New build, parts check/advice before pulling the trigger.

[Refskeg]

Corsair Graphite Series 600T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139007

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

MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support -OR EVGA 560ti SC?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127565

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

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

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM -OR the CL 9 cheaper version? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R1 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099



What do you guys think? I also haven't picked out a monitor - looking to get a 24" around $200. Newegg has some deals right now that look pretty good.

 

[rvilkman]

GPU: Go with the MSI, the cooler is great vs the one on the EVGA.

PSU: If you can afford it and want the best, the Seasonic X750 is on sale this weekend for $129.99.
It's a great deal on it, 80plus Gold rated 5 year warranty and pretty much the best 750W psu available.
Fully modular as well.

If not then the TX750 V2 is a great choice.

Memory: You won't really notice the difference in use, but the CAS8 is faster and does have a nice deal now, so grab it

Overall I think it looks really good.

Monitor: There should be tons of options in that price range.
If you can preview the models in a local store somewhere, i would recommend that you go take a look and then just order one from newegg based on how it feels.

 

[Why_Me]

This case down below is new on the market, and has better cooling imo than the 600T. It has a 200mm side fan with the option to add 2 x 120mm fans up top along with multiple fan controllers, dust filters, etc.. and it combo's with Windows 7.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009 $139.99 - $129.99 after mail-in rebate card
Corsair Carbide Series 500R Black Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

If you don't plan on doing video transcoding, then this board down below has the front USB 3.0 header which that Z68 extreme3 gen3 board doesn't have. Seeing how these Corsair cases have the front USB 3.0 ports, find a board with that front USB 3.0 header so you can use those slots...like this board down below.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157265 $154.99
ASRock P67 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=P67%20Extreme4%20Gen3 <----- another look at that board

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/PCIe3/ <---- PCI-E 3.0

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JLNZXU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER $224.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
MSI GeForce GTX560 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/Mini HDMI PCI-Express Video Card N560GTX TI TWIN FROZR II OC

Add another fan to that CM cooler for a "push - pull" effect to bring temps down even more.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103069 $8.99 FREE SHIPPING
COOLER MASTER R4-BMBS-20PK-R0 Blade Master 120mm Case Fan60

 

[Refskeg]

Roger that on the Asrock p67 and the extra fan on the cooler, that's in the works. I'm also planning to toss 4x 120mm fans on the side of that case eventually, for extra cooling. I was struggling to decide between the 400r, 500r and 600t though, I thought the 600t was the best looking of the bunch though.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

I'm also picking up a few of the parts on Amazon, as you linked Why_me, found them cheaper + no tax, + free shipping.. tough to beat, especially when shipping on that case is like $20. Just linked them all off of Newegg for simplicity's sake.

 

[Refskeg]

Question, Should I up the PSU to 850w and spring for a GTX570? or will the i5 bottle neck 2 570s in SLI if I SLI it down the road? SLI 560ti the best bang for the buck? I'm trying to future proof here as well.

 

[rvilkman]

If you do decide to go with GTX570's yes, up the PSU to 850W. The i5 will not bottleneck the 570SLI, so you are fine on that.

You need to check for prices, the GTX570 is about 20-30% faster than 560Ti, so basically you need to get one at a pretty competitive price.
560Ti is usually available at about $220 after rebates for the better version, so add 30% to that and you get to about $280.
So unless you can find it for less or equal than that.

There is a Galaxy GTX570 now on newegg $309.99 ( $259.99 after MIR ) which basically would have that price difference.
Otherwise the 560Ti has the better bang for buck.

 

[Refskeg]

I think the MSI 570 twin frozr III is about $360. Maybe ill wait a bit and pick that part up if/when it comes down a bit or goes on sale. I don't want to short-change myself and go with a 560 SLI setup when I could just wait a bit and pick up a 570 to SLI a little later.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SAO0Z4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER $329.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
MSI nVidia GeForce GTX570 Twin Frozr II OC 1280MB DDR5 2DVI/Mini HDMI PCI-Express Video Card N570GTX TWIN FROZR II/OC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011 $119.99
XFX Core Edition PRO850W (P1-850S-NLB9) 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_p_4_4?rh=n%3A172282%2Cn%3A%21493964%2Cn%3A541966%2Cn%3A193870011%2Cn%3A572238%2Cp_4%3ACorsair&bbn=572238&ie=UTF8&qid=1317578339&rnid=15784691 <------ FREE SHIPPING

 

[Refskeg]

Best answer selected by Refskeg.