See any problems with this $1200 build?

[jdmoore30]

I'm building for a friend on a $1200 budget, sans monitor. He will not OC and will use the computer primarily for gaming/internet/music/light work and do not anticipate heavy video/photo applications. Do you see any problems with this build or would you shift money investment around to other components? We are not within a reasonable drive to a MicroCenter. Opinions much appreciated, thank you.

Case: Antec 902 $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058&Tpk=antec%20902

PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro M700 700W $86
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037&cm_re=cooler_master_silent_pro-_-17-171-037-_-Product

CPU: Intel core i5 760 $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067&cm_re=core_i5_760-_-19-115-067-_-Product

Motherboard: ASRock p55 pro $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157171&cm_re=asrock_p55_pro-_-13-157-171-_-Product

Video Card: PNY GTX 470 $275
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0332959

RAM: G.Skill Ripjaw 4GB (2x2GB) PC 1600 $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

Hard Drive: Samsung spinpoint f3 1TB $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=samsung%20spinpoint%20f3%201tb

DVD Burner/CD-ROM drive: LiteOn iHAS-324-98 $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106334&Tpk=lite%20on%20ihas-324-98

Sound Card: Asus Xonar DS 7.1 $49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132013&cm_re=asus_xonar_ds-_-29-132-013-_-Product

Speakers: Logitech S-220 2.1 $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121014&Tpk=logitech%20s-220

Mouse: Microsoft Sidewinder $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826105223

Keyboard: Microsoft Natural Curve $18
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109149&cm_re=reclusa-_-23-109-149-_-Product

Operating System: Win 7 $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=operating_systems-_-32-116-754-_-Product

Total Cost = $1216

 

[mortonww]

I think it's a pretty good build in general. There are a couple of things I'd rearrange, though. The Antec 902 is a nice case, but at $130 it's very much outdone in value and probably performance by the HAF 922 for $90:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197&cm_re=HAF_922-_-11-119-197-_-Product

One other issue. The sound card costs more than the speakers. If this friend isn't particularly snobbish about audio quality, you should leave that as an optional upgrade and try and use on-board sound.

So the money saved from the case ($40) and the sound card ($49), I'd put into a better motherboard like this one, which will support SLI and is of a brand with more consistent quality and better reputation than AsRock:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131407

$145 Asus P7P55 EVO

Or for USB 3 and SATA 6:

This ASUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131621&cm_re=P7P55D-E-_-13-131-621-_-Product

or this Gigabyte
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128409

(except when using dual graphics cards)

Those more expensive boards probably have even better on-board sound than your AsRock, too.

 

[jasgiv1122]

If you're buying the Video Card at Microcenter, why not get the CPU there also? It's $40 less.

i5 760

 

[gkay09]

^ Hi, good build, will your friend be adding 1 more GTX 470 later on in SLI ?
Also the i5 760 is cheaper at Microcenter for in-store pick up...
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0341729

And get this mobo -
Gigabyte P55-USB3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.505527

 

[jdmoore30]

The video card ships to me from microcenter at that price. I can't make the drive to microcenter as the gas costs will offset the savings they offer on the i5 760.

I really like the cable management on the antec 900/1200 series (I have a 1200) with the ability to arrange things under the motherboard tray. Does the HAF have that capability or is there another value case that has excellent cable management options with good airflowand filters?

What about this PSU? Its the cheapest modular supply I could find. Any thoughts on that PSU?

 

[gkay09]

^ Ohh...
As for the case, the HAF is one of the best cases in cable management...
IMO the 902 is not worth $130...

Also as for the PSU, are you planning to go SLI ?? If yes, then you would have to choose a better mobo like the ASUS P7P55D-E Pro and for GTX 470 SLI, 750W would be safe and will have some headroom left...