First gaming build ~$1000 (max $1300)

[Exzess]

Approximate Purchase Date: this week
Budget Range: Hoping for $1000, but willing to go up to $1300 (monitor not included).

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, running programs for work, surfing

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.ca, tigerdirect.ca

Country: Canada

Parts Preferences: none

Overclocking: why not?

SLI or Crossfire: Yes

Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Additional Comments: I use some programs for work (not too often) that can be quite demanding depending upon the input. I'm also hoping to build a PC that's modestly future proof.

I'm a newb when it comes to PC hardware, so please let me know if there are any incompatibilities or bottlenecking. Thanks.

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 ($224.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel ($34.99)

EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP ($259.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604

or

EVGA 01G-P3-1460-KR GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready ($189.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130660

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard ($149.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBSR ($42.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231417

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ/ST500DM005 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($89.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM ($20.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

ASUS VH236H Black 23" Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Speakers ($179.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

A few questions for things I'm unsure of:

1) I didn't choose a power supply because I don't know what wattage I'll need. I plan on OCing and eventually SLI, so what PSU would you recommend? What are the benefits of a modular PSU...less clutter?

2) Should I bother with a sound card? Would it make a huge difference for say Diablo 3?

3) Is there a major difference between the 2 EVGA cards in terms of performance?

4) Can someone explain to me what the benefit of having an SSD with the Samsung HDD would be?

Cheers

 

[g-unit1111]

1) I didn't choose a power supply because I don't know what wattage I'll need. I plan on OCing and eventually SLI, so what PSU would you recommend? What are the benefits of a modular PSU...less clutter?

There's not really much benefit to a modular PSU - the idea of it having "less clutter" is kind of a myth - it's all in how you route your cables and sleeve them as to how it will look, I've personally come to prefer non modular PSUs over modular ones. The reason being is that the modular PSUs I owned caused nothing but problems and the two Corsair TX750s I have now have run like champs.

I typically recommend this PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

The Antec 300 is a good choice for case but it has ZERO cable management. A better choice would be the Cooler Master HAF 912:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

2) Should I bother with a sound card? Would it make a huge difference for say Diablo 3?

No - don't waste your money. Onboard audio is more than enough - it's all I ever have or ever will use. Sound cards haven't been required equipment since at least 2002 and you're better off putting that money in the GPU.

3) Is there a major difference between the 2 EVGA cards in terms of performance?

The 560TI will be a huge improvement over the standard 560 - the standard 560 is a reference design, where the TI is based off EVGA's own design and for the most part is factory overclocked.

Alternately you should definitely consider the new Radeon 7850 and 7870 - they're out today and getting rave reviews:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7870-review-benchmark,3148.html

4) Can someone explain to me what the benefit of having an SSD with the Samsung HDD would be?

The main benefits with any SSD are faster loading and boot times. It will also take all the initial pain and frustration out of the initial format and install of your primary drive and makes loading Windows almost effortless.

That build looks really good - there's nothing I would change about it but you should definitely take a look at the case and GPU I suggested.

 

[Exzess]

Do you think 650w will supply enough power to OC if I pick up another 560TI (or 7850 depending on what I choose)?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Exzess]

This seems to be a pretty good price for a 560 Ti card...think I'll go with this one:

MSI N560GTX Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti Video Card - 1024MB, GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0 (x16), 2x Dual-Link DVI, 1x Mini-HDMI, DirectX 11, Dual-Slot, SLI Ready, Overclocked ($204.99 after rebate)

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7171406&CatId=3669

 

[g-unit1111]

Do you think 650w will supply enough power to OC if I pick up another 560TI (or 7850 depending on what I choose)?

Thanks for the help.

It should be fine - I'd get 750 just to be on the safe side but 650 should be more than adequate.

MSI N560GTX Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti Video Card - 1024MB, GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0 (x16), 2x Dual-Link DVI, 1x Mini-HDMI, DirectX 11, Dual-Slot, SLI Ready, Overclocked ($204.99 after rebate)

You should still take a look at the 7850 as it's currently putting up better numbers than the 560TI is.

 

[Exzess]

This is what I ended up going with: https://secure.newegg.ca/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=19903446

$50 over my max, but I'm pretty happy with the setup. Thanks for the help.

 

[azeem40]

I can't see it.

 

[Exzess]

I can't see it.

It's this:

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 ($224.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6819115072

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel ($34.99)

EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP ($259.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6814130604

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard ($149.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6813157271

G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBSR ($42.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6820231417

Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ/ST500DM005 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($89.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6822152181

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM ($20.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6827135204

ASUS VH236H Black 23" Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Speakers ($179.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6824236059

+

Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR120GB 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $124.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236

CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 (CMPSU-750HX) 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified ($154.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($64.99)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

ETA: I know the PSU is expensive, but IMO the 7 year warranty was worth it. With the $15 MIR, it's only $139.99 + tax