New Gaming Build

[Syntax-Error]

Hi, I'm building my first computer pretty soon and I'm looking for advice on what parts to get. I'm hoping to get a build that can run very graphics hungry games and very CPU intensive activities too, I've spent a while looking at parts and came up with this list, thanks for any advice and all advice!

Approximate Purchase Date: Either in the next couple of months or in the late Spring.
Budget Range: Hopefully under $2,000, I can go a little higher.
System Usage: Mostly gaming, along with more general use stuff.
Preferred Website: I've been using Newegg, but anywhere with good customer support and prices will be fine.
Location: Fairfield, Connecticut, pretty close to New York City.
Parts Preference: Definitely Intel for CPU.
Overclocking: Probably not at first, but most likely later on I'll try it out once I understand it better.
SLI/Crossfire: I'd like to upgrade to this eventually once I have the money, but not immediately.
Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080, most likely.
Additional Parts: I'm also using about $300 for a mouse, keyboard, and headset.

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770K Not really willing to compromise about this, I'd really like it to last and be able to run really CPU intensive activities too.

Video Card: EVGA 04G-P4-2673-KR GeForce GTX 670 Superclocked+ w/Backplate 4GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory: G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-17000CL11D-8GBSR

Storage: Kingston HyperX 3K SH103S3/90G 2.5" 90GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (Stand-Alone Drive) and Seagate Momentus XT ST750LX003 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache 2.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s Solid State Hybrid Drive -Bare Drive

Case: NZXT SWITCH 810 White CA-SW810-W1 Steel / Plastic ATX HYBRID Full Tower Gaming Computer Case

Power Supply Unit: COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RSA00-AMBAJ3-US 1000W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Optical Drive: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM

CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER RR-T812-24PK-R1 120mm Sleeve TPC 812 CPU Cooler Compatible with Intel 2011/1366/1155/1156/775 and AMD FM1/FM2/AM3

Case Fans: COUGAR CF-V14HB Vortex Hydro-Dynamic-Bearing (Fluid) 300,000 Hours 14CM Silent Cooling Fan (Black)

Monitor: ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ Speakers 300 cd/m2 20000 :1 (ASCR)

 

[ckholt83]

Overall not a bad list. If you're spending that much money on the GPU, you could get a higher performance 7970 GHz edition, or you could save a bit and step down to a normal 2GB 670 and be just fine on a single monitor.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125438&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=75186&vpn=GV-R797TO-3GD&manufacture=Gigabyte

That RAM looks like a good deal on sale right now, otherwise you wouldn't need to spend the extra on 2133.

You can actually get a larger and generally better SSD for a bit less money:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147163&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Also the Momentus is a hybrid drive, which you shouldn't really need if you are already buying an SSD for primary OS/App storage. A normal mechanical HDD would cost a good deal less for more space for secondary data storage:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148725&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

You don't need NEARLY that much wattage from your PSU. Even if you want to be able to SLI in the future, 750-800W is usually plenty. 1k+ is only useful if you have a 3-way SLI going, and your motherboard doesn't support that. I'd also stick to Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, PCP&C, or XFX for brands. For a single card, you'd be fine with this:
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=59615&vpn=P1550SXXB9&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1257

A Hyper212 Evo for $25 would give you plenty of cooling for a moderate overclock down the road. If you want to do a more extreme overclock, you might as well step up to the Noctua NH-D14.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

[malbluff]

A few observations:

There is no advantage from i7, over i5, for gaming and general purposes. i7 is useful for high-end photo/video editing, or 3D design, not much else. Of course, if you want i7 get it, as long as you appreciate its limited benefits.
For CPU cooler I'd suggest either the good value CoolerMaster Hyper 212Evo, or the high performance Noctua NH-D14.
For a quality build, I'd recommend a better mobo, than the Extreme 4. It's a decent mobo, if on a tight budget, but certainly the Asus P8Z77-V, or VPro, or Gigabyte GA-Z77-UD5H are much better quality.
The EVGA GTX670 is OK, but would prefer Gigabyte Windforce, or MSI Power Ed. Better cooling, quieter, better OC.
Would MUCH prefer OCZ Vertex4, or Samsung 830, for SSD, and WD Caviar Black/Blue for HDD.
Not a huge fan of CoolerMaster PSUs, at the moment. They have bad reputation, for misleading specs. Prefer Seasonic, Corsair, XFX, Antec, PC Power&Cooling. You don't need anything like 1000w. Even adding a 2nd GPU, in SLi, would only need 750w.

 

[g-unit1111]

That build looks really good, there's a couple of things I would suggest:

1. Ditch that storage solution - hybrid drives are a waste on desktop builds and Sandforce SSDs are horrendously unreliable. Go with this instead:
- SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227792
- HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136767

2. Cooler Master PSUs have a horrible reputation for being unreliable and the company overstates the actual output capabilities of its' PSUs. This would be better;
- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703028

3. The extra case fan isn't needed - wait until you get you build up and running before splurging on fans.

4. I'd recommend this for the CPU fan over what you chose: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608016

5. 2133 RAM isn't needed and Intel will void your warranty if you're using it. Go with this instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231546

 

[C12Friedman]

I'm going to suggest swapping the CM Silent Pro PSU for the SeaSonic Platinum Platinum-860 860W - the same price after rebate and one of (if not) THE highest rated PSU's to date http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151111 reviewed here http://www.anandtech.com/show/5464/seasonic-platinum-series-860w/6
The rest, I like.

 

[g-unit1111]

I'm going to suggest swapping the CM Silent Pro PSU for the SeaSonic Platinum Platinum-860 860W - the same price after rebate and one of (if not) THE highest rated PSU's to date http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151111 reviewed here http://www.anandtech.com/show/5464/seasonic-platinum-series-860w/6
The rest, I like.

I'd definitely second this suggestion.

 

[Syntax-Error]

Alright, so, I've come up with some changes from most of those suggestions.

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V DELUXE LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Power Supply: SeaSonic Platinum Platinum-860 860W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply

CPU Fan: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/FM2/AM3+

SSD: SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

HDD: Western Digital WD Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

And if I got the Intel Tuning plan would that cover higher RAM frequencies as well?

 

[g-unit1111]

Alright, so, I've come up with some changes from most of those suggestions.

Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V DELUXE LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Power Supply: SeaSonic Platinum Platinum-860 860W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply

CPU Fan: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/FM2/AM3+

SSD: SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

HDD: Western Digital WD Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

And if I got the Intel Tuning plan would that cover higher RAM frequencies as well?

No - the RAM controller on Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge is integrated into the CPU - which is why it's highly advised against messing with the timings and voltages of the RAM you purchase will cause serious system instability.