Know a little bit but still very lost

New build or upgrade?

New Build

Existing parts/monitors to reuse? (List with models/links)

I currently have this monitor and this GPU. Currently just using a laptop connected to the monitor atm. It's goofy but I've made it work for a long time. Even if it was a hassle to get it to that point. I received both for free.

PC purpose? (Gaming, editing, etc. List apps/games)

PoE 1/2
Darktide
Modded minecraft
Monster Hunter (Game Emulation for older games and the new games)
This should give an idea of what I'm generally doing

Primarily the intention is to just get better performance/stability out of games I currently play. I don't really care about pushing it to the max. Would like to be able to play newer games like Crimson Desert or Clair Obscure but 99% of my time is on older games. And I realistically just want to not have to be in the position where I'm looking up optimization guides for every game I play to squeeze ever single bit of performance out of something that I can. Knowing how to do it is good. Needing to do it sucks

Purchase country? Near Micro Center?

USA. Not really. Closest is Detroit which is 200 miles from me

Monitors needed? (Number, size, resolution, refresh rate)

Not needed

Budget range? (Include tax considerations)

I can go up to about $1500 for now but the more savings the better.

WiFi or wired connection?

Pretty much insist on Wired no matter where I am.

Size/noise constraints?

Any size works. For noise, at least to the point I can reasonably talk on discord or in a game

Color/lighting preferences?

Not a consideration at all

Any other specific needs?

The primary hope is to get something I can upgrade/adjust in the future. However, I'm aware that might be difficult. Just need to have a starting point to go off of. I'm on a laptop atm so literally anything is better than what I have now.

I tried researching parts myself and it was extremely confusing. Cause no one can agree on anything. Especially when I'm trying to go off of an "older" GPU.

I generally like to multi monitor but if I need the performance. I'll disconnect things as needed. I primarily have it so I can stream a video while I'm researching stuff. I originally actually got the monitor for PoE.