$1000 for photos and games, with OC

[1vh1]

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: this week (the closer the better) In the month of December

Budget Range: (e.g.: 300-400) Before / After Rebates; Before / After Shipping $1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Photo editing, gaming (skyrim, LoL, BF3), Internet

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: Yes


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Location: Houston, Texas, US

Parts Preferences: A "good" PSU, intel CPU

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Additional Comments: I use Photoshop, Lightroom, C4D, for design and photo editing.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: CPU is on the way out, outdated components all around, HDD issues.

Here is what I am planning now. Let me know if I can save money anywhere without drastically reducing performance or quality. I haven't built in a while so I am behind on hardware. I am looking to get into OC so I tryed to keep that in mind. I was hoping this mobo was good for overclocking.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($26.55 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus Maximus V Gene Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($199.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($103.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($234.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Inwin BUC ATX Mid Tower Case ($95.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $944.47
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-13 09:17 EST-0500)

 

[excella1221]

You're overpaying for the motherboard. You don't need the extra features of the Maximus V nor do you want a micro. Your case can handle a full ATX board.
Get this instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157304&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

You can't run triple channel RAM on that board or any modern board for that matter. You also won't need more than 8gb.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

SSD is the best for that range. I see no HDD to serve as a storage drive - why? Get this.
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=74462&vpn=WD10EZEX&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD&promoid=1368

Revised build.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nz9N

 

[sadams04]

You are in good shape. The only thing that really stands out is the memory. Install them in pairs... Having three modules will have you in single channel mode. Change that to 2x4GB or 4x4GB or something to that effect. Also, change that to DDR3-1600 CL9 1.5v. No reason not to up the speed at the same costs (Microcenter will have memory at a good price while you are there).

Since that motherboard has a second CPU fan connector and you are going to overclock, go ahead and add a second CPU fan to the Hyper 212 EVO. Its cheap!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103069

 

[1vh1]

You're overpaying for the motherboard. You don't need the extra features of the Maximus V nor do you want a micro. Your case can handle a full ATX board.
Get this instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157304&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

You can't run triple channel RAM on that board or any modern board for that matter. You also won't need more than 8gb.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

SSD is the best for that range. I see no HDD to serve as a storage drive - why? Get this.
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=74462&vpn=WD10EZEX&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD&promoid=1368

Revised build.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/nz9N

Thank you for dropping some knowledge on me about the RAM and mobo! Like I said I haven't read about hardware in ages.

Sorry, I should have included that I have 3TB in external HDD that I use for storage.

 

[cutebeans]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair CAFA50 61.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($32.43 @ Mac Connection)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($127.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ Microcenter)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($98.79 @ Amazon)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($224.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: OCZ StealthXstream II 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $962.11
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-13 10:07 EST-0500)

It took me a while to make this. I didn't want to put the EVO because it's such a massive CPU cooler. The SSD and Harddrive are one of the bests. Powersupply gets a recommendation from
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/OCZ-StealthXStream-600-W-Power-Supply-Review/451/10

Yeah. All in all, a good build. Always get pairs when it comes to ram.

 

[excella1221]

I wouldn't suggest the StealthXStream. It's mediocre at best, it has good effiency but it's known to have a high failure rate(in other words, it dies fast), hence the low price tag.
Newegg even stopped reselling it.

He already has a 3TB HDD.

The 212 EVO would cool a lot better than that Corsair, and the low profile RAM would've solved the clearance issue. You lose no performance on both components that way.

 

[cutebeans]

I wouldn't suggest the StealthXStream. It's mediocre at best, it has good effiency but it's known to have a high failure rate(in other words, it dies fast), hence the low price tag.
Newegg even stopped reselling it.

He already has a 3TB HDD.

The 212 EVO would cool a lot better than that Corsair, and the low profile RAM would've solved the clearance issue. You lose no performance on both components that way.

Oh that's why. I've seen it been recommended a lot of times, it's hard to not actually to test the unit for a long time.