Critique on my build?

[d00d]

Hey there, need some critiquing on my new build. Kinda new with computers so I'm quite excited, but don't want the excitement to totally kill the most important part of this experience, which is making a killer desktop.

Processor:
Intel i7-3770k - $340
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501

GPU:
nVidia 670 GTX (can't decide which one to pick out of the three, input would be great!) ~ $400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125423
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121637

MoBo:
ASUS P8Z68 Deluxe - $170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131791R&Tpk=ASUS%20P8Z68%20DELUXE

RAM:
16 GB of either G.SKILL Ripjaw or Sniper ~ $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231510
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231429

Hard drive:
Thinking about 128 GB SSD and 2 TB (2 x 1TB) 7200RPM HD, what do you guys think? ~$300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147163
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Chassis/PSU:
Got a 875W that I have in mind that'll come w/ the chassis that I'm looking at. - $180

Optical Drive:
Don't know which one is good, any links on this one would be great. ~$50 (I'm assuming)

Monitor:
Samsung Syncmaster - $180
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-S23A550H-23-Inch-Class-Monitor/dp/B004TPTVJI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343345064&sr=8-1&keywords=s23a550h

Speakers:
Need great speakers, but have none in mind.

Keyboard/mouse:
Thinking about a Logitec G550 as the mouse, but completely unsure about the keyboard.

These are not set in stone, if you can offer me better options, I'd be more than happy to check 'em out. I also have no idea when it comes to cooling. I was planning on using the stock that will be included, but if that is a bad idea please do show me some great coolers. Also, do I need a sound card? I'm all over the place...

Anything else you guys feel like I'm missing? This does feel a bit empty...

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING! I initially started this goal w/ a budget of $1000 in mind, I would like to keep as close to that number as possible. I understand it's a long stretch, but if you guys can find me any alternatives to any of these components that will bring me that much closer to that value, I'd be very grateful.

EDIT: I would like to keep as close to $1000, but that does NOT mean my budget is $1000. I am willing to spend $1500 as long as it includes everything that I would like.

 

[cranked]

You are all over the place. You said $1000, but those components come to far more than that. So what is your budget exactly? And more importantly, what is the purpose of your build?

 

[g-unit1111]

You are all over the place. You said $1000, but those components come to far more than that. So what is your budget exactly? And more importantly, what is the purpose of your build?

I'm curious to know what the purpose of this build is as well. I certainly wouldn't purchase a case with a built in PSU on any build - that has the potential to be disastrous.

 

[d00d]

Well, it's mainly for gaming and just to have the experience of building a top of the line desktop and being able to own one. Got sick of being stuck to a mediocore laptop. The budget is not 1000; its clearly not possible. What I want is to get as close to 1000 as possible, meaning i'd love to shave off a few bucks off this current build.

 

[g-unit1111]

Well, it's mainly for gaming and just to have the experience of building a top of the line desktop and being able to own one. Got sick of being stuck to a mediocore laptop. The budget is not 1000; its clearly not possible. What I want is to get as close to 1000 as possible, meaning i'd love to shave off a few bucks off this current build.

Allow me:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($349.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $973.92
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-07-27 00:17 EDT-0400)

 

[azeem40]

Do you plan to CF/SLI?

 

[d00d]

No plans on CF/SLI. I really like that build g, but damn, I just can't let go of the GTX 670 w/ the i7. I guess it's more of a psychological attachment more than anything. Logically speaking, either build will get the job done (for my needs at least), so it would be helluva lot smarter to go with your build, but I'm not known for making the smartest decisions. I'll have to sit on that for awhile, if anyone has any other builds they would like to share, please feel free! Thanks again

 

[nsouter853]

As far as your GTX 670, I would recommend the EVGA GTX 670 FTW edition. It comes with the cooling/fan/shell/case/whatever you call it of the GTX 680, and comes with a base clock equal to that of a normal GTX 680. This basically means it is a GTX 670 with GTX 680 equipment and GTX 680 speed. Need I say more?


Another suggestion- if you're trying to stay as close to your original $1000 budget as possible, consider the i5-3570k as suppose to the i7-3770k. Forgive me if someone has already suggested that, I didn't read the entire thread :/. It performs about the same on most applications, but the i7 has hyperthreading (so 8 threads instead of 4) so the i7 WILL be faster for applications utilizing many threads.


EDIT: Now that I see this rig is mostly for gaming, definately go with the i5-3570k over the i7-3770k. Modern games don't yet utilize more than 4 cores, if even that many, and the i5 will have the same gaming performance as the i7 for $100 less. Anyone who says otherwise is trying to sell something .

 

[azeem40]

In that case, change the Motherboard in g-unit's build with a Pro3.

 

[d00d]

Damn, just getting way too many good feedbacks! Already made up the mind to switch to the 3570k, lol. I'm permissive, maybe a bit too permissive.

 

[d00d]

Still debating on RAM. Which RAM should I get? Is the G.Skill all that good compared to bigger name brands such as Corsair?

 

[g-unit1111]

Still debating on RAM. Which RAM should I get? Is the G.Skill all that good compared to bigger name brands such as Corsair?

G.Skill, Corsair, Crucial, PNY, Kingston, and Mushkin are all considered tier 1 RAM vendors. I forgot RAM in the build I listed, get something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544

 

[d00d]

Those are nice, cheap too. I'll probably go with those stix. Something feels missing... Or am I just being paranoid?

 

[d00d]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.98 @ Outlet PC)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($88.86 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG WH12LS39 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($95.94 @ Adorama)
Total: $964.73
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-07-27 20:08 EDT-0400)

Thanks for the help all, and I appreciate your build G. I used most of the components you listed on there, and btw, this pcpartspicker is sick! Also, add in a $225 case + PSU combo, so total would be roughly $1190.

Would 8 GB suffice or should I go for 16 GB using 4 of the stix listed above? That would put my total at $1233.

 

[d00d]

Best answer selected by d00d.