Looking for feedback on my $600 gaming rig

[ruibo]

I've ordered or got most of the parts already but wanted to hear some feedback about my selection as I still have plenty of time to return/exchange.

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Approximate Purchase Date: Within 2 weeks

Budget Range: $600-700

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing, coding, movies

Parts not required: DVD-RW, HDD, Keyboard/Mouse, LCD, Case

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Microcenter, Amazon

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: no preference

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future when needed

Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050 22" asus LCD

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Additional Comments: Looking to run games such as BF3, MW3, GW2, SWTOR. Not necessarily in the highest graphic settings but close to it while running smooth.

Intel I5-2500K + Asus P8Z68-V LX Combo - ($300 + $25 tax - $60 combo) = $265
http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.phtml?sku_list=200121+812289
or
http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.phtml?sku_list=200121+909002 for $20 less


Intel 320 Series 160GB Sata II SSD + Battlefield 3 Combo - ($275 - $120 rebate) = $155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?SID=u868541t0f0fp63483dd0c0s701&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&ItemList=Combo.757245


Patriot G Sector 5 DDR3 1333 8GB (4GB x 2) - ($34.99 + $3tax - $25 rebate) = $13
Patriot G Sector 5 DDR3 1333 8GB (4GB x 2) - ($34.99 + $3tax - $25 rebate) = $13
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0353874 (deal is over but i got 16GB worth)


Antec EarthWatts Series EA-750 Green 750W ATX12V - ($79.99 - $25 rebate) = $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371051


Radeon HD 5850, 5870, 6850, or 6870 - somewhere between $100-150

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The final cost should be roughly around $600-650. I got the 750Watt PSU incase in the future I want to run the video card in crossfire.

I'm currently using a RAIDMAX Scorpio ATX-868WSP case with stock fans and no special cooling added. I have no plans to overclock but may explore that option further more in the near future if its easy enough to manage.

Generally the feedback I'm looking for is if there's any obvious conflicts, over-committing or under-committing to a specific part given the budget range, or if any selections are just bad or not as optimal as is reasonable. Thanks in advance for any help or feedback anyone can provide.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the 750 is a bit of overkilll, two 6870s in crossfire needs only a 650W PSU, even with the 2500 overclocked

 

[ruibo]

the 750 is a bit of overkilll, two 6870s in crossfire needs only a 650W PSU, even with the 2500 overclocked

thanks for the reply, overkill is better than underkill I guess.

Better safe than sorry but I already have them ordered and on its way. Wouldn't save much more to get something on the lower end. Maybe $15-25 dollar difference.

I'm honestly having trouble deciding which motherboard to go with, and if the cheap rams I got would be ok. $13 for 8GB was just too good to pass up on.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

ASRock Z68 Extreme 3 Gen 3. $125 For everything you need thru Ivy Bridge

 

[ruibo]

ASRock Z68 Extreme 3 Gen 3. $125 For everything you need thru Ivy Bridge

Don't all Z68 processors support Ivy Bridge?

 

[ruibo]

how are the prices at microcenter so low compared to newegg and amazon?

Their processors has always maintained a very competitive price as far as I can remember. As for how, I really have no idea but it's in-store pick ups only.

I assume it's a similar business model to Best Buy with Black Fridays, 1-2 super deals to lure you in, in hopes of you building the full rig with them.

Either way, their service is excellent, and hard to turn down an I5-2500k for $179.99 with $60 off on a Z68 mobo. The I5-2500K was dropped down to $149.99 on Black Friday but didn't want to go through the traffic and get trampled over.

Here's a link to their November ad with the cpu/mobo deal for anyone interested.

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/33e9daac#/33e9daac/27