Suggestions on $1,200 Gaming Build

[GiovanniDi]

I am trying to make my first PC build as good as i can on pretty much a $1,200 budget. I am planning on gaming, livestreaming to Twitch, and recording and uploading videos to YouTube. (I would really like, but don't need a neon green theme. Red or blue would also be ok)

I would like people with knowledge and experience to help edit this build to make it as good as possible for my price range.

This is the link to the build. (edit and reply with edited build link if possible)
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QszHLk

 

[MasterDell]

What you put together isn't too bad. Instead of the Plus, use the Evo. Last but not least, do you plan on going SLI in the future?

If so: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-110b20750vr

If not: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-xfxts550w

 

[TofuLion]

over budget, but has a nice bright green and black theme. the additional fans are to replace the cpu cooler's stock fans. not the best you can get, but very good, and nice looks

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($326.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($168.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB 100 Million Edition Video Card ($357.99 @ Adorama)
Case: Raidmax Viper GX ATX Mid Tower Case ($68.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($68.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.99 @ NCIX US)
Case Fan: Cougar Dual-X 64.4 CFM 120mm Fan ($14.99 @ Directron)
Case Fan: Cougar Dual-X 64.4 CFM 120mm Fan ($14.99 @ Directron)
Total: $1284.87
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-05 03:29 EST-0500

 

[GiovanniDi]

What you put together isn't too bad. Instead of the Plus, use the Evo. Last but not least, do you plan on going SLI in the future?

If so: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-110b20750vr

If not: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-xfxts550w

At the moment, I'm not really worrying about SLI, but i think I possibly might in the future, so I think it might be a good idea to get the 750w to keep the option available without buying a whole new Power Supply later.

 

[LucoTF]

Don't pair a haswell i7 with the EVO cooler, unless you like running hot when you OC

 

[TofuLion]

Don't pair a haswell i7 with the EVO cooler, unless you like running hot when you OC

it's ok, the 4790K comes stock at 4.0 GHz / 4.4 GHz Turbo. no need to overclock it

 

[GiovanniDi]

Don't pair a haswell i7 with the EVO cooler, unless you like running hot when you OC

What would you suggest instead?

 

[LucoTF]

This: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/deepcool-cpu-cooler-lucifer

Also, a $1,200 build with no SSD makes me get one of these http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct256mx100ssd1

Or the 120gb version at least

 

[GiovanniDi]

This: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/deepcool-cpu-cooler-lucifer

Also, a $1,200 build with no SSD makes me get one of these http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct256mx100ssd1

Or the 120gb version at least

So I would get the SSD and Internal Hard Drive? If so, that goes over my budget, and I would rather not

 

[LucoTF]

If you can go $50 over then I'd get this

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($321.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool LUCIFER 81.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($130.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Xtreem Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($329.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Azza CSAZ-206 ATX Mid Tower Case ($70.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.79 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.75 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1246.28
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-05 03:55 EST-0500

I made some changes to keep it close to budget but any more changes after this would be more of a sacrifice than a change.
- cheaper z97 mobo
- cheaper memory
- cheaper HDD (blue instead of black)
- 750w PSU
- 120gb SSD added
- cooler added

To get it under $1,200 right now you could drop the cooler to a Raijintek Themis, $21...

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/raijintek-cpu-cooler-0p105255

...and change the 750w PSU to the 500w PSU in your original build. But the themis is on a par with the 212 evo, not really for serious overclocking, and the PSU would have to be changed if you went SLI later

 

[LucoTF]

Don't pair a haswell i7 with the EVO cooler, unless you like running hot when you OC

it's ok, the 4790K comes stock at 4.0 GHz / 4.4 GHz Turbo. no need to overclock it

This is a fair point, you aren't going above 4.6-4.7 with air cooling anyway

 

[GiovanniDi]

If you can go $50 over then I'd get this

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($321.98 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool LUCIFER 81.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($130.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Xtreem Dark Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.95 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.89 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($329.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Azza CSAZ-206 ATX Mid Tower Case ($70.98 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.79 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.75 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1246.28
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-05 03:55 EST-0500

I made some changes to keep it close to budget but any more changes after this would be more of a sacrifice than a change.
- cheaper z97 mobo
- cheaper memory
- cheaper HDD (blue instead of black)
- 750w PSU
- 120gb SSD added
- cooler added

To get it under $1,200 right now you could drop the cooler to a Raijintek Themis, $21...

