First time builder, gaming and 3D workstation ~$1200

[onionsalad]

Approximate Purchase Date: Early June


Budget Range: 900-1300 (never adverse to saving money ;D)


System Usage from Most to Least Important: 3d modeling/rendering, gaming


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com


Country of Origin: US


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: No ( not too heavy into intensive performance gaming)

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I followed a (seemingly) comprehensive guide on what is needed to build a computer, so I put together a laundry-list of components. If there's anything that seems off, doesn't fit, or is missing from this list I'd love some feedback. If any of this seems way too over- or under-powered in comparison to the rest, again I'd love the feedback. I scoured forums and guides for most, if not all, of these items, so I'm hoping I'm not too far off with any of them.

So here we go:

CPU : Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost)

Mobo: ASUS P8P67 (REV 3.0)

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3

Video card: EVGA 01G-P3-1372-TR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) Superclocked 1GB

SSD: Kingston SSDNow V+100 SVP100S2B/96GR 2.5" 96GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

PSU: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-650HX 650W

CPU fan: ZALMAN CNPS9900ALED 120mm

Case: NZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower


So any insight, any "what is he THINKING" moments, anything at all. I'd really appreciate help with this. And sorry in advance if I broke any posting rules or etiquette. I'm new here, go easy

Thanks!


*edit*
The biggest questions I have are if the case will fit everything I need, if the PSU is too much/little in terms of wattage, and if everything will actually work with the motherboard. So if my fears on those subjects can be assuaged, that would be lovely.

 

[jbakerlent]

Welcome to the forum. My natural reaction upon seeing the 2600K is to recommend the 2500K, but it may actually be acceptable for your uses. Still wouldn't be that much different, though. For the mobo I also generally say go for a Z68 board instead of P67. The build doesn't really require all 650W of that HX but its a great PSU anyways so maybe you could use it in a future build. RAM, get dual channel not triple, 2x4GB. I'd say get a 320 over that Kingston also
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167047&cm_re=intel_320_ssd-_-20-167-047-_-Product
Finally check out the Hyper 212+ instead of the Zalman
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=hyper_212_-_-35-103-065-_-Product

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

I'd say upgrade to GTX 560 Ti instead of GTX 460.

 

[onionsalad]

I decided on the gtx 460 based on my planned budget and my graphics needs for games (which aren't too ridiculously high). So a $100 upgrade to the video card just isn't something I'm looking into, amk.

But I really appreciate the quick responses! I took your advice, jbakerlent, and switched to the 320 ssd, hyper 212 fan, 2500k (I was hovering between that and the 2600k anyway), and 8gb of RAM. Is there a specific reason I shouldn't get triple channel RAM?

My biggest question was why to get the z68 rather than p67? Far as I can tell, and please correct me if I'm off, the difference is that z68 allows gpu overclocking while the p67 doesn't? And the z68 also supports the onboard gpu... which I'm not sure why I'd need that with a discrete card anyway.

 

[gametstr]

p67 and z68 can not use triple channel RAM. They can only use dual channel.

z68 has SSD caching which might help since ur getting an SSD.
and is that true about not being able to overclock gpu on p67??

edit : oh u meant the igp, nevermind.

 

[mlcaouette]

Sandy bridge CPU's and boards don't support triple channel mode. The z68 is like a free upgrade since it has ssd caching and the onboard gpu option which should've been included with the p67's. The sapphire HD 5850 is still available on amazon for a little cheaper than your gtx 460.

Chances are you won't use the SSD caching since it only goes up to 64Gb and performance is better with just the SSD alone as a boot drive alone. SSD caching is focused towards the lower budget folks who can't afford a large SSD.

 

[onionsalad]

Best answer selected by onionsalad.