Final Thoughts before I click "BUY"? (Gaming Build $1200)

[Hendel]

Hi,
I posted here a couple of months back thinking i would be getting a build then, but decided to hold out as long as i could on my old pc before biting the bullet and getting a new one. Anyway, my gaming laptop died 3 days ago and even my wife wants me to hurry up and get a new PC.
I think most of what I've chosen is pretty good, [strike]but I have concerns about the CASE, room in the Case and size of my RAM interfering w/ the CPU Cooler. [/strike]
I have never built a PC before.

Location: USA
Budget: $1250
Use: Gaming(StarCraft II, Rift, SWTOR), Working (Computer Programmer SQL Server 2005 and 2008. VS 2005,2008,2010)

Preferred Vendors: NewEgg, Amazon, Microcenter (whichever is cheaper)
My Monitor: ASUS 24"" 1080p
Don't Need: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor

[strike]CASE: Antec 300 Illusion (can i turn off the blue leds if they annoy me?) - Is there a better case for: $69.99 ?[/strike]
New Case:Corsair Carbide Series 400R (Combo Deal with the PowerSupply)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008

Power Supply: Corsair TX750 (don't think i can go wrong here): $105.99
url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

MotherBoard: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 (will use CrossFire Eventually) : $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8gb : $41.99 **Changed to low profile to accommodate CPU Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233196

CPU: I5-2500k : 179.99 @ MicroCenter

CPU Cooloer: Hyper 212 EVO :$34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

GPU: Gigabyte 6950 1gb will Crossfire in 1-2 years when i need a graphics boost: $239.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125385

SSD: Corsair 3 series 180gb (120 doesn't seem like enough and 240+ is just too expensive): $249.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233220

HD: Seagate Barracuda 1tb 6.0gb/s (stupid flood, wish it was WD 1tb Caviar Black): $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

Samsung CD/DVD Burner: $17.99
SubTotal: $1204.90

Now My Questions.
[strike]So, any better ideas for a Case? [/strike] Going with Corsair Carbide 400r
[strike]Will this RAM/CPU Cooler system play nice?[/strike] Went w/ low profile
[strike]Do I need to buy Thermal Paste?[/strike] Apparently comes with the CPU Fan
I know i'm supposed to do Apps on the SSD and music, videos, documents etc... on the HD, is that just right-clicking "My Documents" and selecting move? Is it that easy? Or am I supposed to do something crazy?
Do I need to change the firmware on anything before I install Windows 7 Professional?
Do I need to change any Windows settings to play nice with my SSD?

 

[steelhero]

For the i would use the COOLER MASTER HAF 912 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

Ps what are you going to put on your ssd i'm using a 60gb one of boot as well as a few games.

 

[raptorxrx]

On the LED's on the Illusion, the only way to turn them off would be to remove the led from the fan. So no...

The regular version, HAF 912, Antec 100, lots of good cases.

No, the RAM will be annoying. They make a low profile version, and I would either get that or Mushkin RAM, as most of their RAM is made in the US.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/windows-7-and-ssds-setup-secrets-and-tune-up-tweaks/2910?pg=2&tag=content;siu-container
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/windows-7-and-ssds-cutting-your-system-drive-down-to-size/2941?pg=3

You'll be fine with the thermal paste with the EVO.

Firmware? I wouldn't think so, all though possibly on the SSD.
Build looks good. If you live near a micro center get your CPU+MOBO there, excellent prices.

 

[sod16]

Mate HD7950 is out in 3 weeks, don't be a fool!

 

[raptorxrx]

Yes, personally I would wait, and forgot to mention this: If you wait for the next big thing you won't ever build a computer though.

 

[Hendel]

For the i would use the COOLER MASTER HAF 912 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

Ps what are you going to put on your ssd i'm using a 60gb one of boot as well as a few games.

I'll check out the haf 912 (other people's thoughts on haf 912 vs antec 200 hundred?)

I will be putting on, all Applications, so Windows, 3 versions of Visual Studio, 2 Version of SQL Server, Star Wars the Old Republic, Rift, StarCraft II, Civ 5, Kohan II, Office Products, XNA, ITunes, etc...

@sod16

Mate HD7950 is out in 3 weeks, don't be a fool!

Won't that be even more expensive???

@raptorxrx

The regular version, HAF 912, Antec 100, lots of good cases.

No, the RAM will be annoying. They make a low profile version, and I would either get that or Mushkin RAM, as most of their RAM is made in the US.

Any favorite case for you?
I'll look at a more lowfile version of the RAM.

 

[steelhero]

I'n using haf 912

 

[Hendel]

Okay Modifications
1) RAM
Modified my Ram to the low profile Corsair Vengeance.
2) CASE
Changed to the Corsair Carbide Series 400R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008
There was a combo deal between this Case and the tx750 PowerSupply

So Price went up $10 for a pretty solid case.
Only thing I'm iffy on now is the MotherBoard. Reviews state some problems, but then again I couldn't find a single motherboard that didn't have complaints about reliability issues.
So unless anyone sees a similar priced MB that is undeniably better, I'll stick with this ASRock MB. (It can accept any IvyBridge in the future right if I ever need to upgrade to one?)

Thanks,

 

[raptorxrx]

I'll check out the haf 912 (other people's thoughts on haf 912 vs antec 200 hundred?)

I will be putting on, all Applications, so Windows, 3 versions of Visual Studio, 2 Version of SQL Server, Star Wars the Old Republic, Rift, StarCraft II, Civ 5, Kohan II, Office Products, XNA, ITunes, etc...

@sod16

Mate HD7950 is out in 3 weeks, don't be a fool!

Won't that be even more expensive???

@raptorxrx

The regular version, HAF 912, Antec 100, lots of good cases.

No, the RAM will be annoying. They make a low profile version, and I would either get that or Mushkin RAM, as most of their RAM is made in the US.

Any favorite case for you?
I'll look at a more lowfile version of the RAM.

For your SSD, yes you than would want 120++.

The 7950 won't necessarily be more expensive, maybe some at first. It would take the spot of the 6950 in that price range. You could get a 6950 for less though after they come out (around the 7th of Jan)

A favorite case? No, not really, currently I'm using the Storm Scout. I love it's handle. It is actually a steel handle, I took off the front panel to check. But Lian Li makes good cases, Coolermaster has some cases, it all depends on how much you want to spend on a case. The case is imo the hardest part to choose.

 

[raptorxrx]

Okay Modifications
1) RAM
Modified my Ram to the low profile Corsair Vengeance.
2) CASE
Changed to the Corsair Carbide Series 400R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008
There was a combo deal between this Case and the tx750 PowerSupply

So Price went up $10 for a pretty solid case.
Only thing I'm iffy on now is the MotherBoard. Reviews state some problems, but then again I couldn't find a single motherboard that didn't have complaints about reliability issues.
So unless anyone sees a similar priced MB that is undeniably better, I'll stick with this ASRock MB. (It can accept any IvyBridge in the future right if I ever need to upgrade to one?)

Thanks,

Good RAM and Case.
On the motherboard, it is the best board for its price. Ivy Bridge should be compatible with a BIOS update, but it is hard to say for sure.

 

[chulex67]

Great Build, I had the same idea as you with the SSD, Finally Went for a 64gigs Crucial, Im happy that i didnt got the 120gigs , Its a Waste For me, i play League of legends, Starcraft, BF3 and sometimes TF2

 

[Hendel]

If I want bluetooth capabilities do i have to buy a card or do one of my components have bluetooth built in?