$8k PC build from Micro Center?

This build is going to be used strictly for gaming.
I also need an IPS monitor.
I don't really see the need for an SSD; a standard HDD should do the job just fine for me.
I have a solid discount at Micro Center, so I’ll be picking everything up there. Because of that, my budget can stretch about 300 $133 extra if needed.
Please suggest a reliable aftermarket cooler and a case with good airflow so I don't have to worry about overheating issues down the road.
I'm not planning on doing any overclocking, but I definitely want this rig to be durable and last me a long time.

Thanks in advance!

Intel option:

1 x ASRock H97-PRO4, s1150, Intel ® H97, 4 x DDR3, 1 x PCI Express
1 x Intel Core i5-4460 (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
2 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingston, 1866MHz, CL10, HyperX Fury, HX318C10F
1 x Gigabyte GTX970 WF3 OC 4GB GDDR5, GV-N970WF3OC, 256 bit,
1 x HDD Seagate 1TB, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, ST1000DM003
1 x SCYTHE katana 3 SCKTN-3000I White Box, 775/1155/1156/1366
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standard
1 x LG 22MP47D-P IPS, 21,5", 16:9, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 250 cd/m2, 5.000.000:1
1 x Napajanje FORTRON 550W Raider, RA550, 12cm ventilator

$2656

You don't really need to go out and buy a beefy aftermarket cooler; the case already comes with three fans, and the CPU will handle itself just fine on the stock cooler, let alone with the katana. Since you aren't planning on overclocking and the i5 fits your budget perfectly, there’s no real reason to look at any AMD FX 8 xxx combos. The only thing I feel is missing from this budget build is an SSD, but since you mentioned you didn't want one, I left it out. Otherwise, you could always squeeze one in by picking a slightly cheaper motherboard or a more budget-friendly power supply, just so you know. 😉

1 x Samsung LS24D590PLX, 23.6" LED, 16:9 (AD-PLS), 1920 x 1080 resolution, D-Sub
1 x Intel Core i5-4460 (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x Asrock B85 ANNIVERSARY - Supports 4th Gen & 5th
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingston, HyperX Fury, 1866MHz, CL10
1 x Gigabyte GF GTX970 G1 GAMING, 4GB GDDR5, DVI, DP, GVN970G14GD-00
1 x SEASONIC 450G Power Supply, SS-450G, Haswell ready, G series
1 x Zalman R1 mid tower case. 192(W) x 465(H) x 450(D)mm.
1 x Seagate 1TB HDD, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, DESKTOP SSHD,8GB SSD

$2795
adm

1 x Gigabyte GA-H97-HD3, s1150, ATX, Intel ® H97 express
1 x Procesor Intel Core i5-4460 (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x DDR3 8GB (2x4GB) Kingston, 1866MHz, CL10, HyperX Fury
1 x Gigabyte GF GTX970 G1 GAMING, 4GB GDDR5, DVI, DP, GVN970G14GD-00
1 x HDD WD 1TB, Caviar Blue 10EZEX, 1000 GB, SATA3,64 MB, 3,5", 24mj
1 x Zalman Z3 mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB standard
1 x LG 23MB35PM-B 23" Wide LED, IPS panel, 1920 x 1080 resolution
1 x Napajanje FORTRON 550W Raider, RA550, 12cm ventilator
1 x SCYTHE katana 3 SCKTN-3000I White Box, 775/1155/1156/1366
$2768

Ryan Hayes82 said:1 x Dell UltraSharp Monitor, 23.6" LED, 16:9 (AD-PLS), 1920x1080, D-Sub
1 x Intel Core i5-4460 (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x Asrock B85 ANNIVERSARY - Supports 4th Gen & 5th
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingston, Kingston Fury, 1866MHz, CL10
1 x Gigabyte GF GTX970 G1 GAMING, 4GB GDDR5, DVI, DP, GVN970G14GD-00
1 x Power Supply SEASONIC 450G, SS-450G, Haswell ready, G series
1 x Zalman R1 mid tower case. 192(W) x 465(H) x 450(D)mm.
1 x HDD Seagate 1TB, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, DESKTOP SSHD,8GB SSD

