New build advice for $750-800 gaming pc

[rizob]

Hi,
Looking to buy parts for a gaming PC next couple days, replacing old computer which is slow

Approximate Purchase Date: Preferably Friday, Saturday (10/5-10/6)

Budget Range: around $750-800 with rebates/shipping/etc

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming (stuff like skyrim, WOW, FPS)

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg

Location: Fairfax, VA. I live near a microcenter

Overclocking: maybe

SLI or Crossfire: maybe


My considerations so far:

I live near a microcenter and looks like their cpu/mobo deal is best.

CPU: i5-3570K $190

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LX Socket 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard $70 (with cpu)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.aspx?sku=370593

Graphics: XFX Double D FX-795A-TDJC Radeon HD 7950 3GB $270 (after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150616

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $38 (with promo code)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345

HD: Seagate 1TB drive, 7200rpm, 6gb/s, 64mb cache $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

Case: Rosewill Challenger 40$ (with promo code)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

Power Supply and Optical Combo: $47 (after combo, rebate, and promo code)
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
SAMSUNG DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1077031


No shipping

comes out to be about $745 (does not include taxes from microcenter purchase).

What do you guys think?


Some questions/alternatives:

1) aftermarket cooling necessary? my PSU ok?

Newegg currently has sale on for $213 after rebates and promo code:
XFX Double D Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition Black Edition 2GB GDDR5 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150606&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL100412&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL100412-_-EMC-100412-Index-_-DesktopGraphicsVideoCards-_-14150606-L05C
2) Is the 7950 worth $57 more than the 7870? perhaps I'm better off spending elsewhere like on a SSD?

3) Also, microcenter has alternative motherboards on sale which can combo with the cpu, dunno if I'm better off spending a bit more on that.

 

[jrunv]

this seems like a great build and yes after market cooling is required since you do have a k version cpu you can grab the cm hyper 212 for like 20 bucks and i would personally get the 7950 but the 7870 is still a great card if you want to grab that instead and i would recomend getting a higher wattage cpu maybe 700w if you plan to crossfire two 7950 or two 7870 in the future

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

Well that mobo can't sli or cfx.
This one can though
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130645
If you are going to cfx, you might want to consider a 700w psu. But you would probably do fine with that 600w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037
For the 7870 vs 7950. here are some benchmarks
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/548?vs=550
As you can see they aren't substantially higher, but I think the 7950 will be better in the future because of higher bus (256 vs 384) and more ram.

 

[rizob]

I was considering it but, on second thought, I dont think I'll do any cfx. Probably stick with the current mobo and psu. Thanks for input.

 

[excella1221]

Don't get the OCZ ModXStream PSU. It's not that great and it has bad amperage on the +12v rail for a 600w.

 

[lt_dan_zsu]

Well I would still get that msi motherboard because it is still cheaper, and it leaves the option for cfx if you so please. Spending less got higher quality sounds like a good deal to me.