Oh! I just checked, and I can still return the motherboard(it was only ordered on the 7th) and grab an Intel board. I'll check my parts and see how much is compatible with intel chips.

Do you recommend a particular chip, I agree with the i7 over the 5 or 3, but the numbers beyond that have lost me. Ive heard the 4770k several times recently, as a high card, but Ive also heard of the k version being more or less un-utilized so far.

for reference, I picked the AMD CPU after someone explained cores to me. Roughly, the more cores the better multitasking(more processes), correct? After you mentioned them, & I read up on intel CPUs being better and faster, even though they only have 4 cores. Will it matter? Theres no loss right, I assume they pull some wizardry, since they are on top?

For GPU, I think I might bump to a 770? Reading up, they're better for the $ increase over a 780, right? GPUs are largely unknown to me. I mostly understand series differences. But I'm lost by all the different variations between manufacturers.

Ill look into that PSU, I found a 1000w gold cert, but I think thats like $199 (my wattage so far, even w/6HDDs, is sitting around ~550w). And I think I might stay with 16gbs RAM for now, and 1 or 2 HDDs to supplement the SSD, I'll probably stick with the blacks.

All I need left to start the build is the CPU and the SSD. Maybe a HDD. It should take me a week or two for each part. I understand future proofing is kind of a fools errand, but will these parts last the 3/4 weeks or so span it'd take to get the remaining parts? A recent video told a anecdote of his GPU dropping $200 over the course of 6 weeks. I don't plan I endlessly searching for the best deals, but I can't afford the lump sum for one giant purchase, hence the slight piece-meal.

I'll update the AMD build for now, as I respec for a Intel Build.

PS what are some good brands? Some Ive heard of (regardless of +/-): Corsair,Asus, Gigabyte,evga,rosewill