~$1000 first Build, need advice

[azeem40]

What is the total so far?

 

[mennoq]

Hi there! This is my first time on this forum, but it seems to be a great resource! I'm interested in building a new desktop PC (my first one) that will work well with 3D graphics (such as modeling and rendering) as well as gaming. I also just want it to be a good general-purpose PC. I already have the 24" monitor and mouse/keyboard, so that doesn't need to be factored in. It would be great to get some advice on which version of windows I should buy, whether the parts are compatible, and if my parts can be replaced by better (or cheaper if possible!) parts. I am a college student, so I am trying to keep the price down if possible.

Approximate Purchase Date: This week
Budget Range: $1000, not including OS cost
System Usage: 3D graphics, gaming, general purpose
Are you buying a monitor: No
Do you need to buy OS: Yes - I would like advice on this. Is the $200 price for windows 7 home edition the best I can get? It's just a big addition to the overall price of the build...
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, but elsewhere if cheaper
Parts Preferences: Intel processor
Overclocking: Maybe later (not for now)
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200
Additional Comments: I want 3ds Max to work well on this build, and the parts to be compatible with each other

Here is the build I put together today:
Motherboard: BIOSTAR TZ77B LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138352 $100

//CPU and GPU came together in a package with $20 discount + coupon for free borderlands 2 ///$520 for combination CPU and GPU
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

GPU: EVGA SuperClocked 02G-P4-3662-KR GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130810

Power Supply: COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS700-PCAAE3-US 700W ATX 12V v2.3 Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171054 $80

Memory: G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-8GAB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231546 $42

SSD: OCZ Vertex 4 VTX4-25SAT3-128G 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227791 $100

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244 $60

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233 $60

Let me know what you think, thanks!

 

[mennoq]

Yeah I should have noted that. The total at the moment is $960. I'll update the original post with all the individual prices as well.

 

[azeem40]

If that is the case, you could get the Sapphire Radeon 7950 for $40 more and outperform the 660ti.

 

[Proximon]

Ah 3Ds Max... OK. Hyperthreading would be a nice upgrade if possible.
The PSU needs to be avoided.
The good news is you can use an OEM version of win 7... but it will be tied to the motherboard and cannot be re-used in the next build.

Here is how I would do it

■Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
■MSI N660Ti PE 2GD5 GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
■NVIDIA Gift - Borderlands2 Free Game Coupon
■Kingston HyperX XMP Blu Red Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 Desktop Memory Model KHX16C10B1RK2/16X
More RAM
■Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
■SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128B/WW 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Fast and reliable
■Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-550-M 550W ATX12V v2.31 & EPS12V v2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified ...
■Rosewill CHALLENGER-U3 Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top ...
■Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770K
A stronger CPU
■ASRock Z77 Pro4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Enough board for moderate overclocks as long as there is no SLI.
■OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Heh, it's a freebie that ended up in the cart. Sell it or use it as a secondary.
■Newegg Promotional Gift Card - $15.00
TOTAL: $1,194.55
That is the total shipped to me... I have a script that does all this.

 

[mennoq]

Ah 3Ds Max... OK. Hyperthreading would be a nice upgrade if possible.
The PSU needs to be avoided.
The good news is you can use an OEM version of win 7... but it will be tied to the motherboard and cannot be re-used in the next build.
.......

Thanks so much! This is great. I think i'm just going to go ahead and get all the parts you recommended.
My only question concerns the SSD. I saw that you added two different solid state drives to your list? Was there a reason that I don't know about, or were you just providing two different options?

 

[Proximon]

The 60GB one was a freebie. I figured you really wanted something a bit larger and more reliable as a boot drive. Once you have the combos loaded into your shopping cart you will see the deal. Don't select that 60GB drive by itself... if you click on it you will see the green text that says
"This item can only be purchased with a combo "

 

[mennoq]

Best answer selected by mennoq.

 

[mennoq]

Okay I see that now. Well you have been incredibly helpful to me, so thank you.