Building a gaming PC, advice?

[Alarra]

So, I'm looking to build my first gaming PC. I haven't done this before, so I'm looking for tips on building, suggestions on brands, specific models you recommend, sample builds, etc.

I'd like to spend around $2000. To give an idea of the use, I do not plan on overclocking (I wouldn't know what I'm doing and wouldn't want to risk wrecking something), I plan to stream/record video while I am playing, and I take lots and lots of screenshots (I have around 40GB for ESO alone so far).

I'm thinking an Intel CPU, because from what I've been reading, those sound better for the higher-end stuff. (Specifically, I've kinda been looking at the Intel Core i5-4690K mostly, and dunno about how different the Intel Core i7-4790K is.) I'm thinking maybe 16GB RAM. As far as the case, people have recommended to me to get a full size one.

So, here are my questions -
- I know motherboard should match the CPU, but there's quite a few different compatible ones. What should I look for in deciding what one I want? Any specific brands you like, and why?
- SSD or hard drive, or both? Is it worth the expensive cost to get SSD, and if so, how big?
- I have absolutely no idea what sort of graphics card to go for. This is probably the biggest thing I'm concerned about, because I know that it's one of the things that has the biggest effect on the performance of a game, and there's just SO much out there.
- How much higher should the wattage of a power supply be than the estimated amount the machine will use? For example, I was playing around on PCPartsPicker and it estimated it at 725W. What wattage power supply should I get?
- Tips on fans/cooling? How many, where should they go in the case?
- Is there anything you wish you would have done differently when you built yours?

[the Savage Hippie]

I think I know what you are looking for... look at this

[VirtualWeasel]

http://www.futuremark.com/hardware/gpu

Here's a list of the best rated Graphics cards for desktops. I think the site also has processor and motherboard lists too, so it should help you out.

[Rose of Sithis]

You don't happen to have a build saved on pcpartpicker, do you? I'm thinking of building one myself and I'm wondering where exactly to start.

[Fiar]

You don't happen to have a build saved on pcpartpicker, do you? I'm thinking of building one myself and I'm wondering where exactly to start.

Here are the final specs of her current computer.

Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor
XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Video Card
Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
16GB DDR3-1600 RAM
500 GB SSD (+2TB hard drive for storage)

You can enter that into PCpartpicker, and go from there.

[Goldbrand]

Are we all now going to get into a radeon/nvidia fan-war? And is an SSD really necessary? 16 Gig of RAM will do plenty with a 4 GHz clock.

[Fiar]

Are we all now going to get into a radeon/nvidia fan-war? And is an SSD really necessary? 16 Gig of RAM will do plenty with a 4 GHz clock.

Neither brand is superior to the other, really. I swear by nVidia, but I get why some people like Radeon.

Also, you generally use an SSD if there are applications you use regularly, so you can load them quicker. Alarra plays ESO and Watch Dogs pretty often, both are big games. So an SSD makes sense here, though I get what you're saying.