I wrote this on a thread for kconahan's PC build I think. I though it deserved it's own thread as I see many people building computers and asking for advice/help. For a fast PC you should be getting a decent sized SSD, I recommend the Samsung 840 Series Pro as they are pretty much the fastest, if you can't afford that, the SanDisk Ultra Pro SSD is a great one to go for. Couple this with a 1TB-2TB hard drive and you are sorted regarding storage. I recommend Western Digital and Samsung as they are both very reliable. For memory you will want around 8GB when it comes to gaming, perhaps 16GB if you plan on some intensive video editing. You should have at least 4GB as anything less may struggle to run many programs or a few very memory intensive programs at once. Corsair and G-Skill are the brands a recommend. Regarding a power supply you will want to go for modular to allow for the most flexibility and the tidiest look, having a 80 plus certified one will save you heck of a lot on the electric bills. However modular ones are expensive and so a semi-modular or non-modular power supply is fine, sometimes it is better to spend the money elsewhere. Corsair are very good and very reliable and I use them in every build of mine. Intel, as you said, is they way to go. I have not really used Haswell CPU's and so can't give you much of an opinion but as with all new things come problems, instability etc. You will want to go for Ivy Bridge, an i5 is all you need for day to day tasks and gaming but if you want to you can up it to an i7 which will make a difference if you plan on doing video editing and rendering. AMD is good if you want integrated graphics and don't wish to pay much. As for your motherboard, this should be picked last, so that you can make sure it has all that you need. And that it is compatible with everything else. I have used Gigabyte and ASUS and have never had a problem. Depending on the CPU you choose you may need a certain socket so I can not mention any specifics. For your video card I prefer AMD as they offer the best value for your money. And their cards beat Nvidia at every price range. The idea is you spend roughly the same amount on your CPU as you do your GPU (video card). However if you won't be playing high end games you may choose to go with a cheap one or none at all, if your CPU has integrated graphics. For your case you will want something well ventilated, with space for many fans and fairly big if you plan on a high end gaming PC. Preferably with cable management options and space for larger video cards in-case you want to upgrade in the future. Just remember don't skimp on a case. Something like the Cooler Master HAF X is a great case. Plenty of cooling, lots of room, great cable management, ability to fit very big video cards and MBs bigger than even ATX. I am also a fan of NZXT cases. However if you are on a budget you may choose a case that simply does what it needs to and nothing else. But don't go an buy a very cheap case that will fall apart, the last thing you want is to build your computer and find that the side panels and flimsy and can't support your mother board or the holes for the screws are too small. If you plan on overclocking a good aftermarket fan and heatsink can do the job, but if you really want to squeeze every ounce of performance out of it, you want to invest in water cooling. Closed loop kits are the easiest and safest option. No mess, no need to maintain it, no worries. Corsair H100i is a good option and very reliable. If you don't plan on overclocking you can cut a few pounds/dollars by sticking with the stock fan and heatsink. You should probably go for a Blu-ray player if you have the money otherwise a good optical drive that can do everything is what to go for. Well that is my view of the best things for your build and what you should and should not do. It is mainly focused on the higher end but I have added some information in for those wishing to build budget computers.
