First build. Looking for feedback before I pull the trigger

[jetsfan032]

I'm trying to stay around $700 (including monitor and OS.) Any feedback is welcome, it's supposed to be for gaming, but I also want some CPU power for coding and stuff.

Questions: Is my motherboard good enough?
Is there anywhere with cheaper monitors or are they all so damn expensive?
Is windows 8.1 imperative or can I get a cheaper OS? (I am assuming linux is a no-go for gaming as steam has a lot of windows only games)

parts list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pcdyQ7

Thanks in advance!

 

[okcnaline]

1) The build's kinda weak...
2) Monitors at 1080p are around $129, and good quality ones go around $150. Is that really expensive?
3) Windows 8.1 isn't imperative, but that's $40 less when you get Windows 10. And asides, SteamOS works quite nicely with existing Steam games. And THAT is based on Linux, so your statement is a fact from a LONG time ago.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ECS Z97-MACHINE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($81.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($129.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($68.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VX228H 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $697.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-21 21:07 EST-0500

 

[logainofhades]

1) The build's kinda weak...
2) Monitors at 1080p are around $129, and good quality ones go around $150. Is that really expensive?
3) Windows 8.1 isn't imperative, but that's $40 less when you get Windows 10. And asides, SteamOS works quite nicely with existing Steam games. And THAT is based on Linux, so your statement is a fact from a LONG time ago.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ECS Z97-MACHINE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($81.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($129.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($68.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VX228H 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $697.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-21 21:07 EST-0500

That build is actually a weaker gaming system, than the OP's, given the GPU. A 270x is far better than a GTX 750ti.

 

[okcnaline]

But I'm sure his weak a** CPU is worse... Bottlenecking... Plus he has no upgrade paths. If he decides to go SteamOS, then that's $100 more for GPU, but as of currently, no...

 

[logainofhades]

A 270x is actually a fine pairing for the 750k. It is kinda at the limit of said CPU, but it is ok. GPU matters more than CPU. I agree on the no upgrade path, but that build will be slower in games than the OP's. ECS hasn't made a good board in ages, also. Both builds are actually more than $700 due to MIR's

 

[logainofhades]

Here is a better build, without MIR's, and still with an R9 270x.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($63.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($77.27 @ TigerDirect)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($65.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270X 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($159.80 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $698.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-21 21:31 EST-0500

 

[jetsfan032]

Here is a better build, without MIR's, and still with an R9 270x.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($63.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($77.27 @ TigerDirect)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($65.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270X 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($159.80 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($90.26 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: LG 22M35D 60Hz 22.0" Monitor ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $698.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-21 21:31 EST-0500

Thanks for the input. Any chance someone could explain the improvements over my build. I'm would just like to learn a little instead of blindly buying

 

[okcnaline]

You have 2 stronger cores. Usually games don't need 4 cores, so the extra cores in the Athlon X4 760K won't help much.

 

[logainofhades]

The 760k's cores are very weak. They are actually weaker than a Phenom II X4, at same clock speed.