My potential i5 low-mid range gaming build

[KOTORARC]

Hello folks, I came into a little bit more money, and have been working on putting together a low-mid range gaming pc (though im not sure exactly what constitutes low and mid so bear with me). Im looking to spend at a max 700 or so. I will list what I have, and then what I plan on getting.

Have

Cooler Master Centurion 5 PC Case
PCP&C Silencer 500w Power Supply
250GB Seagate SATA HDD (not sure if 5400, 7200)
DVDRW Drive.

What I plan on getting

Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I52400

ASUS P8H67-M PRO/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video

2x CardKingston Value 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3N9H/4G

Windows 7 64 bit OEM

Any recommendations? If so please state why beyond "its bettter" if you could. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

 

[sosofm]

MOBO : ASRock Z68 PRO3 GEN3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157279
CPU : i5-2500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
RAM : Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226191
GPU : SAPPHIRE 100314-3L Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948
OS : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
TOTAL : $634.95
In your budget fit a cpu cooler too. If you don't overclock change the CPU with i5 2400.

 

[Guest]

I would go for a 560 ti with your budget. With kepler right around prices on fermi have dropped. This card is $210 with mir http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604 . I never had a problem with EVGA MIR's. I would replace the 6870 with a 560 ti on sosofm's build.

 

[Phyrexiancure]

Yes skip the i5 2400, they cripple its overclocking potential to only about 3.6ghz. The 2500k on the other hand should at least go to 4.5ghz.

 

[KOTORARC]

Yeah overclocking is one thing im not really comfortable with, ive looked a little into it, but while my knowledge is decent, I just don't feel up to the task, so I will probably stick with the 2400.

What would you guys recommend for a cpu cooler? Would a simple heatsink/fan/copper tube combo be ok? Otherwise, thank you very much for the input!

As for the 6870 and 560 ti, will my power supply be able to handle them appropriately? I forgot to ask in the original post.

Otherwise, thank you very much for the input!

 

[azeem40]

For the 6870, yes; for the 560ti, no.

 

[sosofm]

A good and cheap CPU cooler COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 29$ and 20 after rebates.
The PSU recommended for both 6870 and 560Ti is minimum 500W.

 

[KOTORARC]

So, and I apologize for not being so knowledgeable, but what does that mean in regards to how things will function, with 500w being the minimum? Does that simply mean the PS will not last as long. Will I get performance problems? A tad curious. Thank you for the cooling recommendation.

 

[sosofm]

That is the recommended PSU for the entire system to run normal. But if you want to overclock something you will need a 550W - 600W PSU.

 

[KOTORARC]

Best answer selected by KOTORARC.