Completing my system

[avidity]

This is my current build using my video card and storage from my old PC:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($353.98 @ Newegg Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($41.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($17.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($239.00 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($94.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($83.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($227.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Case: Cooler Master HAF X ATX Full Tower Case ($194.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($177.12 @ Amazon Canada)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($23.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $1455.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-09 11:30 EST-0500

I realize I should have gone with a better air cooler (which I might do so that I get better temperatures). I idle at 40° C (Could my issue be with too much thermal paste?) Or should I just invest in a better air cooler? I have not overclocked yet (don't know how, but want to learn) and don't know if my cooler is good enough to do so.

I'm obviously looking to get a better graphics card and am looking at the GTX 970 even though I'd love to have a GTX 980 I don't know if I can justify paying $700 for one. Which type of GTX 970 should I get?

Should I upgrade to 16GB of ram? I know there will be clearance issues with the cooler I currently have.

Should I get a SSD? If so which one and how large? I would like to put some games on it but know that would be limited and also have a lot of Steam games and I don't think you can install Steam games in two different locations.

The games I would be running would be WoW, Diablo 3, CS:GO, BF4 and am hoping to have a system that can run the new Star Wars Battlefront when it comes out as well as Blizzard's Overwatch.

 

[amd4lif3]

if you get an ssd it will increase loading of games and overall boot times, should you get 16gb ram not if your only going to be gaming 16gb ram is for more if you video edit , your hyper 212 is ok you should get good temps i mean people do oc with it sooo i dont know maybe its just your chip or if its the amount of thermal paste you apply , i applied a pea size ammount of thermal paste and my i5 2500 (vitally quad core cpu) idles at 20 degrees pretty good i havre a zalman cooler . i think you should stick with a gtx 970 i mean theres no point forcing yourself to get a gtx 980 lol, and i know you run games which are demanding but a gtx 970 should be more than enough if you are running 1080p (i assume you are) make sure you have a good fan configuration e.g. intake and exaust fans this could make a huge diff in your cpu temps

 

[avidity]

The intake and exhaust fans is a good idea, perhaps I will try that unless someone else recommends me getting a new cooler.

 

[geofelt]

To answer your questions:

1. idle should be about 10-15c. over ambient. Yes, too much paste can be bad; it will act as an insulator.
Use only a very small amount, enough to fill in microscopic air holes in the mating surfaces.

2. Your evo is a very good budget cooler. It is not the equal of $75 units like noctua or Phanteks.
With mild overclocking it should do fine, I would not change it out.

I have become a bit jaded on the subject of haswell cooling for overclocking.
How high you can OC is firstly determined by your luck in the bin lottery.
I had high expectations from the Devil's canyon parts and their better thermals.
I found out that the thermals really do not matter unless, perhaps, you are a competitive overclocker.
Haswell runs quite cool, that is, until you raise the voltage past 1.25v or so.
Once you go past 1.3v, then you really do need very good cooling to keep stress loads under say 85c.
But, the consensus is that voltages higher than 1.30 are not a good thing for 24/7 usage.
I have been unable to find any official Intel recommendation on what is a safe vcore limit.
If you are an enthusiast, you can go higher.
Even if you can handle the heat, how much do you really need that extra multiplier from say 4.4 to 4.6?
3. If you will be gaming at 1080P, then GTX970 is plenty. It is a big jump over your 6870. GTX980 is in short supply and I would not chase one right now.
4. 8gb is plenty for gaming. Only a few games can even use more than 2-3gb. 1866 is also a optimum speed. You are good there.
5. I will never again build without a ssd for the "C" drive. 120gb is minimum, but it can fill up fast. I would buy 240gb at least.
Intel and Samsung are the best in my opinion. All will perform equally.
I am no expert on steam, but I understand that you can place the games different places. Do some research there.
If your budget permits, a 1tb ssd could make things very easy. I think a Samsung 1tb evo is about $425.
You could use their free migration app and clone your 1tb hard drive to the ssd.
If you are only using a part of the 1tb hard drive, perhaps a 500gb ssd would do.
Repurpose your hard drive for backup and storage of large files such as videos.
4.

 

[wip99gt]

For an SSD the crucial 512gb ones are really good bang for the buck. You can find them for around $200 which is very good for the size. Geofelt answered all you other questions quite well so no need for me to respond on anything else.

 

[avidity]

Thanks for your input. I'm not sure what the ambient temperature of my room is but since I built in September and it's now cold, the idle temperatures have stayed the same so I don't know if that's implying that the thermal paste is in fact acting as an insulator.

I'm actually not even running at 1080p sadly. Maybe I should invest in a new monitor as I'm using an Acer x203w at 1680 x 1050 resolution.

So what brand of GTX 970 should I get? Is the ASUS STRIX the best choice?

 

[wip99gt]

The Strix is an awesome version of the 970. You also really should upgrade that monitor especially if stepping up to a 970.

 

[geofelt]

Graphics card vendors concentrate on fancy coolers which sell for more. I would not chase them.
The Maxwell GTX970 and 980 cards are very efficient and don't really need exotic coolers.
I happen to like EVGA for their support forums.
My pick for a GTX970 would be the evga GTX970 superclock.
It comes with a factory warranted overclock already applied. It has a boost clock of 1317 which is higher than the STRIX at 1253. It costs the same.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487076

 

[avidity]

EVGA was my original choice. I will probably go with that then. My colour scheme is red/black but performance is more important.

Does anyone have a suggested monitor? Is 1ms response rate necessary?
Looking at this http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236313&AID=10657534&PID=3938566&SID=&nm_mc=AFC-C8JunctionCA&cm_mmc=AFC-C8JunctionCA-_-na-_-na-_-na&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-%zn but it's a little pricey.

 

[wip99gt]

The MSI gaming GTX970 is red and black. I've never used that version but has good reviews and should fit your colour scheme. For monitors the last 4 I have purchased has been asus and like them. Monitors aren't something I really keep track of but what I recommend is to see them in person before buying.