First gaming/programming computer - $800 - 1100

[alkajak]

Case

Newegg.ca - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

CPU

Newegg.ca - 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

Motherboard

Newegg.ca - GIGABYTE GA-H67M-D2-B3 LGA 1155 Intel H67 SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Newegg.ca - ASUS P8P67 (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Hard Drive

Newegg.ca - OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
SSD
Newegg.ca - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
SATA

Optical Drive

Newegg.ca - ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - CD / DVD Burners

Video Card

Newegg.ca - EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Newegg.ca - EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Operating System

Newegg.ca - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems

Power Supply

Newegg.ca - SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Memory

Newegg.ca - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-17000CL11D-8GBXL


Any suggestions/substitutions/deductions/additions, please help me out.

If anything is not worth the cost, or if something better (and cheaper) is replaceable, please let me know.

I was told that programs and games on a SSD drive would run much faster (and more smoothly, I suppose), so a friend of mine suggested a 60GB SSD and a SATA HD on the side.

As for the power supply, i was told that modular would be better for an antec case, as the cases are normally huge and require longer wires. I do not know the recommended wattage for this build.

As for video card, if I can cut back on enough things, I may be able to upgrade to a 560 instead of a 550, if it's worth it.

I was told that the case has 4 fans already and I would not need to buy any extra fans for the components.

As you can tell, I'm a bit overwhelmed and I'm not too experienced. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[ikyung]

1) You can always cut extra looking for combo deals like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.654386

2) You can check this case out
https://store.bitfenix.com/chassis?product_id=56
This PSU is same price with more watts, also modular
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012

Are you getting both the Graphics cards or going to choose between one or the other?

2) Yes, SSDs will run it much faster. With a 60GB SSD, you can easily hold your OS, and around 2-3games.

3) Modular is cleaner, but modular isn't "necessary". I have a much bigger case then the Antec 900 with a non-modular 750watt corsair PSU and the cable length is fine.

What kind of programming do you do? If this rig is mainly for gaming with light programming on the side, I would suggest cutting back as much as you can on RAM, Mobo, Case, Hard Drive, and using the extra on a beefy GPU.

 

[ChiefTexas_82]

What is your monitor resolution? Are you interested in SLI or Crossfire? Overclocking?

Putting up both a p67 and h67 mobos is giving me mixed signals. H67 boards allow access to on-chip graphics of sandybridge, but they don't allow overclocking of the CPU. P67 have overclocking enabled, but you can't access Intel's graphics.

If you want to run with dual graphics cards later, the Asus P67 board will be far better than the H67. You will also want a better power supply than that 520W for dual graphics.

If you still want the H67 board you might consider a i5 2500 minus the K. Why buy the K if you can't overclock?

 

[alkajak]

I would like this computer to last for a few years at least. With the combo, would that mobo be good for a few years?

As for programming, I'm taking a major for software engineering, so it'll get pretty serious in the next few years.

I'm choosing between the two graphics cards. I will not be using SLi with this rig. I might overclock it, but for now, the answer is no. Maybe the locked version of the CPU with the H67 is a better idea? Are there better mobos out there for a i5-2500?

EDIT: My gaming needs aren't too heavy. Starcraft 2 and World of warcraft don't ask for a lot. I do play the occasional Fallout 3 and Fallout: NV once in a while. I may play Mass Effect 3 and Starwars: Old Republic when they come out.

 

[alkajak]

Case

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4631382&Sku=C283-1223

CPU

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7073162&CatId=6988

Motherboard

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7343083&CatId=6978

Hard Drive

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6371304&Sku=O261-6299
SSD
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=61389&CatId=2459
SATA

Optical Drive

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6078414&Sku=A455-5022

Video Card

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7106280&CatId=3669

Operating System

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5213932&CatId=306

Power Supply

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3438607&CatId=1483

Memory

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231468


New draft. Possibly my final. Any comments/concerns?

 

[alkajak]

Bump.