Build Help/Ready:

Have you read the sidebar and rules? (Please do)

Yup

What is your intended use for this build? The more details the better.

Mostly playing games (rpg, fps, strategy, racing sims)

If gaming, what kind of performance are you looking for? (Screen resolution, FPS, game settings)

60fps and ultra settings on (for the foreseeable future) a 1080p display.

What is your budget (ballpark is okay)?

Around $1000 USD

In what country are you purchasing your parts?

USA

Post a draft of your potential build here (specific parts please). Consider formatting your parts list. Don't ask to be spoonfed a build (read the rules!).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Provide any additional details you wish below.

So this is my first ever build and I'm excited but I want to do it right. I'm fairly confident w/r/t most of the parts I've chosen after a long day researching on this sub and elsewhere, but I do have a few questions:

1. Aside from one for the optical drive, I don't think I need any additional wires/connectors to put everything together. Am I correct in assuming this?

2. I chose the case based on the facts that a) it's quiet, and b) it's modest and unassuming; I am personally not a fan of tricked-out, painted- and lit-up builds. I would strongly prefer a system that manages to melt faces without drawing stinkeye from the girlfriend. Hence, I am interested in the possibility of an even smaller case, though I know this would necessitate a mini-ATX motherboard and perhaps replacing a few other components that may not fit. Aside from potential cooling issues, is there anything else I should consider if I redo the build for a more compact case? Any suggestions for a smaller but similarly sedate-looking case?

3. I currently have a 6-year-old gaming laptop running Windows 7. If I do the free Windows 10 upgrade, am I able to carry that over to the new system for free, e.g. on a thumb drive? Sorry if this is not an appropriate question for this sub; I haven't been able to find a clear answer elsewhere.

4. Should I buy a tool kit?

5. Any other comments/advice? Anything I may not have thought of?

Although this is my first post here, I'd like to thank all the kind souls who come here to offer such great information to beginners like myself. Thank you guys!