Complete Build for Gaming & Overclocking - Opinions? Ordering Tomorrow

[Doostur]

The time is come to upgrade my setup. I am coming from a Q9450 w/ a GTX 280.

After doing a few days of research, below is what I have come up with. I am ultimately looking for the best bang for your buck setup, which will be very easy to over clock. I also plan to play around with an SSD setup for games/operating system with an HDD for everything else. I also may want to go with a dual monitor/sli setup down the road, which is why I went kind of overboard! I also have a nice set of 5.1 Klipsch speakers, which is why I added a sound card. The only real thing I was torn about was the video card. Either a 7970, GTX 670 or GTX 680... and from reading reviews, the 7970 seems the way to go and best value.

If you have any suggestions please list what part you'd rather use and why.

I appreciate all comments, opinions, suggestions. I plan on ordering first thing tomorrow morning! THANKS!!!

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Best Buy)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card ($424.98 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DGX 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VW246H 24.0" Monitor ($187.49 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Keyboard: Microsoft SIDEWINDER X4 Wired Gaming Keyboard ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Mouse: Logitech G9x Wired Laser Mouse ($67.36 @ Amazon)
Total: $1639.70
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-27 15:27 EST-0500)

 

[blake1243]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H80i 77.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.50 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($107.95 @ Mac Connection)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($369.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Gunmetal/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1221.37
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-27 15:12 EST-0500)

Just a few changes. Your gonna need the "k" version of the i5 3570 to overclock. And cooler master doesn't make the greatest power supplys . Also, do you really need a sound card? Onboard is usually good enough.

 

[Guest]

If you want to overclock you will be better with an unlocked processor like an i5-3570K
(K series is for unlocked CPU's)
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53570k

 

[djangoringo]

Change the psu for a better one : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

That one is made by seasonic, it has a promo code of 20$.
An ips monitor will be better : http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008DWITHI/

The rest is all good stuff.
I rather ditch the soundcard, that one isn't that good, the onboard audio is fine.
There's also a cheaper ssd on newegg : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211602

It's a good one.

 

[Doostur]

I have made the changes original post.

Thanks for the catch. I had the correct 3570K in newegg but some how picked the wrong one on pcpartpicker.

I have always used Corsair for power supplies but this time I thought to gamble on cool masters. I'll go with Corsair and play it safe.

 

[Doostur]

blake1243, why do you suggest the i7-3770K over the i5-3570k?

 

[blake1243]

blake1243, why do you suggest the i7-3770K over the i5-3570k?

By all means grab the 3570k over the 3770k and save $100. I thought i read somewhere you were gonna be rendering videos (in that case get a 3770k), but I just got mixed up from all the threads I have pulled up in different tabs lol.

 

[Doostur]

Roger. I'm just going to be gaming with some emailing/web surfing.

 

[Doostur]

I'm about to order but before I do....

I live near Microcenter. They have the Core i7-3770K for 230$ and the i5-3570K for 190$. For an extra $40 bucks, should I jump for the 3770k? Bench marks show the i7 is much faster. I realize for gaming it wont matter but for $40 ....

Also if I go with the i7, should I upgrade to 16 gb of ram or stick with 8?

 

[djangoringo]

Well, since it's really cheap the i7 on microcenter it might be worth it, if some day, you are into editing stuff, or if in the future games start using HT, if not the i5 is the cpu that you need.
8GB of ram is plenty, no need for 16GB.