Buying tomorrow need final advice!

[nzo]

Approximate Purchase Date: 1/11/12

Budget Range: $1300-$1500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming gaming gaming. Battlefield 3, SWTOR, LoL, MW3

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, Display, HDD

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: new preference

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future

Monitor Resolution: 1080p

Additional Comments:

Current Build:

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K $219
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

This one is a no-brainer for me as speeds of i7 cant justify me spending the extra money.

Heatsink: $29
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

MB: Gigabyte MB $179
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128506

Memory: Corsair Vengence 8GB (2x4GB) 1600mhz dual channel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345

PSU: PC Power and Cooling Silencer 910W $149
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703022

Prefer going with a non-modular PSU. I'm going with higher than 750W because I'd like to have a buffer and plenty of room left over for when I decide to add displays and/or another GPU.

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Advanced RC-932-KKN5-GP $159
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Misc Items:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812107196


I'm at $828 before GPU. I am looking at a 7970 but they're all sold out right now. With the 7970 I'll be just under $1400 before tax/shipping which is where I want to be.

 

[nzo]

I think I just noticed my MB didn't have PCI Express 3.0

Edit:

New MB: ASUS P8Z68-V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790

 

[Cybernetic]

Here you go!

I like the build. Very nice. If I had that budget....

P.S. I like how you put BF3 first and MW3 last. You know what's up!

P.S.S. Do you mind looking at my builds and rating/improving them? Unlike yours, they are based more on "future-proofing".

EDIT:

I think I just noticed my MB didn't have PCI Express 3.0

Time to look up a new motherboard?

 

[a4mula]

It's a nice build.

Personally I think the 7970 is major overkill @ 1080 60hz. BF3 can be handled at this resolution (@ ultra) pretty easily by a 570 which is $200 less.

The first batch of new DX games are always the least optimized and require the highest requirements ala Crysis. I don't see games getting much more demanding than BF3 or Metro2033 are currently, at least not on the DX11 front.

Just my thoughts, though again I think the build is great the way it is.

 

[Andre2807]

Oh how I envy the people in America. For $1250 in South Africa I got a Core i3, H61 mobo and GTX 560 Ti complete PC. But for the same money you can get a i5 2500K, Z68 Mobo and GTX 570. Unfair.

Great build. Even if I do envy you.

 

[nzo]

I'm considering upgrading to SSD just to get the most out of this build.

Any thoughts?

 

[mingwyo]

I'm clearly no expert as I am brand new to this, but an SSD is a necessity for my first build. I really do think it's the future...even if it's double the cost today as they will be maybe even a year from now.

Especially if you can afford a 7970!! May as well take advantage of faster OS load times...

 

[digitalzom-b]

I'm considering upgrading to SSD just to get the most out of this build.

Any thoughts?

To be honest, an SSD for the OS is a nice investment. Not only is the OS much more fluent and fast, it also allows you to plop your favorite games on there for awesome load times. If you want JUST OS, then go with a 60gb. If you wanna throw some games on there, go with a 90-120gb. Corsair has some nice SSDs.

Something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148448

Easy to afford if you drop the 7970 idea and go with an overclocked 570 .

Also, not sure if you're fully aware, but the HAF932 is gigantic. If you want something a bit smaller, look into the HAF922's. Plenty of room and great cooling still.

 

[mobohobo]

to be honest although it would seem attractive to me, along with everyone here, i think id keep the 7970 just because it is a beast of a card, and even with next years games, and years to come you can guarantee its going to be an amazing card for a long, long time.

 

[nzo]

Something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148448

Easy to afford if you drop the 7970 idea and go with an overclocked 570 .

I'm definitely considering the M4 series but without the transfer kit. I'm reformating and backing data up on a HDD, so I can grab my information from there and save a few $.

7970 is more of a long term solution for me. I know i'm not going to get optimal performance off the bat as I wait for drivers and games to take advantage of the technology, but it also offers one generation higher of GPU technologies which essentially means I have more NOT to worry if my GPU is bottlenecking.

Its definitely all up to preference. My theory is why pay $200 less now for a card I will need to upgrade for another $350. Sure I'll need to upgrade the 7970, but the idea is to stretch the time between upgrades so I don't have to constantly be chucking out top dollar for decent frames.

Also, not sure if you're fully aware, but the HAF932 is gigantic. If you want something a bit smaller, look into the HAF922's. Plenty of room and great cooling still.

Initially I was considering the HAF942 but I couldnt justify the extra $60 for the space. I didn't want to take a chance with the 922 because I wanted a "future proof" case with limitless options for expansion later on.