I dunno, seems to be missing a few key components.

I recommend more pylons

I am planning to build a gaming computer with a Radeon R9 290 GPU and an I5-4690 CPU. Presently I am not planning on a including a DVD player (but I may change my mind).

What PSU do I need? From my reading I thing 620W is plenty, but a good friend of mine says I would be better off with 750W. Is he right, or is there no advantage to having so much surplus power?

For $15 why not put in a DVD player?

You need to make sure your power supply can handle the absolute max load your components will put on it. If it can't, you're going to brown-out and that could seriously fuck your shit. With most things involving power, the simple rule of thumb is never have your load exceed 80% of your supply.

Why type of RAM and HDD are you using? If you tell me those, I can recommend a PSU.

RAM: Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 CMY8GX3M2A1600C9R 1600MHz Dimm, Unbuffered, 9-9-9-24, Vengeance Pro

Hard Drives:
Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO SATA III 6Gbs 2.5 7mm 540MB/s/520MB/s
SATA:
Seagate SATA3 2TB 7200RPM Barracuda 64mb Cache

Honestly, I don't think 620W is going to cut it. Where are you getting that number from?

There is a big Australia technology at call whirlpool.net.au and they have a desktop/building subforum. The advice I am getting there is that 620W is plenty and that anymore and I am wasting my money. But I have a friend who has built quite a few computers in his time who has assured me that I will be better off with 750W. I dont' really care about the dollars so I suppose I can put a big PSU in, but I was curious for my own education what the thinking was.

Well, there are a couple things to consider:

1) A few extra Watts isn't all that much more, so why not?
2) Underpowered your components will ruin them, so you don't want to be anywhere near the max.
3) PSUs last a long time, so if you get one a bit larger, it means you won't have to replace it if you get better components.

If you hold on another minute, I'll give an actual Wattage recommendation.

If you're building a gaming computer, why on earth are you putting an i5 in it? You want an i7 unless you want it to be obsolete in 1-2 years.

Very few games are CPU limited. An i5 is fine. Your money will be much better served with more RAM and a better GPU than an i7.

Very few for now. i3's are already obsolete though. i5's have only got another year or two left in them, especially as requirements are about to skyrocket due to NextGen games beginning to be released.

So, 620W is probably fine. Does your friend have a reason for suggesting the larger PSU? Perhaps, like me, he still isn't used to how much more efficient components are.

Because I because I have been told that there is next to zero benefit to putting in an i7 for gaming computer. Video editing apparently benefits from an i7 but not gaming. I am open to alternate ideas.

"Perhaps, like me, he still isn't used to how much more efficient components are. "

He might be a bit out of touch I think. But he has very strong opinions and he is the only person I know who is a big gamer.

Very few for the foreseeable future.. The trend for games has been to offload as much processing to GPU as possible. I don't see anything to indicate that changing. You are not going to be limited by an i5 for 3-4 years, at which point, you'll need a new rig anyway.

Is there any advantage to having a higher wattage PSU. For example will it mean the computer is more quiet?

Are there disadvantages to have a high wattage PSU?

The advantage of the higher wattage is not having to worry about it and being able to add components without upgrading the PSU. There's no performance difference.

Other than the initial cost, there's not disadvantage to a larger PSU.

Looking on newegg, though, I'm seeing a very small price difference between 650 and 750W.

I thought maybe a higher wattage might waste power perhaps?
I'll probably just go with my friends advice then. The difference is about $20.

No, the PSU should only draw the power it needs, so it won't matter. Make sure you get a PSU with good efficiency, though (<80%). It's worth the extra money in the long run.

Also, why not get 4x4GB of RAM? And make sure you don't skimp on the Mobo; that's how all the parts communicate.

*>80%* Get a PSU with a high efficiency rating is what I was trying to say.

Yes definitely get a high efficiency PSU - whichever wattage.

Regarding RAM the advice I was given that once no benefit in a gaming computer at this point in time to have more that 8 GB. And that I will be better of buying more in the future if it is needed (and probably at a cheaper price).

This is the motherboard I was thinking of buying:
Gigabyte GA-H97-GAMING 3 4 x DDR3/1 x PCI-E/3 xPCI/6 x SATA3/6 x USB3.0/HDMI/DVI-I/GBLAN/RA

It's all quite confusing and takes a lot of research building your own computer if you are a newb like me. I get overwhelmed by the choice at the online stores I am looking at.

I've been considering trying this so around how much cheaper would it be to build a good computer than to buy one?

@tv

You don't save nearly as much money as you used to, but you do end up spending your $$$ on exactly what you want. It's also much easier to improve a rig you make yourself. Plus, it's fun.

@spy

What websites are you looking at?

I am probably doing to buy from this company:
http://www.umart.com.au/newindex2.phtml?bid=7

Mainly because they have a presense in Melbourne where I can pickup the computer.
Plus they have said they will build it for free.

Alternatively this site:
http://www.pccasegear.com

But they don't do custom builds. I would have to build it myself. Which I have never done before, but I guess could be fun.

In regards to RAM, it depends on what you're doing. Are you going to be running 2 EVE clients and also an FPS? Then you'll need more than 8GB of RAM. If you're just going to play 1 game at a time and money is tight, stick to 8GB for now.

Australian prices are normally quite a bit higher than what Americans pay.

Dude, build it yourself. It's not hard and will be so much more rewarding.

Yes I think it could be fun.

This is my current selection of parts.
Spyman's Build - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15xQBxv8gJftGwk9J7u5RcLWHXnfiUoNcn2d-FHs1TYo/edit?usp=sharing

"Are you going to be running 2 EVE clients and also an FPS? "

I just play one game at a time. I have never played EVE, but I have a couple of friends who were addicted to it for a year.

Stll this will be my first gaming computer - so there have been many games that have been out of reach. With a decent computer I might try some new games.

Dragon Age Inquisition should be really good if they make it more like the first one than the second, which is what it looks like currently.
Also, Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls is a very fun game.

What's your overall budget? I'd say that motherboard doesn't allow for upgrades in future, meaning it stay competitive for as long. Only 1 PCI-E slot is pretty poor, too.

I spent a ridiculous amount on my pc (it's probably more valuable than everything else I own put together), so I spent a lot of time researching what's best for my money.

Thanks for the feedback Hellenic Riot. I could spend another $100 or so.
What is the PCI-E Slot? How many is good to have?

PCI-E and PCI slots are what you put cards (Graphics, Wireless, etc) in. PCI are slowly being phased out in favour of PCI-E, and so I'd want 2 PCI-E minimum. One x16 for your Graphics Card, and one x4 or whatever for your Wireless Card. (The x16 is to do with the speed of the connection. Bigger is better.) PCI-E 3.0 is also the standard now, rather than 2.0.

If you have any intention of running two graphics cards in future, then you need two of the same speed PCI-E slot, too.

Something like this would be better, I think: http://www.amazon.co.uk/1150-ASUS-MAXIMUS-RANGER-Motherboard/dp/B00K80MMOO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409798499&sr=8-1&keywords=ASUS%C2%AE+MAXIMUS+VII+RANGER

Your graphics card, while good, also seems to be designed for an AMD processor, rather than Intel. While it'd still work, it doesn't seem the best fit. NVIDIA are usually who you'd go for with an Intel PC. You're paying a hell of a lot for that graphics card.

I'd suggest this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/GeForce-DirectCU-Graphics-Express-Display/dp/B00CY5GP08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409798804&sr=8-1&keywords=nvidia+geforce+gtx+770

If you do go for those, you will need a 750W PSU though.

Also, get a DVD drive. Installing drivers without one can be a pain in the ass, and they're pretty damn cheap now. You don't seem to have a wireless card on there, either. Guessing you just use wired?

I have an old PC that I was thinking of reusing the wireless card from. But this PC will be wired. The router is on the same desk.

I thought it was supposed to be okay to use an Intel chipset with an AMD GPU? I have gone with the Radeon because the R9 290 are supposed to be much better bang for the buck that the equivalent Nividea - GTX 780.

The card is a bit expensive (but it is supposed to be 1st class). The shop I am buying from will do the build for free. If I decide to buy else where I can get the card for about $25 cheaper.

They are generally ok, but nvidia's are designed for Intel and Radeon's for AMD, so I guess they just 'sync' a little better, and the small chances of issues are even smaller.

The GTX 770 should do just as good a job, too. Radeon's are cheaper in the same way AMD's are cheaper - they're just not as good.

As for reusing your wireless card - check if it's PCI or PCI-E first :P.

I can't look at your exact parts in detail on my phone, but I agree with almost everything Hellenic said (except the i7). Personally, I'm more of a fan of the GTX 770 as well.

A couple other things to consider: make sure your mobo and case are physically large enough to fit you graphics card. I think you'll be surprised how large it is. Also, pay very close attention that everything fits together. CPU socket, DIMM slot, etc all need to be the right type.

Yeah, I checked that graphics card I linked fits in the mobo, as does the i5. Haven't checked the case though.

i just the 760 which works quite nice

I got a 680 about 2 years ago when I built my pc. Tis about time I got a second and ran it in SLI, as I deliberately got a mobo with space for two x16's.

Thanks for looking it over guys. I really appreciate it. I researched some of the points you have raised.

I have swapped the Sapphire GPU for an ASUS GPU. The Sapphire was too long for the case. Both choices are 20% cooler than the reference AMD Radeon R9 290, but the ASUS fits in the case I have bought. Plus it was $60 cheaper.

Regarding Nvidia vs Radeon. If price were no consideration I'd get the Nvidia. But the equivalent Nvidia (GTX 780) is at least $100 more expensive (in Aus as least).

The R9 290 is about the same price as the GTX 770 at soundly beats it in most of the bench tests I have seen.

Take this one for example:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2013/11/05/amd-radeon-r9-290-review/4

In fact while the GTX 780 beats the R9 290 in most areas, you will actually get a higher frame rate in Battlefield 4 with the R9 290 than the GTX 780. (or so I keep reading).

I do like Nvidia though, I just wish they weren't so expensive.

Regarding compatibility between AMD Radeon cars and Intel chipsets or the other way around, Nvidia GPUs and AMD motherboards, from what I have read there is no issue. That is what I keep finding in most sites that discuss the technical specifications of the GPUs and mother boards.

I have check the motherboard that I chosen - I have checked the main page for that board and it does state that I an put two R9 290 GPUs in it if I want to. In fact I am never going to do this. So I am hoping the board will be okay. It is not future proof, but I would have to pay double for a more future proof board I think. I think I should get three to four good years out of this system.

@spy

You're correct that it doesn't matter how you pair CPU and GPU. You can mix and match intel, AMD, AMD, and NVIDIA. The only thing that matters is that the socket is correct.

"Yeah, I checked that graphics card I linked fits in the mobo, as does the i5. Haven't checked the case though. "

Thanks for checking Hellenic Riot. I have checked the case and it matches now that I have switched GPUs (I could have but the longer card in by removing a bay, but I chose not to do that).

"The only thing that matters is that the socket is correct. "
Thanks abge. The MB is an ATX socket 1150. It all matches.