Processor

Intel Core i7-6700K - $360
Surprise! You don't need a 6-8 core HEDT chip, such as the Core i7 "Haswell-E," or its cumbersome platform. The quad-core Intel Core i7-6700K based on the company's latest "Skylake" architecture will still make the cut with games at 4K. The per-core performance of the i7-6700K is higher than that of the i7-5960X, and at $360, the chip is a bargain when you factor in its platform costs. A $150-ish motherboard with two PCI-Express slots and a dual-channel DDR4 memory kit are sufficient firepower for gaming, compared to the $220 you need to spend on a decent quality socket LGA2011v3 motherboard without the quad-channel memory.

Cooling

DeepCool GamerStorm Captain 240 - $109
The i7-6700K doesn't come with a stock cooling solution, so be sure to set aside some dough for a good cooler. The GamerStorm Captain 240 from DeepCool is earning good reviews among buyers and the community at large, in offering top-notch cooling performance at a good price. This AIO liquid cooler combines a cyberpunk styled pump block with a reasonably thick 240 mm x 120 mm radiator and two PWM controlled 120 mm spinners. That makes it our pick.

Motherboard

GIGABYTE GA-Z170XP-SLI - $145
The Z170XP-SLI from GIGABYTE, which was also featured on our $1700 1440p gaming build, continues to feature in this one. The board is unbeatable at its given price, and boards with comparable features from other brands only start at around the $160 mark.

We're not looking for a board that's too heavy on overclocking credentials, nor are we looking for too many connectivity options. The Z170XP-SLI fits the bill. It has all the connectivity you'll need, including USB 3.1, SATA 16 Gb/s, and M.2 32 Gb/s, and supports 2-way NVIDIA SLI.

The build quality on the Z170XP-SLI is just right, and this board won't look cheap in your rig, no matter what price-point you're building at; unless you're into heavy CPU and memory overclocking.

Memory

G.Skill Trident-Z DDR4-2800 MHz 16 GB (2x 8 GB) - $127
G.Skill memory is back in its mojo of offering high-end like specs at good prices (which is what built the brand in the first place). At $127, the Trident-Z DDR4-2800 16 GB kit looks and acts like a memory kit twice its price. If its solid multi-layer aluminum heat-spreader design doesn't win you over, its XMP specs of 2800 MHz at 15-16-16-35 and 1.25V DRAM voltage certainly will.