First Build ~2k Gaming PC

[stormtrooper95]

Just wanted to make sure this build is viable and if any components could be better.

GPU: GeForce GTX 680 - 530
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121635

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz - 350
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

MOBO: ASUS P8Z77-V PREMIUM LGA 1155 Intel Z77 - 440
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131850

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB - 60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 7200 RPM - 170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148844

Fan: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO - 35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=ja35j8urwlom

Drive: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - 17
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

PSU: CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 750W - 150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-139-010

Case: Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Black Steel ATX Full Tower - 160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129100


This PC will be used mainly for gaming and programming and I would like to be able to run BF3 on max settings. I intend to upgrade with another GTX 680 in SLI and add 8 more gigs or RAM in the future. Thus I want to make sure the PSU will be able to handle the upgrade. (And that it all will fit.) Right now I will be using an HDTV as a monitor, but I also will be purchasing dual monitors (1920 x 1080) in the future. I already have a keyboard and mouse. I do want to be able to overclock. Lastly I know that the GTX 680 is currently out of stock and I may have to pay more to purchase it elsewhere.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

Intel i7 3770k- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501 350$

EVGA Z77 FTW- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188120 330$

Asus DirectCU II GTX 670- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121637 420$ The 670 is fairly close to the performance of the GTX 680 and will max out BF3 @ 1080p- http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_GTX_670_Direct_Cu_II/9.html

EVGA Superclock CPU Cooler- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835288001&Tpk=evga%20cpu%20cooler 50$

G.Skill 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428 47$

Crucial M4 256gb SSD- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148443 215$

Samsung F4 2tb HDD- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152245 120$

Lite-On 24x DVD Burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106352 20$

Rosewill Capstone 750-M 750w- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182264 140$

Cooler Master Storm Trooper- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119245 150$

Total=1842$

 

[Why_Me]

@ the OP. Forget the 680 and look at the 670. Close to identical benchmarks. Also see if any of the progies you will be using take advantage of hyper threading. That board you have is a bit expensive. Does it offer anything that a $180 board doesn't?

 

[stormtrooper95]

@ the OP. Forget the 680 and look at the 670. Close to identical benchmarks. Also see if any of the progies you will be using take advantage of hyper threading. That board you have is a bit expensive. Does it offer anything that a $180 board doesn't?

I know that the 670 and 680 are very close and that the price jump doesn't really justify the performance increase, but the GPU was really where I wanted to get the very best. (Excluding the slightly ridiculous 690.) As for the MOBA I am switching to a less expensive one, a misconception had me purchasing that one, but it has since been cleared up.

 

[Why_Me]

Here's a few options to look at. That board down below also combo's with a 2TB h/d if you don't think you will need that much space. I threw those cases in this post because Antec has went downhill in the QC dept. when it comes to their cases. Cheap plastic, and even worse wiring.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.977872 $339.98 save: $20.00
ASUS P8Z77-V LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207016 $137.99 - $127.99 after mail-in rebate card
XFX PRO750W XXX Edition Semi-Modular 80Plus Silver 750 Watt Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226245 $61.99 FREE SHIPPING
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model 997015

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820171568 $239.99 FREE SHIPPING
SanDisk Extreme SDSSDX-240G-G25 2.5" 240GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Look @ superbiiz.com and NCIX US version of that site for those cards also. Reliable sites and a lot of times they will have them in stock when newegg doesn't.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127685 $429.99
MSI N670 PE 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423 $399.99 FREE SHIPPING
GIGABYTE GV-N670OC-2GD GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121637 $419.99 FREE SHIPPING
ASUS GTX670-DC2-2GD5 GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009 $139.99 - $129.99 after mail-in rebate card
Corsair Carbide Series 500R Black Steel structure with molded ABS plastic accent pieces ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

or...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119257 $129.99 FREE SHIPPING
COOLER MASTER HAF XM RC-922XM-KKN1 Black Mesh, Plastic, Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

*** Optional side and top fan for that CM case

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Computer-Cooling-R4-LUS-07AR-GP/dp/B002LE8BJA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1340223664&sr=8-3&keywords=cooler+master+200mm+red+led $17.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25

 

[stormtrooper95]

Intel i7 3770k- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501 350$

EVGA Z77 FTW- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188120 330$

Asus DirectCU II GTX 670- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121637 420$ The 670 is fairly close to the performance of the GTX 680 and will max out BF3 @ 1080p- http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_GTX_670_Direct_Cu_II/9.html

EVGA Superclock CPU Cooler- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835288001&Tpk=evga%20cpu%20cooler 50$

G.Skill 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428 47$

Crucial M4 256gb SSD- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148443 215$

Samsung F4 2tb HDD- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152245 120$

Lite-On 24x DVD Burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106352 20$

Rosewill Capstone 750-M 750w- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182264 140$

Cooler Master Storm Trooper- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119245 150$

Total=1842$

I like the build, but I have a few questions/comments.

Did you switch PSU's simply to save $10 or is there something I'm missing?

Do I need the full tower case? I was informed earlier that my build would fit just as well in a mid size one.

Is there a particular reason you went with EVGA components, or just personal preference?

Lastly, just have to mention that I was going for a blue color scheme rather than red.

 

[mjmjpfaff]

I like the build, but I have a few questions/comments.

Did you switch PSU's simply to save $10 or is there something I'm missing?

Do I need the full tower case? I was informed earlier that my build would fit just as well in a mid size one.

Is there a particular reason you went with EVGA components, or just personal preference?

Lastly, just have to mention that I was going for a blue color scheme rather than red.

To save 10$ and get a higher efficiency PSU which will save even more money over time.

No you do not need a full tower, and yes it will fit easily in a mid tower. I am a huge fan of the Antec Eleven Hundred- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129178 . The only downside to this case is that it doesn't have any intake fans so if you will get this case buy 2 120mm fans for the front intake- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233048

I have heard great things about the EVGA customer service that is why I chose the motherboard (along with the fact that it has a PLX chip). And I chose the EVGA Superclock CPU cooler because I have heard that it is quiet and cools very well.

Here is a build with more blue-

Intel i7 3770k- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501 350$

Asus P8Z77 WS- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131822 340$

Asus DirectCU II GTX 670- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121637 420$

EVGA Superclock CPU Cooler- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835288001&Tpk=evga%20cpu%20cooler 50$ (If you want it to be blue just get a third blue fan)

G.Skill Ares 8gb 1600mhz- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231546 47$

Crucial M4 256gb SSD- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148443 215$

Samsung F4 2tb HDD- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152245 120$

Lite-On 24x DVD Burner- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106352 20$

Rosewill Capstone 750-M 750w- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182264 140$

Then there is the case and the 3 fans. That should give you the blue theme you are looking for and it should be around the same price.

 

[stormtrooper95]

Best answer selected by stormtrooper95.