I want to attempt to build my first gaming pc, where should I begin?

[Sara_18]

After so many years of being a console gamer, I want to finally venture into the world of PC gaming. The type of games I tend to play are either RPG games such as Mass Effect, Dragon's Age. or open world titles such as Saints Row, and Fallout 4. Maybe the occasional point and click game I find for a good deal on Steam. I want to make a PC that will play games at 1080p at 60 fps, nothing too crazy. The only other tasks I might perform on this computer are surfing the web, watching videos on streaming sites such as YouTube and Netflix. I want to keep the budget at least 1000, if I could find the parts for cheap that would be wonderful. Where should I start? And what would you suggest?

 

[Kevin Fox]

Here you go, as you wished, this computer will run lots of games in 1080p60fps, and as well as surfing the web and watching videos on streaming sites such as YouTube, Twitch, and Netflix.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6n6DBm
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/6n6DBm/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.99 @ Best Buy)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($329.99 @ B&H)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.78 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($87.95 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Belkin F9L1001 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($8.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1008.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-28 00:24 EST-0500

 

[okcnaline]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($183.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG M9i 48.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($25.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A GAMING M5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($152.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($58.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($329.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($87.95 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VX228H 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($111.98 @ Newegg)
Keyboard: Corsair STRAFE RGB Wired Gaming Keyboard ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1350.59
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-28 00:47 EST-0500

Or another option is just do something similar to console gaming: you're still playing with keyboard and mouse, but what if you simply plugged into a TV?
How about this small box?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($226.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS7000V(AL)-1-PWM CPU Cooler ($9.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($41.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($67.44 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($48.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($307.49 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone RVZ01B Mini ITX Desktop Case ($78.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Silverstone 600W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply ($117.99 @ Directron)
Keyboard: Corsair STRAFE RGB Wired Gaming Keyboard ($139.99 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Logitech G502 Wired Optical Mouse ($49.99 @ Best Buy)
Total: $1179.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-28 01:04 EST-0500