I am finally able to upgrade from a laptop and am thinking of building my first pc for gaming. I don't really plan to use it for anything but gaming, though I sometimes mess with music/photo/game software, and might use those. I've researched parts a lot, but it's my first build and I still have at least one question on almost every part. I hope to buy parts in the next few days and I think they're all compatible but I want to be sure I spend my money where I need to.
First, here's my build.
Now, my questions/comments.
Processor: I picked the i7 so i won't have to upgrade for a while and I've read its good for gaming and photo/music/video stuff, which I kind of do.
CPU Cooler: Is it good / will it fit / do I need it now?
Motherboard: Is the EVGA good? I like it's looks and it's EVGA like everything else in my build, and I think it had a few more things than the Asus z97i-plus I looked at. The Asus is a little cheaper and available at Micro Center with a discount if I get the processor there too (which is already cheaper), but I'm not sure whats best (maybe some other third brand) but I think I want a z97. Please tell me if I don't.
RAM: Think I want G. Skill Ripjaws X, but it's not at Micro Center. I could get it from amazon, but Micro Center can put my motherboard parts together and test them for $20 and would prefer I buy their stuff, but if it's new in-box it might still work. I could put RAM in myself (I assume it's not hard) but I don't know if MC would want to have it when they put mobo together. Also, is 2400 noticeably better than 1600? It's about the same price, though there's a voltage warning I'm not exactly sure about on part picker.
Storage: A-data seemed cheaper and faster than Samsung, but Samsung is at Micro Center with discount and I'm not sure if it has features I might want over slight speed, and which Samsung version would I get(at 120 or 128)? Pro or Evo?. WD blue seems like a lot of people get it, what would I get if I wanted 2 Tb, preferably high quality but not much more than $100?
Video Card: I want the 760. From what I've read, EVGA is good (and seems to look the best). Is "dual" superclocked a good improvement? It's only a few dollars more, and has a rebate I think. Also the Micro Center store page doesn't say "dual" anywhere I can see? Does "dual" mean two fans on top instead of one?
Power Supply: Is the built in one good, big enough, and could I upgrade it in the future (don't know how easy it would be to remove / find one the same size)?
Other: Do I need any other sound/wifi/bluetooth card stuff, fans, cables, helpful cord management / cooling stuff I'm unaware of, etc?
I went with the hydro over the air so water cooling is a hopefully easier option in the future, if I ever want it. I also think I'm going to skip the optical drive (for now at least). I have an external one to use and only see me needing it for Windows and maybe an old game or two. I think I can get a student discount and get Windows 8.1 Pro for $70 from Microsoft, but on the page for 8.1, it says for windows 7/8 users, and that I should get 8 and download the free upgrade to 8.1 if I own XP or Vista. I would have nothing so would I buy that one (and would it be 32, 64 bit, or both? I would want 64 or both, not just 32)?
Sorry if this is a lot of words, confusing words/sentences, or if I put it in the wrong part of the forums.
Also, probably in the near future, I would like to put controllable rgb LED's in around the window, and I found this. I'm pretty sure there's cheaper options, but this seems more user friendly and I feel like I could connect/power/control it all from inside the pc (and I like how controllable it looks). I don't know if it would fit though or how to connect it (not sure how onboard usb on mobo works) or attach it to the case.
Thanks for any help/suggestions.
First, here's my build.
Now, my questions/comments.
Processor: I picked the i7 so i won't have to upgrade for a while and I've read its good for gaming and photo/music/video stuff, which I kind of do.
CPU Cooler: Is it good / will it fit / do I need it now?
Motherboard: Is the EVGA good? I like it's looks and it's EVGA like everything else in my build, and I think it had a few more things than the Asus z97i-plus I looked at. The Asus is a little cheaper and available at Micro Center with a discount if I get the processor there too (which is already cheaper), but I'm not sure whats best (maybe some other third brand) but I think I want a z97. Please tell me if I don't.
RAM: Think I want G. Skill Ripjaws X, but it's not at Micro Center. I could get it from amazon, but Micro Center can put my motherboard parts together and test them for $20 and would prefer I buy their stuff, but if it's new in-box it might still work. I could put RAM in myself (I assume it's not hard) but I don't know if MC would want to have it when they put mobo together. Also, is 2400 noticeably better than 1600? It's about the same price, though there's a voltage warning I'm not exactly sure about on part picker.
Storage: A-data seemed cheaper and faster than Samsung, but Samsung is at Micro Center with discount and I'm not sure if it has features I might want over slight speed, and which Samsung version would I get(at 120 or 128)? Pro or Evo?. WD blue seems like a lot of people get it, what would I get if I wanted 2 Tb, preferably high quality but not much more than $100?
Video Card: I want the 760. From what I've read, EVGA is good (and seems to look the best). Is "dual" superclocked a good improvement? It's only a few dollars more, and has a rebate I think. Also the Micro Center store page doesn't say "dual" anywhere I can see? Does "dual" mean two fans on top instead of one?
Power Supply: Is the built in one good, big enough, and could I upgrade it in the future (don't know how easy it would be to remove / find one the same size)?
Other: Do I need any other sound/wifi/bluetooth card stuff, fans, cables, helpful cord management / cooling stuff I'm unaware of, etc?
I went with the hydro over the air so water cooling is a hopefully easier option in the future, if I ever want it. I also think I'm going to skip the optical drive (for now at least). I have an external one to use and only see me needing it for Windows and maybe an old game or two. I think I can get a student discount and get Windows 8.1 Pro for $70 from Microsoft, but on the page for 8.1, it says for windows 7/8 users, and that I should get 8 and download the free upgrade to 8.1 if I own XP or Vista. I would have nothing so would I buy that one (and would it be 32, 64 bit, or both? I would want 64 or both, not just 32)?
Sorry if this is a lot of words, confusing words/sentences, or if I put it in the wrong part of the forums.
Also, probably in the near future, I would like to put controllable rgb LED's in around the window, and I found this. I'm pretty sure there's cheaper options, but this seems more user friendly and I feel like I could connect/power/control it all from inside the pc (and I like how controllable it looks). I don't know if it would fit though or how to connect it (not sure how onboard usb on mobo works) or attach it to the case.
Thanks for any help/suggestions.
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