Hard-Core gaming desktop

[ballerslife]

Will be playing games such as BF3, Black Ops 2, Metro 2033, Crysis 3, and other games for long hours (3-4 hours). As a result, I need a good cooling system. Is this a good build? (NOTE: I live 20 minutes away from a microcenter, and the CPU I will be getting is $150 at microcenter)

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: MSI H77MA-G43 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($83.55 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($70.90 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNWD-N1502UBE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($7.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($68.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Hannspree HL229DPB 21.5" Monitor ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $822.36
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-06 12:43 EST-0500)

 

[properbuilds]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($70.90 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card ($234.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNWD-N1502UBE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($7.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($68.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Hannspree HL229DPB 21.5" Monitor ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $831.36
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[ballerslife]

You only changed the motherboard and case?

 

[ballerslife]

You only changed the motherboard and case?

 

[properbuilds]

Hi, yes, i recommend the corsair 200R and the z75 pro 3, also the sapphire 7870 XT card, the rest seems fine

 

[DarkSable]

Great build, but just a few things.

1) You have an m-atx motherboard - why not get an matx case to fit?

2) Don't game on wi-fi. Period. It's unreliable and slow. (I have a small form factor build with wifi, and whenever I can, I use Ethernet. Gaming on wifi is hideous.)

3) Nice find on a 1080p monitor for that cheap - I figured at first it had to be 1600x900.

4) If you can, try to fit in a 64GB SSD - once you have one you won't ever want a computer without one again. It's like night and day.

 

[J_E_D_70]

@OP - the motherboard change from proper will allow you to increase that CPU by 400MHz on all four cores (watch your temps - if it doesn't stay below 70C or so, get a cheap cpu cooler later on).

 

[ballerslife]

I was looking at this case, will this fit all my stuff? Sorry, I'm new to this building computers and stuff. Only reason I'm getting this is because the reviews say this has a great cooling system. I looked at the other case, and I don't know if it's better than this.

http://microcenter.com/product/351733/EVO_Mid_Tower_ATX_Computer_Case

 

[properbuilds]

Hi, i recommend going with a quality case like the Corsair 200R, diablotek is a horrid brand, the corsair 200R is a good solid case.

 

[ballerslife]

Ok, I've read the reviews for the 200r, and it seems pretty good. And is an extra fan is needed? I won't be overclocking at all, or going crossfire.

 

[properbuilds]

Hi, no, you don't need an extra fan, the case already has fans in it, the stock cooler will be sufficient, since you don't plan to overclock.

 

[ballerslife]

OK thanks for the advice

 

[ballerslife]

Best answer selected by ballerslife.