Building a New I5 ivy bridge gaming Rig

[skillsdog]

HI all,

So I am planning on building a new pc in a month or two and wanted some feedback on the options I choose. I will not be upgrading my monitor / keyboard / mouse / peripherals.

Currently I have: ( just mentioning the important stuff)
AMD phenom x2 black edition OC to 3.8ghz and all cores unlocked.
ati radeon 5770 1GB
4GB DDR2
corsair 650w 80+ bronze certified PS.
cosmos 1000. COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000

My plan is to replace everything except for the case. Right now I only have the budget to buy 1 video card, but would like to get another.

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: November / December

Budget Range: $1500 After Shipping ( not including rebates)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: GAMING!! guildwars 2, bf3, skyrim, lots of others and BF4 eventually....

Are you buying a monitor: No



Parts to Upgrade:

Everything except case. My current cosmos 1000, has 1 intake and 3 exhaust fans. The top two exhaust fan's are the really loud scythe fans Scythe DFS123812-3000 "ULTRA KAZE"

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Location: Santa Fe, NM

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: I would like to go for an intel CPU with an AMD video card. I have had a good track record with amd recently for GPU's. I usually by amd processors as well, but everyone says the I5-3570k rocks!!

Overclocking: Yes I would like to bump up the cpu a little bit. I would like to get away with just using a coolermaster V8.. I have good air flow in my case and my scythe fans exhaust heat really well.

SLI or Crossfire: No for now, but I would eventually by another 7870 or a matching video card based on the communities suggestions.

Your Monitor Resolution: 22in 1680x1050 next year I will buy a 24in that is capable of 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I am hoping that the coolermaster V8 has adequate cooling for some minor over clocking. Currently my amd x2 is overclocked with all cores unlocked and it only gets hot in the summer. I have never had any thermal issues. I am running a generic aztec liquid cooling system. I have had friends and co workers use the V8 and the love it. Considering my scythe fans are so loud I don't think I would notice the difference between the v8 and a liquid cooling solution. This will also be my first pc with an ssd, and my thoughts are to have a good ssd that I can install some games on. Any comments thoughts on this would be appreciated. Is 256GB overkill? Should I get a smaller ssd and just use it for caching?

I know my cosmos 1000 case won't have support for USB 3 on the front, but I am not to worried about that... Is there any reason why I should upgrade my case? If so I was looking at the coolermaster 942 COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Time for an upgrade. Visual improvement for my games.. Mainly just to have something that can chug through the latest games coming out.

Include a list of any parts you have already selected with descriptively labeled links for parts. Please do not post only links.


Motherboard

ASRock LGA1155 Z77
ASRock LGA1155 Z77

CPU

I5-3570k LGA 1155
I5-3570k LGA 1155

Case

Using current cosmos 1000
COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000

Video Card

GIGABYTE GV-R787OC-2GD Radeon HD 7870
GIGABYTE GV-R787OC-2GD Radeon HD 7870

Hard Drives

Data Drive
WD1TB Caviar Black HD

Boot drive (plan is to put games on here as well)
Samsung sata 3 256GB SSD

RAM

GSKILL PC317000 X 2 (is it worth it to have 16GB... I do like to multitask. I figured $60 for 8GB is not bad, so might as well.)
GSKILL PC317000 X 2

Power Supply

Corsair 750w 80+ gold
Corsair 750w 80+ gold

CPU Cooler

Coolermaster V8
Coolermaster V8

DVD burner

Samsung
Samsung DVD-RW

Thanks for taking the time to read through this.

 

[skillsdog]

Ok, so I found a different ssd and a few other minor parts, but here it is. Looks like I will be able to order it the first or second week of October woot!

Thanks again for the suggestions.

mobo + cpu combo

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1066148]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1066148 [/url]

Ram

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=ues0qt4ypnmn]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=ues0qt4ypnmn [/url]

cpu cooler

[url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005O65JXI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A2EUTVCJXLAJ4K]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005O65JXI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A2EUTVCJXLAJ4K [/url]

GPU ( similar to the one you posted, but this one is slightly higher clocked and gets good reviews)

[url=http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GV-N670OC-2GD-GeForce-Windforce-Graphics/dp/tech-data/B0080I06WQ/ref=de_a_smtd]http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GV-N670OC-2GD-GeForce-Windforce-Graphics/dp/tech-data/B0080I06WQ/ref=de_a_smtd [/url]

Power Supply

[url=http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PRO750W-Semi-Modular-80Plus-Supply/dp/B005IUVYA2/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347949610&sr=1-4]http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PRO750W-Semi-Modular-80Plus-Supply/dp/B005IUVYA2/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347949610&sr=1-4 [/url]

Data drive

[url=http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Internal-Desktop/dp/B0036Q7MV0/ref=sr_1_5?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347995740&sr=1-5]http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Internal-Desktop/dp/B0036Q7MV0/ref=sr_1_5?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347995740&sr=1-5 [/url]

Boot Drive ( went with a mushkin. Tom's hardware even had this listed as a good drive for the price and it comes with a mounting bracket and it was a bit cheaper!) Best ssd's $100-$200

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226226&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Solid+State+Disk-_-Mushkin+Enhanced-_-20226226]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226226&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Solid+State+Disk-_-Mushkin+Enhanced-_-20226226 [/url]

optical drive

[url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006B7R9PU/?tag=pcpapi-20]http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006B7R9PU/?tag=pcpapi-20 [/url]

usb 3 front cable bracket

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811996037&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Accessories+-+Case+/+Rackmount-_-Biostar-_-11996037]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811996037&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Accessories+-+Case+/+Rackmount-_-Biostar-_-11996037 [/url]


The rest of this is just for fun and doesn't add much to the build cost, but I will pick it up anyways.


