$1500 New PC from Scratch Need advice

[lastsd]

Updated Aug/12 - Bought following:
- Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 8GB
- WD Black 1 TB
- Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo
- LiteOn IHAS124-04 DVD Writer

Updated Aug/9 - Bought Asus P8Z77-V LK

Updated Aug/2 - Bought Corsair 500R

Approximate Purchase Date: This month ~ next month

Budget Range: $1500 Max before tax

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, coding

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: Need all the parts

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Haven't used any websites for PC parts before but I've heard newegg.ca, NCIS, MemoryExpress are good. Also can drive to Canada Computers, Tigerdirect.

Location: Toronto, Canada

Parts Preferences: CPU - Intel, GPU - NVIDIA(but I can go for AMD if have to) more detail on each part at the bottom

Overclocking: Maybe(even if I do it not a lot)

SLI or Crossfire: Not at the moment but wouldn't mind buying parts that allows it for future

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920*1080, 22+

Additional Comments: I've been out of the PC game for a while now.
I been using gaming laptop for last 5~6 years(Yes gaming laptops got outdated very fast. Each lasting barely 2 years, but I had to travel around a lot). This computer will be used for many thing but since I don't do any graphic work, gaming will test the hardware the most.

Here are some parts I have been looking into

My budget is around $1500 including keyboard + monitor. (so probably $1200 just for the tower)
I would like a mechanical keyboard if I have funds remaining but I could just spend more on core computer parts.

Here are some parts/specs I am considering(you can probably tell that I like Tom Hardware's suggestion + forum here).

Case
Updated Aug/2 - Bought : Corsair 500R

PSU
Budget estimate: Max $150
A. bronze +,
B. good company
C. doesn't have to be modular but of course it doesn't hurt
D. 650W - 750W

1. Corsair TX750 V2 - bronze
2. XFX PRO750W - silver
3. Antec Truepower New 750W - Bronze
4. More suggestion welcome

MOBO
Updated Aug/9 - Bought Asus P8Z77-V LK

CPU
Budget estimate: Max $230(whatever i5-3570k price)
1. i5-3570k

Graphic Card
Budget estimate: Max $420
1. EVGA GTX670 FTW
2. EGVA GTX670
3. Other GTX670
4. May consider HD 7970 (for a good price)

RAM
Updated Aug/12 - Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 8GB

Hard drive
Updated Aug/12 - WD Black 1 TB

SSD
Budget estimate: $0 or $125
A. I would like SSD but if I am missing funds I can add this piece after
B. If I do get it 120GB+

1. Crucial M4 128gb
2. Sandisk Extreme 120GB
3. Mushkin Chronos 120GB

Seperate heatsink & cooler
Updated Aug/12 - Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo

DVD-drive
Updated Aug/12 - LiteOn IHAS124-04 DVD Writer

Monitor
Budget estimate: Max $250
A. 22inch +
B. 1080P (I think this is given now a days?)
C. I don't need a super good monitor. As long as I can game that's fine(only other time I use computer is when I am coding for work)

1. Asus VS239H-P
2. Asus VH238H 23.0"
3. Asus VE228H 21.5"

Other stuff
1. wifi card
2. sound card(not required)
3. mechanical keyboard(either mechanical or nothing. I don't like those non-mechanical gaming keyboards. would stick with $10 keyboard if no money left for mechanical keyboard)

If I add all the prices together it's about $1790. But this is adding up all the max price on each component. I am sure you guys can help me choose the good parts and lower that down to $1500.

I am not in hurry to build this computer, which is why a lot of components I only have preference but no model chosen. I could even wait until end of the year if you guys think I could get a better deal (or better parts for money like GTX 660 Ti)

I am looking for expert opinion on
1. Is my distribution of budget for each part makes sense
2. For those ones that I have listed models, if they are good for my need, alternative ones you would suggest?
3. Suggestion on parts for those I didn't list any model names

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Kamab]

Your are overallocating money for a monitor unless you want an IPS panel (from your comments that doesn't sound like the case). You can get a 22+ inch LED backlit LCD for under 200$ easily.

I'd say its a shame to not have an SSD on a 1500$ budget.

I'd recommend a USB wifi card. I got one from ASUS and it works great (dual band).

You don't need a sound card.

You can get a silver rated 80+ modular 600-700W PSU that will easily handle a 670 + OC for around 100$ if not less on sale.

RAM shouldn't cost you more than 20-30$

A good heat sink will cost you less than 30$

Just trying to give you better ballparks. I liked most of the selections you made for a 1500$ budget. I do think you overestimated the cost of a few components by quite a bit.

 

[lastsd]

Your are overallocating money for a monitor unless you want an IPS panel (from your comments that doesn't sound like the case). You can get a 22+ inch LED backlit LCD for under 200$ easily.

