Last Minute Advice for $1200 Gaming PC Please

[phantompenguin]

Hi all,

I had a post on here about a week ago with my build, and I've made a few changes since then (including budget) so just want some last minute thoughts and advice before I start purchasing the remaining parts. The RAM and Case are already bought (I'll link them anyway)

Here's the original link to the build so you can see all my info (purpose, games I play, preferred sites, etc)
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/331864-31-gaming-first-time

The few things I'm torn on:
-Deciding on a more expensive Asus MOBO, or going a little cheaper (ASROCK Z68) and putting the extra money towards an SSD. I really don't need the features of the more expensive board, tbh.
-Still a little torn on GPU (I do plan on running SLI down the road)
-Network connectivity. PC is going in living room, running a cable isn't an option. Should I use my old G router as a wireless bridge, or just get a wireless network card?

Ok here goes:

CASE - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - purchased so don't tell me I should've got another case, I already know
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

RAM - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory - purchased
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

MOBO - 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

ASUS P8Z68-V/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131792&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=wokhso9n5b2s

CPU - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Processors%20-%20Desktops-_-Intel-_-19115072&AID=10440897&PID=3938566&SID=

I plan on overclocking to about 4.3-4.4, nothing crazy

HDD - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Hard%20Drives-_-Western%20Digital-_-22136795&AID=10440897&PID=3938566&SID=

SSD - Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - Only if I go with the cheaper mobo, which I'm currently leaning towards doing
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

GPU - 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 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-127-565&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=5&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=2#scrollFullInfo

EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130610&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1h4qbqri9e3hf

Any real difference between these 2? MSI seems to have better cooling and might be quieter (which isn't really an issue)

PSU - Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-750 750W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Power%20Supplies-_-Antec-_-17371049&AID=10440897&PID=3938566&SID=

Enough power to SLI 2 560Ti's?

Cooler - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-CPU%20Cooling-_-Cooler%20Master-_-35103065&AID=10440897&PID=3938566&SID=

ODD - SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151243&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-CD/DVD%20Burners%20%28RW%20Drives%29-_-SAMSUNG-_-27151243&AID=10440897&PID=3938566&SID=

Wireless card - ASUS PCE-N15 Wireless Adapter IEEE 802.11b/g/n PCI Express 300/300Mbps Transfer/Receive Rate 64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP, WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPS support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320074

My laptop has no problem with the wireless in our house, so I assume the desktop will be the same

OS - Windows 7 Premium

Any advice and opinions on all the parts are greatly appreciated. Can't wait to finalize this and start building! Thanks in advance, you guys have been nothing but great since I've been here

 

[phantompenguin]

Windows 7 Home 64-bit sorry...

 

[inzone]

I would go with the Asrock MB and put the extra money towards the SSD. I would also go with the Evga card it has a better warrenty (limited lifetime) and the cooler on the MSI might keep the card cooler but it will blow hot air into the inside of the case because the design of the cooler is too open , where the Evga is more closed and the air will be directed to the rear of the card and outside through the vents in the bracket.
The power supply is big enough for two 560Ti's in SLI. The one thing I would recomend is with the SSD you may want to consider a 128gb size or even 90gb. I have had a 64gb for the OS drive and found it fills up really fast with updates and drivers and just all the little things that get loaded and slip by onto the C drive without you noticing.

Corsair Force Series GT CSSD-F90GBGT-BK 2.5" 90GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
$149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233205

Corsair Force Series GT CSSD-F120GBGT-BK 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
$189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233191

You can't find a SSD with faster read/write then the Corsair , I have three of the 180gb in my computer and I think they are just great. I wouldn't recomend them if I were having any issues with any iof them.

 

[phantompenguin]

Thanks alot for the input! Yeah I'm currently leaning towards the ASRock mobo with an SSD, my problem is theyre just so expensive.

I could always go smaller on the internal HDD (250 gb?), get like a 120gb SSD and wait until hard drives come back down in price and grab a bigger HDD

I think I am going to go with the EVGA, the reviews are really good and you really can't put a price on a lifetime warranty (especially if I'm going to run 2 of them eventually).

 

[phantompenguin]

Best answer selected by phantompenguin.