Ok, here is my final build... Finally. I'm ready to order it, I'd just like some feedback if possible.

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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/kR73mG

So, assuming that link worked, that is the build.

I'm using Newegg.ca for everything, I'm very new to this and would prefer to deal with one re-seller.

I went with the Z97 because it was on sale and onle $30 more than the H97 I originally planned on going with, so someday I can SLI or overclock if I decide I want to.

I went with 16GB of RAM, because it may become relevant for gaming someday and RAM prices seem to be rising all the time.

I chose the i5 4690 because I won't be OCing, and it seems to be very good, and less expensive than the Xeon.

The GPU was on sale and came highly reviewed.

The HDD is simple and cheap, I don't need much more than that lmao. I won't be using an SSD since it's an additional cost I threw into RAM or something.

The monitor is a decent 1080p, if I understand, and can downsize it 720p if necessary, which is nice.

The case is a bit pricier than I originally intended, but has lots of fans and tons of excellent reviews.

The power supply was highly recommended by some and seems very good, plus it has 10 year warranty... Seems pretty awesome.

I just threw the keyboard in there to get a better idea of costs, I dunno what peripherals I'll use.

I'm uncertain whether to go with Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. I'm leaning towards Win7 because I'm familiar with it.

I'll be pretty much using this build for gaming, not much else that's intensive. No video editing or coding or anything like that.

*UPDATE*

Am I missing anything at all? I do have a different aftermarket cooler because the Vortex wasn't available. The 212 EVO weighs too much for my motherboard, I don't know if the 450g max weight is legit, on Gigabyte's website, but I figured I'd respect it and find a lighter cooler. Anyways, I'm only getting one to be on the safe side for cooling the CPU.

Thank you for your time :).
 
Solution
tiny voices
Just get 8gb RAM. Simple as that. For gaming 16gb adds no gains and it will not for a LONG time. Most games still use 3gb or less.

You would be WAY better off saving the money and putting it towards a better GPU. A gtx770 is a HUGE improvement over a gtx760 and is attainable on your budget easily.

You have no need for a case with "superior air flow" You do not have a 'HOT' GPU and you will not be overclocking the CPU.

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tiny voices

tiny voices

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The 212 eVO is fine for your board. BUT, an aftermarket cooler and an overclocking motherboard are pointless for a non- overclocking CPU.

I would get low profile RAM and only 8gb of it. DDR4 rAM will be out WAY before games actually benefit from more than 8gb RAM. Save a bit on the case, get an h97 motherboard, and get an XFX550w PSU.

Use the saved money to get a better GPU.
 
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Gracodana

Gracodana

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don't get 16gb ram it's pointless, I understand you wanted to future proof but put that money into a gtx 770 or R9 280x. Also that keyboard is good for the price I have it and it's nice to type on and the LED's arn't bad ether.
 
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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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Well, the reason I was hoping to go with the Z97 is because it's only $30 more. I figured $30 now might be well-worth it down the road if I want to get a better, unlocked CPU and try SLIing. I'm torn between the RAM, some people say 8 won't be enough for long, but 16 does seem like overkill. So, the case won't have any airflow benefits or anything?
 
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tiny voices

tiny voices

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Just get 8gb RAM. Simple as that. For gaming 16gb adds no gains and it will not for a LONG time. Most games still use 3gb or less.

You would be WAY better off saving the money and putting it towards a better GPU. A gtx770 is a HUGE improvement over a gtx760 and is attainable on your budget easily.

You have no need for a case with "superior air flow" You do not have a 'HOT' GPU and you will not be overclocking the CPU.

 
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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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So, 8 will be enough for a while? I was going for 16, because Planetary Annihilation recommends 8GB, so I figured it wouldn't be long until games required more than 8GB. Honestly, by taking out the 16GB for 8GB, I'll likely just save the money. I'm sort of going over-budget. Although I don't have a concrete budget, after taxes it's coming to $1,691, which is somewhat high.

So you like the keyboard and the mouse? Some reviews said the mouse sucks, but it can't be as bad as my $12 optical mouse.
 
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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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Well in that case xD, I ended up taking it out of the build. I am pretty set on the GTX 760 though, initially I was looking at the 750ti, but the 760 is like a quantum leap in value, the 770 is $100 more for a bit better performance and the 780 is too pricey for me.
 
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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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The reason I was interested in the i5 4690 was because I was under the impression that it ran cooler... Is that not the case? I'm doubting I'll OC for a while, so I'd upgrade the cooler down the road, when I start OCing. Honestly, I doubt I'd OC for a year or two if I do it.

Although I'm not against AMD, the reviews are always poor on Newegg.ca and don't AMD GPUs have heat issues?
 
