New build advice/compatibility review

[argo49]

Hey guys, I'm helping my friend build a new computer and I'd like someone to look over my parts list and let me know what they think of it here it is:

- Intel Core i5-3450 Ivy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.5GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500 BX80637I53450
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116506
- ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
- COOLER MASTER Elite 430 RC-430-KWN1 Black Steel / Plastic Computer Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227
- EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1573-KR GeForce GTX 570 HD w/Display-Port (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP ...
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130620
- OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018
- ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
- Seagate Barracuda Green ST1500DL003 1.5TB 5900 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148725
- G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
- Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Total price comes to 1169.59$ CAN taxes and shipping included

Ideally we'd like to get it below 1100$ everything considered, but he's willing to go for it for this price. So what are your opinions? Am I missing out on any great deals? Also I want to make sure everything fits in the case lol, I'd rather not have to return anything (this would be my second build)

 

[l0v3rboi]

Hey there,

Here are a few changes I would make.

Get this MoBo: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=28220BD3090&vpn=H77MA-G43&manufacture=MSI/MicroStar. Its the MSI H77A-G43 MoBo. Since you chose an Ivy Bridge CPU that is not overclockable, an H77 would be ideal because you can take advantage of PCI Express 3.0 (which you wouldn't be able to before because of the z68 chipset of your original MoBo choice). Plus, its cheaper.

I would get this GPU: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950BD1041&vpn=11200-01-20G&manufacture=SAPPHIRE. Its the Sapphire Radeon 7850 OC version. With this GPU, you get the performance of the gtx 570 for cheaper and with better efficiency, and produces less heat.

A 550W PSU would be enough to run this system. If you plan to xFire, 750W should be more than enough. I would recommend this PSU http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950AC3877&vpn=P1750SNLB9&manufacture=XFX for xFire and this PSU http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15180AC2961&vpn=P1550SXXB9&manufacture=XFX if not. That PSU is great. I have the 750W model and I can say it is very reliable.

With some of the money saved, I would get a 60 Gb Boot Drive. Something higher would be ideal but we are limited by your budget constraints. Here is what I would recommend http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950DR8063&vpn=MKNSSDCR60GB&manufacture=MUSHKIN. It will significantly improve boot times.

I would still keep an HDD. Here is a cheaper alternative http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14120DR5445&vpn=ST1000DM003&manufacture=SEAGATE. Its the same Seagate Barracuda only its non-green and only 1 Tb.

You can get this case: http://www.directcanada.com/search/?kw=cooler%20master%20haf%20912. I think this one is better for that price range. You will lose the side window though. If you do decide to keep the one you have, yes everything would fit in that case.

As you can see in my links, I would recommend getting from Directcanada.com or Bestdirect.ca. Shipping is free for all orders over $50 for Canadian orders. I've dealt with them before and they are a reliable website. My order came the day after I placed it.

Other than that, happy building.

 

[C12Friedman]

About the only thing I see to trim may be the motherboard, some micro ATX boards by ASRock with Z77 chipset are cheaper. With the above build, I don't see more than a 2 card SLI setup in the future which a micro ATX will handle.
Everything else looks pretty solid

 

[GeForce6]

Get an Asrock Z77 Pro4
Might want to get a better, more expensive case
Vengeance memory

 

[argo49]

About the only thing I see to trim may be the motherboard, some micro ATX boards by ASRock with Z77 chipset are cheaper. With the above build, I don't see more than a 2 card SLI setup in the future which a micro ATX will handle.
Everything else looks pretty solid

Ok good. The only reason why I dont want to get a micro ATX is because I've had bad experiences with them in the past. Plus this way my friend can SLI without worries when he gets more experienced.