Since you're probably gonna get a lot of advice regarding video card and what not, here's some advice on RAM. Set yourself up for awhile! Shoot for 32 gigs. You can get four 8gig ram sticks for relatively cheap now, at under $200. I'm nearing graduation in a visual effects and animation major, and recently built a new PC and got a motherboard that will let me go up to 64 gigs of RAM, assuming I use 8 gig sticks. Particle and fluid simulation workflows are now way more time efficient :) But for gaming, you should shoot for 32 gigs of RAM. If you'll be on the same PC for the next 7-10 years you should be fine with 32.