~$1500 build for gaming

[zvvl]

No plans for streaming. Already have storage drives. Keeping the CPU cooler (may get a cheaper one) as a closed loop liquid system... quieter and imo functions better.

Only part I'm sort of concerned about in this build is the Motherboard. I am running wireless now and need one with a wireless chip... that one has it but not sure how it is otherwise. A friend recommended it and just wanted a second opinion.

Updated:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($267.48 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($90.93 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-PRO(Wi-Fi ac) ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($203.28 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($86.57 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($117.68 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card ($363.25 @ Amazon)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($106.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($91.63 @ Newegg)
Total: $1327.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-12 15:37 EST-0500

[Kagthul]

Ill ask the same question i always ask:

Are you anywhere near (within 45-60 minutes) of a physical Microcenter location?

[Deleted]

Get the i5-4690K $215, you're not streaming or rendering a lot.

Switch the SSD to this Crucial MX100 256GB $105, 840 EVO has had firmware issue. This is cheaper and really reliable.

Get a cheaper motherboard and just get a wireless card separately. Asus Z97-A $135

Wi-Fi: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I with ac

As for the GPU I'd pick up one of these 3 instead:

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB GAMING
Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0

[Deleted]

i would reccomend a tower from bequiet.
the Silent Base 800 is just awesome (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/be-quiet-case-bg001)

it is realy well thought out to maximize airflow while reducing noise. it works great and looks good too.
its right on your mark with 99$ too.

[zvvl]

Ill ask the same question i always ask:

Are you anywhere near (within 45-60 minutes) of a physical Microcenter location?

Yes, there are two within driving distance of me. I set my retailers to Amazon, Newegg and Microcenter only because those are the only 3 I really trust.

Get the i5-4690K $215, you're not streaming or rendering a lot.

Switch the SSD to this Crucial MX100 256GB $105, 840 EVO has had firmware issue. This is cheaper and really reliable.

Get a cheaper motherboard and just get a wireless card separately. Asus Z97-A $135

Wi-Fi: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I with ac

As for the GPU I'd pick up one of these 3 instead:

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB GAMING
Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0

The i7 is like $50 more than that i5 from Microcenter (dunno why PC Part Picker is using the Amazon price) so I was going to go with that... just because.

Thanks for the SSD suggestion. Switched it out.
Do you have a motherboard with a AC to suggest? I've honestly had nothing but bad experience with separate WiFi cards.
Any reason for those GPUs? Better cooling?

[Kagthul]

Stick with the i7 if you want - if you physically go into the store, the i7 is 249$, and at some locations (up to the manager; the one near me is doing this promo) it is 199$. Also, if you physically go into the store, you get 40$ off the MoBo if you buy it with the CPU, and if you dont mind switching to Crucial memory, 10-20$ off of the RAM when bought with a MoBo.

I recommend the EVGA ACX 2.0 because of the cooler - but dont waste your cash on the "Superclocked" version - the regular, 339$ ACX 2.0 model can be overclocked easily to match the Superclocked version for no extra money.

[NickCageFanatic]

To be completely honest with you. You are throwing a lot of money at this machine so I don't see why other than paranoia as to why you'd be iffy about a motherboard.
The motherboard itself isn't going to impact any sort of game play, video rendering, 3d modeling, etc...Again you are throwing a lot of money at this machine so you need not worry about performance of the motherboard's wireless capabilities. Worst case scenario is you need some other part. I don't see why it's all that bad...again you are already dumping $1,300 into this thing what's another $100??

[Deleted]

The i7 is like $50 more than that i5 from Microcenter (dunno why PC Part Picker is using the Amazon price) so I was going to go with that... just because.

Thanks for the SSD suggestion. Switched it out.
Do you have a motherboard with a AC to suggest? I've honestly had nothing but bad experience with separate WiFi cards.
Any reason for those GPUs? Better cooling?

Yeah having access to Microcenter changes things, make it much cheaper. It's still "wasted" money but much less than before.

