Custom Build tips/help

[bcough]

Geez, I just signed up and not even sure if I navigated to the right spot. Either way, ANY help/tips greatly appreciated. I'm 48, and want to build a computer for myself (everyday, and some light video editing) and my kids (ages 11 and 13). I don't want a crazy gaming machine, as they have a console, and I don't want to be fighting to get time on computer myself. But... I do want a machine that if they want to play some games, they can at decent settings? I looked into a pre-built here, but do think we'll get better results from custom. In doing my research I came up with this:
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/Lq8fRB

It's already at/close to my budget. I still need monitor of course. How is this looking?? Tips?? THANKS!!

 

[UnBroken]

I suggest Windows 7. Better all around. If you want to build your own kind of based off of that, you could save some money by getting an R9 270 instead of the 280, it will still run games pretty well. Really the only other 2 places to save money for as monitor are the CPU and the motherboard. You can downgrade the CPU to an FX 4300 if you really have to, and you can get an Asrock Pro3 970 for the motherboard. With that GPU, CPU, and motherboard switch, it should save you at least 60-80 dollars for a monitor. Other than that, it looks pretty good. If you are going to be doing any kind of video editing, I really don't suggest downgrading your CPU at all. I would recommend an Intel, but that is out of your price range.

 

[g-unit1111]

I suggest Windows 7. Better all around.

In what way? Most applications actually benefit from Windows 8 and the driver software available for it than they will Windows 7. Sure Metro I can take it or leave it, but the desktop is also better on Windows 8.

That is decent, this would be a better use of $900 IMO:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4430 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($216.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($84.95 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($109.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.98 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Dual Superclocked ACX Video Card ($267.16 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.13 @ DirectCanada)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($94.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $916.15
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-09 17:02 EST-0500

The Intel i5 no matter what the incarnation will perform better in rendering and editing tasks than any AMD processor will any day of the week.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Windows 7 is certainly not "better all around". The only way it's better is for people who can't adjust to a new OS. Windows 8.1 is a stable OS that performs better than Windows 7. It also supports the latest hardware better. I see absolutely no reason to use Windows 7 on a new system.

 

[UnBroken]

From what I've seen, the UI is better in Windows 7 and it is easier to navigate. They are both stable, and I personally have never had a problem using Windows 7 with new games and hardware. I was just stating my opinion and he can research and see what would be better for him.

 

[g-unit1111]

From what I've seen, the UI is better in Windows 7 and it is easier to navigate. They are both stable, and I personally have never had a problem using Windows 7 with new games and hardware. I was just stating my opinion and he can research and see what would be better for him.

Windows 8 is fine once you get used to the UI but other than that the desktop is far better than Windows 7 is. Drivers work better with Windows 8. They also lift the "one motherboard per license" provision of the EULA and you can install it as many times as you need to, and if you replace a motherboard you don't have to do a full format and reinstall of Windows - just type in your product key and activate it.

 

[RealBeast]

I would also suggest Windows 8.1 for a new build, although I don't know that I could suggest that folks with older Windows 7 machines pay to upgrade, I would probably wait for 10 to do that.

I find that the simple installation of a free app in 8.1 like Start Menu 8 or Classic Shell makes former Windows 7 users more comfortable with the differences while they get the benefits of 8.

And as g-unit1111 said, the OEM license for 8 is much more favorable since it can be transferred to a different machine, and is not locked to the first motherboard that it is installed on like 7.

 

[bcough]

Thanks, good info here. I am hearing that Window 8 is also better for transitioning into Windows 10 eventually.