Gaming build $800 - $1200

[Dencrash]

My friend would like to know the best builds she can get for both $800 and $1,200. She lives in the United States. Please let me know if any additional information is needed.

 

[King Dranzer]

Here is the best build for around $1200:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($328.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus - PRIME Z270-P ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($125.45 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - FORTIS 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($93.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($83.35 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1080 8GB FTW DT GAMING Video Card ($479.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair - 270R ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - RMx 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1271.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-06 03:46 EDT-0400

Bit high but completely worth it.
Add HDD down the lane. That SSD will be enough for few months before it runs out of space.

Here is the list for build around $800:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-7500 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($188.49 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-B250M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill - FORTIS 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($93.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Zotac - GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Mini Video Card ($334.45 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design - Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $805.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-06 03:54 EDT-0400

 

[-HH-]

$900ish somewhere in the middle kinda build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor ($209.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus - PRIME X370-PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard ($141.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($105.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: SK hynix - SL308 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($58.49 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI - Radeon RX 580 8GB ARMOR OC Video Card ($238.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master - MasterBox Lite 5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.78 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $926.54
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-06 04:09 EDT-0400


$1200 Black/white build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($328.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI - Z270 TOMAHAWK ARCTIC ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($133.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($112.42 @ Amazon)
Storage: PNY - CS1311 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($52.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1070 8GB ACX 3.0 Video Card ($389.59 @ OutletPC)
Case: Enermax - OSTROG ATX Mid Tower Case ($46.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.78 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1195.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-06 04:14 EDT-0400

 

[FD2Raptor]

My friend would like to know the best builds she can get for both $800 and $1,200. She lives in the United States. Please let me know if any additional information is needed.

$1200 Intel:

ASROCK Z270 Killer SLI/AC + 7700k + Corsair LPX 16GB 3000 black @ $576.97:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.3518098

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU+MB+RAM: Newegg Kabylake Combo ($576.97)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool - GAMMAXX 400 74.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($24.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($83.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Windforce OC Video Card ($372.15 @ Amazon)
Case: Zalman - Z11 NEO ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.90 @ Newegg)
Total: $1206.32
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-06 05:59 EDT-0400

$1200 AMD:

Newegg Ryzen 5 Upgrade Combo - Ryzen 5 1600x + ASROCK X370 Gaming K4 @ $379.99:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.3482545

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU+MB: Newegg Ryzen 5 Upgrade Combo ($379.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG - H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($126.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: SK hynix - SL308 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($144.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Windforce OC Video Card ($372.15 @ Amazon)
Case: Zalman - Z11 NEO ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.90 @ Newegg)
Total: $1207.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-06 08:11 EDT-0400

-AMD more multitask performance, similar 1440p@60hz performance, larger SSD.
-Intel better suited for 144hz FPS gaming.

~$800 config:

Ryzen 5 Value Upgrade Combo: Gigabyte AB350M-D3H+Ryzen 5 1600 @ $299.99
https://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.3482626

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU+MB: Newegg Ryzen 5 Value Upgrade Combo ($299.99)
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($126.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: PNY - CS1311 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($52.99 @ Best Buy)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.44 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB WINDFORCE OC 6G Video Card ($229.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake - Core V21 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.90 @ Newegg)
Total: $848.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-06-06 06:27 EDT-0400

$795 without the SSD, but highly recommended to include one right off the bat to avoid the hassle of moving the Windows installation.

And finally, just for the heck of it:
Lenovo Refurbished Desktop @ $279.99:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883795871
i5 3470 3.2Ghz
16GB DDR3
2TB HDD
W10 Pro

Throw out the old PSU, swap in a Corsair CXM 550W ($59.99).

Buy the appropriate converter ATX24pin adaptor to Lenovo/IBM proprietary connector 14 or 10 pins ($5-$14).

And have $446 left over to pick a GPU and SSD.


AMD RX 470/570/480/580 are mostly sold out to coin miners so please don't just blindly include them if you don't even care to check for availability.