Build check

[obsama1]

Approximate Purchase Date: Summer. Early July/Late June

Budget Range: ~$500-$520

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Skyrim on Ultra, Crysis on High, etc.), BOINC/F&H, Web Browsing, movie watching

Parts Not Required: KB, Mouse, Monitor, Speakers, HDD, Optical Drive, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: microcenter.com since I live near one, but newegg is OK. Pretty much any reliable website except TigerDirect. One time I ordered a new HDD and they shipped me one that was a refurb and not in retail packaging.

Country: The US of A.

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, GPU doesn't matter, any reliable mobo

Overclocking: Yes, not insane overclock just to 4-4.3GHz,no voltage changes.

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: Still have a 1440x900 monitor, but I will hook it up a 1080p display so I can play games.

Additional Comments: I prefer functionality over form, but that doesn't mean I want something that's butt-ugly. I kind of cheaped out on the case to get the i5, but if there's a better case for the price, please link to it.
Everything is in a google doc, so I'll paste it here. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvDRfYxqyb1ydEhkN2FQUzB3YUNXVWxZMjBLdVdscnc#gid=0
I have the following parts:

i5 3570K
AMD 6870
ASRock Z77 Pro 3 Mobo
Crucial 8GB 1600MHz RAM
Zalman Z9 ATX case
OCZ 600W PSU
CoolmerMaster Hyper 212+

 

[obsama1]

Is my choice of PSU good?

 

[azeem40]

No, get the ZS OCZ PSU.

 

[obsama1]

Which one do you recommend?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341047

 

[obsama1]

Is it better to have a single +12V rail or 2?
It's between these 2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341047

 

[dudewitbow]

between the 2, i would pay the 5$ luxury of gaining 50w+bronze certification

 

[obsama1]

Thanks. Also, anything I should replace?

 

[thor220]

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel (Best Quality)
----------------------------------------------
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&cm_sp=Cat_Computer_Cases-_-Spotlight-_-11-129-066

$59.99 - Free Shipping
$5 off w/ promo code EMCNENJ42
Total: $55

Thermaltake V3 Black (Best Price)
------------------------
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133094

$44.99 - Free Shipping
$5 off w/ promo code EMCNENF29
Total: $40

Your other case
$41.99
$4.99 Shipping
Total: $47

 

[obsama1]

I'm getting the case from Microcenter, so it's $25. Same quality as the 2 cases, but cheaper.

 

[obsama1]

Anything else?

 

[obsama1]

I might get IB, but Im building in the summer, so IB should go down to $180/$170 at MC.

 

[thor220]

O that's nice! I hear that IB runs hotter than SB, so you might want to pick up a better heat sink if you want to go SB. I also have a PSU recemmendation.

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M600
-----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171036

$89 ($69 after MIR)
$5 Shipping
Total: $94

Single rail, 80+ cert., FLAT cables(awsome), modular

Check all over newegg; one of the highest rated 600w
I know a bit expensive, but it is so quite and high quality.

 

[obsama1]

Coolermaster I heard is bad, but this looks to be an exception. I'll stick with the OCZ but if this goes down in price, I'll check it out. Anything else?

 

[thor220]

Nope pretty solid build otherwise. I have had one coolermaster without any problems. Currently sitting on an antec.

 

[obsama1]

The only bottleneck is the GPU. Just waiting for new Kepler GPU's to drive down the price of the 560Ti and 6950 to ~$150.

 

[azeem40]

The GPU can be OCed to lessen the bottleneck gap.

 

[obsama1]

Yes I know, but if the 6950 gets down to $150, I'd definitely get it and flash it to a 6970 and it would be 30-50% faster than the 6870. Still, a 6870 can play BF3 on Ultra and Crysis too. I mean if it's over 60FPS, it doesn't matter if it's 70FPS or 75FPS. I just want it to be future proof.

 

[azeem40]

Just pointing it out just incase.

 

[obsama1]

You guys have given me a lot of help, but I just want to get as much input as I can.

 

[thor220]

You know what is weird is I have an AMD Phenom X4 running a radeon 5870 with only like 40% cpu usage and it makes me mad. I though my CPU was supposed to be the bottleneck but it turns out it's quite beast.

 

[obsama1]

What kind of FPS do you get in games?

 

[obsama1]

Can an owner of a 6870/5870 give me an opinion on the GPU?

 

[obsama1]

Anyone, LOL??

 

[obsama1]

Should I get the 3570K or 2500K?

 

[obsama1]

I want to get the 3570K since it's more futureproof/faster, but SB is cheaper. What do you guys think?