IPS Antiglare screen with an 8ms response time. Connectivity is easy with two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort 1.2, and a Mini DisplayPort. The aspect ratio is a standard 16:9.
I've got one Seasonic ECO-430 power supply here—430W with an 80+ Bronze rating.
I've got one Asus H110M-R/C/SI motherboard available.
I've picked up a Cooler Master Silencio 452 MIDI tower in black. Just a heads-up, this unit doesn't come with a power supply included.
Total: $2690

Honestly, this monitor is way overpriced. I’m looking at it and I just don't see what justifies that kind of price tag. $333 It honestly feels like you're getting more for your money than someone buying from a different brand with the exact same specs... but still...

If you're looking at the AOC Q2778VQE, you’ve got a solid contender on your hands. It’s a pretty sharp piece of hardware that hits that sweet spot for anyone wanting to upgrade their visual setup without breaking the bank. The 27-inch screen size is arguably the perfect middle ground—large enough to feel immersive for things like World of Warcraft, but compact enough that you aren't constantly straining your eyes to see the edges. Since it's a QHD panel, the clarity is a massive step up from standard 1080p setups. Everything looks crisp, which makes a world of difference when you're deep into productivity work or just browsing the web. One thing I really appreciate about this model is how well it handles colors. It’s reliable, consistent, and makes everything pop just the right amount. It doesn't feel like one of those cheap monitors that washes out the moment you shift your viewing angle. If you're coming from an older display, the jump in quality here is going to be immediately obvious. It’s a dependable choice for a modern workstation or a mid-range gaming PC build. You get great resolution, decent sizing, and a level of detail that makes the whole experience feel much more premium than its price tag suggests. Definitely worth a look if you want to level up your desk setup. If you're setting this up specifically for a gaming PC, that 1ms response time is exactly what you want.

Check out this LG monitor on Amazon. It’s a solid choice if you're looking to upgrade your desk setup. If you're looking to dive into movies or just need a massive amount of screen real estate for work, this setup is definitely worth considering.

Intel Core I5 6402 p 1
Kingmax 1x8GB DDR4 2133 GLJG, KIN-8GB DDR4 2133
Gainward GeForce GTX 1060 dual 6
Thermaltake Suppressor F31 case
CORSAIR Builder Series CX550M, Modular Power Supply, US Version
Dell Professional P2417H 23.8'', 1920 x 1080, FHD, IPS Antiglare, 16:9, 1000:1, 4000000:1, 2
Asus H110M-A

Total: $2584 configuration - Center

How many drives are we talking about? The board has 4xSATA ports, so just to make sure there's enough room... I don't really see the point in pricing the monitor $667 for a 24" IPS unless it's somehow incredible. This one is $533 and I doubt there's much of a practical difference.

There are two more LED IPS options over at Best Buy that are way cheaper.

crimsonstag84 said:Intel Core I5 6402 p 1
Kingmax 1x8GB DDR4 2133 GLJG, KIN-8GB DDR4 2133
Gainward GeForce GTX 1060 dual 6
Thermaltake Suppressor F31 Case
CORSAIR Builder Series CX550M, Modular Power Supply, US Version
Dell Professional P2417H 23.8'', 1920 x 1080, FHD, IPS Antiglare, 16:9, 1000:1, 4000000:1, 2
Asus H110M-A

Total: $2584 configuration - Center

How many drives are we talking? The board has 4xSATA, so don't go too light... as for the monitor, I don't see the point in paying $667 extra for a 24" IPS unless it's some top-tier beast. This one $533 is fine, and it's hard to see any real-world difference
.

I'm with you!

Here's my take:
configuration - Center

I've got one Intel Core I5 6402 p 1 ready to go.
I’ve got a single 8GB kit of Kingston DDR4 2400MHz HyperX Predator RAM here, specifically the 2x4GB setup.
I have one Asus H110M-C available. It’s an mATX board running the s1151 socket, equipped with USB 3.0, SATA III, LAN, and DDR4 support.
I've got one Palit GeForce GTX 1060 ready to go. It comes with 6GB of GDDR5 memory and features DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort outputs.
I’ve got one Fortron Aurum S 400W power supply on hand—it's an 80+ Gold rated unit.
I’ve got one INTER-TECH PCD-01 Black Midi Tower chassis on hand. It’s an ATX case featuring two USB 3.0 ports and standard HD audio. Just a heads-up, the power supply isn't included.
I've got one Dell UltraSharp U2414H 24-Inch monitor available. It features a 1920x1080 resolution with an IPS Antiglare screen. Response time is 8ms. Connectivity includes 2x HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2, and a Mini DisplayPort. It has a standard 16:9 aspect ratio.
Total: $2675

Alright, Zero, you’ve actually put together a pretty solid lineup this time around. These components are looking respectable. To really round this out and get the most out of it, I'd suggest adding a 240GB ADATA SP550 SSD. That would be the perfect finishing touch.

Thanks everyone, and a huge shoutout to crimsonstag84 for pointing out that detail about the monitor. 🙂

Jeffrey Allen92 said:Just one Intel Core I5 6402 p 1.
Got one stick of 8GB Kingston DDR4 2400MHz HyperX Predator RAM here. It's actually a 2x4 setup.
One Asus H110M-C mATX motherboard. It’s got the s1151 socket, USB 3.0, SATA III, LAN, and DDR4. Simple enough.
One Palit GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card, 6GB DDR5, with DVI, HDMI, and DP ports.
One Fortron Aurum S 400W, 80+ Gold power supply.
One INTER-TECH PCD-01 Black Midi Tower chassis, ATX spec, comes with 2xUSB3.0 and HD-audio. PSU isn't included.
One Dell UltraSharp U2414H 24-Inch monitor. It’s got an FHD resolution, IPS Antiglare screen, 8ms response time, 2x HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2, and a Mini DisplayPort. Standard 16:9 aspect ratio.
Total: $2675

Alright, Zero's put this together much better. These components are actually decent now... Ideally, you'd throw an ADATA SP550 240GB SSD in there to round it out.

How is that even better? You basically built the exact same setup as crimsonstag84 and me. All you did was swap out the motherboard, the case, and the power supply. It's the same damn combo.
And they said you wouldn't need extra drives, yet you ended up building something more expensive than both of them combined...

Robert Rodriguez2 said:In what way is that better? You basically put together the exact same setup as crimsonstag84 and me; you just swapped out the motherboard, case, and power supply. What a combo.
And besides, it was mentioned that we don't need storage drives, yet yours ended up being more expensive than both of ours...

You're going to have to get into an argument with that mountain man if you want to win this one.😵

No need to get worked up about it, but I honestly think we have every right to call someone by their first name.

wiredotter14 said:Not trying to start anything, but I feel like we're allowed to just call someone by their first name if we want to.

There's really no need for that, and there's even less reason to go spamming every single thread.