Building a media pc for around $900

[chusteczka]

... <snip> ...

Are Carson and I missing something here?

We have three separate functionalities with different design requirements.

1. video streaming and playback
2. file storage
3. video editing

Video streaming and file storage do not require high end equipment CPU, motherboard, video, and memory. I suspect a simple AMD APU with a motherboard having an HDMI output would work.

Video editing requires a more powerful CPU, motherboard, video, and memory; similar to a gaming computer.

There is little sense in paying for a high end computer when it will be used as an HTPC. The OP can perform video editing on another more powerful system if he has one.

Can we first clarify the OP's needs?

 

[SadPanda]

I want to be able to do a bit of everything with this desktop (except for gaming) as I only plan to have one computer.
If I don't plan to upgrade for several years...is it best I go with an i7 and 16GB of RAM vs i5 and 8GB of RAM?
I also decided to give OC a shot as Charlie pointed out that it won't necessarily hurt my components too much

 

[SadPanda]

So, my Micro Center location is showing 5 intel processor + mobo combos:

1. MSI Z97-Gaming 5 1150 ATX
2. Gigabyte GA-Z97X Gaming 7 LGA 1150 ATX
3. ASRock Z97X LGA 1150 ATX
4. Asus Maximus VI Hero Socket LGA 1150 ATX
5. Asus Sabertooth Z97 LGA 1150 ATX

http://www.microcenter.com/site/brands/intel-processor-bundles.aspx

They're at the bottom...which should I choose?

 

[mfenn]

So, my Micro Center location is showing 5 intel processor + mobo combos:

1. MSI Z97-Gaming 5 1150 ATX
2. Gigabyte GA-Z97X Gaming 7 LGA 1150 ATX
3. ASRock Z97X LGA 1150 ATX
4. Asus Maximus VI Hero Socket LGA 1150 ATX
5. Asus Sabertooth Z97 LGA 1150 ATX

http://www.microcenter.com/site/brands/intel-processor-bundles.aspx

They're at the bottom...which should I choose?

You can actually bundle the i7 4770K/4790K with any 1150 mobo, it doesn't have to be one of those expensive ones. For your purposes, a less expensive combo like this would be totally fine:

i7 4790K + ASRock Z97 Pro4 combo $340 AR

 

[SadPanda]

You can actually bundle the i7 4770K/4790K with any 1150 mobo, it doesn't have to be one of those expensive ones. For your purposes, a less expensive combo like this would be totally fine:

i7 4790K + ASRock Z97 Pro4 combo $340 AR

Cool, thanks for the info! It'd be nice if they said somewhere on the site that you can choose any mobo you wanted and not one of those...

Just a few more days until I start buying the parts. Which GPU do you guys think I should get?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...4127784&amp;cm_sp=

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...4127783&amp;cm_sp=

Only difference I see is the single fan vs dual fans?

 

[SadPanda]

If I'm OCing for the first time, would it be useful to get a mobo with a dual bios feature in case I mess something up?

 

[mfenn]

Cool, thanks for the info! It'd be nice if they said somewhere on the site that you can choose any mobo you wanted and not one of those...

It'll show the discount when you add them to the cart.

Just a few more days until I start buying the parts. Which GPU do you guys think I should get?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...4127784&amp;cm_sp=

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...4127783&amp;cm_sp=

Only difference I see is the single fan vs dual fans?

Of those two, the Twin Frozr is better because it has a better cooler and clocked slightly higher for a $10 difference.

If I'm OCing for the first time, would it be useful to get a mobo with a dual bios feature in case I mess something up?

Dual BIOS chips are really for recovering from a bad ROM flash and not for recovering from bad settings. Any motherboard can be reset to default settings with the clear CMOS jumper.

 

[SadPanda]

All helpful info mfenn, thanks! I'll go with the Twin Frozr then.