[Suggestions Needed] ~$1500 Gaming/Multi-purpose Build

[Talic]

Hey there. I'm just about to get started on my first PC build investment. I think I'm comfortable with the parts I've chosen so far, however I'm not so certain in a few areas.

Approximate Purchase Date: End of June/This upcoming month

Budget Range: Roughly around $1500 - $1700

System Usage from Most to Least Important: High-End gaming(Max settings in most games), school (engineering/programming), Screen Capture PC Game recordings, HD capture card for console game recordings, Broadcasting live HD streams, Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects, Adobe CS5/CS6, Sony Vegas, a bit of Adobe Illustrator, watching blu-ray movies, internet

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, OS (Windows7 Professional)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon (Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime), Newegg, Microcenter (located in-area), wherever is cheap yet reliable.

Country: United States

Parts Preferences: I'm open for any brands and suggestions (customer service, warranty offerings, etc.)

Overclocking: Yes / Slight 4.4Ghz - 4.7 GHz

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe / Would like the possibility

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 and have the possibility for dual-monitors (especially whilst gaming)

Additional Comments: I would like this build to last at least a few good years(3-4 years w/ few upgrades if necessary), so I'm trying to keep it a bit futureproof with all the investments I can at once. I'd like to maintain excellent cooling but have it quiet as possible; However, games on max settings is a must.


Parts
Mobo: Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA1155 (GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB) with Bluetooth 4.0/Wi-Fi Expansion Card $209.99
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770k Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) $289.99 - I know this particular Ivy Bridge model isn't very good with OC'ing as it creates allot of heat, so I'm still looking for suggestions.
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 500R White Mid Tower Gaming Case (good choice?) $116.35
GPU: ASUS DCII Top GeForce GTX 670 w/GPU Tweak $450 - If I ever find it in stock.
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB(2 x 8GB)LP $116.99 - I'm just sticking with this for now. I'd rather have 2x 8GB over 4x 4GB to leave possibility for 32GB on the mobo I've chosen. Is there any other RAM sets more faster and reliable?
HDD: Seagate ST2000DM001 Barracuda 7200RPM 2 TB $109.99
SSD: Kingston SSDNow V+200 120GB (good choice?) $114.99
PSU: I'm not sure on which PSU to go with for this build. I'm torn between choosing a 750w (which should be enough enough power) or an 850w to cover power consumption in OC and potential SLI/Crossfire in the future. I'd like for it to be modular or at least cable manageable, quiet, and reliable

Most of all, I must be sure everything will fit into the Corsair 500r(should I consider a different case?) with possible SLI/Crossfire in the future. I'm hoping to keep it as cool as possible with little noise so I'm in need of suggestions for a heatsink, fans/watercooling whatever works.

Thanks for any help

 

[g-unit1111]

That's a good start - the Carbide 500R is an excellent choice, but I seriously hate the gigantic 3-slot card design of the Asus 670 and similar cards which is why I never recommend them - if you get a small motherboard you won't be able to SLI it. The 670 is one of the most energy efficient GPUs ever produced so you don't need a monster PSU even to SLI it.

Try this:

Case: NZXT Phantom - $129.99
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MKII 750W - $109.99 ($20.00 MIR)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H - $149.99
CPU: 3.4GHz Intel Core i5-3570K - $249.99
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $33.99
HD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB - $99.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 - $42.99
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: EVGA Geforce GTX 670 Superclocked Edition - $419.99

Total: $1,249.81 - $20.00 MIR = $1,229.81

 

[boulbox]

CPU:i5 3570K $189.99
pretty cheap at microcenter.

