Is this a good build?

[Weemars]

Is it a good beginner build? http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cBYf23

 

[Onus]

You've chosen some older parts, but they're decent ones.
You may wish to select an i5-4690K on a Z97 board instead. You'll probably gain around 10% in CPU performance.
Save yourself a few dollars by ditching the Hyper EVO for this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835856006 which offers similar performance for 15% less. Unless you are planning high overclocks (and you say this is a "beginner" build), any performance difference simply won't matter; if it did you'd need to spend closer to $65 on your cooler, which seems unlikely. Whenever you see "Hyper212 EVO" recommended, you should hear it in the voice of a parrot, and pay it no mind. While not a bad cooler, it is a bang/buck Loser, and I try not to recommend Losers.
You've chosen a good graphics card and an excellent PSU.

 

[bootcher]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($3.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.77 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card ($208.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XM (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($98.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer H236HLbid 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($149.00 @ B&H)
Total: $1146.64
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-24 00:18 EST-0500

This has the newer i5, a better videocard, faster ram and a better z97 motherboard. The motherboard makes it more expensive, if needed you can get a cheaper one. Don't buy a Z75, it is an older intel platform. The z97 has a future upgrade path for future intel cpu's.

 

[Weemars]

Thanks for the answer I'm going to change up the build now

 

[Kohwali]

This build will be much better:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.92 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($81.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.47 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB ACX 2.0 Video Card ($329.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master HAF XM (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1148.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-24 00:28 EST-0500

This build has good overclocking capabilities with the ASUS Z97-A plus the ability to add a second GTX 970 in SLI.

For CPU cooling a Hyper 212 EVO is great for moderate OC. Any serious overclocking and you should look to invest in a Noctua NH-D14 or CM Nepton 240m.

750W will be enough for OC + SLI. The Rosewill Capstone 750W is at a ridiculous price right now, most PSUs of the same quality will be 3x as much. Here's a JonnyGURU review: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=266

A GTX 970 will perform significantly better than a GTX 760 and R9 280X as seen in these benchmarks: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2014/09/19/nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-review/6

As for storage, I always go with Seagate Barracudas.

I selected my 1080p IPS monitor with respectable response time, making it good for gaming with excellent colors.

-Any questions?

 

[Kohwali]

Save yourself a few dollars by ditching the Hyper EVO for this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835856006 which offers similar performance for 15% less.

Shots fired! haha

I'm confused though, that's the same price as the Hyper 212 EVO [not to mention uglier teeheehee].

 

[Weemars]

I forgot to mention that I can't change the mother board since it was gifted to me. Derp

 

[Kohwali]

I forgot to mention that I can't change the mother board since it was gifted to me. Derp

Oh...well that explains a lot haha. I'll still tweak it a bit.

 

[Kohwali]

This is still a better build for that budget:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.52 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.92 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.47 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 290 4GB DirectCU II Video Card ($249.70 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1033.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-24 00:54 EST-0500

For CPU cooling a Hyper 212 EVO is great for moderate OC. Any serious overclocking and you should look to invest in a Noctua NH-D14 or CM Nepton 240m.

750W will be enough for OC + CrossFire. The Rosewill Capstone 750W is at a ridiculous price right now, most PSUs of the same quality will be 3x as much. Here's a JonnyGURU review: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=266

R9 290 far outclasses the GTX 760 as seen here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7481/the-amd-radeon-r9-290-review/8

As for storage, I always go with Seagate Barracudas.

I selected my 1080p IPS monitor with respectable response time, making it good for gaming with excellent colors.

-Any questions?

 

[Weemars]

This is still a better build for that budget:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.52 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.92 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.47 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 290 4GB DirectCU II Video Card ($249.70 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1033.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-24 00:54 EST-0500

Thanks!

 

[Kohwali]

Thanks!

Be sure to see my explanation below my previous post! (Yes, part of it was copy + pasted)

 

[Onus]

The Hyper212 Plus is the same price; BUT it looks like you found another source, which if available, makes the Hyper EVO viable. I'm not sure I've ever seen that be the case in an all-Newegg build.
The R9 290 is a stronger performer than the GTX760. It also uses a lot more power, and throws off more heat. If those things matter to you (not saying they should), it might color your decision. A GTX760 can handle any current game on "good" settings; the R9 can probably max most of them.

 

[Kohwali]

The Hyper212 Plus is the same price; BUT it looks like you found another source, which if available, makes the Hyper EVO viable. I'm not sure I've ever seen that be the case in an all-Newegg build.
The R9 290 is a stronger performer than the GTX760. It also uses a lot more power, and throws off more heat. If those things matter to you (not saying they should), it might color your decision. A GTX760 can handle any current game on "good" settings; the R9 can probably max most of them.

It's the holidays! Prices are going to drop.

I personally prefer NVIDIA as I like GeForce Experience and Shadowplay, but AMD cards right now (the $141 Powercolor R9 280 in particular) have some ridiculously low prices.