GTX 660 or Radeon 7870...and PSU recommendation?

[Noizy Cr1cket]

Hi. I'm building a new PC and I can't decide between the GTX 660 2GB or the Radeon 7870 for my video card. I currently have a Radeon 6870, but I'm looking for a bit more power. I'm in no way a fanboy of either side, so I'm open to any suggestions. I've heard that the new Catalyst drivers from AMD really bumped up the 7000 series performance, but is it enough to not even consider an nVidia card of the same price? I looked at benchmarks on Anandtech before the new drivers were released and in some games, the 660 beat the 7870 by nearly 10 FPS. But in some games when the 7870 beat the 660, it was only by about 3-5 FPS. So how much of a difference did the new AMD drivers make?

One more thing. I'm looking to buy a good PSU and I'd like to keep it just a little over $100, unless there's one that has great performance under $100. I'd like it to be at least semi-modular and at least 80PLUS Bronze certified. I took a look at the Corsair HX750, and I thought I made my decision to buy it, but now I look back and it seems a little too expensive. I'm trying to keep my overall build under $1000 if at all possible. Here's what I've chosen so far for the build:

CPU: Intel Core i5 3570K - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

MOBO: MSI Z77A-G41 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130653

RAM: 8GB (2 x 4GB) G.SKILL Ripjaws 1600

GPU: EVGA FTW Signature GTX 660 2GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130833
- OR-
HIS IceQ Radeon 7870 GHz Edition 2GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161404

PSU: (not sure yet) I had the Corsair HX750 selected - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

SSD: Samsung 840 Series 120GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147188

HDD: Western Digital WD Blue 1TB 7200 RPM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

Heatsink: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Case: (not sure about this yet, either)
AZZA Armour 203 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517021
- OR -
Cooler Master Storm Scout - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

So, can someone please enlighten me on which video card would be a better purchase and which power supply to get, but keep the overall price under $1000? Also, which of those cases would be the better purchase?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[fpoon]

I'd say 7870, it can compare with a 660 Ti. A HX750 would be useless because you can't SLI/Crossfire with the motherboard.

 

[Noizy Cr1cket]

I'd say 7870, it can compare with a 660 Ti. A HX750 would be useless because you can't SLI/Crossfire with the motherboard.

Ok. Thanks for the input. I was actually thinking about getting a 750 Watt so that I can upgrade to SLI/Crossfire in the future and not have to get a new PSU, just a new motherboard. Which I would get a new motherboard anyway even if I got one now that supported 2 video cards because Intel's next generation CPU's are rumored to come out next year, which means new motherboards will also be coming out around the same time, right?

 

[fpoon]

Ok. Thanks for the input. I was actually thinking about getting a 750 Watt so that I can upgrade to SLI/Crossfire in the future and not have to get a new PSU, just a new motherboard. Which I would get a new motherboard anyway even if I got one now that supported 2 video cards because Intel's next generation CPU's are rumored to come out next year, which means new motherboards will also be coming out around the same time, right?

I think that you should put more budget in your motherboard. A 650W is actually enough for SLI/Crossfire, you can switch to this PSU instead and get this motherboard.

 

[Noizy Cr1cket]

I think that you should put more budget in your motherboard. A 650W is actually enough for SLI/Crossfire, you can switch to this PSU instead and get this motherboard.

Ok. I switched to those. How does this look?

CPU: i5 3570K - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
MOBO: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293
GPU: HIS IceQ Radeon 7870 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161404
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1600 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
PSU: Corsair Professional Series HX650 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697
SSD: Kingston SSDNow V+200 120GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820239374
Heatsink: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

EDIT: Total is $994.91

 

[fpoon]

Ok. I switched to those. How does this look?

CPU: i5 3570K - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
MOBO: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293
GPU: HIS IceQ Radeon 7870 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161404
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1600 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
PSU: Corsair Professional Series HX650 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697
SSD: Kingston SSDNow V+200 120GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820239374
Heatsink: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

EDIT: Total is $994.91

Looks good. Have fun with your build!

 

[Noizy Cr1cket]

Best answer selected by Noizy Cr1cket.