Need Advice For New $1500 Gaming Build

[batmang]

I am soon embarking on my first ever build. I have done copious amounts of research in selecting the parts but to be honest I'm not computer savvy AT ALL and could use some advise. I simply want to build a powerful, reliable, custom gaming/music production rig with as little headache as possible. Please let me know if there are any compatibility issues with the parts below. Any other comments or suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks!


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

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

EVGA 02G-P3-1568-KR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130683

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

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

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-16GXM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231568

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B 135mm Long life bearing CPU Cooler Blue LED
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118074

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

AeroCool V12XT Controller, Panel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999218


I'm not sure on the AerCool controller. I really like the aesthetics but I've read a lot of mixed reviews. Thanks for the help!

-Mark

 

[manofchalk]

You'v placed a bit too much money in non-essential places, don't worry its a common first build mistake. I'l admit I did it as well.

The motherboard is a bit too overkill for your needs and you can get away with a much cheaper board.
AsRock Z77 Extreme4 is a good cheap board packed with features you don't typically find like the LED debug system and a Clear CMOS button on the rear I/O panel. Properly supports SLI/Crossfire as well. $105 cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

Get the i5-3570k, only a $10 difference on Newegg and 10% better performance. Plus it will go better in the Z77 motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

The RAM only needs to 8GB for gaming, and music editing isn't as RAM reliant as video so you can do with 8GB. Also 2x8GB is much more expensive than 4x4GB. Heres a good 2x4GB kit.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
If you want blue RAM to keep with the Colour Scheme.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233196

That HDD can be $20 cheaper. Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
Or for the same price as the Western Digital get 2TB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834

That CPU cooler doesnt look all that efficient (don't quote me though) and is double the price of the amazing Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO. Its a great cooler which easily keeps my 3570k under 55C under full load (probably be different for you though).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

You wont need Thermal Paste as the 212 EVO comes with some.

Thats a good PSU, its from Corsair and big enough to Crossfire/SLI if you get a second GPU later. Its modular and 80+ Silver, so its good feature wise. You be fine to keep that.
Though to save a few dollars, you can get this one. I personally have it and no issues except a short motherboard ATX cable, which may be a problem since the case is a full tower, mine just goes in on a HAF-X.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256059

The fan controller is a good thing to have but its is quite expensive and in my opinion really ugly. The front three fans have an inbuilt controller so you only have to deal with 5 other fans, which this fan controller can deal with and I think looks much better. I have the NZXT Sentry Mix (which is similar) and its easy to use, just slide the knob to change the fan speed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811992007

If its back in stock by the time you but the rig, get the Sentry Mix. Its should be something like $35 to $40. Changeable LED colours on the front to see in the dark and 6 fan channels.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811992009

Optical drive is fine, just make sure it looks good on the case.

Now spend all the money you'v saved on a good GPU. You should be able to afford a GTX670 with all the changes I'v suggested.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423

This rig will game very well.

 

[gj17]

You'v placed a bit too much money in non-essential places, don't worry its a common first build mistake. I'l admit I did it as well.

The motherboard is a bit too overkill for your needs and you can get away with a much cheaper board.
AsRock Z77 Extreme4 is a good cheap board packed with features you don't typically find like the LED debug system and a Clear CMOS button on the rear I/O panel. Properly supports SLI/Crossfire as well. $105 cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

Get the i5-3570k, only a $10 difference on Newegg and 10% better performance. Plus it will go better in the Z77 motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

The RAM only needs to 8GB for gaming, and music editing isn't as RAM reliant as video so you can do with 8GB. Also 2x8GB is much more expensive than 4x4GB. Heres a good 2x4GB kit.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
If you want blue RAM to keep with the Colour Scheme.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233196

That HDD can be $20 cheaper. Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
Or for the same price as the Western Digital get 2TB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834

That CPU cooler doesnt look all that efficient (don't quote me though) and is double the price of the amazing Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO. Its a great cooler which easily keeps my 3570k under 55C under full load (probably be different for you though).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

You wont need Thermal Paste as the 212 EVO comes with some.

Thats a good PSU, its from Corsair and big enough to Crossfire/SLI if you get a second GPU later. Its modular and 80+ Silver, so its good feature wise. You be fine to keep that.
Though to save a few dollars, you can get this one. I personally have it and no issues except a short motherboard ATX cable, which may be a problem since the case is a full tower, mine just goes in on a HAF-X.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256059

The fan controller is a good thing to have but its is quite expensive and in my opinion really ugly. The front three fans have an inbuilt controller so you only have to deal with 5 other fans, which this fan controller can deal with and I think looks much better. I have the NZXT Sentry Mix (which is similar) and its easy to use, just slide the knob to change the fan speed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811992007

Optical drive is fine, just make sure it looks good on the case.

Now spend all the money you'v saved on a good GPU. You should be able to afford a GTX670 with all the changes I'v suggested.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423

This rig will game very well.

if you plan on overclocking, the i5 2500k is the better option. it has better thermal so it can handle more overclocking.

 

[manofchalk]

I would say otherwise. You can hit higher clocks on a 2500k because it doesn't run as hot, but if you wanted to go that high you should have something better than a 212 EVO on it. And besides, a 3570k performs better clock-for-clock, so while you cant hit as high speeds, each clock is worth more. For a conservative overclock you wont run into heat issues on an Ivy Bridge.