1000-1150 Budget Build

[Ethan_01]

Hey Everyone!

Approximate Purchase Date: Call it 2 weeks
Budget Range: 1000-1150 After Shipping/Taxes
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, General Purpose
Location: Ontario, Canada
Why Are You Upgrading: Gave my laptop to my wife, doesn't run games anymore.
Parts Preference : Nvidia, but not opposed to getting an AMD Video Card.

Haven't built a computer before, but I am confident that I can do it on my own. Here are the parts I have picked out myself so far:

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($101.78 @ Amazon)
Video Card: ???
Case: Corsair C70 Military Green (Green) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: ???
Total: $592.73
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 15:32 EST-0500)

For the Video Card I was hoping to fit in a GTX 670, but with all the new Radeon Spec's it looks like it might be more cost effective to go that route, without sacrificing performance.
For the PSU, I really have no idea what I am doing, none of them seem to stand out above the rest. I don't plan to SLI/OC very much if at all.
I know the case is more expensive then most people would choose for a budget build, however I look at other cases, and I just can't see them sitting on my desk like that one.
I can push the budget up to about 1150, but would like to stay as close to 1000$ as possible.

Thank you in advance for all your input/help. Go Tom's Hardware!

 

[ilysaml]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($369.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair C70 Military Green (Green) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($100.17 @ Newegg)
Total: $1143.09
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 16:02 EST-0500)

 

[groundrat]

So far so good. The C70 is one of th coolest cases out there, but that is $120 you cant spend on other things. If its worth it, it will serve you well.

I'd reccomend this card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131473

It's, if not the best bang for the buck, within a few cents of it. With your other components, you've have great frame rates. You should get a good secondary hard disk as well. The only thing that should go on the SSD is the OS and maybe Office.

For a PS you need about 550 watts. I'd get a 650 Watt for safes sake. Look at Corsair, Seasonic or Antec 80+ bronze minimum. I preffer single rail supplies, others have different opinions.

 

[Ethan_01]

I'd reccomend this card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131473

It's, if not the best bang for the buck, within a few cents of it. With your other components, you've have great frame rates. You should get a good secondary hard disk as well. The only thing that should go on the SSD is the OS and maybe Office.

For a PS you need about 550 watts. I'd get a 650 Watt for safes sake. Look at Corsair, Seasonic or Antec 80+ bronze minimum. I preffer single rail supplies, others have different opinions.

Ok is that card going to last me a few years? It seems pretty cost effective with good reviews, and I hope AMD delivers on their "working on drivers throughout the year" promise, I just don't have much experience with them so I am skeptical.

 

[Ethan_01]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($369.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair C70 Military Green (Green) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($100.17 @ Newegg)
Total: $1143.09
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 16:02 EST-0500)

That build looks almost perfect for what I was going for, albiet on the budget heavy side. What is the difference between that card and the one recommended to me by Grounndrat? It looks like I could buy 2 of his for the price of the GTX 670. I know It's what I said I wanted, but will it offer 2x the performance for its 2x price?

 

[ilysaml]

GTX 670 is more powerful than HD 7850, GTX 670 is comparable with the standard HD 7970. 2 of HD 7850s in CF will beat a single GTX 670 but you don't wanna experience the hassle of CF support and the lack of drivers. It's too much hassle for newbies.

And always, a single high end card is better than 2 mid range cards in CF/SLI.

 

[oxwax]

Graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161399 ($385)
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008 ($100)
Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194094 ($85)

Shave $20 off the cost of the case, and $15 off the power supply. Add only $15 to get a better card. The 7970 is actually
better for all-around usage.

Are you going to overclock? If not, you can buy this processor instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116782 ($179)

This is a solid CPU that just doesn't have the HD 4000 Graphics. You won't need it since your using a discrete card.

 

[Ethan_01]

Best answer selected by Ethan_01.