Compatibility check on friend's build

[pluberus]

Hey all!

My friend is looking building a PC for $750. We put this build together, but wanted to make sure all the parts are compatible. Looks good to me, but just wanted to make sure.

- He needs USB wireless
- His monitor is HDMI
- Wants to be able to play GW2 on high/max
- Budget: $750 without OS

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Intel DH67CLB3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($187.86 @ Newegg)
Case: Apex SK-393-C ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 550W ATX12V Power Supply ($59.24 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Other: USB Wireless
Total: $715.02
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bbhx

 

[azeem40]

H77 cannot OC, yet you have a CPU that does. Do you plan to OC? If not, get the i5-3450 and an H77 board or an i5-2400 and keep the H67 board. If you are OCing, get a Z68 board to go with the 2500k.

 

[pluberus]

H77 cannot OC, yet you have a CPU that does. Do you plan to OC? If not, get the i5-3450 and an H77 board or an i5-2400 and keep the H67 board. If you are OCing, get a Z68 board to go with the 2500k.

Ah, good catch. He doesn't really plan to OC, so how about this?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Intel DH67CLB3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($187.86 @ Newegg)
Case: Apex SK-393-C ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 550W ATX12V Power Supply ($59.24 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Other: USB Wireless
Total: $685.02
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

 

[azeem40]

That motherboard is only compatible with the CPU after a BIOS update, which requires an existing SB CPU. Get an H77 or B75 board.

 

[pluberus]

That motherboard is only compatible with the CPU after a BIOS update, which requires an existing SB CPU. Get an H77 or B75 board.

How about the ASRock H77?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($97.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($187.86 @ Newegg)
Case: Apex SK-393-C ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 550W ATX12V Power Supply ($59.24 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Other: USB Wireless
Total: $692.58
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bbn2

Thanks for your help!

EDIT:
Alternatively, what he stuck with the original build, but got the i5-2500 instead of the 2500k?
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/bbqh

 

[azeem40]

That would be good, but the i5-2500 isn't worth the $40 over the i5-2400 because the 2500k is only $10 more.

 

[pluberus]

Best answer selected by Pluberus.