Help with a new gaming build ($1200)

[surreallycool]

So here is my build I came up with, I'm wanting to play battlefield 3 and diablo 3 etc with some great performance.

budget: $1200

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz $209.99
CPU Cooler:Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing $19.99
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus V Gene LGA 1155 Intel Z77 $209.99
Memory:Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 $49.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320gb 7200 rpm $74.99
Video Card:SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition OC 2GB $359.99
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Series EA-750 Green 750W $79.99 (after rebate)
Optical Drive:Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer $17.99
Total: 1029.92

I really want that asus board because of the new bios it sounds pretty sexy. I really want to keep it under 1300 and I'm open to suggestions, it has been a long time since i've built a computer. Any advice where I can save some money without losing performance would be awesome I'm also not really interested in ivy bridge at the moment.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Suave145]

First i was thinking, Why you going for sandy bridge on an ivy bridge board? & your not getting pci 3 unless you use an ivy bridge cpu but ur into the sexy bios great/
dont get a 320gb go with the WD Green 1tb +$30 more then 320

 

[blahdro]

wait a couple days and see if u can get a nvidia 670 should be coming out fairly soon its probably much better and practically as good as a 680 if the leaked benches are accurate

 

[surreallycool]

wait a couple days and see if u can get a nvidia 670 should be coming out fairly soon its probably much better and practically as good as a 680 if the leaked benches are accurate

what do you think the price is going to be on it? I don't think I could see myself ever spending more than 400 on a video card

 

[surreallycool]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($399.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1074.77
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-05-06 00:38 EDT-0400)

I changed a couple things on your build.
-CPU: For cheaper you can get an i5 2500k. (Unlocked version of 2500, for better overclocking.)
-Mobo: If you aren't going with an IB CPU there's no point in going with an IB mobo.
-RAM: Smaller heatsinks give more clearance for the CPU cooler
-HDD: More space for cheaper.
-GPU: If you have the budget, you can fit in a 7950
-PSU: Not a big deal, but Corsair has slightly better rep.

You can even slip in an SSD if you want.
Hard Drive: Crucial M4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($116.95 @ B&H)

Wow thanks, I went with that mobo because I may eventually switch to an ivy bridge and I've always been partial to Asus mobos, If i keep the Ivy mobo is the memory choice you suggested still a good pick? What's your opinion of blahdro's advice of waiting for the nvidia 670?

Thanks!!

 

[surreallycool]

I see. You can pretty much go ahead with an Ivy Bridge now if you want. I can redo another one with an IB cpu/mobo real quick.
The memory is perfect for either mobo.
As for waiting for the 670, I think if you don't HAVE to buy it today, you should wait. Even if it doesn't end up being in your price range, it will make AMD price their cards more competitively.

Yeah I was just looking at the Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) It's 249.99 with a 20.00 newegg gift card making it pretty much cost the same as the i5 2500 they have (the one you listed for 169.99 is in store pick up only ) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

 

[surreallycool]

Here's the IB build. It's a bit more expensive, but then again new tech doesn't come cheap.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($147.86 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($439.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1152.76
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-05-06 01:28 EDT-0400)

Awesome, thanks this is pretty close to what I have in my cart now I'm going to go ahead and wait on the video card, I think its sound advice. Also for the money going with the AS rock sounds good, I've never used them and my experience with ASUS is 8 years past....I see AS Rock suggested everywhere and I hear ASUS customer support sucks now... so I'll go for it. I appreciate the help.

 

[blahdro]

what do you think the price is going to be on it? I don't think I could see myself ever spending more than 400 on a video card

680 is 500 so probably 400-450

 

[Why_Me]

680 is 500 so probably 400-450

http://videocardz.com/32728/geforce-gtx-670-review-tweaktown <----- If those benches are legit it's going to put the hurt on AMD big time. I can only wonder what the gtx 660 will be priced at when it's mopping the floor with the 7870.

 

[surreallycool]

Best answer selected by surreallycool.