Building my first gaming pc - advice?

[mikedossa]

Hello I want to know if the build i have picked so far is good or if there are better deals I can find or if there is some reason I shouldn't get one of these parts I have listed below. Thanks for the advice

Approximate Purchase Date: this week or next week

Budget Range: 900-1000 after rebates and shipping and tax and everything

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming mostly

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: No

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com because i'm familiar with it but any trusted website is good

Location: southern california, usa

Parts Preferences: intel cpu

Overclocking: no

SLI or Crossfire: no

Your Monitor Resolution: 1600x1200

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: my other computer is old and doesn't run most newer games

Here is my build so far:

Samsung 22x DVD Burner - $14.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151244

Western Digital 1TB 7200 RPM 6.0gb/s hard drive - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

MSI Gtx560ti twin frozr - $249.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127608

Antec 550W PSU - $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

Corsair 2x4GB DDR3 1600 - $45.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233202

ASRock B75 Pro3 motherboard - $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157314

Cooler Master Hyper 212 CPU Fan - $19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Rosewill RANGER gaming ATX Mid Tower - $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147061

Intel i5-2500k processor - $159.99
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589

Total cost = $910 (i already added tax and shipping)

 

[Spicy_benie]

Looks pretty good but i will suggest a view changes, first before i start do you near a microcenter? ok lets get to this I would suggest upgrading the cpu to an i5 3570k and to get the asrock z77 pro3. that will add about 50$. Next,The cpu cooler isn't really nessesary but if you want it you can keep it. and finally i would go with this gpu instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150609 . The reason i would go with that are the benchmarks, here take a look http://www.anandtech.com/show/5625/amd-radeon-hd-7870-ghz-edition-radeon-hd-7850-review-rounding-out-southern-islands/11. Yes they are scattered but the lower the res the more the 7850 comes ahead but your choice

 

[azeem40]

He is not OCing.

OP: That CPU is not needed if you're going to stick with stock clocks. I'd get the i5-3450.

 

[mikedossa]

@spicy_benie Yes I live near a microcenter I have purchased from them before. Also, can you tell me what is the difference between the motherboard i have chosen and the one you have picked?

@azeem40 you are right that I am not overclocking but the 3570k is 3.4 ghz while the 3450 is 3.1 ghz so isnt it still worth it to get the other one?


Also this hard drive I found on the microcenter website:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0375261
it is $20 cheaper than the one on newegg but same features, different company. Does anyone know if it matters whether i get deskstar company or western digital?

 

[Spicy_benie]

Ok because you live near a microcenter go with 3570k and asrock pro3 as it will be much cheaper, Edit: actually didn't see you linked to them lol. If you go with ivy bridge i would suggest z77 just because it is the newest i don't even think z75 will work with ivy, and that lil .3 ghz shouldn't make much of a diference but why not go with the 3570k ? more bragging rights

 

[azeem40]

Deskstar does have some of the fastest HDDs, but the one in the OP is a bit faster.

 

[azeem40]

@spicy_benie Yes I live near a microcenter I have purchased from them before. Also, can you tell me what is the difference between the motherboard i have chosen and the one you have picked?

@azeem40 you are right that I am not overclocking but the 3570k is 3.4 ghz while the 3450 is 3.1 ghz so isnt it still worth it to get the other one?


Also this hard drive I found on the microcenter website:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0375261
it is $20 cheaper than the one on newegg but same features, different company. Does anyone know if it matters whether i get deskstar company or western digital?

You won't see a difference between stock clocks.

 

[mikedossa]

is ivy bridge actually better than sandy bridge? someone told me sandy bridge last longer, not sure though.
the 2500k is 3.3 ghz and is $30 less than 3570k which is 3.4 ghz so thats why it seems like a good deal.

also most people say the stock cpu fan sucks thats why i was getting the fan in the original post

 

[azeem40]

You might as well consider OCing then. Just switch the board to a Z77 one and add a $20 Hyper 212 Plus.

 

[mikedossa]

no i will not OC but do you think the stock fan is good enough to last 5+ years without OC?

also, i want to know if ivy bridge is better than sandy bridge
the 3540 is $10 cheaper and 3.1 ghz the sandy bridge 2500k is 3.3 ghz , so which one should i get? the $10 really isnt too much of an issue

 

[azeem40]

I'd still get the 3450. You are wasting the 2500k's potential with a locked motherboard.

 

[Spicy_benie]

get the 3450 all the way assuming thats what you mean?

 

[azeem40]

No.

"I'd still get the 3450."

 

[mikedossa]

lol idc about its potential just asking if the .2 ghz difference is worth $10