Feedback on a PC build I made for a mid-priced system

5200north

Any feedback from you guys would be appreciated. This is a bit more than Inc should spend but my current PC is ancient and I would love to try and build a new system myself. I plan o using my current hard drive for storage. 

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kP9vwP
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kP9vwP/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD A10-6800K 4.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($121.89 @ OutletPC) 
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($59.99 @ Amazon) 
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste  ($5.93 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($68.89 @ OutletPC) 
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($74.88 @ OutletPC) 
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($149.45 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 960 4GB Video Card  ($194.99 @ Micro Center) 
Case: NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($67.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($74.88 @ Newegg) 
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF140 Red 66.4 CFM 140mm  Fan  ($12.24 @ Amazon) 
Total: $851.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-26 04:03 EDT-0400Czech

StratDragon

if you're not OC'ing the aftermarket CPU the cooler is $60.00 you could throw at a better CPU or GPU, especially if you are GPU rendering, your CPU is not going to be stretched to the point of failure with the stock fan

 

hphoenix

Have to agree with StratDragon.  Drop the aftermarket CPU fan, and boost the GPU to a GTX970.  Should put your price right around $900.  Going to a 980Ti would be even better, but would up your price by at least another $250 (beyond the 970 price.)

Also, consider changing to a AMD FX 8350 CPU (and a matching AM3+ motherboard).  Double the cores, same clock speed, only about $25 more.  The A-series CPUs have built-in Radeon graphics, which is a useless feature when you'll be running an nVidia GPU.  Radeon and nVidia drivers do NOT like each other.

 

5200north

I've used the suggestions made and added them to my list (the FX 8370 i chose includes a CPU cooler). 

I'm choosing the cases based upon what works with the parts i've selected and whatever happens to look good to me at the moment (i like orange)

I haven't figured out if i can afford a new SSD (500GB seems like the smallest i should get) or use the HD i have in my current PC 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sKx4FT
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sKx4FT/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8370 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor  ($199.99 @ Amazon) 
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste  ($5.88 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($118.99 @ Amazon) 
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($57.99 @ Adorama) 
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($299.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Corsair Graphite Series 230T Orange ATX Mid Tower Case  ($59.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.88 @ Newegg) 
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 
Total: $827.70
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-02 23:19 EDT-0400

hphoenix

5200north said:

I've used the suggestions made and added them to my list (the FX 8370 i chose includes a CPU cooler). 

I'm choosing the cases based upon what works with the parts i've selected and whatever happens to look good to me at the moment (i like orange)

I haven't figured out if i can afford a new SSD (500GB seems like the smallest i should get) or use the HD i have in my current PC 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sKx4FT
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sKx4FT/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-8370 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor  ($199.99 @ Amazon) 
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste  ($5.88 @ OutletPC) 
Motherboard: Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard  ($118.99 @ Amazon) 
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($57.99 @ Adorama) 
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB WINDFORCE Video Card  ($299.99 @ Newegg) 
Case: Corsair Graphite Series 230T Orange ATX Mid Tower Case  ($59.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: Corsair CX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($64.88 @ Newegg) 
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 
Total: $827.70
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-02 23:19 EDT-0400

Looks good for the most part.  Not sure if the particular 8370 CPU you have (that comes with the Wraith Cooler) will need the separate thermal paste.  Most OEM fans come with phase-change pads already in place (which are fine if you aren't planning on serious OCing the CPU.)  Better to have it and not need it.  And you'll want some around later anyway, if the CPU starts having heating issues and you need to re-seat the CPU.

Personally, I'd get a smaller (240-256GB) SSD and also use your existing HDD.  Use the SSD as your boot drive, holding only your OS, and frequently used utilities (7zip, notepad++, whatever) and use the HDD for programs and storage.  Makes the machine boot VERY fast, keeps plenty of space available on the boot drive.  Make sure to install DS to the HDD, and point it and DIM to use the HDD for storing content.  Some minor stuff may still go on the boot drive (some plugins and such) but those take up fairly small amounts of space.