Advice on $1500 Gaming Desktop

[gm32489]

Hey guys,

This is my first time adventuring into the world of building desktops. I recently compiled a list of what will be in it. I might change the gpu for a better one and the cpu but atm this is what came up with. Please give me your advice and thoughts on it.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within this year, 2012

Budget Range: 800-1,600 before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, High quality videos, surfing the web, Work

Parts Not Required: mouse, monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, but open to recommendations

Country: New York City, I will be building this myself....first time

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: I would like to use an Intel CPU with a 23" LCD and full tower case with Nvidia GPU

Overclocking: Maybe, don't know how but will learn in future

SLI or Crossfire: Yes, will learn in the future

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments:I would like a powerful (Video and audio rendering) pc that remains at a cool temp. Noise level could be moderate but preferred to be quiet...
This is my first desktop project that I will upgrade on and turning it into a better desktop in the future....so I assume the Mobo, CPU, and PSU is most important? I provided a list of the parts below.....(Hope I got the format right this time. hehe.


Case: NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Steel / Plastic Enthusiast ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067

Mobo: ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131821

GPU: EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130610

PSU: CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 (CMPSU-750HX) 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 BX80623I52500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

SSD : OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227726

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148844

Optical Drive: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
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OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

That's basically the basics. I might change the PSU if needed if I change my GPU and CPU...I will most def upgrade from this base desktop. I also do intend to SLI in the future with either 560 ti or if my budget allows..670.... (which means I'll need a better CPU I think)

Any thoughts ad input would be awesome! I am a noob at this hahas... Thanks!

 

[TheBigTroll]

what is your budget? can you fill out the how to ask for build advice template at the top of the forum page

from what i see here, i will do a build around it

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/aJxo

it performs better for around the same price point

 

[cranked]

The build is mostly good except for a couple things. You are spending too much in the wrong places. I am going to assume it's a gaming build based on the components and having said that:

1. Don't waste money in your budget (which I guess we don't know because you didn't specify) on that Sabertooth. You could drop to an Asrock Extreme4 and save $100.

2. Use that $100 to move up to a 7850 GPU or spend an extra $50 for a 670.

3. Keep that 750W PSU if you intend to CF/SLI later, you will need it.

4. IMO, there is no reason to not get the i5-3570K, not that I am knocking the 2500K.

 

[gm32489]

O, sorry I didn't know there was a template for the question. Reformatting now..

My Budget at the moment is at $1,000 but I am willing to hit $1,500-$1,600 around.

 

[TheBigTroll]

ok then heres 2 builds at different price points

this one is 1500 dollars (the one i recommended before)
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/aJxo

this one is 1300 dollars but it should perform around the same as the 1500 dollar one
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/aL8K

the major difference between the 2 is that one has a larger SSD and a better case.

 

[gm32489]

O wow, thanks for the quick response! Can I use the NZXT case? Is it bad?

Thank you for all your advice so far. Looking everything over and very informative!

 

[froyman]

For 10 dollars more: $229.99
Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

For bang for your buck GPUs, I suggest a:
EVGA 02G-P4-2678-KR GeForce GTX 670 FTW 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787

You could save about 90$ by getting a smaller hard drive, 3 TB is huge. Although you mentioned using the comp for high quality videos so you may need all that. At least for me, I've used about 180GB on my current hard drive which is 5 years old.

 

[TheBigTroll]

O wow, thanks for the quick response! Can I use the NZXT case? Is it bad?

Thank you for all your advice so far. Looking everything over and very informative!

if you like the phantom case more than the 302, go ahead and get one. i would suggest you get the phantom 410 as it is just a smaller version of the phantom. it would add around 40 dollars in cost. i personally don't like the phantom just because of how much plastic they use but it is up to your personal preference