Hi! First time on TomsHardware, finding a good Gaming PC build.

[AJS7102]

I got 3 builds (2 similar ones), from 2 stores, after saying I'll be doing some intensive gaming, (GTA V, Assassins Creed, Far Cry, ETC..). These are the builds: http://m.imgur.com/a/QUxdT

Sorry for all the darkened out parts, they aren't important though. So... First picture is 1000 bucks, no Windows. Second one is 875ish, no Windows. Third one is 1100, windows included, as you can see.

So which one of them is the best build for the best price? Especially gaming wise? I hear the 960 is worse than the 280X, but I'm not sure. Windows costs 125$ at the store where its not included.
I'm not planning to overclock, whatever that means.
Anyway, thanks in advance, if I forgot to mention something just tell me.

EDIT: I'll definently be contacting the stores and asking them how much they charge for these, and if they say something ridiculous I'll find sombody else, thank you ALL. 😀

 

[logainofhades]

You can build better, at those prices.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($242.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($91.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin ECO2 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($95.45 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($317.93 @ Amazon)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT SW ATX Mid Tower Case ($35.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0 DVD/CD Writer ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($93.75 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1038.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-08 13:37 EDT-0400

 

[sadams04]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($242.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($36.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.33 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($317.93 @ Amazon)
Case: Deepcool KENDOMEN Red ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.45 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($93.75 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1025.31

EDIT: logainofhades beat me to it, but you see the common theme here...

 

[ben001]

Calling 960 a" worse" than 280x is kind of unfair. Actually, GTX 960 is the most valuable card in the market right now. The radeon 280x & 960 almost performs same. If you're paying premium for performance then it is 960. Within $1000 you can get better build.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.50 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PERFORMANCE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.00 @ B&H)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB SSC ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($304.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H23 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($55.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.45 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($93.75 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1000.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-08 13:51 EDT-0400