Best Bang For The Buck

[Joemackdan]

Approximate Purchase Date: Sometime this week

Budget Range: Total budget of $1500, but would like the lowest price while still getting the best performance.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Mostly CS:GO) and recording

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon due to Amazon Prime, but am willing to open up to other websites for lower prices.

Location: Around Allentown Pennsylvania.

Parts Preferences: I really like intel, especially for the CPU, graphics card, doesn't have to be Nvidia, but I would prefer a 1070 if possible

Overclocking: If you can fit an unlocked cpu in there, than yes.

 

[Aeacus]

2 builds, 1st a 1080p build (color theme: black & red).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-7600K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($235.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 67.8 CFM Fluid Dynamic Bearing CPU Cooler ($82.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z270 GAMING M5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($93.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB GAMING X Video Card ($269.89 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair Carbide 400C ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($86.03 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($92.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: AOC G2460PF 24.0" 1920x1080 144Hz Monitor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1480.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-01 08:01 EDT-0400

Few words.

With this build, you can play today's games on high/ultra settings @ 1080p with solid 60+ FPS. The K-series CPU that i put in enables you to OC your CPU when needed. And the monitor i added is one of the best 144 Hz gaming monitors with TN panel, perfect for FPS games. Oh, monitor also shares the black & red theme i went with this build.
Note: All parts are from Amazon only.


And 2nd build as well with GTX 1070.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-7500 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.89 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z270 GAMING M5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($93.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Founders Edition Video Card ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair Carbide 400C ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($86.03 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($92.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Acer G257HU smidpx 25-Inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) Widescreen Monitor ($246.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1499.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-01 08:16 EDT-0400

Changes made compared to the build above.
CPU: i5-7600K -> i5-7500
CPU cooler: Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 -> Intel's stock CPU cooler (comes with CPU)
GPU: MSI GTX 1060 Gaming X 6G -> Gigabyte GTX 1070 Founders Edition
Monitor: AOC G2460PF (24") -> Acer G257HU smidpx (25")

Few words.

With this build, you can play today's games on high/ultra settings @ 1440p (2K) with solid 60+ FPS. This build has non-K CPU, which you can't OC. But since build still has the Z270 chipset MoBo, you can upgrade your CPU to K-series CPU (i5-7600K or i7-7700K). The monitor i put in is one of the best entry-level 2K monitors with IPS panel that runs on 60 Hz.
Note: All parts are from Amazon only.

The best 2K gaming monitor that runs on 165 Hz and also has G-Sync for superb gameplay is 27" Acer Predator XB271HU bmiprz that costs $760. Due to the budget limitations, i wasn't able to fit it into the build,
amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Predator-XB271HU-2560x1440-Display/dp/B0173PEX20

 

[FD2Raptor]

Approximate Purchase Date: Sometime this week

Budget Range: Total budget of $1500, but would like the lowest price while still getting the best performance.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Mostly CS:GO) and recording

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon due to Amazon Prime, but am willing to open up to other websites for lower prices.

Location: Around Allentown Pennsylvania.

Parts Preferences: I really like intel, especially for the CPU, graphics card, doesn't have to be Nvidia, but I would prefer a 1070 if possible

Overclocking: If you can fit an unlocked cpu in there, than yes.

Black and White:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-7600K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($235.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z270 SLI PLUS ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($132.49 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Corsair Force LE 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($130.20 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB SC GAMING ACX 3.0 Black Edition Video Card ($374.00 @ Amazon on April 3rd)
Case: DIYPC D480-BK-Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.03 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.90 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($92.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VG248QE 24.0" 1920x1080 144Hz Monitor ($204.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1483.57
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-01 10:43 EDT-0400

EVGA GTX 1070 will be back in stock on April 3rd.
Seasonic 550RM is available from Amazon exclusively for Prime member at $69.9.
The case is from Newegg for its features packed with 5 fans and support cooler 161mm tall, 415mm long graphic card, 2x USB 3.0+2x USB 2.0 and fan controllers compare to its current sale price of $48.79 - $9.76 promo code + Free Shipping from Newegg.

You can opt for the USB Retail license of W10 for ~$17 more.