First Build - $600-$700 - MoBo help

[geoffcoigligh]

Going for my first build soon, and was wondering what opinions were on what I've selected thus far. First - the basic stuff:

Approximate Purchase Date: Looking to get some parts (MoBo and CPU) by 09/18 due to current sales, plan on purchasing everything else by the end of September (2 weeks, 3 max)

Budget Range: $600-$650 after rebates, max $750 after tax (there is alot of taxation here, roughly 13-15% plus environmental fees)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Skyrim, Crysis 2), watching videos, basic stuff (no video editing/rec/etc)

Parts Not Required:
PSU: Antec TP-650 Truepower New 650W Continuous Power Supply
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=33_443&item_id=021533
Video Card: Asus ENGTX560 Ti DCII/2DI/1GD5 nVidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti Chipset (830Mhz) 1GB (4000Mhz) GDDR5 Dual Dual-Link DVI-I/Mini HDMI Display PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=036683
Mouse, Speakers, Keyboard

Preferred Websites for Parts: newegg.ca, tigerdirect.ca, canadacomputers.com (I live near a location so this helps save S&H)

Country of Origin: Canada

Parts Preferences: None

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: I may look into OC shortly - might not do it at all though. If I try SLI it won't be for another 6 months or so if at all.

***** New Parts *****

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

MoBo: GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD4-B3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_722&item_id=037037

**My weakest knowledge base is MoBo's...I feel as though I'm almost obligated to go for this one just due to the sale and rebate - any feedback or advice is greatly appreciated**

My original choice was this:
GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

HD: Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

DVD: ASUS 24X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Case: A couple of choices here...
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
OR
NZXT Lexa S Crafted Series Black Steel Mid Tower Case
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=6_112&item_id=025844

I prefer the styling of the NZXT, and it currently offers a solid rebate. I'm well aware of the rave reviews of the HAF 922, but the NZXT is also well liked.

Pricing

With the HAF and initial Z68 MoBo
$632.71

With NZXT and P67 MoBo
$654.19 (before $50 in MIR) = $609.19

Thanks for any input (especially with MoBo's!) and comments

 

[madchemist83]

I would go for ur original mobo choice

 

[geoffcoigligh]

b/c of the chipset?

 

[madchemist83]

U know what nvm .. I just checked that link .. that's a fat rebate .. go for it
and Z68 only offers SSD caching which rarelly used and Vitru for video transcoding
so u good

 

[geoffcoigligh]

any other recommendations/comments?

 

[madchemist83]

swap seagate for samsung f3
and get a cooler for ur cpu

 

[008Rohit]

MoBo : ASRock Extreme3 Gen3 Z68 - PCIe 3.0 $125
CPU Cooler - CoolerMaster Hyper 212+ - $28
HDD : Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB - $60
RAM : Gskill RipjawsX DDR3 1600 2x4GB 1.5v - $55

Best 4 Choices for your budget.

 

[aznshinobi]

All these parts are usually cheaper and orders over $50 are free shipping so cheaper than Newegg.ca (Exception of F3 1TB)

i5 2500K $210
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12200BD1527&vpn=BX80623I52500K&manufacture=INTEL
Gigabyte Z68A-D3H-B3 $122
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD4863&vpn=GA-Z68A-D3H-B3&manufacture=GIGABYTE
G.Skill 4GB DDR3 1600 $27
http://directcanada.com/products/?sku=15380BD5460&vpn=F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL&manufacture=G.SKILL
HAF 922 $91
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11130AC5964&vpn=RC-922M-KKN1-GP&manufacture=COOLERMASTER
Samsung F3 1TB
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&Tpk=f3%201tb
Asus DVD drive $19
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10530DR5213&vpn=DRW-24B1ST%20Bulk&manufacture=ASUS
Hyper 212+ $25
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11130AC8843&vpn=RR-B10-212P-G1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER

 

[geoffcoigligh]

Didn't think a non-stock cooler would be necessary without OC'ing, but for $25 and the possibility I may OC in the near future I don't see why I shouldn't grab one.

Would prefer this though (local pickup)
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=8_129&item_id=025125

Just wondering why people are recommending certain MoBo's over others/the two I'm looking at

 

[aznshinobi]

Oh, buy it locally then. All the parts should be avail. at your local store. Newegg comes out to total at a really high price because of shipping.

 

[geoffcoigligh]

Been double checking specs, and the 212 Plus isn't compatible with 1155 MoBo's...so for now I'll look around for highly rated 1155 coolers.

Seems like the Samsung F3 comes recommended over the Seagate as well, going to swap that part out and go with the Samsung


EDIT: So 5 minutes of double checking shows me the errors of my way - looks like the 212 Plus is back on the list haha

 

[geoffcoigligh]

Best answer selected by geoffcoigligh.

 

[madchemist83]

good luck