New Rig Plans

[bloodyredcoat]

Hey, I have come to you in my time of need, looking for some second opinions (good, bad and ugly). I'm building my first rig and have all the insecurities that accompany this gut wrenching process. I'm not really on a budget, but I wanted to keep costs tight and conservative:

Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119240&Tpk=cooler%20master%20enforcer

MoBo: ASRock z77 Pro4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157296

CPU: i5 3570k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115233

SSD: Crucial 128GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948&Tpk=sapphire%206870

RAM: Crucial 2x4GB DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148347

I already have a suitable PSU (650W). All told it comes out shy over 700 from various retailers (mostly Amazon and Newegg). Before the plunge, I'm taking a breath. I just want that to be an extremely well informed breath.

Cheers and thanks for your time and, if any, your consideration.

 

[bloodyredcoat]

I apologize in advance, I idiotically jumped into a thread without reading the "How-to" for asking advice.

My price range is pretty open, $500-800 preferred. I'm building this rig mostly because building computers looks like the coolest thing next to falling into a black hole (something else I want to try, but have yet to find a related forum) and I have never owned a gaming-tier pc before and am really gung-ho to blow my poorly rendered mind. I already have the OS and monitor. With this in mind, I'm not impatient but ET of purchase is preferably within two weeks or so.

This is kinda critical: I want to try overclocking because that is the coolest thing next to building a computer. Noise is also no object because my roommates have no concept of sl...sleip? sleap? whatever.

Again, any advice, cajoling or condoning is welcome.

Cheers

 

[manofchalk]

Pretty good, light gaming rig. Only one small issue with it.

The RAM is rated 1333mhz, which is not ideal and looks like it was salvaged from a Commodore 64. So for the exorbitant addition of $3, here's some faster 1600Mhz RAM that looks decent.

G.Skill Ripjaws 8GB (2x4GB) 1600Mhz CL9 1.5v. $46
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

If you want to overclock, you need aftermarket cooling. The stock cooler doesn't perform that well, especially under an overclock. The Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO is a great budget cooler, you wont find better at its price range. Comes with its own thermal paste, don't have to worry about that.

Coolermaster Hyper 212 EVO. $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

 

[bloodyredcoat]

Best answer selected by Bloodyredcoat.