Mid-range Gaming, First Time Build @ $1100ish, Any Mistakes?

[Cognitio]

I am first timer looking to build a mid-range gaming system and I basically want to avoid making any bone-headed mistakes. This computer will probably see most of it's usage on games such as Civ5 and the upcoming Civilization: After Earth, but I also want to be able to play other current gen games at decent settings. Because of the recent Civ franchise apparent favoritism toward AMD GPUs I have have decided to go with a Radeon R9 290. I have made an attempt to design a build on pcpartpicker and I basically want to make sure that I have not made any blunders in my decision making process.


[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/4VX6pg)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54690k) | $199.99 @ Micro Center
**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $22.99 @ Micro Center
**Motherboard** | [ASRock Z97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97pro4) | $99.99 @ Newegg
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmy8gx3m2a1866c9) | $96.76 @ NCIX US
**Storage** | [PNY XLR8 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-internal-hard-drive-ssd9sc120gmdfrb) | $62.50 @ NCIX US
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $54.98 @ OutletPC
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte Radeon R9 290 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvr929oc4gd) | $379.99 @ NCIX US
**Case** | [Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-cc9011051ww) | $39.99 @ Micro Center
**Power Supply** | [EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-110b10750vr) | $54.99 @ NCIX US
**Optical Drive** | [Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-optical-drive-sh224dbbebe) | $14.99 @ NCIX US
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit)]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700578) | $105.06 @ NCIX US
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $1132.23
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-07-29 01:41 EDT-0400 |

 

[MasterDell]

Looks like a pretty sweet build! Only thing I would change would be the SSD and the PSU. For the SSD I would get something like the Samsung 840 evo or the M500. And for the PSU try to get an XFX, or Seasonic! But those are just picky things that would theoretically make the build last longer. Hope my Opinion helped!

 

[Pr3di]

Here`s something on your PSU (also recommended to switch to something else): http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1746993/evga-supernova-750w-good.html

Also, as recommended by MasterDell, try to get a better quality SSD, they are not all the same, even if they will all be faster than an HDD.

 

[Cognitio]

Thanks Pr3di and MasterDell, based on your recommendations i have switched the ssd and psu for the following:

[Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7te120bw) | $80.99 @ NCIX US

[XFX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply]
(http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1750snlb9) | $80.98 @ SuperBiiz

Based on what i am hearing from you, and from some of the reviews I have read, it will be well worth the ~$40 extra.

Thanks again

 

[MasterDell]

Yes it is completely worth it! Glad you could see the light

 

[Pr3di]

Good choice!

 

[legend001523]

For a build of that budget, why not a r9 290x?