I want some final advice on my build.

[babblingrock]

I would love general advice on my build (Compatibility, Price, Speed, Anything really).
Here are my parts:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fi2L
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fi2L/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fi2L/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 ($28.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($169.98 @ Amazon)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($157.27 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card ($499.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($101.93 @ Mac Connection)
Power Supply: FSP Group 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($95.98 @ Outlet PC)
Optical Drive: Samsung SN-208BB DVD/CD Writer ($23.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Acer S200HLAbd 20.0" Monitor ($117.95 @ Mac Connection)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit) ($130.20 @ Amazon)
Total: $1665.24
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-21 22:16 EDT-0400)

(I already have the keyboard & mouse)

Anything decreasing price without losing too much speed would be great. Also, is the 680 worth the price?
Again, anything is greatly appreciated.

 

[Spicy_benie]

No the 680 is not worth it get a 670 you only lose 4/5% increase for 100$... Change the power supply for something like tx650.

 

[nekulturny]

Hi, yes everything is compatible, and yes I can improve it

Video card. No the GTX 680 is not worth the price it commands. The GTX 680 only barely outperforms the GTX 670 (like 4-6 percent ish), and costs a substantial amount more. For the price, you're better off with a GTX 670, or going halfway between the two and get a 7970 GHZ edition that outperforms both of them.

670
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130787

7970
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202001

Benchmarks:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6025/radeon-hd-7970-ghz-edition-review-catching-up-to-gtx-680/4

-Keep in mind that microcenter prices are in-store only, which means the 3570K will cost you more anywhere else.

- The motherboard is more than it needs to be, this one is cheaper and will serve you just as well:
Asrock Z77 Extreme4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293

---

Power supply, I've never heard of that brand, nor do I know anything about them but, I do know my Corsair PSUs, and this one is about as good as you can get:

TX650v2- $70 with rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

-That monitor you're looking at is honestly kind of cheap for everything else (The resolution is not that impressive, especially when you're looking at such a high dollar video card, you might be better off going cheaper on the video card to get a better monitor, theres no reason you shouldn't be going for 1080p at your price range) We can discuss options for that after you reply to this post.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

-Cheaper 2TB hard drive,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148681

 

[geofelt]

A very good list.
Is the GTX680 worth it?. Only YOU can determine that.
It is $100 more than a GTX670, and the performance may be close.
If $100 is not that important to you, buy the GTX680. If you don't, you will forever be wondering if you did the best thing for a top build.

To save a bit, you can use ANY Z77 based motherboard. They are all good, and will OC reasonably well.
You may give up sli capability, but your PSU wil not handle sli either.
Other features for oc enthusiasts are probably not needed either.

As a preference, I would use Intel 330, or Samsung 830 for the ssd; they seem to be more trouble free.

Is there some feature of windows 7 professional that you need? For the home user, the answer is usually no.

If there is one place to bust your budget it would be on a great monitor.
You will be looking at it for a long time. 24" or better.

FSP is generally a good but less known psu brand.
It can be good, depending on the model.
Here is one list of tiered quality for psu's for guidance. 600w is ok.
http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

 

[babblingrock]

Thanks!
Adjusted parts list:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fiiS
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fiiS/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/fiiS/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 ($28.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda Green 2TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive ($102.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($399.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($101.93 @ Mac Connection)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SN-208BB DVD/CD Writer ($23.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($149.98 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (64-bit) ($130.20 @ Amazon)
Total: $1482.01
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-21 22:54 EDT-0400)

 

[Onus]

The FSP "Aurum" 80+ Gold PSUs have reviewed well at HardwareSecrets.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/FSP-Aurum-Gold-700-Power-Supply-Review/1228/10
That's the bigger one, but FSP builds their own PSUs, so you won't need to worry about it being a different platform from a different OEM.

 

[geofelt]

Looks better.
Do you really need w7-pro?

 

[nekulturny]

Very nice. I am Nekulturny, and I approve of this build.

 

[nekulturny]

I figured the FSP probably was a good brand, but as another fellow pointed out, not very well known it would seem. Something just told me based on the price, nobody charges that much for a turd in a box. Thanks for the link jtt.

 

[babblingrock]

Best answer selected by babblingrock.

 

[obsama1]

SSD is good, but I'd recommend a Crucial M4 or Samsung 830.

Also, the MSI 670 is $398 w/ free Borderlands 2 and $25 rebate card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127675

 

[briskle]

This build looks good. I am quite the newbie though so I'm not the best judge. My only suggestion is to go with the $100 Intel SSD on newegg.com..I have been told (without understanding why) that Intel is a little further ahead of the competition on SSD drives, for now. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167121