System < $1500 US -- first time, seeking guidance

[extremenovice]

Approximate Purchase Date: about 2 weeks

Budget Range: < $1500 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, surfing, movie editing

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor (taking suggestions for speakers)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, but I have no strong preference.

Country: USA

Parts Preferences:by brand or type I5 system (see link to potential build below)

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Not at this point

Monitor Resolution: not sure yet: I will confirm in one day

Additional Comments: I'm building my own system for the first time; any additional guidance or advice is certainly welcome. I will have a friend with some experience helping out.

The following is a link to a potential build that was suggested in a link from a poster here. I made some modifications: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8Gx0

Please let me know if any of the components are excessive in comparison to the other components (or underpowered).

Thanks!

 

[g-unit1111]

Here you go:

Case: Fractal Design Arc MIDI - $99.99
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MKII 750W - $89.99 ($20.00 MIR)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H - $159.99
CPU: 3.30GHz Intel Core i5-3570K - $249.99
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $33.99
RAM: 8GB Kingston Hyper X 1600MHz 1.5V - $69.99
SSD: 128GB OCZ Vertex 4 - $149.99
HD: 1TB Seagate Barracuda ST - $99.99
Optical: Lite On Bulk DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: EVGA Geforce GTX 670 - $399.99
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium - $99.99

Total: $1,481.89 - $20.00 MIR = $1,461.99

 

[extremenovice]

G-unit1111,

Thank you for your prompt response!

Did you see the link at the bottom of my original post?

I noticed several things in your build that differed from the link: cheaper PSU / CPU cooler; more expensive RAM 16 vs 8gb, more expensive video card.

Additional question: If you had to budget a monitor, what monitor would you suggest.

Thanks!

 

[g-unit1111]

I noticed several things in your build that differed from the link: cheaper PSU / CPU cooler; more expensive RAM 16 vs 8gb, more expensive video card.

Yeah I realized 16GB of RAM would be useless in a gaming system so I altered accordingly.

That build is fine but I do not touch mATX on full desktop systems because then you limit your expansion options which shortens the life of your system. I really don't recommend motherboards over $150 because you'll most likely never use all the features.

If you have any extra money leftover I always recommend putting that in getting the best GPU you can get because on a gaming build that make or break the build's performance far more than a CPU upgrade or anything else can.

The PSU is the same one I use only it's the 750W model and I've had no complaints. It's actually made by Seasonic which makes really great PSUs.

Additional question: If you had to budget a monitor, what monitor would you suggest.

Monitors are a lot of personal preference which is why I typically don't include them in builds (same with keyboard / mouse as I'm not a fan of blowing hundreds on them). I'm using an Acer 24" 1080p that has served me quite well over the last couple of years.

I really like Asus monitors as well because they have excellent black tones, high refresh rates and good color contrast, maybe check out something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049

 

[azeem40]

That depends. What games do you play? Are any of them fast-paced? What do you look for in a monitor?

 

[boulbox]

CPU+MOBO combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.947924&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=2nrghr9813ie

i5 3570k and UD3H

HDD+Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.937168&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=ws1yvmhcx7mt
1TB from Seagate and an ASUS burner

RAM+PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.917432
Corsair low profile memory and a HX750 for future SLI/CF

CPU cooler
go with hyper 212 evo it is just awesome for its price

Win7

CASE
this will be from my personal opinion highest to lowest

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139010
500R white
a Great case has a fan controller and LED lights with a on/off switch, cable management is a breeze and the case looks awesome

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel
a nice case with blue LEDS and a side window to show off your build

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139011
300R
real nice case and low profile, reason why i put this ahead of Fractal is because of its pricing

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352007&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Cases+(Computer+Cases+-+ATX+Form)-_-Fractal+Design-_-11352007
Fractal Design
a very low profile case if you got your computer somewhere that will bother people with all those flashy lights


Total: the whole build with a 500R case is $938.93. this is without a 670 yet which will be in the price range of 400-500 to make the highest total $1438.93

NOTE: it does not have tax or shipping yet, so make some room for that

 

[extremenovice]

Hi, I wanted to say thank you to boulbox and g-unit. Here's my final setup with all of your input. Cheers!

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9a8k

I decided to go for a lower price point (just an fyi)

 

[extremenovice]

Best answer selected by extremenovice.

 

[g-unit1111]

Hi, I wanted to say thank you to boulbox and g-unit. Here's my final setup with all of your input. Cheers!

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9a8k

I decided to go for a lower price point (just an fyi)

That looks a lot better but I'd heavily suggest switching out the cooler for the Hyper 212 and the case for an Antec 1100. The 900 is old and outdated and has no cable management, the 1100 is far better: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129178&Tpk=antec%201100