As a first time builder, I have done a lot of research for myself and it would be great to get some thoughts on this build. Problems? Suggestions? Etc.
Approximate Purchase Date: Late January
Budget Range: $900-1200 after rebates
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, internet, work (MS Office), media center
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor (26 inch 1920x1200, speakers, OS (Win 7)
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I guess Newegg, but suggestions are welcome. I will use Micro Center for the i5 2500k (I'm near one)
Country: U.S.
Parts Preferences: No specific brands other than I like to buy quality and will pay for it if I have to.
Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe - In a year or two I may add another card to bump up the performance
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200 at 26 inches
Additional Comments: fairly quiet PC, absolutely no neon lights, I plan on keeping this roughly 4 years with a potential graphics card or cards upgrade and maybe an Ivy Bridge in 2-3 years if enough of an improvement
PARTS:
i5 2500k - This really seems to be the sweet spot.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard (motherboards are probably were I lack the most knowledge)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
XIGMATEK Gaia SD1283 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler bracket included LGA 2011 i7 i5 775 1155 AMD and dual fan push pull compatible (Tom's had this rated high)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233082
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 (I'm concerned about clearance with Xigmatek heat sink)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144
SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948
SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Desktop Upgrade Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147135
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&cm_sp=Cat_Computer_Cases-_-Weekly_Deals-_-11-119-233
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750M 750W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular High Performance Power Supply $109 (if there is a cheaper equivalent that would be great)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139030
Around $1100 total for this build. I know the total GB's for my hard drive is lower than normal, but I plan on expanding it with SSD's as I fill them up. I'm done with HDD's. Especially, now that all the good ones are so much more expensive because of the flooding in Thailand.
Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks.
Approximate Purchase Date: Late January
Budget Range: $900-1200 after rebates
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, internet, work (MS Office), media center
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor (26 inch 1920x1200, speakers, OS (Win 7)
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I guess Newegg, but suggestions are welcome. I will use Micro Center for the i5 2500k (I'm near one)
Country: U.S.
Parts Preferences: No specific brands other than I like to buy quality and will pay for it if I have to.
Overclocking: Yes
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe - In a year or two I may add another card to bump up the performance
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200 at 26 inches
Additional Comments: fairly quiet PC, absolutely no neon lights, I plan on keeping this roughly 4 years with a potential graphics card or cards upgrade and maybe an Ivy Bridge in 2-3 years if enough of an improvement
PARTS:
i5 2500k - This really seems to be the sweet spot.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard (motherboards are probably were I lack the most knowledge)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
XIGMATEK Gaia SD1283 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler bracket included LGA 2011 i7 i5 775 1155 AMD and dual fan push pull compatible (Tom's had this rated high)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233082
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 (I'm concerned about clearance with Xigmatek heat sink)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144
SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948
SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Desktop Upgrade Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147135
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&cm_sp=Cat_Computer_Cases-_-Weekly_Deals-_-11-119-233
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750M 750W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular High Performance Power Supply $109 (if there is a cheaper equivalent that would be great)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139030
Around $1100 total for this build. I know the total GB's for my hard drive is lower than normal, but I plan on expanding it with SSD's as I fill them up. I'm done with HDD's. Especially, now that all the good ones are so much more expensive because of the flooding in Thailand.
Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks.