$1500 gaming rig & peripherals need checked over!

[Dr Orgo]

I'm going to be building my first desktop computer. It'll be upgrading from my HP DV2700 laptop and an Xbox 360 to give you perspective of where I'm coming from. I'm making sure all the components are compatible and good price/performance for gaming. Being new to PC gaming, I'm also unsure on what graphics performance I should shoot for.

Approximate Purchase Date: (Early July. I'm hoping for some July 4th Newegg sales.)

Budget Range: ($1300-1600) After Rebates. I can spend more. I just want to stay near the upper end of max price/performance range.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: (gaming: Skyrim+mods, Minecraft, Starcraft 2, Diablo 3, Bioshock Infinite; document creation for grad. school; surfing the internet; watching movies)

Parts Not Required: (mouse: Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: (newegg.com, any non-sketchy sites)

Country: (USA)

Parts Preferences: (Intel CPU)

Overclocking: (Yep, but not going for extreme overclocking)

SLI or Crossfire: (No)

Monitor Resolution: (2X by 1920x1080 but only gaming at 1920X1080)


Here's the list of parts I've chosen so far:

CPU: Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Processor

MOBO: Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard

HSF: 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+ - $35

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9 - $55

GPU: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (11200-00-20G) - $240+7 shipping

PSU: SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - $60+10 shipping

SSD: Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MX MKNSSDCR120GB-MX 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive - $115

HDD: Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $100

Case: Arc Midi Mid Tower ATX Computer Case - $100

Optical Drive: NA

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM - $100

Monitor X2: Asus VS248H-P 24-Inch Full-HD LED Monitor - $190+190+free shipping

Keyboard: Logitech Keyboard 120 Wired - $15

Mouse: NA

Mouse Pad: XTRAC PADS Ripper Optical Mouse pad - $15

Speakers: Logitech X-140 5 watts 2.0 Speakers - $27

Headphones: NA (thinking of these in the future Audio-Technica ATH-M50 - $140)

Flash Drive: Patriot Supersonic 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Model PEF32GSUSB - $38 Shell Shocker

Total Cost: $1577 (includes shipping)


Is the graphics card able to run Skyrim at 1080p 60fps with mods like enhanced textures and greater draw distance? I wasn't sure if I should wait for a GTX 660 or just get a GTX 670 to future proof for games a year or two out.

I'm pretty set on the case. Otherwise, let it rip on changes to any component!

Thanks in advance for any help! It's greatly appreciated

 

[cranked]

That's almost my exact same build.

You should be able to max out Skyrim with the 7850. The 7850 also has a ton of OC potential if you need it down the road. The 670 is a much better card, but also $150 more, so getting that for down the road sounds more like a budget issue (i.e. are you willing to drop the extra cash).

The only thing I would say to you is you COULD get a bigger PSU. You don't need it with your setup, but it doesn't hurt to have a little extra in case you need it. Maybe like a 600-650W.

 

[inzone]

SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
$89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095

EVGA 02G-P4-2670-KR GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
$399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782

I would go with the GTX670 because you have stated that you won't be doing SLI/Crossfire so you should get the best single card that you can aford. Going with the 620w psu gives you that little bit of extra room.

 

[bigcyco1]

^+1

 

[Dr Orgo]

That's almost my exact same build.

Haha yea reading too many threads on this forum can lead to that. It'll be unique for anyone who sees it in real life

 

[Dr Orgo]

Thanks for the responses so far everyone! Any inputs on the peripherals?

 

[bctande1]

You don't need to go up to a GTX 670 for Skyrim

Skyrim is a very CPU intensive game, and doesn't use up all of a system's GPU power because for one its not optimized, and many of the calcuations, especially in towns, are CPU oriented (where a NPC will go, who he/she will talk to).

So going from a 7850 to 670 you won't get much improvement than say going from a 3570k to 3770k, when in the right places.

Be careful when OC'ing IVY BRIDGE. When pushed after 1.25V and about 4.5GHz, IVY can run upwards to 20C hotter than Sandy, This is a well publicized issue.

 

[inzone]

Skyrim is only one of the games that are mentioned that the OP will be playing and I would never build a computer based on one game. To go with the best video card that you can aford gives you the option to play many different games now and later on at a higher level of performance.
Peripherals? The choices for those are usually a personal choice as to what you like and how they function for what you intended use is. Some things can be purchased at a later date since the most important thing is to get the Pc built with the right parts.

 

[Dr Orgo]

Best answer selected by Dr Orgo.

 

[bctande1]

Skyrim is only one of the games that are mentioned that the OP will be playing and I would never build a computer based on one game. To go with the best video card that you can aford gives you the option to play many different games now and later on at a higher level of performance.
Peripherals? The choices for those are usually a personal choice as to what you like and how they function for what you intended use is. Some things can be purchased at a later date since the most important thing is to get the Pc built with the right parts.

In theory, you are correct, but, nearly all the games the OP mentioned fall into the same category of CPU intensive, Mincecraft, Starcraft, Diablo is easy to run either way and no one can know about Bioshock Infinite, but given the delay 2K announced about a month ago, it would be safe to assume they will use the extra time to optimize their game for the PC.

But we cannot choose a GPU based off an unjustified assumption that the OP will be playing much more demanding games in the future. He specified the games he intends to play and the 7850 will easily cater to those needs, as well as perform well in even higher end games. I know this because I have one myself.