First Time Build Looking For Suggestions

[GenericAssassin]

I'm looking to build a PC for the first time within the next few weeks.  I got a list of parts within my budget here, but I am looking for suggestions on how to improve. The primary purpose of this PC will be gaming, but I will need it to be multipurpose as I like to draw and animate as a hobby.  Thanks in advance for any suggestions.  

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/k7hXWZ

Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  

Corsair H55 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler 

Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste 

Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  

Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory --changed to G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory

Sandisk Solid State Drive 64GB 2.5" Solid State DriveC-- changed to Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive 

Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive   

MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card 

Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case 

Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply 

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer  

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (64-bit)  

Asus VX238H 23.0" Monitor  

Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card --If anyone knows a cheaper one with an optical 5.1 output please tell.

3X Cooler Master SickleFlow 69.7 CFM 120mm  Fan 

Logitech S120 2.3W 2ch Speakers

 

Total: $1265.81

Edited February 21, 2015 by GenericAssassin

[Will Barnard]

Cannot fault that build. Well balanced and perfect for what you'll use it for

[DimasRMDO]

Nothing's wrong for me, nice build!

[CriticalTrees]

Nothing wrong with the build, but if your animating, try 16GB of RAM. Not really necessary but might help. 

[brob]

A few suggestions.

• No need for thermal paste. The cpu cooler has a pre-applied pad of compound on the cooler interface plate.
• Less expensive memory. Good quality and specs. G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
• A larger ssd. They are not that much more expensive and totally worth it. Besides, the memory saving pays for it. Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
• Drop the extra fans. With the radiator mounted on the rear exhaust and the stock front intake fan there should be sufficient air flow through the case to cool the components.

I noticed a ps2 kbd to usb adapter. The motherboard does have a ps2 mouse/keyboard port. So if you have a usb mouse there is no need for the adapter.

[Imakuni]

 

I'm looking to build a PC for the first time within the next few weeks.  I got a list of parts within my budget here, but I am looking for suggestions on how to improve. The primary purpose of this PC will be gaming, but I will need it to be multipurpose as I like to draw and animate as a hobby.  Thanks in advance for any suggestions.  

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/k7hXWZ

Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  

Corsair H55 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler 

Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste 

Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  

Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory 

Sandisk Solid State Drive 64GB 2.5" Solid State DriveC  

Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive   

MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card 

Corsair SPEC-02 ATX Mid Tower Case 

Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply 

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer  

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (64-bit)  

Asus VX238H 23.0" Monitor  

Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card --If anyone knows a cheaper one with an optical 5.1 output please tell.

3X Cooler Master SickleFlow 69.7 CFM 120mm  Fan 

Logitech S120 2.3W 2ch Speakers

 

Total: $1265.81

 

It seems very good, but there are a few improvements we could make. Namely, the CPU cooler. It's either the 212 (for low cost) or a dual fan radiator. Those single fan AIOs aren't worth the money, you either stand up and get a super beefy liquid cooler for an actual gain, or just stick with the king 212.

 

Oh and the GPU. Assuming the prices are the same as US ("where I live.."), the Asus strix is a much better option for your money.

[brob]

It seems very good, but there are a few improvements we could make. Namely, the CPU cooler. It's either the 212 (for low cost) or a dual fan radiator. Those single fan AIOs aren't worth the money, you either stand up and get a super beefy liquid cooler for an actual gain, or just stick with the king 212.

 

Oh and the GPU. Assuming the prices are the same as US ("where I live.."), the Asus strix is a much better option for your money.

 

Unfortunately the Hyper 212 EVO will not fit in the case.

[Imakuni]

Unfortunately the Hyper 212 EVO will not fit in the case.

Touche. I didn't check out for that.

[GenericAssassin]

A few suggestions.

• No need for thermal paste. The cpu cooler has a pre-applied pad of compound on the cooler interface plate.
• Less expensive memory. Good quality and specs. G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
• A larger ssd. They are not that much more expensive and totally worth it. Besides, the memory saving pays for it. Crucial MX100 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
• Drop the extra fans. With the radiator mounted on the rear exhaust and the stock front intake fan there should be sufficient air flow through the case to cool the components.

I noticed a ps2 kbd to usb adapter. The motherboard does have a ps2 mouse/keyboard port. So if you have a usb mouse there is no need for the adapter.

 

The Arctic 5 paste is relatively cheap and a friend of mine got 5-7 degree decreases in temperature after switching to it from the stock paste.  SSD and ram have been swapped.  Ps2 adapter is removed now.  I'll be using an Ibm keyboard but the original motherboard I chose didn't have a ps2 port.  As for the fans they are coming in 3 packs for $5 at a local electronics store, I just have them on my pcpartpicker list for the sake of organization.  Its a pretty good deal so I'll just get them for looks and additional airflow. 

[GenericAssassin]

It seems very good, but there are a few improvements we could make. Namely, the CPU cooler. It's either the 212 (for low cost) or a dual fan radiator. Those single fan AIOs aren't worth the money, you either stand up and get a super beefy liquid cooler for an actual gain, or just stick with the king 212.

 

Oh and the GPU. Assuming the prices are the same as US ("where I live.."), the Asus strix is a much better option for your money.

Changed the case so I could use the 212.  I like how this one looks a bit better and it almost balances out with the decrease in cooler cost.