Best MOBO/CPU Combo for ~$350 Gaming

[KTKhujo]

Im not the savviest of builders and havent built a PC in a few years. Im trying to decide on the best MOBO/CPU combo for about $300-350.

CPU
Ive been trying to decide between i5 2500k Sandy Bridge and i5 3570k Ivy Bridge.

MOBO
Ive been trying to decide between Gigabyte, ASUS and ASRock. Ive heard some good things about the ASRock Z77 Extreme.

Im also considering an MSi Twin Frozr II GTX 560 TI as a GPU.

Please critique these components for me. Do you guys have any suggestions on the best combo? Ill be using it primarily for gaming (RTS, MOBA, FPS, etc...)

Thank you for your input

 

[xvortexx]

Newegg has a combo deal on the 3570k and a z77 gigabyte board right now - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1018353, so that could be an option.

 

[the great randini]

Now: $219.99 $20 off w/ promo code EMCNBNC23 ends 8/13
Intel Core i5-2500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

ASRock Z77 Performance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157298
promo code = ASROCK809815 (10 % off) ends 8/15

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Here is a nice combo for the Intel® Core™ i5-3570K and the ASRock Z77 Extreme4 for $347 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1030095

 

[motorneuron]

Do you live near a microcenter? They have a bunch of good deals, significantly cheaper than any online dealer, but you have to get them in-store.

 

[KTKhujo]

I do live near a microcenter. Will they have the best prices, even with these online discounts at newegg?

 

[jaquith]

I do live near a microcenter. Will they have the best prices, even with these online discounts at newegg?

On the CPU if you're a walk-in their prices are unbeatable. As far as the rest of their pricing more often than not NewEgg is cheaper, BUT for a few bucks a walk-in RMA (if needed) beats the crap out of shipping time & cost...

 

[KTKhujo]

Cool, I will have to stop microcenter and see how much their CPUs are.

 

[jaquith]

The walk-in price is listed online:

i5-3570K:
$219.99 NewEgg (after $10 gift card) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
$188.99 MicroCenter (walk-in only) - http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0388577
=====
$30~$40 savings

 

[KTKhujo]

I cant believe the price difference. Thats a deal.

 

[motorneuron]

Yeah the prices on CPUs are insane, and they often have good deals bundling motherboards with CPUs, too. But as jaquith said, their prices on other stuff is not quite as good; they use the CPU pricing as a loss-leader. (And since it's in store, they don't have to pay shipping, which is often free online.)

 

[jaquith]

The hard cost is < a few bucks. Intel has too many layers of 'fat' management even though a US company turns it noise to US workers.

MicroCenter sells the CPU ~$40 over distributor cost.