Building A Gaming Computer? How do you do it!

[leafurex]

So, I'm not a complete idiot, because I know some things, but it's basically just the surface. So just explain things to me as if I was completely new to the pc-building-scene.

I want to know the ins-and-outs of building a computer; every nook and cranny. I want to know everything, from what parts you need, to what is the most important part, what is the most fragile part, what are the different kinds of cooling and what are the pros and cons of each, which processor is better and why, what graphics card I need -- All of it. I'm ready to learn.

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't post this before. I'm willing to spend at a max of $1500, but I'd like to stay at around $1k. But that shouldn't matter. I just want to learn about computers and computer parts.

 

[ImDaBaron]

What are you looking to spend?

 

[Paul NZ]

1 word Google

 

[rahimklaber]

get an i5 4690k and a gtx 970
nzxt source 340
8gb ram
corsair h 60 liquid cooler
cx600m
msi z97 pc mate
and a ssd and a hdd

 

[Mac266]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme 99.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($93.46 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($348.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1105.38
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-01 19:38 EDT-0400

Here you go mate. Mind that you will still need a monitor and peripherals (keyboard, mouse etc).

 

[mlga91]

Here you go:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.49 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 EXTREME4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($143.79 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($82.23 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital RE4-GP 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($85.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 970 4GB XLR8 Video Card ($329.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Raidmax Atlas ATX-295WB ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec HCG M 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1167.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-01 19:44 EDT-0400

You can put another 970 later for more performance.

 

[why hello]

I learned how to build my computer by watching a LOT of youtube videos of how to build a computer. The videos that helped me the most was Austin Evans on youtube, he has a very good tutorial on building a computer.

 

[Mac266]

Mlga91, I kitbashed our builds and got this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme 99.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($93.46 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($348.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill Hive 650W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1105.38
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-01 19:38 EDT-0400