New desktop advice

 Laptop or Desktop?

Desktop

My budget for the new computer is:
$1,500 - $3,000

What are the primary uses for this computer (IE: mail, web browsing, programming, games, etc)?
Gaming and learning cyber security.  Want to learn and then work doing cyber securfity
What software do you intend on using on the computer?

MS Office

Do you play games? If so, what type of games?

Mostly shooting games

Do you tend to have a lot of programs running at the same time, or do you close every program when you are done using it?

2 or 3 programs at most - unless cyber security requires more

Do you store a lot of pictures or music on the computer?

no

Will you be overclocking?

no

Location for online shopping/shipment/prices?

Boston, MA

How many monitors are you planning to use?
2

Do you need peripherals? OS?

sound, wifi, bluetooth, windows 11 pro

Any particular reason why you are upgrading?

10 year old home made finally died.  looking for pre made

Edited by rssail81, 28 May 2024 - 09:52 AM.

And the monitor(s) resolution(s) to be used for gaming? 1080p or 1440p or 4k for examples?

Prefer an Intel or AMD system?

Nvidia or Radeon for the dedicated graphics?

Cyber security work will involve programming?

Requiring new gaming mouse and keyboard?

$1500-3000 is a wide range and at $3000 US tier it will be quite good.

This is very top tier https://www.falcon-nw.com/desktops/overview

This is lower priced but good, and have custom ordered too.  https://nzxt.com/en-CA/category/gaming-pcs/prebuilt-pcs

Also notable and this is owned by Corsair (and somewhat pricey because these are using Corsair parts but the system comes in a wooden crate when shipped) https://www.originpc.com/gaming/desktops/

Another vendor for this list https://starforgesystems.com/collections/gaming-pcs

Have you looked at Microcenter for a pre-build or custom ordered desktop? They can build you a setup in one day and usually have good daily and ongoing deals. 

Newegg does have their ABS brand of prebuilds.

Also there is https://www.ibuypower.com/gaming-pcs

and https://www.cyberpowerpc.com/category/gaming-pcs/

However these are maybe not as good as the first four vendors that I listed.

Edited by 0lds0d, 28 May 2024 - 11:08 AM.

An aside. If it was a self built desktop, then the $3,000 US would easily fit in a RTX 4080 Super card along with a top tier system. I am just saying as an additional input.

A couple of quick picks...not an actual final parts list, just for examples.

Also note the RTX 4090 is about $800 more than the RX 7900 XTX so technically it could be fitted into the AMD build.

For example using top Intel and Nvidia:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mF6YFs

CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K 3.4 GHz 20-Core Processor  ($389.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool LS720 SE 85.85 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus TUF GAMING Z790-PRO WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($254.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-5600 CL36 Memory  ($113.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($159.00 @ B&H)
Video Card: Asus TUF GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16 GB Video Card  ($1099.99 @ B&H)
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair RM1000x (2021) 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro OEM - DVD 64-bit  ($149.99 @ Adorama)
Total: $2507.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-05-28 12:30 EDT-0400

Or a top AMD gaming CPU and Radeon graphics:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/c3JYFs

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor  ($344.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool AK500 ZERO DARK 68.99 CFM CPU Cooler  ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B650 GAMING X AX ATX AM5 Motherboard  ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-5600 CL36 Memory  ($113.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($159.00 @ B&H)
Video Card: Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24 GB Video Card  ($959.00 @ B&H)
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow ATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair RM1000x (2021) 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro OEM - DVD 64-bit  ($149.99 @ Adorama)
Total: $2201.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-05-28 12:33 EDT-0400

What I would choose - a RTX 4070 Super or a RTX 4070 Ti Super or a RX 7900 XT along with either the Ryzen 7800X3D (best gaming CPU ATM) or just an Intel Core i5-14600K. More than meets your needs and fits nicely into the budget with some remaining budget.

Any of these would be fine for 1440p gaming and of course for 1080p. Even for 4K shooters games too.

Note: examples do not include extra required case fans for the Corsair case, and the PSU is over spec'd as 850 watts would be sufficient for either graphics cards. And the RAM modules was never checked for Intel or AMD or the boards' specs.

Edited by 0lds0d, 28 May 2024 - 12:10 PM.

Suggest keep away from Talon.   There is no Support Stated for the M/B, the M/B is not even stated when wanting to but.

https://xoticpc.com/  find want you want here, stick it in Partspicker and see if better prices.   Sale may make the difference.

Would also keep work related cyber security separate from Home use and gaming.  Separate = 2 systems.

"Suggest keep away from Talon.   There is no Support Stated for the M/B, the M/B is not even stated when wanting to but."

Besides the fact that the Falcon North West was used just as an example, it does state which motherboards is used...ASUS Strix for the Intel as an example...

https://builder.falcon-nw.com/configure/template/buildset-talon-intel-core-z790

Warranty is as stated: https://www.falcon-nw.com/support/warranty/detail

for three years.

This includes any shipping charges, not charged to the consumer.

And a lifetime Technical Support after the warranty has expired.

But it was simply an example of what is available for pre-builds.

BestBuy is full of all sorts of pre-builds in the stores, if that is what the OP is actually interested into buying.

Edited by 0lds0d, 28 May 2024 - 01:14 PM.

A more budget orientated build, but still reasonable. Just as another example.

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/mTkhcH

CPU: Intel Core i5-14600K 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor  ($305.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool AK500 ZERO DARK 68.99 CFM CPU Cooler  ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE X AX ATX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory  ($114.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB Video Card  ($599.00 @ B&H)
Case: Lian Li LANCOOL 216 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro OEM - DVD 64-bit  ($149.99 @ Adorama)
Total: $1724.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-05-28 17:16 EDT-0400