Reviving a friend's dead rig and need some help picking a new CPU and Mobo.

So, you should NOT be giving up much with boards about 200usd. Like, differences here will mostly be around the number of pcie slots, sata ports and so on, basically how much you can expand it. For AM5, you should even consider possibly a B850/B650E, because with AMD you're not OC limited to the highest chipset. The downsides here are usually pretty small or even nil. By the way, the problems that existed with some of the cpu's and mobos of the lga1700 socket kinda don't exist with the 1851, so you should still consider Intel cpus, especially if you don't intend to put much more money in the build. Anyway, if you go with AM5, a B850 Gaming X WiFi 6E should be plenty coupled with basically any cpu for AM5, costs 159USD, and have a good amount of ports for most users. Couple that with a 9700X ( about 270 USD ) , a 7900X ( about 300 USD ) or a 7700X3D/7800X3D ( up to 330 usd ) and you should be right at or slightly bellow your 1000 USD mark ( considering the parts already on your list ). If you go with LGA1851, try getting an MSI Pro Z890-A WiFI or an Asrock Z890 Pro RS WiFi if you DO need the OC feature. They cost between 149 and 159 USD and while they're the " simplest " Z890, they should be fairly above the average users needs. If not, maybe consider the B860 boards, as you can have some neat models for less than 130. I mean, they may ALL be Asrock, but on Intel CPU's they did not have the same problems as they had with amd, and offer plenty value for what you're paying. PLENTY. That said, no matter what you choose, you can settle for either a Ultra 7 270K Plus for 290USD or an Ultra 5 250KF for 194 USD ( the K version of the 250 is just 209 USD too ). They both offer a great value most of the times, being very competitive in everything they do. Only thing they are not that great is that the 1851 will not receive more cpu's from what we know, as intel will move on to another socket within the next generation ( as they're kinda doing since a bit more than 15 years ). No matter what you choose, your experience will be great. EDIT: If you live close to a microcenter, visit it, they have some great kit's for somewhat low prices. Edit 2: Forgot about the monitor. IF you put that in account, for the am5 you can put a 9600X/7700X to put the costs down a little and get close to having more leeway to get a monitor. I will not help you out with it, as monitors can be kinda iffy because of preferences. Take a look at some MSI ones, Samsung ones and etc, basically some "safe" choice. Try going in loco to see some of those if possible, you should PROBABLY have some good shop close to you that let you do that. Besides that, try getting a 1440p monitor, that's usually the best the 100-200 ish budget that we will squeeze here can do.

Just built a beauty on that b850 MSI gaming plus WiFi great board

I'm glad that I was of help.

MSI for sure have some great boards with a good price/performance ratio! Although I was referring to the Gaming X from Gigabyte, the Gaming Plus from MSI is also a pretty neat board, specially in the case someone is trying to get a white board.