getting back into PC gaming

[arcon33]

2-3 years after losing interest in PC gaming I'm getting the bug back I'm seriously considering building a gaming rig but I feel so out of touch with everything, things seem like they have progressed so much I'm trying to get my head around it all again. On the cpu front we have 2 new products from Intel coming in 2015 which brings the same old question: wait for the new stuff or go with what's available now, also is this mantle API making any real difference in gaming?

 

[arcon33]

Thanks for the replies, I've been swatting up on everything while the misses catches up on the soaps, I don't need a keyboard/mouse, optical drive or monitor (although I will splash out further down the line on a new one) and I can take the decent ssd drive I put in my ps4 out and put the stock drive back in (no major difference anyway) and use that for OS & games plus I have a 3tb hdd for storage so I reckon I could build a half decent system without selling a kidney!
One thing I have noticed is there are a load more quality smaller cases available now, I'm liking the look of the Corsair ones, namely the Obsidian 250D, 350D and the Graphite 380T. Expect another spec me thread soon!