I'd say its a shame to not have an SSD on a 1500$ budget.

I'd recommend a USB wifi card. I got one from ASUS and it works great (dual band).

You don't need a sound card.

You can get a silver rated 80+ modular 600-700W PSU that will easily handle a 670 + OC for around 100$ if not less on sale.

RAM shouldn't cost you more than 20-30$

A good heat sink will cost you less than 30$

Just trying to give you better ballparks. I liked most of the selections you made for a 1500$ budget. I do think you overestimated the cost of a few components by quite a bit.

Thanks for the fast reply.
Yeah my money allocation is the maximum amount of money I would spend on each part, I agree I did put quite a bit of space on some parts but not as much on others.

Any money I save will probably go to ssd drive (from your suggestion money I would save from monitor + RAM + heatsink will get me a 128G SSD)

Only reason I went for 750W for PSU is in case I want to go SLI/Crossfire later on. But I would consider 600~700W.

Do you have any suggestion on any particular model on any items?
Thank you

 

[cranked]

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 ($34.99 @ Newegg)

Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Crucial Ballistix 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)

Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($119.99 @ Newegg)

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($409.99 @ Newegg)

Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: Corsair 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)

Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)

Monitor: Asus VE248H 24.0" Monitor ($164.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $1422.89
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)


Throw in a kb/mouse and you can max any game.

 

[Kamab]

CORSAIR Professional Series HX650

GTX 670

i5-3570k

Check tom's for mobo reviews for one of the Z77 boards you were looking at.

I like the crucial M4 SSDs (seems pretty reliable). Toggle NAND drives perform better in benchmarks, but its hard to notice in real life 😛. Go with whats on sale.

The Cooler Master 212 coolers are pretty good

 

[bigcyco1]

add mouse and keyboard PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ NCIX)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.98 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($139.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.79 @ DirectCanada)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($119.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($400.16 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Enforcer ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: Antec 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Monitor: Asus VS248H-P 24.0" Monitor ($199.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $1429.85
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-07-27 18:06 EDT-0400)

 

[g-unit1111]

Here you go:

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 ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F4 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($409.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec Eleven Hundred ATX Full Tower Case ($109.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VH236H 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1531.87
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-07-27 19:44 EDT-0400)

A little bit over budget but add whatever keyboard and mouse you want and you're good to go.

 

[lastsd]

Wow you guys are fast!
Thank you for all the advice and information.
I will review them and ask more questions soon😀

One big question I have.
Should I wait until Nov~Dec for Black Friday/Boxing day sales? (Just not sure how much sale are on computer parts during those time)
I don't have to have the computer now but if not much more benefit than I could get it now.
Also by that time GTX660Ti would be out (gives me another option to look at)
I would assume the parts that will have a big sale would be Monitor/HDD/case where as CPU/MOBO/GPU wouldn't have a big sale.
I know the usual answer is if you start waiting for things I would never get a computer but just curious on usual sales around the holiday times.

Thank you again.

 

[azeem40]

I'd go with g-unit's build. 23" for 1080p has more pixels per inch than 24".

 

[bigcyco1]

I'd go with g-unit's build. 23" for 1080p has more pixels per inch than 24".

The OP Location: Toronto, Canada so his build has to be redone

 

[azeem40]

Still stands that 23" is more preferable to 24" at 1080p.

 

[g-unit1111]

The OP Location: Toronto, Canada so his buil has to be redone

Not really - just replace the links in newegg.com with newegg.ca - same thing.

 

[azeem40]

Not really - just replace the links in newegg.com with newegg.ca - same thing.

And that would most likely push the build above his budget since newegg.ca has items that are more expensive since he lives in CA.

 

[bigcyco1]

Not really - just replace the links in newegg.com with newegg.ca - same thing.

true but it will go over budget i think but anyways doesn't matter to me we both have enough best answers to last a life time he can still use either build to get the general idea of what to get 😉

 

[bigcyco1]

Wow you guys are fast!
Thank you for all the advice and information.
I will review them and ask more questions soon😀

One big question I have.
Should I wait until Nov~Dec for Black Friday/Boxing day sales? (Just not sure how much sale are on computer parts during those time)
I don't have to have the computer now but if not much more benefit than I could get it now.
Also by that time GTX660Ti would be out (gives me another option to look at)
I would assume the parts that will have a big sale would be Monitor/HDD/case where as CPU/MOBO/GPU wouldn't have a big sale.
I know the usual answer is if you start waiting for things I would never get a computer but just curious on usual sales around the holiday times.

Thank you again.

It might be worth it i can't say for sure

 

[azeem40]

It's only worth it if you think your system is good enough for what you do now.

