Build Help Need Critique/Suggestions/Improvements

[Edon13]

My current computer is restarting by itself so I was hoping to build a new one as a X-Mas gift to myself. I don't really know what I'm doing but have been browsing this forum for the last month or so. In theory and based on the posts, it seems like it would be fun and I figured I'd try it.

My new computer would be for gaming (FPS and I want to try Shadow or Mordor but my current computer can't play it) and other lighter computer duties (spreadsheets, reports, web browsing, email). Budget would be around $1000 US but I can increase it if needed.

I went to a number of computer component suggestion websites that gave me some suggestions that I started with. Can someone look over what I've picked out and critique it, maybe pick out some better or cheaper parts? The list isn't done yet and I don't need keyboard/mouse/monitor.

I'm trying to go for a black/white theme, is there a website where I can search parts by color as an option?

I've been reading up on video cards and it seems like the R9 series was the way to go until the GTX 970 series came out. Can anyone suggest a decent GTX 970 in either white or black?

Thanks for reading and help!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.94 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($126.00 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.64 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT H440 (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $709.53
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-16 12:53 EST-0500

 

[Ken g6]

No, I don't know how to search for internal components based on color. I think it's really rare that people try for an internal color scheme, so it's going to be at least somewhat more expensive. You can type the keywords "black" and "white" in, and sometimes that helps.

I selected cheaper RAM and a different PSU to try to reign in your budget. But I think you need an SSD, and that wasn't enough to fit a GTX 970 in anything close to your budget, so I picked an R9 290 instead.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.94 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($126.00 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($76.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($69.93 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.67 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: *XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT H440 (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1016.47
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-16 14:15 EST-0500

There's a white version of that RAM for a few more bucks, still less than your RAM.

Edit: P.S. I think you can peel the sticker off the MX100 to make it look white-ish.

 

[Edon13]

Ken g6,

Thank you for your reply, I've updated my list to include the white ram and the more powerful PSU.

I wasn't planning on overclocking and was reading that the "K" identifier on the CPU I selected means that it was an overclockable CPU.

Would it be worth it to get the regular i5 4690 saving me $20-30 and then using the stock cooler saving another $30 from the 212 EVO or would the performance suffer greatly?

I've never used an SSD but I saw that you added one, from what I've read SSD improves the load time for programs installed on it.

I can add another $200 to the budget if necessary for the GTX 970.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.94 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($126.00 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Fury White Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.67 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($355.91 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT H440 (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1045.47
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-16 16:28 EST-0500

 

[mfenn]

It's borderline criminal to build a $1000 PC and not include an SSD. You're absolutely completely handicapping your new parts by sticking to a solely HDD-based setup. The purpose of an SSD is indeed to make things load quicker. That may not sound like a big deal, but it is. Your shiny $230 CPU is probably ~50% faster than your old CPU. Your super-nice $330 GTX 970 is perhaps 100% faster than your old GPU. However, even a fairly pedestrian $70 SSD like the one Ken recommended is over 1000% (over 10 times) faster than your HDD. It's the best bang-for-the-buck upgrade that you can make, bar none.

It's one of those cases where you don't notice how long it takes to open things on your current PC, but when you use an SSD you will be astonished that you ever managed to use a slow HDD for as long as you did.

Looking at your current build, most of what you have is reasonable (given the color constraints), but the GTX 970 just doesn't make sense at $355. It's a nice card, but it's not a good value compared to the R9 290(X). It's an especially bad value when you consider that it is preventing you from getting an SSD.

Here's what I would change:

- GPU: XFX R9 290 4GB $260 AR (white and back)
- Case: NXZT Phantom 410 White $70 AR
- SSD : Crucial MX100 256GB $100 AP

 

[OlyAR15]

It's one of those cases where you don't notice how long it takes to open things on your current PC, but when you use an SSD you will be astonished that you ever managed to use a slow HDD for as long as you did.

x2

It gets even worse when, after you have gotten used to a system with an SSD, you go back and use a system with a mechanical drive. Every time I have to do that, I keep thinking that the PC has locked up because it takes so long to start programs and load files.

 

[Essence_of_War]

I'm trying to go for a black/white theme, is there a website where I can search parts by color as an option?

Everyone else has given you good practical advice. If I may offer a bit of aesthetic advice, at least with regards to B/W themed CPU cooler choice

Scythe Ashura Shadow
be Quiet Dark Rock 3
Phanteks B/W themed 120mm
Phanteks B/W themed 140mm
Phanteks W themed 140mm

Some of these are a bit expensive, but they're all functional. You're not trading off cooling performance for aesthetics.

Alternatively, the ACFZ i30 has a nice black trim with a white fan and is an excellent, inexpensive cooler. I'd pick it over the Evo if it's within $5 or so (and on amazon, it currently is!).

 

[Cerb]

Silverstone and Fractal Design, on top of what's been mentioned, make nice white cases. Bitfenix has a couple, too.

Black or white RAM, cheaper than in OP:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...46&ignorebbr=1