First build - Autocad/Photoshop/Gaming - $1200?

[srr]

Hi everyone,
My current computer is a Dell Inspiron 1720, 4GB ram, GeForce 8600MGT, and Core2 Duo T8300 2.4ghz CPU.
I have not built a computer before but I have upgraded and repaired them. I would like to build a desktop.

Approximate Purchase Date: Sometime this May

Budget Range: (e.g.: about $1200 but flexible) After Rebates; Before Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important:
-Autocad/Revit
-Sketchup
-Photoshop/Gimp
-Music listening (sound quality important)
-Visual Studio/SQL Server
-Games - I like strategy games and simulators the best. Examples: Civ IV, Minecraft, Kerbal Space Program, Company of Heroes. Maybe Starcraft 2 or Skyrim

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: No existing parts, I have a laptop only

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Location: Philadelphia PA

Parts Preferences: I like nVidia better than ATI but only because of a bad experience a long time ago - not sure if ATI cards are more stable now?

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: I would like 1920x1080

Additional Comments: Doesn't need to be flashy, I am looking for most performance per dollar. I am willing to pay more for something that will be good for a while. I have had this laptop for 5 years and I don't mind spending to have something for another 5 years.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Cannot currently play newer games on more than 20fps on lowest settings. I've also been getting BSODs and I'm tired of repairing the laptop.

Here's what I was thinking:

Corsair Carbide Series 200R Black Steel / Plastic compact ATX Mid Tower Case

MSI ZH77A-G43 LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

PNY VCGGTX660XPB GeForce GTX 660 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Rosewill HIVE Series HIVE-550 550W Continuous @40°C, 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified, Modular Design, Single +12V Rail, ATX12V v2.31/EPS12V ...

Intel Core i7-3770 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770

SAMSUNG 840 Series MZ-7TD120BW 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9D-16GXM

Western Digital WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - OEM

ASUS VS229H-P Black 21.5" 5ms (GTG) HDMI IPS-Panel LED-Backlit Widescreen LCD Monitor

LITE-ON SK-1788/BS Black and Gray PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard

LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM

Rosewill RNX-N150PCe (RNWD-11011) IEEE 802.11b/g/n PCIe 2.0 Wireless Adapter Up to 150Mbps Wireless Data Rates WPA/WPA2 (AES, ...

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - OEM

Thanks everyone!

 

[Jonathan Yang]

Should consider getting a 3770K. Just allows you to overclock your system if you should ever feel the need to. Also since your card is SLI supported, maybe getting a 800 WATT PSU would be good for future upgrades.

 

[smorizio]

As your close to micro center in June look to build your pc. The new haswel CPU are dropping on June. And for the same or a little more money your going to get about a 10 percent or more speed out of the newer chip over ib CPU. Also micro center CPU prices are less then new egg and they been running combo deals with mb. Your power supply is under sized for your rig.you want a 750 w unit. Corsair have there units on sale a lot. You also want to toss in a 30.00 212 or clone CPU cooler the intel CPU cooler has plastic legs and is easy to snap the legs off. The after market cooler works better then the intel and has better mounting. Check that your ram on the mb ram guild for the mb and is 1.5v or less. The ram you picked out has tall heat spreaders. May want to look at low profile ram. I would spend extra 20.00 pick up a 2tb bulk hard drive. With games and photo shop your going to fill your data drive up. The sound card you picked out sb stop writing drivers for it years ago. There is one or two people writing open sorce drivers for it. For the money the asus sound cards the 30.00 card is just as good or better sound wise. With a Ssd and new rig windows eight is a lot more faster then windows seven.

 

[srr]

Thanks guys. Do you think it's worth it to wait for the new haswell cpus? Will the socket on the motherboard change?

 

[smorizio]

The new haswel and brodwell. Are on new mb slots. The ib CPU won't work on the new haswell mb. It come down to you if you want to pay the higher cost for the newer CPU and mb. And is the extra cost worth the price for the new CPU in cost of speed and newer features.

 

[srr]

I guess if the socket is changing I may as well wait.

Do you guys think it would be a good idea to get the i5 instead of the i7 and use the money I save to get a 660TI instead of a 660?
Thanks

 

[Transmaniacon]

You aren't going to save money because the motherboards and CPUs will be more expensive. I would go with the XEON mentioned above, get i7 performance for less money, and use the difference to get the 660Ti.