$1500 New PC from Scratch Need advice

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lastsd

Honorable
Jul 27, 2012
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10,630
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I been using gaming laptop for last 5~6 years(Yes gaming laptops got outdated very fast.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.
 
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I personally like the Corsair 400R, Fractal Design Arc MIDI. and Phantom 410 out of all of those.
 
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Cooler Master Strom Enforcer not to long ago won a toms hardware recommendation is the cheapest of them all i would get that if i was you.
 
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Yeah. Although it is kind of bardward to buy case first but it was on a good deal (well for Canada anyway) and I think 500R will fit anything that I am planning to buy
 
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Actually one more thing, I think I will change is that I will go for 650W PSU instead of 750W.
Before I wanted get extra 100W in case I want SLI/Crossfire, but I think I will just upgrade to one better card.
This way I can get 650W Silver+ good name brand.
I will consider 750W only a good one is on a great sale

Also no longer looking for only modular ones.
I would rather buy a better PSU with non-modular over weaker PSU with modular.
(I think 500R has enough space to hide cables I don't need)
 
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I've read quite a bit of reviews but I just want to see more opinion

I am thinking of buying

CORSAIR HX750W (semi-modular)

or

XFX 750W PRO750W (non-modular)

What do you guys think?
Both of them are on sale.
Both good company.

Corsair 114.99 + probably pick up or 10 shipping
XFX 89.99 + 10 shipping

Corsair would be the same brand as my case (Corsair 500R although it doesn't matter much)

Corsair HX750W model is a bit old (2009 I think?) but 80 silver
XFX is 80 bronze

Thanks!
 
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That's true.

My thought process was

1. Go with 550W since I can OC CPU&GPU and still good enough
2. But 550W might cut close when I upgrade to next GPU (in case my next card isn't as efficient as GTX 670)
3. Let's get 650W than, but 650W is a big awkward since it is big for 1 card but small for 2 cards.
4. might as well pay a bit more to get 750W

I don't know if that make sense.
I could totally go with 550W but just wanted to future-proof.
 
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Was looking into that one also.
I think it's newer but non-modular.
Built by Seasonic instead of CWT.
I will definitely consider that one as well as the HX750.
If HX750 isn't that good of a deal I will wait for TX750 V2 to go on sale
 
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