Fan Controller ( so I can turn down my scythe fans, might buy one more of the fans for intake )

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811992007]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811992007 [/url]

cpu thermal compound (mine is quite old [2 years plus], so I don't feel like trusting it on a new build)

[url=http://www.amazon.com/Arctic-Silver-Polysynthetic-Thermal-Compound/dp/B0002VFXFE/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_4]http://www.amazon.com/Arctic-Silver-Polysynthetic-Thermal-Compound/dp/B0002VFXFE/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_4 [/url]

I calculated it last night and it came out to like $1,250.45. Might be even cheaper by October.

Thanks again!

 

[Why_Me]

Ok, so I found a different ssd and a few other minor parts, but here it is. Looks like I will be able to order it the first or second week of October woot!

Thanks again for the suggestions.

mobo + cpu combo

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1066148]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1066148 [/url]

Ram

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=ues0qt4ypnmn]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10446076&PID=4176827&SID=ues0qt4ypnmn [/url]

cpu cooler

[url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005O65JXI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A2EUTVCJXLAJ4K]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005O65JXI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A2EUTVCJXLAJ4K [/url]

GPU ( similar to the one you posted, but this one is slightly higher clocked and gets good reviews)

[url=http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GV-N670OC-2GD-GeForce-Windforce-Graphics/dp/tech-data/B0080I06WQ/ref=de_a_smtd]http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GV-N670OC-2GD-GeForce-Windforce-Graphics/dp/tech-data/B0080I06WQ/ref=de_a_smtd [/url]

Power Supply

[url=http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PRO750W-Semi-Modular-80Plus-Supply/dp/B005IUVYA2/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347949610&sr=1-4]http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PRO750W-Semi-Modular-80Plus-Supply/dp/B005IUVYA2/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347949610&sr=1-4 [/url]

Data drive

[url=http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Internal-Desktop/dp/B0036Q7MV0/ref=sr_1_5?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347995740&sr=1-5]http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Internal-Desktop/dp/B0036Q7MV0/ref=sr_1_5?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1347995740&sr=1-5 [/url]

Boot Drive ( went with a mushkin. Tom's hardware even had this listed as a good drive for the price and it comes with a mounting bracket and it was a bit cheaper!) Best ssd's $100-$200

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226226&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Solid+State+Disk-_-Mushkin+Enhanced-_-20226226]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226226&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Solid+State+Disk-_-Mushkin+Enhanced-_-20226226 [/url]

optical drive

[url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006B7R9PU/?tag=pcpapi-20]http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006B7R9PU/?tag=pcpapi-20 [/url]

usb 3 front cable bracket

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811996037&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Accessories+-+Case+/+Rackmount-_-Biostar-_-11996037]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811996037&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Accessories+-+Case+/+Rackmount-_-Biostar-_-11996037 [/url]


The rest of this is just for fun and doesn't add much to the build cost, but I will pick it up anyways.


Fan Controller ( so I can turn down my scythe fans, might buy one more of the fans for intake )

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811992007]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811992007 [/url]

cpu thermal compound (mine is quite old [2 years plus], so I don't feel like trusting it on a new build)

[url=http://www.amazon.com/Arctic-Silver-Polysynthetic-Thermal-Compound/dp/B0002VFXFE/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_4]http://www.amazon.com/Arctic-Silver-Polysynthetic-Thermal-Compound/dp/B0002VFXFE/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_4 [/url]

I calculated it last night and it came out to like $1,250.45. Might be even cheaper by October.

Thanks again!

Nice build. You can scratch the Arctic Silver off your list. That CM cooler comes with a small tube of MX-4 which is about as good as it gets in regards to thermal compound.

Also with that Gigabyte card you have up there, great card btw, but it's longer than your average card and it tends to twist when the fans rev up. You want a back plate for that card. The backplate does two things. it keeps it form twisting and it also helps spread the heat from the PCB so your PCB doesn't heat up. You can find that back plate at newegg or amazon.

This EVGA GTX 680 backplate fits that card just fine. Make sure though that you use the screws that come with that Gigabyte card and not the ones that come with the backplate.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814998064 $24.99 FREE SHIPPING
EVGA GeForce GTX 680 Backplate Model M021-00-000008

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GTX-680-Backplate-M021-00-000008/dp/B007TUYPZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348107618&sr=8-1&keywords=EVGA+GTX+680+Backplate $23.41
EVGA GTX 680 Backplate (M021-00-000008)


Another alternative if your looking for a card with a high factory over clock is this MSI card down below.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127685 $409.99 - $400.00 after $10.00 rebate
MSI N670 PE 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 670 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Core Clock: 1019MHz

Boost Clock: 1079MHz

 

[skillsdog]

Maybe just grab the msi card then? It's cheaper than the other card with the back plate and has a higher OC...

 

[Why_Me]

Maybe just grab the msi card then? It's cheaper than the other card with the back plate and has a higher OC...

Ya that way you save a few dollars and that MSI card runs quieter. Otherwise grab that Gigabyte card with two fans and boost it yourself....the one linked to amazon.

 

[skillsdog]

parts ordered !

 

[skillsdog]

PC is up and running. Just need to configure it and reinstall all my apps (ahhem games!)

Any links to some oc articles would be appreciated...