Help build the first PC for my wife and me

• ⁠New build or upgrade? New build (first time) • ⁠Existing parts/monitors to reuse? (List with models/links) No existing parts • ⁠PC purpose? (Gaming, editing, etc. List apps/games) Gaming, looking at playing a large variety of games both new and old, plan on modding games like Skyrim, CP2077, GTA IV, RDR2, etc. • ⁠Purchase country? Near Micro Center? (If you're not in a country supported by PCPartPicker, please list some local vendors) U.S. nearest micro center is 130 miles away, so no not exactly • ⁠Monitors needed? (Number, size, resolution, refresh rate) Preferably two, though I may only go with one depending on cost and space. No size preference. Aiming for 1440p with a high refresh rate • ⁠Budget range? (Include tax considerations) ~$2k USD • ⁠WiFi or wired connection? WiFi, for now • ⁠Size/noise constraints? None • ⁠Color/lighting preferences? All things RGB, and a very open case for seeing that • ⁠Any other specific needs? Liquid cooling would be nice, but I know fan cooling is more practical, and cheaper.

I have been browsing the $2k build linked in the mod’s winter 2025 build post, and would like lists to compare to that based on my specific needs. If anyone thinks realistically my budget could come down as far as $500 and still be plenty powerful, that would be good too