degutter29Windows 8 is really, really bad. I'd go with Windows 7 if I were you.

I hope your not reffering to 8.1, cuz most ppl who say that just do cuz some other ppl did, who most likely didnt even try it or looked up testresults. Windows 8.1 might have a bit of a strange startscreen, but in test it has proven to have better overall preformance than windows 7, and that includes many many games. So yes the touch stuff isnt ideal (though you can fix that) but preformance wise its definately an improvement on 7!


As for the pc:
Nice picks, just one tip. Unles you want 32gb of ram eventually, get 2 4gb sticks instead of 1 8gb. If you use 2 memory chanels(believe thats the english term) instead of 1it will work faster/better

I would suggest i7-3770K for a processor. $330 at Newegg but im not sure about pcpartpicker.

The best you can get for 1500$. Drop to a 770 if you are only on one monitor or at 1080p.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.88 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($63.75 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($88.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card ($699.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z11 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX750B BRONZE 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1509.53
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-13 22:27 EST-0500)

Micro ATX? I wouldn't get a micro if i were you. Better Power supply. Better CPU then you are golden

Okay, after making some changes here's what it is: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2AUpq

I am going to use Windows 8 because I have it currently and I like it.

Windows 7 and i5 3570k

homeskooler24

Zemor

degutter29Windows 8 is really, really bad..

I'm running Windows 8. It isn't bad. Sure, the Start screen is annoying, but I'm using ClassicShell anyway, which can hide it.

@OP: Get something like i5 4670k. That processor is right around the i5- 760's price, yet the 4670k is far better. Also, get a better PSU. I wouldn't be comfortable running a 770 on a 400w PSU. Get a 600w or a very good 500-550w.

What tasks do you plan on doing with the PC?

I'll be doing mostly Steam games, surfing the web, Youtube videos and such. Would an i5 be better than an i7 for me since I wouldn't be doing any rendering or 3D modeling?

Yeah, an i7 would be good for rendering, editing, etc. Not necessary for gaming though.

Lancet13
I don't remember what's exclusive to the i7...

Hyperthreading.

I remember back in the day (2010-ish) when most, if not all Core i3/i5/i7 CPUs had both Turbo Boost and hyperthreading. The i5-480M in my laptop has both, thankfully.

Circuit Craft
Yes, i5 is good for gaming, i7 is good for creative work, like 3D modeling and video editing, since it has hyper-threading, which games don't use but may use in the future.

If I remember quite right, all Intel processors from the i3 and up all have hyper threading (I remember clearly enabling hyperthreading on my i3 3225 Processor in the past).

Intel i5 and higher have the turbo boost feature.

I don't remember what's exclusive to the i7...

homeskooler24

Zemor

degutter29Windows 8 is really, really bad..

I'm running Windows 8. It isn't bad. Sure, the Start screen is annoying, but I'm using ClassicShell anyway, which can hide it.

@OP: Get something like i5 4670k. That processor is right around the i5- 760's price, yet the 4670k is far better. Also, get a better PSU. I wouldn't be comfortable running a 770 on a 400w PSU. Get a 600w or a very good 500-550w.

What tasks do you plan on doing with the PC?

I'll be doing mostly Steam games, surfing the web, Youtube videos and such. Would an i5 be better than an i7 for me since I wouldn't be doing any rendering or 3D modeling?

Yes, i5 is good for gaming, i7 is good for creative work, like 3D modeling and video editing, since it has hyper-threading, which games don't use but may use in the future.

Zemor

degutter29Windows 8 is really, really bad..

I'm running Windows 8. It isn't bad. Sure, the Start screen is annoying, but I'm using ClassicShell anyway, which can hide it.

@OP: Get something like i5 4670k. That processor is right around the i5- 760's price, yet the 4670k is far better. Also, get a better PSU. I wouldn't be comfortable running a 770 on a 400w PSU. Get a 600w or a very good 500-550w.

What tasks do you plan on doing with the PC?

I'll be doing mostly Steam games, surfing the web, Youtube videos and such. Would an i5 be better than an i7 for me since I wouldn't be doing any rendering or 3D modeling?

Windows 8.1 is great for me, and I use the start screen a lot, I get better FPS when I run games on it anyway.

You won't need a CPU cooler unless you're overclocking, the stock one works just fine. I wouldn't recommend getting Cougar, try getting a Corsair, Cooler Master, Fractal Design, or NZXT. Also usually, the power supplies bundled with cases are bad. Your hard drive is slow, get a SSD or a 7200RPM, and Samsung doesn't make good HDDs, only SSDs. And I would get this video card: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/pny-video- ... x7702xpboc (higher clock, lower price). The RAM is pretty good.

degutter29Windows 8 is really, really bad.

Windows 8 is appealing to me on devices that support touch input.

I use it on my Acer Iconia W500 (one of the first Windows hybrid tablets before Windows 8 was a thing), and I like it.

Other than that, I like to use it on my desktop. It's a personal preference really.

So if the person building a new computer wants to shell $400 for a touchscreen monitor, I'd say go for Windows 8.

degutter29Windows 8 is really, really bad..

I'm running Windows 8. It isn't bad. Sure, the Start screen is annoying, but I'm using ClassicShell anyway, which can hide it.

@OP: Get something like i5 4670k. That processor is right around the i5- 760's price, yet the 4670k is far better. Also, get a better PSU. I wouldn't be comfortable running a 770 on a 400w PSU. Get a 600w or a very good 500-550w.

What tasks do you plan on doing with the PC?

Windows 8 is really, really bad. I'd go with Windows 7 if I were you. That processor is really slow too for how much it is. I spent $330 on a i7 unlocked 4th generation and it can go up to 5ghz overclocked. You can do whatever you want, but for a few extra hundred you can get a nice mobo and processor. And then later invest in water cooling.