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t3nn1spr3p

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Here's an awesome gaming build. First, there's an option on the right side of pcpartpicker when you're picking a part to select which merchants you want to show items/prices from. Once you pick the options it sticks for everything else.

I went with the i5 4590 because it's exactly the same as the 4690 except 0.2GHz slower and saves like $40. For gaming, you more want to focus on the graphics card, and everything you save on other parts can be used on that awesome 780.
The psu you picked was way overkill. This is probably closer to the lower limit, wattage-wise, of what you should get due to the 780, but will still be fine, and again saves another $40.
You said you weren't going to overclock, but would think about doing it in the future. You'll notice only a few more frames per second increase overclocking, and need to spend money on a k version cpu, a cpu cooler, and a z version motherboard.
Also, this case is cheaper and still easy to build with. If you like your case, of course go with that one.
Along with 'tiny voices' I really think 8GB is plentyyy of ram for gaming. And ram prices are going up? Maybe within the past couple months, but when games need 16GB of ram in a few years, ram will cost way less.
Finally, the 780 is huge overkill for graphics, but I wanted to keep the total price the same as your previous build. A 770 would save you $170 and is at a way better performance-per-price.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($217.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($118.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($89.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 780 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($554.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 620W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($84.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($23.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($104.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Monitor: BenQ GW2255 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($142.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Keyboard: Perixx PX-1000 Wired Gaming Keyboard
Total: $1488.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
 
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tiny voices

tiny voices

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I would do this. Is is a GREAT build. It will blow OPs original build out of the water when it comes to gaming.
 
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t3nn1spr3p

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If you're still set on getting a 760, don't go with the one you chose. It may be on sale, but it only costs more originally because it's smaller and supposed to fit in an ITX case.

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 760 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($284.98 @ Newegg Canada)

This one is awesome. Has way more reviews, cheaper, better heatsink, and you're not looking to overclock your gpu, so you don't need one of the higher-end 760's.
 
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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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Damn that is one hell of a build... I didn't think one could fit a 780 into a build of that price, in Canadian dollars no less. I'm going to have to stop and think a lot now, that 780 is a beauty, even if it's overkill for 1080p. I would honestly probably go with the EVGA G2 PSU and simply pay the extra premium on it, because it's supposed to be of a high quality, which is crucial for me for a PSU, I want and need something ultra reliable I guess.

So Z97s advantages are literally overclocking and sometimes SLI? I keep telling myself there's more to it, but if there isn't, then H97 is definitely the way to go for me.

I'm cool with the case, the most important things are good airflow, and beginner friendliness. I'd like a filter if possible, for dust. Still... That 780, wow.

Thank you so much!
 
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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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So the one I threw in was kinda crappy? Or just over-doing it? I'll go with that one then, as long as it does what it's meant to... That is, be the entry level to mainstream gaming. A good heatsink is really great too, very important to me.

Thank you!
 
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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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I like it a lot too, it's amazing. So the H97 will be fine for gaming? I'm inclined to go with the Gigabyte H97 because it seems to be well regarded. Also, I'd likely pay the extra for the original PSU as it's supposed to be very good.

That 780 is amazing, for the price, wow.
 
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tiny voices

tiny voices

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There is ZERO performance difference between motherboards. Only features.

ALso, that Seasonic is as good or better than the EVGA. Don't forget that gold, silver, bronze ratings have nothing to do with quality. There are AMAZING top of the line PSUs without ratings and then gold and platinum PSUs that will burn down your house.
 
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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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So... Do the EVGA G2 series suck more than the Seasonic?

So, other than overclocking and SLI, there's no legit reason to choose Z97 over H97?
 
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MrCanEHdian

MrCanEHdian

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Wow......... Well, I'd go for a Z97 if a good one was on sale and the price increase was tiny compared to an H97. Having the ability to SLI/Crossfire and/or overclock down the road would be nice for a minor price increase. Otherwise, I guess H97 is the way to go.

Well, in that case, the gold rating would reduce the amount of heat build up in the system right? Don't the efficiency ratings mean at higher ratings, more AC electricity is successfully converted into DC electricity and therefore, reducing heat due to lost energy?
The PSU you mentioned is significiantly cheaper.... Is it really that good? I was always under the impression that a PSU of less than $100 was going to be cheap and poorly made, I'm guessing that is incorrect in some cases.

I'd be down to go for the PSU you mentioned if I also got an H97, but if I got a Z97 that was on sale, I'd go for the 750w PSU for future SLI or overclocking, just to be on the safe side.

Thank you for the valuable help and insight :).
 
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Gracodana

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To be honest I don't think SLI is that great of a way to go you get much less constant performance and your always better off getting the newer hardware.
 
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