Best gaming build for $1500 (including monitor and a keyboard)

[Fraternal]

I would like to get a gaming build that cost around 1500 including a monitor and a keyboard . Hopefully it will be able to run all the new games on high or max settings . Thanks for the advice

 

[RookieOfTheYear]

Here you are my friend. This thing is a beast. You will run any game on ultra settings close to 60 fps. And it is ready to just add another 980 in the future when you need more graphics power.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($247.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: *Transcend SSD340 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: *Western Digital RE3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($46.49 @ Amazon)
Video Card: *MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Video Card ($549.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apevia X-DREAMER4-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer H236HLbid 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($149.00 @ B&H)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1503.36
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-03 23:38 EDT-0400

 

[TopLuca]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/46YPvK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/46YPvK/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($137.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($72.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($369.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 650W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 144Hz 24.0" Monitor ($238.99 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($86.00 @ Mechanical Keyboards)
Total: $1540.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-03 23:40 EDT-0400

 

[Darkbreeze]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($69.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Kingston Fury Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.77 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX Video Card ($329.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($78.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Asus VE278H 27.0" Monitor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1389.63
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-03 23:47 EDT-0400

 

[rockie_]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($197.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($86.54 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 980 4GB Twin Frozr Video Card ($585.91 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($138.99 @ NCIX US)
Keyboard: Logitech K120 Wired Standard Keyboard ($7.59 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1491.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-03 23:51 EDT-0400

 

[RookieOfTheYear]

I would say that the best two builds are mine and rockie's. He has a more reputable SSD (Samsung is considered better than the transcend in my build), but a smaller PSU. If you wanted to run two GPU's in the future, you would have to upgrade the 550 watt PSU in his build. Also, the monitor in my build is IPS, where his is not. And the ram I have selected is faster, but not as reputable as the corsair vengeance.

I personally like to make my builds look good. There is a color scheme of black and blue in my build. From the motherboard to the case, to the keyboard having blue accent lights in it.

 

[rockie_]

I would say that the best two builds are mine and rockie's. He has a more reputable SSD (Samsung is considered better than the transcend in my build), but a smaller PSU. If you wanted to run two GPU's in the future, you would have to upgrade the 550 watt PSU in his build. Also, the monitor in my build is IPS, where his is not. And the ram I have selected is faster, but not as reputable as the corsair vengeance.

I personally like to make my builds look good. There is a color scheme of black and blue in my build. From the motherboard to the case, to the keyboard having blue accent lights in it.

i like the mobo you used . it supports SLI . But i am not a fan of SLI/Crossfire . A lot of stuttering . .Your monitor has 5ms response time vs 2ms . The viewing angle of the Asus is decent . Also some Xeons behave worse in gaming than Core i5 , due to bad driver support .

 

[RookieOfTheYear]

That is good to know about he Xeons. I have very little experience with them. I feel like the difference in 5ms and 2ms response time is pretty much not noticeable. I would rather have IPS with 5ms response time than no IPS and 2ms response time. I did not however take into account viewing angle.

I have heard that the SLI/Crossfire stuttering problem is getting better, and will only get much better in the future.

I just think that the build I made has the most pros compared to cons. Not that your build was bad, because I would love to have it haha.