Gaming Build $1300-1500.

[DJWallet]

So I've done some changes to my previous build. This will mostly be used for gaming (Starcraft 2 alot, and alot of new games). With the money saved from my changes, I went to a better and more silent case. What do you guys think?

Approximate Purchase Date: Sometimes in the next 2 weeks.
Budget Range: $1300-1500
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies, netflix
Are you buying a monitor: Yes
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Canadian Websites
Location: Canada
Overclocking: No
Additional Comments: Had a cpu cooler planned, but dropped it planning to use the stock one with the i5.. good idea?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Patriot Intel Extreme Master, Limited Ed 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($379.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: OCZ ZS 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($40.95 @ DirectCanada)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($17.93 @ DirectCanada)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($162.97 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Wired Laser Mouse ($42.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $1451.75
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[malbluff]

Generally very good. Obviously, you have the capability to overclock processor, but if you don't intend to do so, or at least, not until the future, nothing wrong with using stock cooler. It is wise to use low profile RAM, so you can fit an aftermarket cooler, later. I'm not sure of the height of the Patriot RAM. If you look at the pictures, they almost look as though they are of different things, in terms of shape. May be wise to use Corasir CML, GSKill Ares, or Crucial Ballistix Sport. They're definitely ok.
Not keen on the OCZ PSU's, generally. XFX, Seasonic, Antec, PC Power&Cooling, Rosewill (Hive or Capstone), all pretty good.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

You forgot Corsair.

You can't OC much or do x8/x8 SLI/CF on that mobo, so I'd get the Z77 Extreme4 or GA-Z77X-D3H if doing either of those, or a B75 or H77 board if not. Get a -3450 or -3470 if not OCing, and a CPU cooler if you are.

 

[malbluff]

Totally agree, and would have suggested the Gigabyte mobo, for crossfire and better OC, but assumed from OP's choice, of PSU, and comments, about overclocking, that those were not required, unless OP wanted a bit of OC, later, with addition of cooler.
Re Corsair. I like some of their larger rated ones, they're very good, but some of their smaller, builder series, aren't exactly brilliant. I understand they're bringing out a V3, which will, hopefully, be good, for the lower ratings.

 

[mastrom101]

http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/lzKF


made some revisions

 

[Someone Somewhere]

There's no point in getting a Z77 board if you're not OCing and the PSU won't run 2xGPUs. Get a cheap B75 or H77 board. You might want to get a -3450 or -3470 as they'll perform much the same but are cheaper.

 

[malbluff]

As someone somewhere said, the i5-3450 is better value, than i5-3570. That Z77 is giving you nothing, over a H77, unless you want to add a 2nd graphics card, in crossfire, for which you'd need a higher rated power supply. An ASRock H77M, or H77-Pro4/MVP if you want full ATX, would be fine. Take $9, of the $80 or so you'd save, and get an XFX power supply, rather than OCZ. You could spend the rest, on a HD7970, if you want.

 

[DJWallet]

Ok so how about this? Also, I noticed mastrom101 suggested I switch to a MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card.. It's basically 100$ difference with the one I got right now. Is there a big difference between the two ? Is the one I got really better?

I hope this is better now, thanks for the tips btw:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.61 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($389.99 @ Memory Express)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($17.93 @ DirectCanada)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($162.97 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Wired Laser Mouse ($42.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $1433.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[DJWallet]

Just came back home and read you guys' replies.. Thanks so much. You are all very awesome. I'll make some revisions with your comments and post my final (hopefully) build soon! Again, thanks!

 

[boulbox]

here you go changed a few parts but it should't really hurt the performance that much

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Memory Express)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.61 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($339.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($17.93 @ DirectCanada)
Monitor: Asus VS239H-P 23.0" Monitor ($162.97 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Keyboard: Cooler Master CM Storm QuickFire Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Wired Laser Mouse ($42.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $1378.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

1)different CPU the 3470 is only a bit faster than the 3450 so i downgraded it
2)changed the Mobo into a z77 mobo since it supports things like trim which helps if you have an SSD and you do have one on your build
3)changed GPU into a XFX DoubleD 7970 which is $50 cheaper than the Gigabyte version for 1 less of a fan. the DoubleD may not keep the 7970 as cool as the Gigabytes but it should keep it cool enough to OC it a lot since it is also a non reference card

also it is even possible to get this kind of Ram since it you do not have a big heatsink
http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/part/corsair-memory-cmz8gx3m2a1600c9b
saves about $5