Advice on a new build

[frownigami]

Hey guys,

This is my first build and I'm looking for some advice on the parts.
I have looked around the site a bit at new builds to get started but have a few questions.

1. WiFi is a big issue for me, there will be no wired connection where I am using the machine and I don't want a tacky add-on solution. I notice some motherboards have WiFi and some do not, which is the better option?

2. Does my build make sense. As I look around I find notes here and there reminding me to make sure my power supply is powerful enough to support my memory, video card, and other things. I'm worried that once purchased and assembled I will find out something else that I'm doing wrong.

3. Using pcpartpicker.com it gives me an option for a sound card, I have not come across any in my research. Any suggestions? do I even need one?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Here is a rough build based on what i have gained from talking to people and looking at this site.
http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/wByd

I'm looking for a machine that I can game with. I'm not a huge graphics nut, as long as I can run games without lag I'm happy.
I will also be doing some development on this machine, so I will probably dual-boot windows / linux

My budget is ~1000, this is for the tower alone
I live in Canada

 

[djangoringo]

Do you plan to oc ?

See this : http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/wBED

or http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/wBH2 cheaper mobo, it's a good one.

And you might even fit a 670 gtx : http://pcpartpicker.com/ca/p/wBHX

 

[tiny voices]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.90 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($49.49 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.79 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: A-Data S510 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($204.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ Computer Valley)
Power Supply: Corsair Gaming 600W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($64.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $916.19
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-08 20:50 EST-0500)

Changed the PSU and the GPU. This 7870 will be considerably more powerful than the 560.

You will also want an aftermarket cooler if you plan to overclock so I recommend a Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo.

 

[jacobsta811]

The only part of your build that doesn't really make sense is the graphics card - a 560 is last generation. For the same money you are better off with a 7850. Or if you want to fill out your budget it looks you have room for as much as a 7950.
As far as sound cards, you need better speakers than come with most computer systems to hear the difference, but there is one. The most popular decent sound card is probably the Asus Xonar series. Most people just stick with the CMedia sound built into the motherboard.
Wifi cards are usually cheaper if you get them not built into the motherboard - you've got literally hundreds of choices in both USB and PCI-E that will work and many will cost <$20.
Also don't forget your aftermarket cooler - I added a hyper 212 evo to your build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.90 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($49.49 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.79 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: A-Data S510 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ NCIX)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($279.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ Computer Valley)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq Plus 550W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1012.18
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-08 20:52 EST-0500)

 

[jonjonjon]

i don't think they need a $300 video card. i would change the ram no need to 1866, the ssd for $10 has toggle nand.

$30 duel band wifi card. if you don't need duel band you can get them even cheaper.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166076&Tpk=N82E16833166076

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($225.90 @ Amazon Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($30.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-GD55 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.46 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Mushkin Chronos Deluxe MX 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Memory Express)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ Computer Valley)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $875.35
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-08 21:12 EST-0500)

 

[frownigami]

Wow thanks everyone for such quick replies!

I'm not looking to overclock, although some sort of cooler is probably still a good idea.

I might even dial back the video card a bit, I'm fairly out of the video card technology loop, but I'm not looking to do anything huge... mainly just not lag in starcraft 2 haha.

The sound card if not too noticeable I will leave out for now, and its good to know the wifi cards are so cheap! Is usb really a viable option? Again, not lagging in online gaming is a big concern.

Thanks for all the help you guys, I'm off for now, but I might update tomorrow with all of your suggestions in mind in case anyone reading is still interested.

 

[jonjonjon]

do something like this then. the stock intel fan is fine if your not overclocking.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.46 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Mushkin Chronos Deluxe MX 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($209.99 @ Memory Express)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ Computer Valley)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $793.45
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-08 21:24 EST-0500)

 

[djangoringo]

My suggestion :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G41 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Memory Express)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($35.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($111.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.79 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($199.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Antec One ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.99 @ Computer Valley)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($49.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $788.78
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-08 21:44 EST-0500)

Since you don't want to oc, that cpu is good enough and the mobo too, also a 660 gtx is enough indeed, and for that a 450w quality psu is enough.

 

[frownigami]

Best answer selected by frownigami.