Which Microcenter is it? I'd just look for one of the bundles, friend of mine bought the bundles with Asus Z97-AR last week, very happy with it. I'd still recommend just getting a separate card for wi-fi, when you're getting a quality one there is no reason you'd have any issues with it.

Those GPU's are just the top end (or near) of the respective brands, not a huge difference but then again the price difference isn't that much.

I recommend the EVGA ACX 2.0 because of the cooler - but dont waste your cash on the "Superclocked" version - the regular, 339$ ACX 2.0 model can be overclocked easily to match the Superclocked version for no extra money.

Out of stock, the top end card are usually available.

[zvvl]

Yeah having access to Microcenter changes things, make it much cheaper. It's still "wasted" money but much less than before.

Which Microcenter is it? I'd just look for one of the bundles, friend of mine bought the bundles with Asus Z97-AR last week, very happy with it. I'd still recommend just getting a separate card for wi-fi, when you're getting a quality one there is no reason you'd have any issues with it.

The two near me are:
Philadelphia/St. Davids
and
North Jersey/Paterson
Either works but the Philadelphia preferred.

I see the Z97-AR and 4790K as a bundle for $350 which is a pretty good price, I think.

if you dont mind switching to Crucial memory, 10-20$ off of the RAM when bought with a MoBo.

RAM brand is irrelevant to me, I don't see the bundle online. In-store only?

[Deleted]

I see the Z97-AR and 4790K as a bundle for $350 which is a pretty good price, I think.

Yeah that's a really good deal, I'd go with that. The AR over the A is just silver instead of gold aesthetics and different connections for onboard graphics. Microcenter will price match btw, like the SSD.

As for RAM:

Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 CAS 8 $68

[zvvl]

Alright, going to be pulling the trigger on the build this weekend or so. I lowered my budget down to $1200 (can go over or under a bit, nbd) and this is what I have:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($267.48 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($80.23 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-AR ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($165.44 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($86.57 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($112.33 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card ($353.78 @ Newegg)
Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro ATX Full Tower Case ($106.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($93.30 @ Newegg)
Total: $1266.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-26 15:22 EST-0500

Bundling the CPU + Mobo on Microcenter knocks about $40 off the price.

[Deleted]

Slightly cheaper, better specs (on the CAS 8)

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 CAS 8
G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 CAS 9

$60 on the PSU after rebate

Good luck

[Deleted]

Some minor modifications to your list:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($299.98 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool LUCIFER 81.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus Z97-AR ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($154.95 @ Amazon)
Memory: Mushkin Redline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($63.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE 3X Video Card ($329.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1138.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-12-27 03:47 EST-0500

Comes to $1200 before discounts/rebates, with minimal performance change. By all means, fire your build off, these are just sugestions, and the Lucifer from DeepCool is just amazing for the price. Not as aesthetic as the Noctua NH-D15 or the beQuiet! Dark Rock 2, but it competes with the h100i and the H90 in terms of temps.

[zvvl]

Finished the build, just went to Microcenter and got everything there so selection was slightly limited. But got pretty much everything.

i7 4790K
Corsair h80i
MSI Z97 Gaming 5
Crucial Ballistix 8GB DDR3 1866
Emtec (rofl what fucking brand is this?) SSD 240gb - they were out of Crucial and this had same specs so w/e
Gigabyte GTX970 Windforce
NZXT H440
EVGA SupernOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold

Total came out to like $1300 with tax then I have some rebates to send back.

Thanks for all the help. <3

[Deleted]

Emtec (rofl what fucking brand is this?) SSD 240gb - they were out of Crucial and this had same specs so w/e

Not sure I would have settled for that but hey if it works all good. Not exactly same specs, completely different controller which I honestly don't know much about. I think the brand is only at Microcenter.

[zvvl]

Not sure I would have settled for that but hey if it works all good. Not exactly same specs, completely different controller which I honestly don't know much about. I think the brand is only at Microcenter.

Yeah, if there are any issues with it he (store associate) said I can just bring it back and they'll get me a refund so I can pick up a new one. But hopefully no issues occur.

[Deleted]

I'd return the ssd while its still new, just because...and get money back.