CPU: AMD FX-8320 or FX-8350
Now, these CPUs are very similar. Eight cores, AMD chips, but there are some differences. The biggest one is the frequency. The 8320 runs at 3.5GHz with a boost to 4.0GHz. The 8350 starts at 4.0GHz and boosts to 4.2GHz. This allows the 8350 to be overclocked easier to high frequencies, but at a high price. That being the price, of course. The 8320 is about $60 less depending on where you buy it from. That's a really good price for an eight core, but both of these get my recommendation. The 8320 is for people who want more power while on a budget, and the 8350 is for overclockers galore.
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 or Hyper 212 EVO
These coolers offer you some serious cooling for your buck. The TX3 is $10 cheaper, but that's because it utilizes the AMD motherboard's built in heatsink mount. The Hyper 212 EVO uses Cooler Master's own mounting bracket, which will give it better stability. The decision is mostly if you want to have a good basic cooler without much tampering, or a better cooler where you have to install a lot for yourself.
Motherboard: ASUS M5A97 R2.0
Now I'm not really going to give another option for the mobo because at this price point, there's not much different between them all. I chose this one because it is a 970 Northbridge for decent overclocking and also comes with a heatsink over capacitors left of the CPU. I like that a lot, cause it adds to the longevity of the board, and protects components. You could go with a 990 board, but that's your choice.
GPU: XFX Radeon 7870 2GB or ASUS R9 270 2GB
The XFX is better than the 270 at stock, but when overclocked, the two cards get closer to each other. The 270 may be harder to find, but if you're an ASUS fanboy (like me), you may want to get the ASUS, since it's the DirectCUII. Either way, these cards are great and will kick the crap out of any game you throw at them.
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 8GB DDR3
What else can I say about this RAM that I haven't before? Just buy it when it's cheap, honestly. You'll thank me and yourself.
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB
It's Seagate. They make good stuff. And at the price listed, it's a steal. Seriously, buy it if you just want more space in your current rig.
Optional SSD: Crucial M500 120GB
This is a nice little SSD, so if you want to improve performance, I recommend it. At the PCPP price, it's really good too. It'll improve your boot times and your loading times if you have your major games like Battlefield and Skyrim on it, so if you're a speedfreak, get one. If the extra seconds don't mean much to you, you'll have no problem with just an HDD.
PSU: Corsair CX600M
I have one. It's really nice. Deadly silent. And it's modular. So yea. Get it. Now.
Case: Cougar Volant or Fractal Design Core 3000
If you want a crazy low-rider of a case, get the Cougar Volant. It's pretty cool looking. If you want minimalist design and love the Swedes, get the Fractal Design Core 3000. If you don't like either, get your own case. It's the most subjective piece of the rig.
Optional: Windows 8.1
If you get the cheaper components listed, you'll have enough to get a genuine Windows. I recommend Windows 8.1 since this is a gaming rig. Most games actually run better on Windows 8 because it uses less RAM than Windows 7. But, it's all up to you.
I'm not going to list price because there are so many variables, but you can always change the PCPartPicker components and figure out your price.
I love this build no matter what options we use. Happy Superbowl for the Americans, and happy Football for any Europeans.
Happy gaming to all, though.
Game Recommendation: Game Dev Tycoon
It's essentially Game Dev Story from your phone on your computer. It's amazingly addicting. I've had it for about 4 days and have put 14 hours into it. If you like management games, or even if you like games like Civilization, I highly recommend it.
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