Seeking advice on ~$1000 gaming build

[Beardfish]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.04 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB Nitro Video Card ($198.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Cooler Master VSM 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer H226HQLbid 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($147.99 @ B&H)
Total: $912.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-18 00:25 EDT-0400

I'm looking at a ~$1000 budget including the monitor. I am open to overclocking but thought an unlocked CPU would be easier to fit in the budget.

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[deadrush]

Slighty modified the list and gave you the ability to OC a 4690k, which I personally use now with a 4.4Ghz OC on stock cooler. I also took into account TechNeeeq Opinion on the monitor as well as the PSU change. I personally use the Corsair CXM Series PSU and I find they are very reliable.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 960 4GB Video Card ($207.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS228H-P 21.5" Monitor ($124.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $962.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-18 01:24 EDT-0400

 

[Beardfish]

Looking good... I say, a very nice build... Don't use that PSU though, I recommend the SeaSonic G Series 550-Watt ATX12V/EPS12V PSU.... As for your monitor, I would go with the Asus VS228H-P/VS228 .. It has a better track record and I actually being the owner of one, I can give the recommendation without a doubt.

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely go with your PSU and Monitor recommendations.

Slighty modified the list and gave you the ability to OC a 4690k, which I personally use now with a 4.4Ghz OC on stock cooler. I also took into account TechNeeeq Opinion on the monitor as well as the PSU change. I personally use the Corsair CXM Series PSU and I find they are very reliable.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($79.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 960 4GB Video Card ($207.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS228H-P 21.5" Monitor ($124.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $962.76
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-18 01:24 EDT-0400

Hmm, I definitely have to consider this. I may go with your CPU/Cooler/Mobo selections and leave everything else the same (including TechNeeeQ's recommendations).

 

[deadrush]

That is completely up to you, 4690k is a very stable and reliable CPU to OC with. Overall the changes I made raised the price slightly but greatly increased performance.

 

[Beardfish]

Okay, so I squeezed in the 4690k, air cooler, and a midrange OC mobo.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.49 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($87.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB Nitro Video Card ($198.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: Asus VS228H-P 21.5" Monitor ($124.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $1013.33
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-18 12:51 EDT-0400

By comparison, here is the locked CPU build:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M Anniversary Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB Nitro Video Card ($198.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: Asus VS228H-P 21.5" Monitor ($124.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $920.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-18 12:52 EDT-0400

Do you think it's worth the extra ~$93 for the 4690k OC performance? Or just go with the locked CPU?

 

[Beardfish]

For a PC used for gaming alone and not editing, rendering and running multi threaded programs, then it is not worth it going for the overclocked version... The Intel Core i5-4460 will do well enough.

Okay, thanks for the feedback. I'll stick with the i5-4460.

 

[Beardfish]

No problem......

Remember to choose a best answer..

Umm I don't think I can... I think I chose the "Discussion" option when making the thread. Sorry!

 

[Beardfish]

Now I'm starting to think a skylake build would be a better idea... that way the mobo/ram stay useful for future upgrades...
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ B&H)
Motherboard: ASRock H170 Pro4S ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 4GB Nitro Video Card ($198.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: Asus VS228H-P 21.5" Monitor ($124.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $968.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-18 18:00 EDT-0400

How does this look?