$1200 quiet workhorse with gaming

[pdxtai]

Greetings,

I've built many computers since the Celeron 300A days but thought I might get advice on my next build. This will be my personal computer used mostly for office apps, web browsing and some light gaming.

Approximate Purchase Date: November

Budget Range: $1,200 USD after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: remote assistance, office apps, web browsing, some gaming

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: mid tower case might be best

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments:
I'll never do SLI/Crossfire. I need this to be a reliable workhorse that's reasonably quiet. I've always overclocked in the past, but am leaning towards avoiding that if it means a quieter system when not gaming. I'd also like to limit the idle power usage.

Parts I'm leaning towards:
i5-2500k, Crucial m4 128GB SSD, 2 x spinpoint 2TB hard drives (one will be used for backups), 6950 or 560Ti graphics card (more is overkill).

Part I need help on:
motherboard, CPU cooler, power supply, case, external drive dock.

Was thinking of going Micro ATX, but don't see much benefit. I do want a front panel USB3 port. Front panel eSATA would be handy as well.

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[cutebeans]

I'd get this combo from newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.722562

Get this 6950 or you can find the 560ti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150523

Hyper Evo best bang for buck.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Just add the M4 128ssd. Get another samsung or seagate 1tb. Get the seagate it's cheaper by $5.

Not sure about the other things like external drive dock. Not sure about the USB3 port but it does have esata .

 

[farsuka]

I'd get this combo from newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.722562

Get this 6950 or you can find the 560ti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150523

Hyper Evo best bang for buck.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Just add the M4 128ssd. Get another samsung or seagate 1tb. Get the seagate it's cheaper by $5.

Not sure about the other things like external drive dock. Not sure about the USB3 port but it does have esata .

Barracudas aren't very good

 

[cutebeans]

Barracudas aren't very good

How so?

 

[pdxtai]

Does overclocking the i5-2500k just raise the maximum multiplier? Will the CPU still throttle down when idle? I know you can force it to run full speed all the time, but I'd prefer it to slow down when idle.

Is there any way to be sure the hyper cooler will fit in the case? It looks huge.

I'm leaning away from the combo deal as I think I want a different MB, though which one I'm not sure yet. Still shopping around.

Thanks for your feedback.