$1,000 gaming build - first timer

[NotABot1]

I've put this build together based on a lot of the recent highest voted budget builds. I was trying to come under $1,000 including the monitor but that didn't quite happen. Please let me know what you think before I pull the trigger.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xVMy8d
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xVMy8d/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($179.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 4GB Dual-X Video Card ($197.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($63.00 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($166.68 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.36 @ Amazon)
Total: $1165.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-15 10:59 EDT-0400

 

[logainofhades]

I see you had mail in rebates turned on. Your build is actually $1215.93. Single 8gb stick of ram, when you should have 2x4gb. This would be better for only $1 or so more than your build before mail in rebates.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($113.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($249.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.74 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($166.68 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.36 @ Amazon)
Total: $1216.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-15 11:13 EDT-0400

 

[NightAntilli]

I personally think it's a great build. If it's primarily for gaming, Intel might be a better choice.

 

[logainofhades]

Did some messing around with parts, dropped the SSD, and got you your $1k original budget, all while squeezing in a better GPU that your original build.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($88.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($166.68 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.36 @ Amazon)
Total: $999.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-15 11:17 EDT-0400

 

[ScrewySqrl]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.66 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI 970A-G46 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($103.50 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Hitachi Ultrastar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.00 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 285 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($229.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cougar MX300 ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Rosewill 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Planar PLL2210W 22.0" Monitor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1004.07
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-15 11:29 EDT-0400

 

[NotABot1]

Did some messing around with parts, dropped the SSD, and got you your $1k original budget, all while squeezing in a better GPU that your original build.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($88.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB DUAL-X Video Card ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($166.68 @ Amazon)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($18.36 @ Amazon)
Total: $999.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-15 11:17 EDT-0400

Logain, thanks for the quick response. A couple of questions. The case you've chosen does not come with any fans and you don't have any cooling listed here. Mine came with 2 fans, which is why I didn't have any listed. Was that an oversight or do you not think I need any?

You seem set on on the Intel CPU. Is it that much better than the AMD CPU?

Why is 2x4 better than 1x8 when it comes to RAM? Also, you've reduced the speed of the RAM down to 1600. Does the speed not make that much difference?

I do plan on playing a lot of single player RPG games with lots of loading, so I think the SSD might be worth it. Plus putting the OS on it would make the boot so much faster, wouldn't it?

 

[logainofhades]

That case has 2 fans. http://www.corsair.com/en-us/carbide-series-200r-compact-atx-case . The stock heatsink is fine for a locked i5. You can add a Coolermaster Hyper TX3 if you want a better cooling. Intel is better than AMD. Ram speed doesn't make a difference, and you cut your ram bandwidth in half going one stick vs 2 sticks of ram. SSD would help your load times, significantly. I usually see them as a luxury item, as they don't do anything for FPS.