Midlevel Gaming Build - Need Critiquing

[Bacillus]

I'm building a midlevel gaming PC for my brother and he has given me an $800 budget ($1000 absolute maximum, but $800 preferred). I've done the preliminary part selection and am looking for some feedback and suggestions. Thanks.


Motherboard: $190
ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Processor: $180 (at Micro Center)
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K

Memory: $70
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBXM

Video Card: $210, $180 after rebate
MSI N460GTX CYCLONE 1GD5/OC GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Heatsink: $50, $40 after rebate
Tuniq Tower 120 Universal CPU Cooler 120mm Cooling Fan and Fan Controller/Heatsink

Hard Drive: $70
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

Power Supply Unit: $70, $55 after rebate
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Optical Drive: $26
LITE-ON Black DVD Burner w/ Lightscribe

Case: $55
Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Misc: $10
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

Case Fans: $17 (x2) == $34
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan


Total: $965
After Rebate: $910

 

[TheDuke]

How about going sandy bridge
Intel Core i5-2400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
ASRock P67 PRO3 LGA 1155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157222p
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231439

 

[Bacillus]

How about going sandy bridge
Intel Core i5-2400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
ASRock P67 PRO3 LGA 1155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157222p
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231439

With the turbo boost how do temperatures compare to standard i3 or i5? The Tuniq should help a bit with that though. Also, are the only significant differences between the ASRock and the ASUS just price and maximum ram?

In regards to sandy bridge, I was originally considering the Intel Core i5-2500 as it is supposed to OC a fair bit better than the other 2 series. I think I recall reading that the sandy bridge 2000 series are capped at 3.99GHz though? If I were to go that route, this ASUS P8P67 looks to be equivalent to the ASRock you suggested. Finally, with the Ripjaws it says it's specifically designed for sandy bridge, but it would also work just fine with other core-i processors i'm assuming?

After talking to my brother, the budget is slightly flexible so likely anything up to $1000 would be acceptable.

Thanks

 

[orkie]

I do remember reading that Sandy bridge will actually be cooler then previous generation proccesors so i don't think heat will be that much of a problem regards to cpu.
If your going with sandy bridge then those Ripjaws should be fine, but if your not, i would be on the safe side and go with another version even if it would work fine.
Just remember that if you do want to overclock, you need the K version ( i5 2500k).
And I've read of i5 2500k being overclocked to around 5ghz and pretty easily to 4.5ghz, haven't heard of any 3.99ghz cap.

 

[Bacillus]

I do remember reading that Sandy bridge will actually be cooler then previous generation proccesors so i don't think heat will be that much of a problem regards to cpu.
If your going with sandy bridge then those Ripjaws should be fine, but if your not, i would be on the safe side and go with another version even if it would work fine.
Just remember that if you do want to overclock, you need the K version ( i5 2500k).
And I've read of i5 2500k being overclocked to around 5ghz and pretty easily to 4.5ghz, haven't heard of any 3.99ghz cap.

If I were to overclock the i5-2500k to something in the range of 4.5 to 5GHz would the Tuniq be sufficient to keep it cool? Also, what motherboard would be recommended for the i5-2500k if I were to OC?

 

[goatsword]

Yeah that Tuniq should work fine. If you happen to live near a Microcenter, you can get the i5 2500k and ASUS P8P67 Pro for $340.

 

[n_scheffel]

Definitely move to Sandy Bridge. It is nearly impossible to futureproof a PC, but we know for 100% certainty that the 1156 socket is dead.

IMO, get the i5-2500k and any P67 mobo so you can OC it (H67 mobos do not allow you to OC via the multiplier). Since SLI is not really an option with a sub $1000 budget, you can can get a P67 mobo that doesn't support SLI and save some cash there.

Sorry, but I don't know enough about the new mobos to recommend one. I tend to stick with Asus though.

 

[Bacillus]

Yeah that Tuniq should work fine. If you happen to live near a Microcenter, you can get the i5 2500k and ASUS P8P67 Pro for $340.

I just so happen to live a few blocks away from one. The motherboard pricing is the same but the processor is $45 cheaper there. Thank you very much.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a case. My brother liked the looks of the NZXT listed above, but I'm rather against it. I should be able to convince him that cooling/cable management trumps looks. He doesn't want any windows on his case; just a minimal and clean looking one would be nice. I personally use an Antec 300 and suggested that, but he doesn't want the same case as me..

 

[Bacillus]

Definitely move to Sandy Bridge. It is nearly impossible to futureproof a PC, but we know for 100% certainty that the 1156 socket is dead.

IMO, get the i5-2500k and any P67 mobo so you can OC it (H67 mobos do not allow you to OC via the multiplier). Since SLI is not really an option with a sub $1000 budget, you can can get a P67 mobo that doesn't support SLI and save some cash there.

Sorry, but I don't know enough about the new mobos to recommend one. I tend to stick with Asus though.

Yeah looking at price differences I'm going to switch over to Sandy Bridge, especially with savings i've been able to find for the other components. The ASUS P8P67 is the motherboard I've had my eye on, but I'm not sure if the pro model would be pointless, as well as what an equivalent motherboard would be that doesn't support SLI. It's been a few years since my last build..

Would it be worth the $15 to upgrade my G.SKILL Ripjaws ram from DDR3 1333 to DDR3 1600 ?

Also I forgot to include that the build also needs a wireless card. Any suggestions for that would be much appreciated. Thanks!