Help review my upcoming build

[naf5058]

Hi im planing on building a new system in the next few weeks. It will be my second build, the first being 5 years ago so I want to run it by everyone first because I'm sure there's probably some better component options. Thanks for the help!

Approximate Purchase Date: within the next 3-4 weeks


Budget Range: 900-1000 but preferably as cheap as possible


System Usage from Most to Least Important: games, movies, CAD, Photo editing, internet


Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, but i dont mind buying elsewhere for deals


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: Intel CPU

Overclocking: Most likely


Crossfire: may purchase another graphics card next year


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments:
1. Will the motherboard i selected be compatible with ivy bridge and crossfire should i choose to upgrade in the future?
2. Will the power supply be able to run 2 6950 cards?
3. Do I need additional case fans?
4. Do I need a cpu cooler?


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CPU - 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
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

GPU -MSI R6950 Twin Frozr II Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.731454

RAM - [strike]G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory Model F3-8500CL7D-8GBRL[/strike]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308
edit:G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

Motherboard - ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

HDD - [strike]Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive[/strike]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697
edit:SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

Optical Drive -ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

PSU - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

 

[ps3hacker12]

i would reccommend this HDD over that:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=samsung%20f3

and if you plan on crossfire this would be a better choice:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011

atleast go for 1333Mhz ram: ($5 off w/ promo code EMCKAKJ22, ends 9/7 ):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

but if you plan on OCing i would highly reccommend 1600Mhz ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220570

thats a great case but you might also want to consider these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146025
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815008

 

[naf5058]

Out of the cases you recommended what one would give the best airflow/space/cooling as compared to the haf? I like the antec 300 and the Xigmatek. I dont really like the big plastic windows like on the nzxt. Just looking quickly the Xigmatek Utgard looks like it would offer the most ventilation with the mesh side

 

[ps3hacker12]

was reading this thread:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/293654-10-case-antec
and this:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/306297-10-xigmatech-guard
all the cases are great, but for me i would go for the xigmatek, thanks to more USB ports, more fan options, the great cable management and the fan control that is included with the case!

 

[naf5058]

Thanks for the help ps3hacker. I came to the same conclusion after doing a little research on the xigmatek.

So i Should get 850w power supply if i want crossfire down the road? Is there a particular reason you recommended that xfx model?

Here are a few more i was looking at. Leaning towards the corsair because of positive reviews/reputation
125.99 w/ rebate - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

104.99 after mail in rebate - Thermaltake Black Widow W0319RU 850W ATX 12V v2.3, EPS 12V v2.91 CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153106

129.99 - Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC "compatible with Core i7" Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

Also what differences will I see between hd6950 models in overclock ability/performance/cooling/customer service? Is the msi the best buy?

 

[naf5058]

Best answer selected by naf5058.

 

[ps3hacker12]

the MSI 6950 that you have chosen is one of the best of the 6950s! as for the PSU if you plan on crossfire then a 850W is definetely what i would reccommend, the antec that you've listed as i found out a while back is that it will only fit in certain antec cases.

if you wqant a high efficiency PSU to save electricity an 80+ SILVER PSU like this is what you want:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151100

seasonic are THE BEST PSU manufacturers around they may PSUs for companies like corsair and antec too:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151100

the main thing you want to look for a is a high 12V rating, good reviews and a good 80+ rating, an 80+ bronze is better than an 80+ and an 80+ silver/gold/platinum are even better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371050

the seasonic is on an amazingly low priced offer right now, but the antec can provide more than double he wattage on the 12V rail (the 12V rail is the most important rail because that is where your graphics card/CPU and mobo get their power from) you can work out wattage by multiplying amps by volatage (power=voltage xcurrent).

if its beetween the corsair and the seasonic the seasonic wins.

if iyou want more power than the antec is still better, since its more efficient as well as bering able to provide more power.

there wasnt a particular reason why i reccommended that xfx i think it was just that it was on offer at the time, and would give similar performance (XFX, Corsair, seasonic, antec, OCZ are all great brands to go with when choosing a PSU).