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/raijintek-cpu-cooler-0p105255

...and change the 750w PSU to the 500w PSU in your original build. But the themis is on a par with the 212 evo, not really for serious overclocking, and the PSU would have to be changed if you went SLI later

With this case that i've been wanting to use, It always says...
"Unable to verify the Apevia X-SNIPER2-GN ATX Mid Tower Case and the Deepcool LUCIFER 81.3 CFM CPU Cooler are compatible."
With any cooler I choose
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/apevia-case-xsniper2gn
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hkv2f7

 

[LucoTF]

The lucifer is quite tall, 168mm high with the included fan (163mm without). The Apevia sniper is 190mm wide. That sounds like it wouldn't fit once you allow for the motherboard & standoffs, and I can't find any enthusiast reviews for that case - nobody talks about cooler clearance at all. You could ask the manufacturer what the max cooler clearance is? (support@apevia.com)

I'm not even sure if the raijintek themis (157mm) would fit, it all depends on if there's cable management room behind the motherboard or not.

 

[MasterDell]

Stick with the BLACK Series drive.

 

[GiovanniDi]

Stick with the BLACK Series drive.

What is the difference between caviar blue and Black series?

 

[LucoTF]

Black is a little faster than blue. With the introduction of an ssd into the build this distinction is much less important.

 

[MasterDell]

Luco that is very wrong. OP will definitely benefit from a faster HDD.

 

[LucoTF]

Yes, hence why I dropped to a hdd that is very nearly almost the same speed as the black so I could squeeze an ssd in there!

 

[GiovanniDi]

So this (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hkv2f7) Is the absolute best build for my price range?

I am planning on getting the computer around late May this year

If any other changes would make it better, please let me know.

 

[LucoTF]

3 months? That's a lifetime, new Intel cpus and new amd gpus are both releasing around that time.

Also, I would run the 4790k on stock cooling until you can confirm your cooler clearance with that case by hand

 

[GiovanniDi]

3 months? That's a lifetime, new Intel cpus and new amd gpus are both releasing around that time.

Also, I would run the 4790k on stock cooling until you can confirm your cooler clearance with that case by hand

I obviously don't know a whole lot about building a PC, so how much more are new cpu's normally?

And yes, I agree that I should buy the cooler after I can see if it fits for sure.

 

[LucoTF]

I'd expect the new amd gpus to be priced competitively, Intel cpus not so much as they are dominating the market right now, but hopefully still comparable to the current generation.

If nothing else though it should bring the price of current tech down a little

 

[GiovanniDi]

I'd expect the new amd gpus to be priced competitively, Intel cpus not so much as they are dominating the market right now, but hopefully still comparable to the current generation.

If nothing else though it should bring the price of current tech down a little

How much better do you think they will be compared to the i7 4790k or any current ones. Would it be worth it to wait until those are out to build the computer in the case that I build mine before they are out?

 

[MasterDell]

Compared to the 4790k? Not much of a difference at all. The odds that the Broadwell chips can out perform the 4790k marginally is very low. If you buy now then get the 970 and 4790k (currently what I have) if you buy later then you would be looking at a 5***k CPU and a 970 or 3**(x) GPU.

 

[GiovanniDi]

Compared to the 4790k? Not much of a difference at all. The odds that the Broadwell chips can out perform the 4790k marginally is very low. If you buy now then get the 970 and 4790k (currently what I have) if you buy later then you would be looking at a 5***k CPU and a 970 or 3**(x) GPU.

Is there an actual set release date for these new Broadwell Chips?