Piecing out a new build how to test

hey guys I'm planning on building my first gaming computer but I'm gonna buy each part over the next couple of months. How can I test each part to make sure I didn't get a defective unit since I won't be able to assemble the whole thing for a months.
Plus since this is my first build some advice and comments on my build would be nice thanks for the help.
Also I would like to slim down the road and add a sound card advice.

Build
Samsung 850 250gb
Nzxt h440
GIGABYTE G1 Gaming GA-Z170X-Gaming 7 (rev. 1.0) LGA 1151 Intel Z170 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
MSI GeForce GTX 970 GAMING 4G
EVGA 220-G2-0750-XR 80 PLUS GOLD 750W ECO Mode Fully Modular NVIDIA SLI Ready and Crossfire Support Continuous Power Supply
Intel Core i7-6700K 8M Skylake Quad-Core 4.0 GHz LGA 1151 91W BX80662I76700K Desktop Processor Intel® HD Graphics 530
G.SKILL TridentZ Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Intel Z170 Platform / Intel X99 Platform Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C16D-16GTZB
NZXT Kraken X61 RL-KRX61-01 280mm All-In-One Water / Liquid CPU Cooling Soluti
Windows 10 64bit

 

If you don't have another desktop that uses the same parts (ram etc) there really is no way to test. Only option is either find a friend or maybe if your lucky and one has survived a local Computer store that might be willing or able to test. The computer store may want to charge you. You'll more than likely just have to rely of manufacturer warranty. You'll more than likely be ok as it's likely for components to have a problem nowadays. It does happen but not as often as one would think.

I may have overlooked it in the jumble of parts but what case?

 

Agreed with the above. You'd be much better off holding off on your purchases until you're able to buy them all at once. At the *bare minimum*, you should have at least the motherboard, CPU, and RAM (and a PSU to power them all) to see of those work, though you'd be better off testing all of the parts at once in order to be able to return defective ones without fearing that you've gone past the return period.

Personally though, as a first-time builder I wouldn't mess with liquid cooling. Too much hassle for barely any gain over air cooling, plus the horrors of what will happen if you screw up the liquid part. My two cents though.

 

Agreed on both points.. I would get one of those Corsair liquid coolers which are literally easy to put on but that's about it.. GPU should be air cooled and yes buy everything in 1 go and not piece it together bit by bit...

 

Add a extra SSD for data storage maybe 500 or 1tb if you can afford it

Make sure it has USB3.1 external ports connections

Make sure it has M.2 slot if you should want to use that for faster Boot drive

Make sure it is the OC version. I have the MSI GTX970OC 4G Gaming and I love it-ack MSI GTX980ti out of reach for me right now but I don't do hardcore gaming so I am not too worried.

Sufficient for your power usage.

Not bad.

Good make sure future proof here..

Not needed if you don't do extreme OC on the GPU and CPU. I have a i5-4690K OC 4.2ghz with CoolerMaster 212 and it runs quiet enough without the trouble should you have a leak.

Do you really need it? If your trying for gaming then maybe but otherwise I am running Windows 7x64 Ult Sp1 and still running.

Next you should look for a 2560x1440 monitor if you want to push the pixels with your MSI970. I have a 27" PG278Q and so far like it it's TN not IPS panel but works for me and my uses. Don't get curve monitor I've read they aren't that good.