Good $1250 gaming build

[Newbie349]

Hi I'm looking to build a PC in June. I was wondering if a first time builder can pull of custom water cooling. I was very interested in it. I'm open to air or closed loop cooling if you believe it is to hard for a first time computer builder.

Approximate Purchase Date: Early June 2013

Budget Range: $1200 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Surfing the Web, Movies.

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg and Microcenter. Open to other places

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Texas, US

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: Intel, GPU AMD or Nvidia

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in the future

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080p Will buy a second later.

Additional Comments: Would like a side window. Don't mind having Haswell CPUS. Can a noob pull off custom water cooling? I wonder if I can fit that into my buget not mandatory at all.

 

[Jack Revenant]

Does this meet your specifications?

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TGeD
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TGeD/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TGeD/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.97 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($67.16 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($322.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Full (32/64-bit) ($177.21 @ Amazon)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1270.23
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-28 19:38 EDT-0400)

 

[ksham]

Custom water cooling is mostly about patience and doing things right the first time. It varies from person to person. I can't tell you how easy or hard it'll be for you. I personally found it pretty easy and straight-forward. You can always tackle it as a side job.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS238H-P 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1199.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[Newbie349]

Custom water cooling is mostly about patience and doing things right the first time. It varies from person to person. I can't tell you how easy or hard it'll be for you. I personally found it pretty easy and straight-forward. You can always tackle it as a side job.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Monitor: Asus VS238H-P 23.0" Monitor ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1199.90
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

I could change that i5 to a i5 3570k. There only $169 at microcenter and still fits into my budget .

 

[ksham]

That's a good idea. You'll also want a cooler. So either the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO, Phanteks PH-TC14PE, or Noctua NH-D14. Though, any of them will push you over the budget.

 

[Newbie349]

I might be able to fit a extra $30-40. Thanks for all the help.