$1200 Build

[techzone707]

I need some suggestions on a computer build.

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: Dec

Budget Range:1000-1200 After Rebates; After Shipping; After CA Tax

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Live Video Encoding(Wirecast), Video Editing(Premiere Pro), Gaming(Minecraft, Skyrim)

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts:
Core i5 2500K or i7 2600
AsRock Pro3 Gen3
XFX Double D 7770 or 7870
Corsair 8GB 1600mhz
WD Black 1TB
Corsair CX600
Win 7 HP 64-bit
Antec Three Hundred
Corsair H60

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, TigerDirect
Location: SF Bay, CA US
Parts Preferences: by brand or type Intel, XFX, ASUS, Corsiar...

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

I need help deciding.

 

[g-unit1111]

No reason not to get an Ivy Bridge CPU on a $1200 build. Drop the liquid cooler - it makes no sense to get a liquid cooler on that budget when a $50 - $60 air fan will give you the same results. The 7770 is a very low end GPU, the 6870 is a better GPU for the $150 - $200 range. The 7870 is excellent though.

Try something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($142.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: 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 ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1164.76
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-09 02:03 EDT-0400)

 

[cuecuemore]

Get the 2500k and 7870. I know you say know to overclocking, but I say you should say yes to OC. The 2500k is too good of a deal not to OC, and if you're getting an H60 anyway, you might as well. I like the H60, but there's no doubt that better value is to be had with a Hyper 212+ Evo or something of that sort. Also you might switch out the Caviar Black for a Spinpoint F3, it's cheaper and faster.

 

[techzone707]

No reason not to get an Ivy Bridge CPU on a $1200 build. Drop the liquid cooler - it makes no sense to get a liquid cooler on that budget when a $50 - $60 air fan will give you the same results. The 7770 is a very low end GPU, the 6870 is a better GPU for the $150 - $200 range. The 7870 is excellent though.

Try something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($142.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: 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 ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1164.76
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-09 02:03 EDT-0400)

Thanks a lot! Really helped! I know Sandy Bridge isn't going to be as dominant when I build this.

 

[techzone707]

Best answer selected by techzone707.