Need Advice on Budget Gaming Build. First Timer Here.

[drakemez]

Hey guys, this is my first post here so forgive me if I screw up the format for this in any way, shape, or form.


Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next month.
Budget Range: ~$1000 After rebates.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Web Browsing, College Work
Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Display, Display Cables
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com
Country: USA
Parts Preferences: I don't have too much of a preference other than Intel over AMD CPU's.
Overclocking: Nope
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Additional Comments: Like I said in the thread title, this is my first build and I'd really like to get it right the first time if I can. I already have my MoBo and Case but I can return them if needed. I'm just looking for some overall advice on the build. Also, if anyone catches any parts that aren't compatible I would appreciate it if you let me know! The total for all the parts I have on my list ends up at ~$950 before rebates.

Parts:

MB: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

GPU: This is one of the places I'm having trouble. I'm trying to decide between this:
ASUS HD7850-DC2-2GD5 Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121623
and this:
EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604

Optical Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

PSU: This is another area I'm having difficulty with. The PSU Wattage calculator on newegg said I would need aout 450W so I opted for something a bit higher.
Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016
Also, I've noticed that nearly every PSU under $100 hasn't achieved a rating of 5 eggs. Not necessarily a problem, but the overall feedback was pretty crappy. :O

HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345

CPU: 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

CPU Fan: Once again, I need some advice in this area. For what I need the computer for, I'm not entirely sure that an aftermarket fan is needed. Let me know what you guys think. This is the one I'm considering.
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Thanks in advance for your time spent looking. I really appreciate it. Lemme know what you guys think!

 

[g-unit1111]

You'll need a Z77 board in order to use the 3570K to its' full extent. The Hyper 212 Evo is the latest version of the 212 and it has a better fan and better thermal compound.

For GPU go with the Sapphire Radeon 7850 over the 560TI.

As far as ratings go - never rely on stores for product reviews. That's a huge mistake people make when planning first time builds. Sure the Newegg reviews are helpful but they're not professional reviews. If people find something to complain about, they'll complain about it. Try this for your PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096

 

[ScrewySqrl]

overall, its not bad.

I'll suggest a different motherboard:

this combo is a 3570K + AS ROck Z77 Extreme 4 for $347, close to the same price
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.985159

Get the HD7850, and save a bit with this model, only $229.99 before a $20 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150617

go with this psu, its newer in design, and will handle your 7850 with aplomb:
Corsair CX 500: $59.99. before a $10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

if you can afford the extra, get an SSD as a boot drive:
Mushkin 120GB SSD, $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226236
its optional, but really helpful

 

[Guest]

without a doubt the 7850 is better than the 560ti. however that DCII is 10.5" long and may pose a problem with that case w/o a little modification. (the middle hard drive brackets look like the are in the way of the card hanging over the mobo)

also though i do like antec's PSUs the maximum amps are listed for the 12 volt rail if you combine them it would be 828 watts. my favorite PSU in the 500-550 watt range is:
SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W $59.99
though i would believe the continuous amperage would be 18 amps as opposed to the 20 listed on each rail.

since there is no performance difference between a Z68 or Z77 and on a tight budget; it looks good.

saw this after posting

overall, its not bad.

I'll suggest a different motherboard:

this combo is a 3570K + AS ROck Z77 Extreme 4 for $347, close to the same price
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.985159

that is a good deal for $9 less, the "extra" features of a z77 and a 3 year warranty as opposed to a 2 year.

 

[g-unit1111]

without a doubt the 7850 is better than the 560ti. however that DCII is 10.5" long and may pose a problem with that case w/o a little modification. (the middle hard drive brackets look like the are in the way of the card hanging over the mobo)

also though i do like antec's PSUs the maximum amps are listed for the 12 volt rail if you combine them it would be 828 watts. my favorite PSU in the 500-550 watt range is:
SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W $59.99
though i would believe the continuous amperage would be 18 amps as opposed to the 20 listed on each rail.

since there is no performance difference between a Z68 or Z77 and on a tight budget; it looks good.

Actually in order to use a 3570K on a Z68 motherboard you have to have a chip already installed in order to update to the latest BIOS. I'd say just get a Z77 board to avoid that hassle.

I suggested the 620W version of that same PSU for Crossfire purposes.

 

[Guest]

Actually in order to use a 3570K on a Z68 motherboard you have to have a chip already installed in order to update to the latest BIOS. I'd say just get a Z77 board to avoid that hassle.

I suggested the 620W version of that same PSU for Crossfire purposes.

i really need to stick a thumbtack on my seat, because i keep forgetting that. and i would not dispute a realistic bump up in wattage for a PSU.

on a side note about the BIOS; would not the "newer" boards (since the release of the 22nm BIOS) already have that?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

not necessarily -- the board you get might have been built before then and have an older BIOS.

as for the challenger case, its designed to handle 11" cards. no worry on any 7850 (and some 7850s are only 8.5" long!