I'm in that same process, so it's quite understandable what you're going through.  This is the rig I'm going with in comparison, although that $2K for me is probably just spent on the rig alone without all the peripherals that I am going with (just to show how futureproof I'm looking at).
 
CPU:  http://www.newegg.com/Pro...x?Item=N82E16819117369
CPU Cooler:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
Mobo:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132125
RAM:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233536
GPU:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487090
PSU:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438018
Case:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119297
SSD:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167192 (Trust me I got this when they had it at $220)
HDD:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822178326
ODD:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AJ2ME4366
WIFI:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320074
PVR:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116036
OS:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416778
 
Peripherals:
Monitor:  http://www.newegg.com/Pro...x?Item=N82E16824236293
3D Vision Kit:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ZX2CF3149&cm_re=3D_Vision-_-14-998-061-_-Product
Keyboard:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126377
Mouse:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104934
Speakers:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121044
Controller:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5ZH2EG9514&cm_re=Xbox_360_Wired_Controller-_-74-103-205-_-Product
 
Trust me, this was a pricey setup, but all in all, it should certainly turn out quite loaded with bells and whistles.  If it all comes together nicely, I'll certainly put the finished product up on Mod Rigs.

I would get a 750w or 850w PSU. No need for anymore than that, unless you find a deal like I did on a Seasonic X-1250 for $80 on craigslist lol
 
1866Mhz? I was running that back on my first gen i7. Get this instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231589&cm_re=g.skill_2400-_-20-231-589-_-Product
 
That motherboard would work just fine.
 
Video card, i'd go with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127840&cm_re=gtx_980-_-14-127-840-_-Product
 
Or... This with the 25% PROMO code:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487104&cm_re=gtx_780ti-_-14-487-104-_-Product
 
Personally, i'd stay away from the GTX 970's. If you are curious why, just do a search on "GTX 970 3.5GB" and you will see why. Also, the GTX 780Ti deal above blows away a GTX 970.
 
As for your monitor... If you want to play at 4K, you will need 2K to spend on graphics cards to play at decent frame rates, which are the GTX Titan X's. That is... until June rolls up and we get the AMD R9 390X's.
 
If you are really serious into FPS's i'd probably look at this for the price, or Crossover... There are a bunch out there.
http://overlordcomputer.com/collections/27-monitors/products/tempest-x270oc-glossy
 
 

That 780 ti... So freaking tempting to get 2.... If that deal lasted a few more days. -.-

RainStryke
I would get a 750w or 850w PSU. No need for anymore than that, unless you find a deal like I did on a Seasonic X-1250 for $80 on craigslist lol...
 
Personally, i'd stay away from the GTX 970's. If you are curious why, just do a search on "GTX 970 3.5GB" and you will see why. Also, the GTX 780Ti deal above blows away a GTX 970.

 
 
True that about the PSU.  I ran 2 68Os on 750w (85% efficient) with all kinds of crap connected, over clocked CPU and GPU with over 100w to spare (actually more if you factor the efficiency aspect).  Now that I have 1x 980 FTW, I have lost almost a 200w power draw on the PSU; however, if I did do 980 sli, it would draw even less power than 2x 680s (about 70w).  Put the savings someone else in the build.
 
Curious, why do you recommend those memory sticks?  I've been looking for something just like these for when I upgrade my MB and CPU, probably this summer.
 
I was dead set on 970 sli, but the 970 3.5gb fiasco was a deal breaker for me, so just stepped past them to the 980 FTW. 
 
Thanks...Al

8IronBob
Yeah...  Besides the GTX 970 3.5GB + 500MB fiasco, I kind of feel that ASUS' motherboards are far too overpriced for the features that you get.  I probably might find a "sweet spot" and go MSI all the way, motherboard (Z97 Gaming 7) AND GTX 980 Gaming 4G.  Yeah, I know that EVGA GPUs should've been up there, but at the same time, need components that actually LOOK like they are compatible, and go together.  :)   

Do you know of a MSI board that is better than the ASUS that I've selected for about the same price?

RainStryke
http://www.newegg.com/Pro...x?Item=N82E16813130842

That board is pretty. 
But other than the Killer LAN and wifi, I don't see justification to spend that much more than the 140 on http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132118. 
Am I missing something??

So you'd recommend the step down for that over the ASUS board I picked out? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130770
If so, I may switch out; and I'm thinking about placing my orders today or tomorrow.
 
Or I could snag the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188159&cm_re=142-HR-E977-KR-_-13-188-159-_-Product from evga for about the same price, since I have a few folding bucks left over.
 
 
also, jealous of people who live near microcenters... I'm from the deep south... (sigh)

I don't really have any interest or real need for wifi or bt. I think I will stick with the Gaming 5 from MSI, as that M.2 may be something I look into in the future. I saw the speeds on one of the sets and I was stunned... Not to mention, open box scares me. I'd like to take a peek before I actually pay for it. Otherwise, I would snag it.


Will finish this order out soon. Any last critique? 
Will wait on a new gpu, most likely getting 2x 980(one now, one later) or...unlikely, a titan

RainStryke
Looks good.
 
If you plan on overclocking a little bit, i'd suggest getting this CPU cooler if your case can accommodate a 140mm fan:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181036&cm_re=corsair_h90-_-35-181-036-_-Product
 
I'm loving my GTX 980 so far. A guy on craigslist was selling his for $480 brand new... It still had the plastic wrap on it when I got it. I was surprised to see the MSI logo lights up white... It handles everything at 1080p without an issue. I thought about a Titan X, but it's just too much money... especially with the R9 390X coming out in 2 months.
 
I found a promo for the Asus Z97-A board, it's EMCAPNT39 to save $10. Either board is going to be great. Up until recently, I hated MSI, but really... they have some nice products out right now.

The H90 doesn't state it supports 1150 in it's specs. I assume it's just an oversight on newegg?

Out of curiosity, what it require to use this beauty to it's full potential?

http://www.ncixus.com/products/?sku=103792&promoid=1202  

The Hyper 212 EVO is definitely a solid CPU cooler for the money, it keeps up with many that cost 2-3 times more. After moving to AIO watercooling units, I left custom loops and never really looked back.

They are plug and play.

Reporting in from my new desktop. 
 

Do that, then sell and replace the RAM with 2400 or so