New gaming rig for 1000$; first time builder

[L_2_P]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this community and I've joined since I want to try and build my own gaming computer. I've done some research already so I think I have a pretty good idea of what parts I want to use. So here's the basic info on what I expect.
One little detail, I'm from Canada so for me shipping can be expensive, depending from which store I will get my parts.

Approximate Purchase Date: April

Budget Range: About 1000$ (give or take 100$) with shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Mostly gaming, internet surfing

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Since I never bought computer parts, I don't have any preference yet but I believe getting parts from Canadacomputer, Newegg.ca, amazon.ca would be the easiest. Any suggestion from you guys that have experience would be great.

Location: Canada, Quebec City

Parts Preferences: I'm pretty set on using an Intel i5 3570K CPU, beside that I don't have any preference beside having the best parts for my budget can afford.

Overclocking: Maybe in the future.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future.

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I will be using Windows 8. I would like to run games likes crysis 3 on High setting or close to that.

So here's below a list of the parts I'm was thinking of using. I'm not too sure on the Video Card I've choosen, same thing with my PSU. I'm pretty sure 650W is overkillfort his build and maybe you could recommend something else that would save money and be able to run just fine, even if I overclock the CPU down the line.

Parts list:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LjkM

**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637i53570k) | $219.99 @ Newegg

**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $32.99 @ Newegg

**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz77xd3h) | $124.99 @ Newegg

**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmz8gx3m2a1600c8) | $65.99 @ Newegg

**Storage** | [Sandisk 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sandisk-internal-hard-drive-sdssdp064gg25) | $69.99 @ Newegg

**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd5003azex) | $84.99 @ Newegg

**Video Card** | [Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn66toc2gd) | $283.98 @ Newegg

**Case** | [Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-case-rc922mkkn1gp) | $95.98 @ Newegg

**Power Supply** | [Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cmpsu650tx) | $71.98 @ Newegg

**Optical Drive** | [Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas) | $19.99 @ Newegg

| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $1020.87
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-22 09:11 EDT-0400 |

So any suggestion on my build and ways to make it a little cheaper without compromising on performance or reliability is welcomed.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

LP

 

[AMD Radeon]

i see some improvement there

 

[AMD Radeon]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($204.30 @ Newegg Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.33 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Expansys US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($73.00 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB Video Card ($278.86 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case ($68.88 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $1086.31
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-03-22 09:39 EDT-0400)


fix ram issue with 212 evo, should be low heatsink ram
fix ssd and hdd selection
fix PSU corsair TX version
all from canadian store, the price is different from US store

 

[L_2_P]

Thanks for the suggestion, like I said I'm new to all this so I might have chosen parts that would not fit well together.

My biggest concern is cooling, not that I will be running anything extreme but if I overclock my CPU in the future, will the fan provided with the HAF case are enough or I should consider buying other fan ? Also is there other case option that would provide easier installation at around the same price as the HAF ?

Thanks again !

 

[L_2_P]

After reading different review on the videocard I was considering (Gigabyte Nvidia 660 Ti), I'm now a bit confused.

Forgive me for my ignorance, but I have to ask : is there a big difference in quality ad performance across the different makers of video card for the same model of card (ex: MSI vs Gigabyte) ? Is it preferable to go with the same brand of video card as your motherboard brand or it really doesn't change anything ?

Also, I'm now considering switching the Nvidia GTX 660Ti for a AMD HD7950. I've read that the AMD tends to run games like Crysis or BF3 better (higher framerate), and since I will be mainly playing FPS game, maybe the AMD would be the better choice. Any suggestions or thoughts on this ?

Thanks for all your help !