Advice on first build?

[DyingSoulja]

I need some advice on this build. I am starting completely from scratch here, and this is my first time building a custom pc. I have a budget of roughly $1,500.00. I am just hoping that I am getting the most bang for my buck as far as the item selection and price.

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Bravo562/saved/Vh2j4D

Any recommendations or advice would be very much appreciated.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

'This build is private'.

 

[DyingSoulja]

Whoops! Sorry about that! Should be fixed now.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

What is the purpose of the build? If it's gaming, then you ought not build a $1.5k build with a GTX 770. This will perform 20-30% better while still being less than $1.5k:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9qx3sY

 

[DyingSoulja]

What is the purpose of the build? If it's gaming, then you ought not build a $1.5k build with a GTX 770. This will perform 20-30% better while still being less than $1.5k:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9qx3sY

Thank you very much, and yes I didn't mention that this was a gaming build. Other than the GPU, how does the rest of the build look?

 

[envy14tpe]

I'd get a better GPU and a i5 instead. No need for i7 unless you do lots of video work.

This build will give you a better gaming experience: higher in game settings and higher fps.
Better RAM, better mobo for overclocking, and GPU that will smash all games at 1080p on Ultra all the time.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.97 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($137.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($81.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($339.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: Asus VX238H-W 23.0" Monitor ($157.58 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.36 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1449.75

 

[MeteorsRaining]

There's no point to go for i7 in a solely gaming build. i5 is just as good. And the build looks solid to me, GPU and CPU excluded. Revised build with SLI ready MoBo and capable enough PSU for SLI:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nMJrwP

 

[IndyAJD]

I'd get a better GPU and a i5 instead. No need for i7 unless you do lots of video work.

This build will give you a better gaming experience: higher in game settings and higher fps.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.97 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($137.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($81.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($339.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: Asus VX238H-W 23.0" Monitor ($157.58 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.36 @ Amazon)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm Devastator Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $1449.75

Would you want a PSU with a little more wattage?

 

[envy14tpe]

@IndyAJD. That Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU are very efficient. 550W is plenty for this build. You could even get a 500W one, but I'd get a little more room and get the 550W one.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

envy14tpe, why not swap the current one with a 750W PSU (EVGA B2 750W is $80) for the build to be completely SLI ready?

 

[DyingSoulja]

Okay, So I am going to be using an i5 instead of an i7, but what GPU is better between the EVGA and the MSI GTX 970?

 

[MeteorsRaining]

I'd go with MSI, runs the coolest and quietest, great OCing potential.

 

[envy14tpe]

About GPU: I have owned 2 MSI Twin Frozrs and loved them. I highly recommend MSI and since they have no negative reviews for 970 I'd recommend it. On further investigation I think the MSI is a better choice. Why? Quieter than the EVGA. Yes, that matters. And the cooler is great.
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2014/09/19/nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-review/13

You could get a 750W PSU but I think building for a one GPU system is better, hence you don't need the extra wattage. If you need more then sell the old one and upgrade. Multiple GPUs is really best for 3 monitor gaming. Otherwise I'd build for a 1 GPU system.