Upgrading MB, CPU, memory $400ish

[blakeary]

Approximate Purchase Date: Now
Budget Range: around 400
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming
Parts Not Required:
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, Newegg
Country: Florida, US
Parts Preferences:
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution: 1680x1050
Additional Comments:

I’m upgrading my current system an Athlon Dual Core 2.6 Ghz. I was planning on keeping my case, power supply, video card, drives, and peripherals. The games I’ve been playing run poorly. Diablo 3, Guild Wars 2 (beta). I’d like to be able to run them smoothly on medium/high.

Parts I’d like to keep from my current system:

Case: Antec Three Hundred
http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Three-Hundred-Gaming-Computer/dp/B000GQMHBI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1338084054&sr=1-1
Power Supply: LSP 550 Watt
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276574&CatId=1079
Graphics Card: GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 560
http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GeForce-mini-HDMI-Graphics-GV-N56GOC-1GI/dp/B0051GK5K8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338083699&sr=8-1

Parts I was thinking on buying:

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V/GEN3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131792
CPU: i5 2500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
Memory: Patriot DDR3 8 GB 1600MHz
http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Division-PC3-12800-8-9-8-24-PXD38G1600LLK/dp/B004GUT344/ref=lh_ni_t

I haven’t built a computer in years. I’ve never tried overclocking either. I was initially thinking AMD again but everyone has been strongly recommending Intel. I’m also hoping my current power supply will be OK?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[blakeary]

I ordered the ASUS P8Z68-V/GEN3 and the i5-2500K. I've seen those recommended numerous times in other posts. I'm undecided on the memory.

I’m now thinking Corsair 8 GB 1.35V Vengeance Low Profile PC3-12800…
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DKZK84/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[logan77]

Go for it

 

[TheBigTroll]

1:do not get 1.35v ram. they have no real advantage over 1.5v ram

2: get a ivy bridge chip. they are faster clock for clock and are more power friendly. a good one is i5 3550 or i5 3570k if you ever do plan to overclock

3: if you are going to get ivy bridge, get a z77 mobo. a good one is a asus p8z77-v or the p8z77 LK. they are both about the same. another board that i recommend is a msi z77a-gd55-65. they have a great one touch overclocking.

 

[blakeary]

Best answer selected by blakeary.