First time gaming pc

[Dull_Shooter]

Approximate Purchase Date: End of summer, likely.

Budget Range: 1700 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Web browsing/school work; work; gaming

Parts Not Required: Possibly monitor, but it is shit. If absolutely needed, I could test it with Ubuntu.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Do not care at all, would be willing to buy from private dealers for better price/quality.

Country: US

Parts list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bNNY7P

Overclocking: Doubtful, but maybe

SLI or Crossfire: In the future, maybe

Monitor Resolution: listed in parts list and up, think it's 1920 by 1080

Additional Comments: Need to keep cool, relatively. Case needs to look minimalist, but would like a little flair. Something like the Viper GX mid case would be about my max for flair.
Want to play games at pretty high settings, hopefully max, and do it for some time. BUT NOT WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK.

 

[manofchalk]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($237.98 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Hero ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($123.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($94.27 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($75.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card ($322.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.93 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($92.00 @ B&H)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($29.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series SP120 High Performance Edition (2-Pack) 62.7 CFM 120mm Fans ($27.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VX228H 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($144.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Keyboard: Razer DeathStalker Wired Gaming Keyboard ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G602 Wireless Optical Mouse ($57.98 @ NCIX US)
Speakers: Logitech Z313 25W 2.1ch Speakers ($33.89 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $1592.92
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-27 11:24 EDT-0400

Changes
- Switched the Xeon to an i5, you dont need the extra threads and you indicate you may want to overclock.
- Different HDD, literally more than double the storage for the same price.
- Do you really need a Blu-Ray reader?
- Same with the sound card. Your going to be running a $30 speaker set, you think spending $50 on a sound card will make a difference? If your going to lay down cash on audio gear, put it in the thing actually making noise. I'm running a $200 pair of headphones on a $30 sound card and I would argue even that's unnecessary.
- With the cash saved, upgraded the graphics card.

 

[Dull_Shooter]

Changes
-I5: sounds pretty good. I kind of wish it was hyper threaded, but I don't think any I5s support it.
- Different HDD: Wow, I feel stupid now. That's a great price!
- I was hoping to have one, since optical is going out anyway, but I guess I can just get it later.
- Sound card: I had assumed that it would perform better than what the CPU could do. Have you tried using both, the CPU and the sound card, to see if there is a difference? I've looked up if you need a sound card, and no one really knows.
- With the cash saved, upgraded the graphics card.

 

[manofchalk]

- i5's by definition dont have hyperthreading.
- Unless your already an audiophile, I dont think you could tell the difference between onboard sound and a soundcard/external DAC. The only reason I have my sound card is because I wanted the Amp, as I wanted my previous headset to go louder. Its pretty much just additional features and capabilities, not quality.

 

[Dull_Shooter]

Thanks, that saved a little bit of money. And now I can fit the 970!
Another noob question, should I wait until Broadwell comes out and build this rig with one of them?