First time build - $1200 or cheaper.

[bu_norton]

First build ever, pretty happy to be taking the DIY plunge. Just wanted to run the build by the community - any recommended tweaks? Looking to keep the build under $1200. Some items have already been purchase (separated below). Any recommended changes or substitutions?

Looking to do some gaming and photography editing, possibly amateur video editing.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qaGc
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qaGc/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qaGc/benchmarks/

Already owned:
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Intel 330 Series 180GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($144.41 @ eCost) (actually got it for $89)

Probably buying:
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 ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.98 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($316.97 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($61.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.89 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1106.18


Thanks all!

 

[excella1221]

Get this instead, it's basically a steal at its price and it outperforms the 660 Ti in almost everything. Comes with 3 free games too.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202006&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

This is a personal suggestion for RAM, I've never really liked Mushkin, but they're not bad.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

I suggest this HDD instead.
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=74462&vpn=WD10EZEX&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD&promoid=1310

Corsair CX has mediocre quality and reliability, get XFX instead.
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=59615&vpn=P1550SXXB9&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1257

 

[djangoringo]

Some changes with the 670 GTX ftw and better psu :

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qqgr

Or : http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qqi7 with 7970 ghz.

 

[excella1221]

^650w is too overkill, even 550w would be more than enough.

Also, ODD, case, and CPU cooler, and HDD aren't accounted for in the price total.

The Corsair Vengeance's tall heat spreaders will conflict with the 212 EVO, it's better to get low profile RAM like G.Skill Ares/Sniper or the LP version of CV.

EVGA cards are overrated, they use reference cooling which will give you warmer temps compared to custom coolers from other brands. The Gigabyte would be a better option.

Intel 330 uses SandForce, it has efficiency issues especially with incompressible data, best get Marvell controllers like the Vertex 4, Samsung 830/840 Pro, Crucial M4, to name a few.

 

[djangoringo]

Some juice more doesn't hurt, 650w is at the same price as the 550w.
Besides it's for a 7970 or 670.
It's the ftw evga which isn't bad it has pcb of the 680 gtx, and if for sli in the future its better to have stock cooler.
He already brought the ssd, i just changed the things he didn't buy as for the ram i thought it was the low profile ones, i usually recommend low profile.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qqr9 - NVIDIA 670 GTX FTW
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qqoI - AMD 7970

 

[bu_norton]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qquU
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qquU/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qquU/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 ($29.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Intel 330 Series 180GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($144.41 @ eCost)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($279.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($53.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.89 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1055.22

Sticking with 550W PSU due to rating (the 650W doesn't seem to be as favored). Updated based on recommendations, and like the new price!

As for the videocard, will Sapphire suffice to run anything I want at 1080p?

Thanks all.

 

[g-unit1111]

As for the videocard, will Sapphire suffice to run anything I want at 1080p?

Yes.

Here is what I would suggest:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($279.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 500R White ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1165.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-01 14:08 EST-0500)

 

[excella1221]

Some juice more doesn't hurt, 650w is at the same price as the 550w.
Besides it's for a 7970 or 670.
It's the ftw evga which isn't bad it has pcb of the 680 gtx, and if for sli in the future its better to have stock cooler.
He already brought the ssd, i just changed the things he didn't buy as for the ram i thought it was the low profile ones, i usually recommend low profile.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qqr9 - NVIDIA 670 GTX FTW
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/qqoI - AMD 7970

Oh, I missed the part about the SSD. :lol:

I don't see anything special with having the PCB of the 680, I find it more as a gimmick.
How exactly would a stock cooler be better for SLI? That's going to yield even higher temps since it can't keep up with the produced heat. It WILL be hotter since there would be less airflow between the two.

 

[boulbox]

The 670 with the 680 PCB is for higher overclocks since it uses a 6pin and a 8pin instead of 2 6 pins.

 

[excella1221]

Yeah, but if you're trying to reach high OC, then it's all the more reason not to get a reference cooler.