~$1000 Build Advice

[cyrus_73]

I need advice on this potential build. Any advice/suggestions/approval)) is much appreciated.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/gXw3gs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/gXw3gs/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($86.38 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.91 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Black Edition Double Dissipation Video Card ($279.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1094.20
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

[SethJPC]

All looks good, though i'd change the PSU to something like this:
http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=59616&vpn=P1650SNLB9&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1009

If you want it modular:
http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=78946&vpn=P1-750B-BEFX&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1009

Also just wondering, why you are getting Windows 7 instead of 8?
You chose an unlocked CPU+Z97 board so I'm assuming you will buy a CPU cooler soon?(OC)

 

[cyrus_73]

All looks good, though i'd change the PSU to something like this:
http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=59616&vpn=P1650SNLB9&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1009

If you want it modular:
http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=78946&vpn=P1-750B-BEFX&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1009

Also just wondering, why you are getting Windows 7 instead of 8?
You chose an unlocked CPU+Z97 board so I'm assuming you will buy a CPU cooler soon?(OC)

Yes, I may eventually overclock with CPU cooler. Right now, I want to stay around the $1000 budget and I'm a newbie when it comes to building (baby steps ). I definitely want to get the build done before tinkering with overclocking. In terms of Windows 7 vs 8, I like just personally like 7 better. Is there much more benefit to Windows 8 in regards to gaming? Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it.

 

[SethJPC]

Windows 8 is slightly better in games according to some tests, but i'm not sure whether to believe them. But generally yes, because future games will more likely be better optimized for Windows 8 = more performance. In addition general system speed and responsiveness is supposed to be better on Windows 8.