First-time Gaming Rig Build

[coobando87]

Hi there, everyone...

I'm looking to be building my first gaming rig in approximately the next month, and wanted some advice/input.

I already made a wishlist on Newegg, and I'll post the parts on here, but I was wondering if my build is too much - or lacking - in certain areas, and want a solid unit that will give me back in performance what I'm investing into it.

I'm not a stranger to computers, but I am when it comes to building them, and I'm just looking for a bunch of input, if possible.

The following parts are based on some recommendations a buddy of mine gave me when I approached him saying that I'm looking to build my own unit.

I know I want a Core i7 processor, and in choosing one, I know there are several options, and I'm leaning towards a quad-core, because I've read that they're faster, overall, performance-wise.

When it comes to graphics cards, I don't know which would be better suited for me, be it nVidia or AMD/ATI - I have always had PCs that have nVidia GPUs, but I don't know which would be best for me to use in my build.

I apologize in advance if I have a lot of questions, but I really appreciate your input.

Thanks for taking the time, and I look forward to your help
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Approximate Purchase Date: Within a month

Budget Range: $1500-1700 (before rebates)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, media - movies, music, etc., web browsing

Parts Not Required: Mouse

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com

Country: US

Parts Preferences: Intel Core i7 CPU (Sandy Bridge?), SSD, 23' LCD, Aluminum Case

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (is it worth it?)

Monitor Resolution: 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200

Additional Comments: Want it to be quiet, and also somewhat power-efficient.

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LIAN LI PC-8NW USB3.0 Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112344

ASUS P6X58-E PRO LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131755R

EVGA 02G-P3-1559-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130652

Antec EarthWatts Series EA-750 Green 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371051

Intel Core i7-960 Bloomfield 3.2GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601960
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115224

OCZ Agility Series OCZSSD2-1AGT30G 2.5" 30GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227460

Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F90GB3-BK 2.5" 90GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233204

Western Digital RE2 WD7500AYYS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136948

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-12GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231358

ASUS Black Blu-ray Burner SATA BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135252

COOLER MASTER Hyper N 520 RR-920-N520-GP 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Intel Core i7 compatible
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116997

Saitek Cyborg V5 CCB44026N0B2/06/1 Black USB Wired Gaming Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823175012
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[inzone]

A few questions about your build.
1. Why are you going with an outdated chip system (x58)?
2. Why a 1366 socket based cpu?
3. Why 2 SSD's?

 

[inzone]

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
$121.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K
$229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

Corsair Force Series GT CSSD-F180GBGT-BK 2.5" 180GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
$254.99 and a $35 rebate makes it $219.99

EVGA 012-P3-2066-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 448 Cores FTW 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$289.99 and a $10 rebate makes it $279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130738

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9R
$49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233180

The total of these parts is $901.95 and the total of the parts that you chose including the two SSD's is $919.94.
If you replaced the parts you chose with these you will have amuch better performing computer.

 

[coobando87]

A few questions about your build.
1. Why are you going with an outdated chip system (x58)?
2. Why a 1366 socket based cpu?
3. Why 2 SSD's?

1. This was based on my friend recommending me this MOBO, and that's why I had originally listed it.
2. Again, same reason as before.
3. I was thinking to keep the OS on its own, smaller, SSD, and games, and frequently accessed software on the other SSD

 

[CrysisComa]

I agree with Inzone. You had an almost 300$ i7 pared with a Nvidia 550 graphics card. Not a good matchup

The one he suggested looks much better

 

[hellfire24]

here you go-
case-NZXT Phantom Probably the best bang for buck full tower IMO.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146068
CPU-i5 2500k-best bang for buck CPU with power
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
cooler-it's enough for 4~4.5GHz-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
HDD-prices are touching sky!get this 500GB-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769
RAM-Corsair Vengeance is a good one-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233180
Motherboard-i know extrme3/gen3 is cheaper but you can not beat Asus!-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131790
PSU-XFX 850w is a good psu.receives high ratings on johnyguru-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011
SSD-i am partial to crucial but this one seems good too-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233191
Video Card-7970 is a monster.i am collecting funds for .
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150586&cm_sp=Cat_Video_Cards_%26%2338%3b_Video_Devices-_-New-_-14-150-586
i hope it is available when you are going to get
i am sure this rig will max out almost every game @1080p.

 

[hellfire24]

you can adjust a i5 2500k and 7970 in your budget