Mobo:GA-Z77X-UD3H LGA $114.99
good mobo, has 2x PCI 3.0 slots for future SLI, remember to update BIOS to get the glitches out

RAM:Crucial 8GB DDR3-1600 -$39.99
won't really get better after 1600 speeds, these are great and very cheap at micro also

CASE/HDD:500R is a great case, it has LED lights with an on/off switch, a fan controller, and has a lot of room
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.939275
i recommend comboing it with Samsung spinpoint f3

Optical: just get any at newegg around/under $20, i recommend ASUS brand

CPU heatsink: get hyper 212 evo/+ which ever you want, + saves more money, evo gives a bit extra performance

PSU:the one G-unit posted is pretty nice and cheap, i'm more of a fan of modular power supplies
CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 - $149.99
this is a great i recommend it on a lot of builds
or
NZXT HALE82 HALE82-750-M 750W - $119.99
a lot of people are going for NZXT HALE series now, it seems they got back in the game with their Hale PSU, back then they were a pretty bad PSU brand compared to others

the budget here is about $767.92(including Corsair PSU, hyper 212 evo, and ASUS burner)

here you can get which is optional, an SSD 128GB
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MX MKNSSDCR120GB-MX 2.5" 120GB - $119.99
a pretty neat SSD make sure to update firmware and here is a comment from Tomshardware
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-review,3194-3.html

$887.91 with the SSD now

GPU: add a 670 400-500 and you will still be under budget

 

[azeem40]

There are GTX 670s on newegg, ranging from $399.99 to $419.99 I believe.

 

[Why_Me]

Hey there. I'm just about to get started on my first PC build investment. I think I'm comfortable with the parts I've chosen so far, however I'm not so certain in a few areas.

Approximate Purchase Date: End of June/This upcoming month

Budget Range: Roughly around $1500 - $1700

System Usage from Most to Least Important: High-End gaming(Max settings in most games), school (engineering/programming), Screen Capture PC Game recordings, HD capture card for console game recordings, Broadcasting live HD streams, Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects, Adobe CS5/CS6, Sony Vegas, a bit of Adobe Illustrator, watching blu-ray movies, internet

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, OS (Windows7 Professional)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon (Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime), Newegg, Microcenter (located in-area), wherever is cheap yet reliable.

Country: United States

Parts Preferences: I'm open for any brands and suggestions (customer service, warranty offerings, etc.)

Overclocking: Yes / Slight 4.4Ghz - 4.7 GHz, I know this particular Ivy Bridge model isn't very good with OC'ing as it creates allot of heat, so I'm still looking for suggestions.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe / Would like the possibility

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 and have the possibility for dual-monitors (especially whilst gaming)

Additional Comments: I would like this build to last at least a few good years(3-4 years w/ few upgrades if necessary), so I'm trying to keep it a bit futureproof with all the investments I can at once. I'd like to maintain excellent cooling but have it quiet as possible; However, games on max settings is a must.


Parts
Mobo: Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA1155 (GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB) with Bluetooth 4.0/Wi-Fi Expansion Card $209.99
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770k Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) $289.99
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 500R White Mid Tower Gaming Case (good choice?) $116.35
GPU: ASUS DCII Top GeForce GTX 670 w/GPU Tweak $450 (If I ever find it in stock)
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB(2 x 8GB)LP $116.99 I'm just sticking with this for now. I'd rather have 2x 8GB over 4x 4GB to leave possibility for 32GB on the mobo I've chosen. Is there any other RAM sets more faster and reliable?
HDD: Seagate ST2000DM001 Barracuda 7200RPM 2 TB $109.99
SSD: Kingston SSDNow V+200 120GB (good choice?) $114.99
PSU: I'm not sure on which PSU to go with for this build. I'm torn between choosing a 750w (which should be enough enough power) or an 850w to cover power consumption in OC and potential SLI/Crossfire in the future. I'd like for it to be modular or at least cable manageable, quiet, and reliable

Most of all, I must be sure everything will fit into the Corsair 500r(should I consider a different case?) with possible SLI/Crossfire in the future. I'm hoping to keep it as cool as possible with little noise so I'm in need of suggestions for a heatsink, fans/watercooling whatever works.

Thanks for any help

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Intel-DDR3-Motherboard-P8Z77-V/dp/B007G51UWY/ref=sr_1_3?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1338411144&sr=1-3 $184.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
ASUS Intel Z77 ATX DDR3 2400 LGA 1155 Motherboard P8Z77-V

http://usa.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8Z77V/ <----- a better look at that board

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231558 $109.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C10D-16GAO

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Professional-750-Watt-Certified-Compatible/dp/B0029F21LK/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1338411714&sr=1-6 $134.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
Corsair HX Professional Series 750-Watt 80 Plus Certified Power Supply Compatible with Core i7 and Core i5 - CMPSU-750HX

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103176 $66.00 FREE SHIPPING
Cooler Master TPC 812 RR-T812-24PK-R1 120mm Sleeve with Dual Vertical Vapor Chamber TPC 812 CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0391175 $429.99 + .99 shipping
GV-N670C-2GD NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 2048MB GDDR5 PCIe 3.0 x16 Video Card

 

[Talic]

CPU: 3.4GHz Intel Core i5-3570K - $249.99

CPU:i5 3570K $189.99
pretty cheap at microcenter.

