Need Advice on First Build (yay!)

[plutoclacks]

Hey everyone!
This is my first post! A friend recommended that I post this question on the Anandtech Forums for expert advice.
So my situation is that I want to build a new computer to replace my 6 year old laptop (this will be my first build). My budget is $550 excluding the monitor, OS, KB+M, and other peripherals. I'll mostly be using the computer for gaming (i.e. CoD4, a couple older games, maybe some of the Never Settle Bundle games if there are any left?), scripting in Wolfram Mathematica (a statistical programming interface similar to Matlab), and editing video.
I just finished choosing the parts, what do you guys think? I'll probably be ordering sometime this week

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1d3sA
CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus B85M-E/CSM Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair XMS 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Microcenter)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7790 1GB Video Card (Purchased For $99.99)
Case: Apex Vortex 3620 ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $529.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-03 21:59 EDT-0400)

Since this is my first build, I had some questions. I am particularly concerned about temperature. Will I need to buy any aftermarket coolers? I don't plan on overclocking (and I don't think OC is unlocked anyways on the Haswell card I chose).

I am also concerned about the motherboard, as there are no reviews yet for most Haswell mobos. Is my motherboard compatible with my parts (i.e. BIOS, sockets, chipsets)? Will it fail? I'm purposely buying my motherboard from Microcenter, since they have a brick and mortar store down my block. It seems to me that motherboards are the most failure-prone PC parts.

Speaking of the motherboard, PC Part Picker generated a warning along the lines of: "the motherboard has an onboard USB 3.0 header, but the case does not have front panel USB 3.0 ports." Is that okay, and will my PC still work?

Also, for the RAM, I only have one stick of 8gb ram, but I also read somewhere that you need two sticks of RAM to run in "dual channel mode." Do you guys think I should buy 2 sticks of 4gb instead of 1 stick of 8gb?

Lastly, I had some concerns about my power supply. Will my power supply be able to handle the wattage of my parts? Will it work with haswell (I read somewhere that older PSUs do not work with Haswell processors due to low idling wattages)?

Sorry for the question bombardment and thanks again for all you guys' help! Hopefully this computer will last me another six years :-D

Cheers!
pluto

 

[DSF]

Not having USB 3.0 on the case won't stop the computer from working, you just won't get to use front panel USB 3.0.

If you want a case that has it, the Corsair 300R is $50 after rebate, which just barely squeezes into your budget:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139011

 

[Cerb]

Are you physically near Microcenter? The CPU prices are in-store only, so that's a huge cost issue.

Cooling: fine.
Compatibility: fine.
RAM: RAM-limited software will run faster with 2 sticks, in dual-channel mode.

 

[plutoclacks]

Yea, I'm literally right down the block. I'm probably going to buy most of my parts from there because it is so convenient and I won't have to deal with shipping headaches if parts fail.

 

[Cerb]

Cases: http://www.microcenter.com/product/415178/Shinobi_ATX_Mid_Tower_Computer_Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146076
http://www.microcenter.com/product/400425/Z9_U3_ATX_Mid_Tower_Computer_Case

The NZXT has a rebate going for it at Newegg. If you accept the "free" shipping, that's $24 AMIR, else $32 AMIR. Otherwise, they're all similar (I think the Zalman is the best of the bunch, personally, though. All have USB 3.0 ports. Your local Microcenter might not have one in stock, though.

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148543
That's dual-channel for $3 more.

You don't list any optical drive. If you'll need one in the build, Newegg has the WDC WD10EZEX (1TB Blue HDD) and Asus DRW-24B1ST (DVD burner) as a combo for -$13, making it around $8-10 cheaper than buying elsewhere, net cost. P.S. the LiteOn iHAS124-04 has the same combo.

You can get a cheaper motherboard, too, but not by much, and with Microcenter being right there...

 

[plutoclacks]

What should I be looking for in a case? the Apex Vortex I have chosen looks like it has 1 more fan than the NZXT. Besides fans, I don't think I have to worry about physical structural integrity (I've had an old Dell PC in one of those really crappy plastic Dell cases, and I've had no problems in 10 years). The Shinobi, on the other hand, says it has 7 fans? I might sound stupid but I am under the impression that cases come with stock fans.

Thanks,
pluto

 

[Cerb]

What should I be looking for in a case?

On the cheap, to keep it around for a few years, pretty much USB 3.0, and nothing that just looks terrible. Adding USB 3.0 ports later will be more expensive than getting a cheap case with one now, and thumb drives and external HDDs are already supporting it. However, I got ahead of myself , the NZXT with the rebate is USB 2.0 only.

The Bitfenix has 7 fan mounting locations. It only comes with 1 fan. That price is some kind of refurb/surplus type deal. If your Microcenter has it, it's a good cheap case.

With a stock CPU and 7790, a single 120mm will do the job fine.

You might just want to see what your Microcenter actually has in stock. There aren't only a few cases, those were just obvious in the list on the website. I mean, it's not that much more. But, if you want to just go ahead and get the Apex, it will fit everything, and cool it.

Also, the plastic Dells were actually really nice, both the Palo Altos (I'm feeling old, now!) and the later clam shells. The steel sheet metal ones with the rounded bezels weren't so great, though.

 

[DSF]

That's actually a really good price on a Shinobi. Any of the cases that have been mentioned so far would be fine.

 

[mfenn]

Agree with Cerb's suggestions. I think I'd go with the Shinobi over that Apex. The Apex would work, but it's obviously a pretty old design (top-mounted PSU and all).

 

[plutoclacks]

aight guys, thanks so much for the advice