Advice for a gaming/school computer. (First build)

Dr_7inch

Honorable
Apr 19, 2013
29
0
10,530
This is my list of parts, ive got the case, psu, and dvd reader. I was wondering if the Asus MB and intel CPU would be a good combo or if i should go AMD MB and AMD cpu. I have a budget of about $350-$400 for both.
CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($183.56 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.20 @ Amazon)

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($289.99 @ Newegg)

Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 802.11a/b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($44.91 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: Corsair Tx750

Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.95 @ Amazon)
 
Pay $104 for the MoBo
Fifteen percent off w/ promo code EMCXRXL45, limited offer takes it to $119 - $15 rebate = $104

But better yet ....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1322888

$140 ASUS P8Z77-V LK
$310 ASUS GTX660 TI-DC2O-2GD5 factory OC'd GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB
$220 Intel Core i5-3570K
$125 G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) Model:F3-1600C9D-16GXM

Total $795 - $45 combo discount - Fifteen percent off ($21) w/ promo code EMCXRXL45 on MoBo - $15 MIR on MoBo - 13% off ($40) w/ promo code EMCXRWX52 on GFX card - $20 MIR on GFX card. Total combo cost = $654 ... that's $141 off

You were paying $652. The above combo gives ya an upgraded the CPU, double the memory and ya get a video card that someday ya can put in SLI (that option limited w/ 7950) for just a measly $2 more.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-card-benchmarking-frame-rate,3466.html
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6857/amd-stuttering-issues-driver-roadmap-fraps/6

Head to head in single card configuration we see that the Asus 660 Ti just slightly edges ahead on the 7950 boost by 3.8% at 1920 x 1080. At larger resolutions, the 7950 has the edge.
http://uk.hardware.info/reviews/3026/21/nvidia-geforce-gtx-660-ti-review---3-way-sli-included-gtx-660-ti-vs-radeon-hd-7950-boost