looking for $2000 gaming pc with a focus on graphics, speed, and ideally liquid cooling

I would either go for 1 780 ti or 2 780's depending on benchmarks that you can find on the interwebs. I would go for the 1 780 ti since I prefer single graphics cards but that's my own opinion and not yours.
With that being said, I would get an intel 4770k cpu.
Make sure to get an ssd and just get quality components for everything else.

You can max out all games and get smooth framerates at an 1080p resolution.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Hero ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($189.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($201.25 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($148.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB Video Card ($489.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Case ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 860W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2000.16
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-31 20:27 EDT-0400)

Here you go buddy

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3jUgG


[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3jUgG) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3jUgG/by_merchant/) / [Benchmarks](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3jUgG/benchmarks/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54670k) | $227.99 @ NCIX US
**CPU Cooler** | [Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-cpu-cooler-h100i) | $69.99 @ NCIX US
**Motherboard** | [ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-fatal1tyz87killer) | $119.99 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [G.Skill Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32400c10d8gtx) | $89.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7te120bw) | $89.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st1000dm003) | $64.99 @ Newegg
**Video Card** | [XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-video-card-r9290aedfd) | $439.99 @ Newegg
**Case** | [Rosewill THRONE-Window ATX Full Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-case-thronewindow) | $164.38 @ Amazon
**Power Supply** | [SeaSonic Platinum 860W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-ss860xp2) | $197.98 @ Newegg
**Optical Drive** | [LG UH12NS30 Blu-Ray Reader, DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/lg-optical-drive-uh12ns30) | $39.99 @ Newegg
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700578) | $94.99 @ NCIX US
**Monitor** | [Acer H236HLbid 60Hz 23.0" Monitor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/acer-monitor-umvh6aa003) | $149.00 @ B&H
**Wireless Network Adapter** | [Rosewill N600PCE 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/rosewill-wireless-network-card-n600pce) | $24.99 @ Amazon
**Keyboard** | [Cooler Master CM Storm Quick Fire TK Wired Gaming Keyboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-keyboard-sgk4020gkcr1us) | $97.88 @ Mechanical Keyboards
**Mouse** | [Logitech G500s Laser Gaming Mouse Wired Laser Mouse](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/logitech-mouse-910003602) | $49.99 @ Best Buy
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1907.13
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-31 20:30 EDT-0400 |

Here is a simple link where you can have a GREAT PC and there are upgrades which can stay within or go way beyond your budget.

http://www.techbargains.com/alienware-area-51-deals#newsID439893

Alienware has the Alienware Area 51 Triad Tower Intel Core i7-5820K Hexa-Core HASWELL Gaming Desktop Computer for a low $1624.99 Free Shipping after Coupon Code: "VPJ1MHN3Z6T6V3" (Exp 3/01). Tax in most.
The Area-51 is the top of the line desktop gaming configuration for Alienware. Area 51 features a unique Triad Design case. The Design allows dedicated sides for input and output of air. The raw power of this configs allows up to 11520x2160 over 3x Ultra HD 4k Monitors. Making this the ultimate gaming rig!

Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz (turbo Boost up to 3.6 ghz) Hexa-Core (6-Core) HASWELL; 8GB DDR4 RAM; 2TB HDD; slot-loading DVD burner; Intel 7260 802.11ac wifi; Windows 8.1 Home Premium; AMD Radeon R9 270 with 2GB GDDR5; 1yr warranty

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Add ons :
16GB Quad Channel DDR4 at 2133MHz + $150


Included in Price AMD Radeon™ R9 270 with 2GB GDDR5

+$150.00 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 770 with 2GB GDDR5
Limited Time: Save $100

+$300.00 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 970 with 4GB GDDR5

+$550.00 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 980 with 4GB GDDR5


Single Video Card with Dual GPUs Options

+$1,400.00 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ Titan Z with 12GB GDDR5 – Dual GPU Card


Dual Video Card Options

+ $500.00 Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 770 graphics with 4GB total (2x 2GB) GDDR5 -NVIDIA SLI® Enabled
Limited Time: Save $50

+$650.00 Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 970 graphics with 8GB total (2x 4GB) GDDR5 - NVIDIA SLI® Enabled

+$1,200.00 Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 980 graphics with 8GB total (2x 4GB) GDDR5 -NVIDIA SLI® Enabled

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($319.73 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($99.75 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($208.09 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($129.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive ($78.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($328.99 @ Directron)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($328.99 @ Directron)
Case: NZXT H440 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($115.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Creative Labs ZXR 24-bit 192 KHz Sound Card ($188.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1984.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-20 04:26 EST-0500

This is what I see becoming the best $2000 build including a sound card w/ microphone!

I find all of the above builds as not very well thought out.
Area 51 hahaha
16GB of memory wasted money.
i7 Wasted money.
Sound cards wasted money unless you have a 800 buck speaker system.

To get a true good gaming PC you need to list the monitor or monitors your going to be using or NOBODY can really recommend a video card.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/4vKzjX
Very solid gaming PC.
$1300 Depending on the monitor you could add another 970 in SLI or upgrade to a 980.

I agree but disagree.

Alienware's are shocking with an I and a T.

Sound cards are never wasted money. They are always futureproof and can be transported from 1 build to another, I personally have got an Asus Essence STX II (bought it today) and it will upgrade from traditional on board sound. If it also fits in the budget its really worth it.

I chose a board and cooler which will allow for heavy overclocking. The cards are also very good to overclock.

I created a red and black build too. Anywho,..

This is great build, but if you are looking for a quieter and nearly as good cooler, Noctua air coolers are great. And if you need a good gaming monitor look at BenQ Monitors, specifically: http://www.benq.com.au/product/monitor/xl2411z/ Pricey but worth it.

Almost everything is overpriced,
Older tech on the i7 4770K? the i5 will give so close to the same gaming performance (exactly the same in most games) the extra 30% price increase is wasted.
The 980 only has a 18% performance increase over the 970 for a 60% price increase not really a good buy.
Overpriced motherboard for what you get.
Way overpriced power supply. The EVGA G2 750 Watt is 1/2 the price and comes with a 10 year warranty.
Absolutely no reason to get 16GB of memory for a gaming PC. And 4X4GB is not what to pick even if your going for 16GB you buy a 8X8 set lower priced and less stress on the memory controller.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cT6GNG
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cT6GNG/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC14PE_BK 78.1 CFM CPU Cooler ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97X Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($75.97 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($118.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($347.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card (2-Way SLI) ($347.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Enermax OSTROG ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Antec HCG M 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.79 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1489.56
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-20 17:23 EST-0500

Is the op still looking to build this or have they built it already? It looks like it was posted almost a year ago.

Agreed it is expensive, but he has a good budget so why not get the best.