$2795
adm

👍

Ryan Hayes82 said:1 x Dell UltraSharp Monitor, 23.6" LED, 16:9 (AD-PLS), 1920x1080, D-Sub
1 x Intel Core i5-4460 (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x Asrock B85 ANNIVERSARY - Supports 4th Gen & 5th
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingston, Kingston Fury, 1866MHz, CL10
1 x Gigabyte GF GTX970 G1 GAMING, 4GB GDDR5, DVI, DP, GVN970G14GD-00
1 x Napajanje SEASONIC 450G, SS-450G, Haswell ready, G series
1 x Zalman R1 mid tower case. 192(W) x 465(H) x 450(D)mm.
1 x HDD Seagate 1TB, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, DESKTOP SSHD,8GB SSD

$2795
adm

Why wouldn't you just opt for more RAM, and instead of going with Intel, swap in an AMD build? AMD is significantly cheaper, yet the specs are nearly identical... You could then grab a different motherboard to accommodate the socket, and perhaps squeeze in a slightly better hard drive.

Games don't really care about having more than 8GB of RAM anyway. Just because the specs look similar doesn't mean they actually perform the same; I guess Intel's architecture is just a bit more advanced. You could maybe compare this i5 to an AMD fx8*** series, though you'd probably want a decent motherboard and a separate cooler for it. And if someone needs more storage, they should probably just swap out the hard drive...

cosmichawk51 said:Why wouldn't you just go with more RAM? And instead of an Intel build, why not grab some AMD? AMD is way cheaper, and the specs are basically identical. You could then get a different motherboard to match the socket and maybe even squeeze in some better hardware elsewhere.

I love the enthusiasm you have for learning how to build rigs, really, but before you start handing out "advice," maybe spend some more time reading through threads, studying builds, and checking out reviews on various tech sites. Because honestly, what you're saying is just nonsense.

Ryan Hayes82 said:1 x Dell UltraSharp Monitor, 23.6" LED, 16:9 (AD-PLS), 1920x1080, D-Sub
1 x Intel Core i5-4460 (3.20GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x Asrock B85 ANNIVERSARY - Supports 4th Gen & 5th
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingston, Corsair Vengeance, 1866MHz, CL10
1 x EVGA GeForce GTX 970 G1 GAMING, 4GB GDDR5, DVI, DP, GVN970G14GD-00
1 x Power Supply SEASONIC 450G, SS-450G, Haswell ready, G series
1 x Zalman R1 mid tower case. 192(W) x 465(H) x 450(D)mm.
1 x HDD Seagate 1TB, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, DESKTOP SSHD,8GB SSD

$2795
adm

I really want to thank everyone for taking the time to help me out! I've decided to go ahead with this build. My only lingering doubt is regarding the power supply. I know Seasonic makes great units, but I'm wondering if 450W will actually be enough to sustain this setup reliably over the long run?

This is a top-tier power supply; it delivers incredibly consistent voltage on the +12V rail too.

If you aren't planning on running SLI or similar heavy multi-GPU setups, it'll hold up just fine—though, honestly, it could probably handle an SLI configuration with those specific cards paired with that CPU as well.😬

I’ve heard some talk about power supplies losing their wattage over time, and since I’m planning on keeping this rig running for at least the next three years, I wanted to get your take on it.

The power supply comes with a 5-year warranty, and honestly, its quality is pretty much top-tier... though I guess that doesn't mean much for this class of hardware. It’s really only decent if you're dealing with budget junk, like those cheap '650W' units you see at Best Buy $83 ^^

crimsonstag84 said:The power supply comes with a 5-year warranty, which usually implies high quality. But honestly, for this specific tier of PSU, that guarantee doesn't mean much—it’s mostly just peace of mind for those cheap, generic units, like those questionable '650W' models you see from $83 ^^)

I noticed in your signature that you're running a Seasonic unit too. It really goes to show that it's worth spending an extra $15 or so to get something reliable like that instead of opting for an EVGA or a Corsair

AMD uses Seasonic as their OEM, specifically those older Seasonic units when you're looking at Bronze-rated power supplies or anything in that lower tier. As for Corsair, they go with either Foxconn or Chicony depending on which specific model you're eyeing—they used to use Seasonic back in the day, too—so you definitely can't claim they're a step up in quality.