I see the reason for avoiding i7 processors in gaming builds because of hyperthreading having a negative impact on gaming performance; However, I want to process video editing, converting and rendering in CS5/CS6; which I hear can be a cpu demanding/heavy process. So, could I manage to get the best of both worlds in gaming and video rendering by disabling hyperthreading whilst gaming and re-enabling it for video production? I've read that without hyperthreading, the i7-3770k is essentially the same as the i5-3570k. With that said, I'm still greatly considering just buying an i5-3570K because of the $100 difference, but would I be at a loss without hyperthreading in hq video production?

I seriously hate the gigantic 3-slot card design of the Asus 670 and similar cards which is why I never recommend them - if you get a small motherboard you won't be able to SLI it. The 670 is one of the most energy efficient GPUs ever produced so you don't need a monster PSU even to SLI it.

I've read that the ASUS DCII GeForce GTX 670 is a 2-slot card. Also, the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H has only one PCI Express 3.0 port whilst the "GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB" has 3x PCI 3.0 ports (plus onboard bluetooth and Wi-Fi ). It sounds like the GA-Z77X-UD5H would have enough space for the ASUS DCII GeForce GTX 670 or did you mean that the card itself is so bulky that it would blockout a 3rd PCI port? This is a card I really want, but if the size is a problem I'll settle for something else.


As for the case, is there any benefit the NZXT Phantom has over the Corsair Carbide 500R? I have originally considered the Phantom but the Corsair's airflow and cooling seems to be a bit superior, or so I've read.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm considering it all in high regard. I'll address suggestions for other components after I've considered the ones stated in this post.

 

[azeem40]

It doesn't take up 2 PCIe 3.0 slots; it just takes up an expansion slot, and most MOBOs have the PCIe 3.0 slots separated.

 

[g-unit1111]

I see the reason for avoiding i7 processors in gaming builds because of hyperthreading having a negative impact on gaming performance; However, I want to process video editing, converting and rendering in CS5/CS6; which I hear can be a cpu demanding/heavy process. So, could I manage to get the best of both worlds in gaming and video rendering by disabling hyperthreading whilst gaming and re-enabling it for video production? I've read that without hyperthreading, the i7-3770k is essentially the same as the i5-3570k. With that said, I'm still greatly considering just buying an i5-3570K because of the $100 difference, but would I be at a loss without hyperthreading in hq video production?

I don't do a lot of video production so I can't help you there, I've been told that programs like After Effects eat resources like crazy and that you should have the most processing power you can get for your money when using that program. The thing is if it's a strictly gaming PC that's where the 3570K comes in handy. If you use your PC for anything else like video production that's where the i7 comes in handy.

I've read that the ASUS DCII GeForce GTX 670 is a 2-slot card. Also, the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H has only one PCI Express 3.0 port whilst the "GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB" has 3x PCI 3.0 ports (plus onboard bluetooth and Wi-Fi ). It sounds like the GA-Z77X-UD5H would have enough space for the ASUS DCII GeForce GTX 670 or did you mean that the card itself is so bulky that it would blockout a 3rd PCI port? This is a card I really want, but if the size is a problem I'll settle for something else.

There's some variants of the Asus graphics cards that actually do take up three slots - you can see from this picture:

That's the Radeon 6950 - that actually does take up 3 PCI slots and if you run a second, there go all six of your slots which cripples any other expansion plans you may have. I like to plan ahead on builds and always take into account any expansion plans like HDs, GPUs, etc.

I like the UD5H but you won't need all the features and I'd rather have modules separate from the motherboard so if those go wrong you don't have to replace the whole motherboard.

 

[Talic]

Best answer selected by Talic.