Need help picking parts for a new build

So, I’ve finally decided to pull the trigger on an Intel Core i5-4670K paired with an ASUS Z87-A motherboard—pretty excited about that! I haven't actually picked out a graphics card yet, mostly because my wallet is feeling a little light right now, so I'll just be relying on the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600 for the time being. Does anyone have any recommendations for a solid power supply that would fit this setup? Ideally, I'd want something reliable enough that I can upgrade to a much beefier GPU down the road without having to swap everything out again. Thanks!

This is a solid power supply for high-end graphics cards—plus, you get a 5-year warranty. Dice is definitely the better way to go here. 🙂

EDIT: I just took another look at your post... the Intel Core i5-4670K is a great processor, but if you haven't pulled the trigger yet, you might want to consider stepping up to the Intel Core i5-4690K paired with a Z97 motherboard. Honestly, the prices are pretty much neck and neck anyway.

Here’s my take. I figured you don't have a cooler for that CPU yet, so I included one. Also, I picked a power supply with plenty of headroom for any GPU, even if it isn't pinned at full load.

1 x Intel Core i5-4690K Processor (3.50GHz,1MB,6MB,88 W,1150) Box
1 x Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 3, s1150, ATX, Intel Z97 Express
1 x Thermaltake Contac 39, Intel Socket LGA 2011
1 x XFX Core Edition 80 650W PSU, Warranty: 5 years

Total:$1240 Free shipping via Amazon!

That’s a bit of a bummer—I actually already picked up the motherboard. Now I'm sitting here wondering how that 4690K is going to behave on this specific board... also, does anyone happen to know how much of a jump I'll really get moving from the Intel Core i5-4670 to the 4690K? And, on the flip side, how much of a step down would it be if I went with the Intel Core i7-4770 instead?

Douglas Bennett said:It’s a waste since I already bought the motherboard. I have no idea if that 4690K will even work on it. Can anyone tell me how much better it actually is compared to the Intel Core i5-4670, and how much worse it is than an i7-4770k?

It’s not just about the gap between the Intel Core i5-4670 and the Intel Core i5-4690K. It’s about the board itself. Having the 9 chipset instead of the 8 gives you more perks, like being able to eventually jump to Broadwell processors if you need to down the road... but honestly, you missed the mark even with this one.😉

Exactly—if you’re planning on upgrading to Broadwell processors down the road, you'll end up needing a new motherboard anyway.. I'm actually running an Intel Core i5-4670K paired with a Gigabyte Z87 HD3 right now, and honestly, it works like a charm. 👍

Let’s be honest: nobody in their right mind is going to bother with that specific upgrade if we're just comparing CPUs within the same class. For instance, why would anyone swap out a Devil's Canyon i5 K for an i5 K Broadwell? It doesn't make sense. Now, if someone starts with a Celeron or a Pentium on a Z97 board and eventually jumps up to an i7 K—that's a legitimate upgrade path. But swapping one i5 for another? If you're a gamer, you aren't touching that for years to come.

Can someone help me out? I'm trying to figure out the actual difference between the Z87-A and the Z87-K. I'm a little worried I might be making a mistake if I go with the K version—the guy at the store told me it doesn't have a DisplayPort, which honestly left me pretty confused. Does that mean I won't get any video on my monitor? I'm planning to use the Intel HD Graphics 4600 integrated into my Intel Core i5-4670K, so I really need to know if I'll actually see an image. I thought this page said it had a DisplayPort http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z87K/
Could you guys explain this to me? I’d love to know if it's even worth picking up the K model or if there's a big enough difference to justify the choice.

😬

It doesn't really matter; the boards have DVI, VGA, and HDMI, so you shouldn't run into any issues.

EDIT: The Z87-A might be better if you're looking to overclock.

crimsonstag84 said:😬

It doesn't really matter—the boards come with DVI, VGA, and HDMI ports, so you won't have any issues there.

EDIT: Honestly, the Z87-A is probably the better bet if you're looking to overclock.

So, if I pick up a processor with integrated graphics, I'll be able to get an image on my monitor without needing a dedicated graphics card? I know the "a" version is technically superior, but it's out of stock at this shop right now... also, how big is the actual difference in overclocking potential between those two?

As Smart mentioned, don't sweat it if you don't see a DisplayPort on the board—you've still got DVI, VGA, and HDMI inputs. Pretty much any monitor out there carries those, especially the DVI and VGA ones, so you'll get an image without any trouble. Since you're planning on picking up an i5 4670, you'll have that Intel Core graphics built right into the processor anyway, so you're all set...