 

[g-unit1111]

And that would most likely push the build above his budget since newegg.ca has items that are more expensive since he lives in CA.

Actually at current rate of exchange - 1,500.00 CAD = 1,494.99 USD
Canadian Dollar ↔ US Dollar
1 CAD = 0.996661 USD 1 USD = 1.00335 CAD

So it doesn't really make that much of a difference.

 

[lastsd]

EDIT: Are on-board wi-fi cards worth it (for models like P8Z77-V, GA-Z77X-UD5H, or just go for ones without wifi and get a usb wifi card?)

I am trying to narrow down mother board first

Price: ASrock > Asus & MSI & Gigabyte
Reputation: Asus & Gigabyte > ASrock & MSI

With most suggesting ASrock Extreme 4 for the price.
However up here in Canada the price is a bit different.

Here are some prices (using http://pcpartpicker.com/ca)

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 $150
ASRock Z77 Extreme6 $190

Asus P8Z77-V LK $126 (good sale but probably won't buy this week so $135)
Asus P8Z77-V $185
Asus SABERTOOTH Z77$230

Biostar TZ77XE3 $140

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H $150
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H $178

MSI Z77A-GD65 $140

Canada price are usually higher than US but ASRock margin seems bigger than other company.

Thank you in advance.

 

[g-unit1111]

EDIT: Are on-board wi-fi cards worth it (for models like P8Z77-V, GA-Z77X-UD5H, or just go for ones without wifi and get a usb wifi card?)

I am trying to narrow down mother board first

Price: ASrock > Asus & MSI & Gigabyte
Reputation: Asus & Gigabyte > ASrock & MSI

With most suggesting ASrock Extreme 4 for the price.
However up here in Canada the price is a bit different.

Here are some prices (using http://pcpartpicker.com/ca)

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 $150
ASRock Z77 Extreme6 $190

Asus P8Z77-V LK $126 (good sale but probably won't buy this week so $135)
Asus P8Z77-V $185
Asus SABERTOOTH Z77$230

Biostar TZ77XE3 $140

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H $150
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H $178

MSI Z77A-GD65 $140

Canada price are usually higher than US but ASRock margin seems bigger than other company.

Thank you in advance.

The Asrock Extreme 4 or Gigabyte UD3H will be the best bets in that category. The UD5H is quite nice as well.

 

[lastsd]

The Asrock Extreme 4 or Gigabyte UD3H will be the best bets in that category. The UD5H is quite nice as well.

Hi thank you for helping me a lot
One question. Do you have experience with MSI boards ?
The reason why I ask is that MSI Z77A-GD65 seems to have high reviews from review sites but I almost ever see people recommending that board over similarly priced Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H, ASRock Z77 Extreme4, Asus P8Z77-V LK.

I know in US ASRock Z77 Extreme4, Asus P8Z77-V LK are cheaper than the MSI and Gigabyte.

Maybe MSI just isn't as famous?
Tom Hardware's review chose MSI Z77A-GD65 over GA-Z77X-UD3H

 

[cranked]

Any of those are fine. Most people recommend the extreme4 for price and popularity, but that doesn't mean the other choices are not good.

 

[lastsd]

Here are parts I have narrowed it down to (narrow it down than look for great deal is my plan 😀)
CPU: i5-3570k
GPU: GTX670/ GTX 660ti(if I wait that long)
MOBO: (mentioned above in more detail)
no wifi - ASRock Z77 Extreme4/Asus P8Z77-V LK/Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H/MSI Z77A-GD65
with wifi - Asus P8Z77-V/Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H

So I have looked at cases today that are less than $100
Corsair 400R - $100
Corsair 500R(over budget) - $105/$120(white)
Cooler Master HAF 922 - $96
Cooler Master Strom Enforcer - $89
Cooler Master 690 ii advance - $90
Fractal Design Arc Midi Tower - $100
NZXT Phantom 410 (over budget) - $120

Just posting it to get some feedbacks and for other people who are looking at similar set of computer as I am.

Now time to investigate on PSU!

 

[azeem40]

For CF/SLI 670, 750W is plenty.

 

[lastsd]

For CF/SLI 670, 750W is plenty.

Yeah, that's why I am looking for 700W + PSU.
Do you have any recommendation ?
Thanks

 

[azeem40]

TX750 V2 ($100), PC Power and Cooling Silencer MK 750W ($90), Antec EA 750W ($100 ( http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CHMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FAntec-EarthWatts-EA-750-Green-CrossFire%2Fdp%2FB0055CAR7Y&ei=lbgVUI26KpSo8gSKrIG4Bw&usg=AFQjCNFNfGyMKx7x9RcAFqBI9CULrMzAPw )).