$1700 seems like a LOT for such modest requirements, unless you need a high end dedicated graphics card or a pretty high end CPU? But, then again, I buy refurbs and (sometimes) spruce them up a bit with more RAM, maybe a 500 GB primary SSD and secondary 500 GB or 1 TB SSD for data. (I’ve never actually needed more than 250GB as a primary SSD, though I’ve often gone with or upgraded to 500 GB for added reliability / life.) My latest machines have NVME SSD’s as the primary drive. And I do need a USB-C expansion card in my latest machine (not yet in full use).
Unfortunately, I have not a clue as to which current CPU’s and MB’s are most reliable. The old(er) Win 10 machine I’m on right now is “only” a i7-6700 CPU @ 3.40GHz but with 32 GB of RAM and a SATA primary SSD — more than capable enough for anything I do except running Win 11, but it has recently developed “weird” CPU freeze-up issues (once every couple weeks or so, even under modest use). I’ve blown out the dust (wasn’t bad), so that’s not the problem. This sort of problem is new to me (under modest use.) Gotta get that new Win 11 desktop fleshed out...
Just what ARE the requirements for gaming in 2024? For which type gaming? Reading more of the thread, this appears to be way over what my daughter is in to. I’m not a gamer at all — way, way too busy for that.