First build, $1.2k for gaming

[slurpz]

Approximate Purchase Date: Probably this week

Budget Range: 900-1300 before rebates (though this is probably going to be stretched depending on what video card I get)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, photo processing

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Preferably like a quiet PC

===========================================

Case: Corsair Obsidian 650D Black Mid-Tower (Actually getting for $120, link is just for reference)
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Obsidian-Aluminum-Enthusiast-Computer/dp/B004UE1W9K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333684833&sr=8-1

CPU Cooler: NH-D14
http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-Heatpipe-Bearing-Cooler-NH-D14/dp/B002VKVZ1A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333684779&sr=8-1

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-i5-2500K-3-3-GHz-Quad-Core-BX80623I52500K-Processor-/251043951871?pt=CPUs&hash=item3a7362b4ff#ht_500wt_1122

Motherboard: MSI Z77A-GD65
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-Z77A-GD65-LGA-1155-Intel-Z77-HDMI-SATA-6Gb-s-USB-3-0-ATX-Intel-MB-/330718402813?pt=Motherboards&hash=item4d005a58fd#ht_2741wt_1105

GPU: Was thinking about the Gigabyte GTX 680 reference card

PSU: Consair AX750
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Professional-750-Watt-Certified-High-Performance/dp/B003PJ6QWE

RAM: Kingston Technology HyperX 16 GB Kit 4x4 GB
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Technology-Modules-KHX1600C9D3K4-16GX/dp/B0033BTACM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333670636&sr=8-1

OS: Some sort of Windows 7

SSD (for OS): SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAMSUNG-830-Series-MZ-7PC128B-WW-2-5-128GB-SATA-III-MLC-SSD-Solid-State-Drive-/140739947928?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c4c12d98#ht_2361wt_1105

HDD (for storage): Seagate ST2000DM001 Barracuda 7200RPM 2 TB SATA 6 GB/s
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-ST2000DM001-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal/dp/B005T3GRN2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1334822696&sr=1-2

Sound card (I know that onboard audio is probably enough, but this was really cheap. Not necessary though): Auzentech Auzen X-Fi Forte
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auzentech-X-Fi-Forte-7-1-Digital-Sound-Card-PCIe-Low-Profile-DTS-AZPS-LM28K-/160775341896#ht_5454wt_906

I have an external optical drive...do I still need an internal one?

Thanks in advance for any feedback you guys give towards my build!

 

[slurpz]

I also wasn't too sure about the RAM speed needed, and if the motherboard was fine.

 

[Willasap43]

Seems pretty good, i would wait for ivy bridge tho.

 

[slurpz]

I've heard some disappointing points raised about the overclocking ability of the IB chips (heat problems) though.

Also, I figure that SB chips should get cheaper now that IB chips are coming out, and honestly speaking, it doesn't seem like it'll make /that/ much of a difference since a huge improvement between SB and IB chips was the integrated graphics.

 

[Willasap43]

Fair enough, i dont consider the benchmarks of anything untill it has actually been released, with ivy you get all the chipset improvements as well.

 

[slurpz]

If I was going to wait for IB, I would definitely not get the first batch of IB chips. So that'll push this purchase all the way until June/July/August.

 

[niknovacain]

what is going to be wrong with the first batch of IB chips?

 

[Willasap43]

Sometimes when manufacturing anything the first of the things made can be defective and have problems that dont get seen by the manufacturer straight away, as soon as the problem is reported it is fixed and the following batches are not defective.

 

[iinlane]

Would suggest swapping cooler for cheaper one (Coolermaster Hyper 212 evo maybe) and using better cpu instead (i7-2600K).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=cooler+master+hyper+212+evo

 

[slurpz]

Would suggest swapping cooler for cheaper one (Coolermaster Hyper 212 evo maybe) and using better cpu instead (i7-2600K).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=cooler+master+hyper+212+evo

Considering that I doubt I'd be using hyperthreading much, I don't see how i7-2600k is the "better cpu" for me when compared to the i5-2500k.