Need Advice on $1200 gaming build

[ben123]

Hello, this is my first post and my first go at building a PC. My budget is £780/$1200.

I don't know much about computers. So would you guys recommend changing anything? and do all the components complement each other in terms of performance? Thanks in advance 😀

The computer is for general entertainment use, mostly gaming.
I'm not looking to overclock.
Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Intel Core i5 3570K 3.4GHz
http://www.ebuyer.com/349029-intel-core-i5-3570k-3-4ghz-socket-1155-6mb-cache-retail-boxed-processor-bx80637i53570k

Sapphire HD 7850 2GB
http://www.ebuyer.com/349747-sapphire-hd-7850-2gb-dvi-hdmi-dual-mini-displayport-pci-e-graphics-card-11200-00-20g?utm_source=google&utm_medium=products

Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 Z68 Socket 1155 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/276562-gigabyte-ga-z68ap-d3-z68-socket-1155-8-channel-audio-atx-motherboard-ga-z68ap-d3

WD 500GB 3.5" SATA-III 6Gb/s Caviar Black Hard Drive -
http://www.ebuyer.com/246034-wd-500gb-3-5-sata-iii-6gb-s-caviar-black-hard-drive-7200rpm-32mb-wd5002aalx

Corsair 500W CX V2 PSU
http://www.ebuyer.com/278634-corsair-500w-cx-v2-psu-cmpsu-500cxv2uk

CM Storm Enforcer Case
http://www.ebuyer.com/262675-cm-storm-enforcer-case-sgc-1000-kwn1?utm_source=google&utm_medium=products

Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz
http://www.ebuyer.com/247674-corsair-8gb-2x4gb-ddr3-1333mhz-xms3-memory-kit-cl9-1-5v-unbuffered-cmx8gx3m2a1333c9

LiteOn iHAS124 SATA DVD Optical Drive
http://www.ebuyer.com/176026-liteon-ihas124-sata-dvd-optical-drive-oem-ihas124-19

 

[TheBigTroll]

1: no point of getting a z68 board. get a z77x-ud3h or a asrock extreme4
2: no point of a black 500gb drive either. just get the blue drive or get a seagate.
3: no point on getting 1333mhz ram when 1600mhz is faster and isnt al that much more
4:if you have some cash that can be used, either get a 60-128gb ssd or a beefier graphics card such as the 7870

 

[ben123]

Many thanks for the response; why do you recommend a z77x-ud3h over the z68? and why is there no point of getting a black drive?

 

[Xenturion]

Well, the $20 difference buys you 2 additional years of warranty, a doubled cache (32MB), and additional error correction processors. I'm not sure there's really a significant difference, but after using two WD 640 Blacks for about 2 or 3 years, I haven't had a single issue. (And they're in RAID 0 no less)

 

[TheBigTroll]

for you to use the ivy bridge features, you must have the z77 chipset. the z77 allows for intel usb3, virtumvp, and better memory defaults. you also get pci-e 3. thats why you should get z77.

there isnt any point of getting a black 500gb drive because you can get a seagate barracuda 1tb with 64mb that is both faster and more capacity. it is only 7 dollars more. the seagate drive is also much faster than black drives or they are about the same speed.

 

[TheBigTroll]

the 500gb black has about 32mb of cache. just get the seagate

 

[ben123]

You lose 4 years of warranty with the Seagate which is slightly worrying, nevertheless, thanks for pointing it out as an option. Also do you have any case recommendations? and is everything compatable?

 

[TheBigTroll]

seagate is pretty reliable so i wouldnt worry.

i personally like cases that have silence and usablility so i would get the fractal define r3 or the antec 302. r3 is for silence while 302 for usability

 

[ben123]

for you to use the ivy bridge features, you must have the z77 chipset. the z77 allows for intel usb3, virtumvp, and better memory defaults. you also get pci-e 3. thats why you should get z77.

I'm pretty tight on money, would the Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H be a worthy substitute to the motherboards you recommended?
http://www.ebuyer.com/386271-gigabyte-ga-z77-ds3h-socket-1155-vga-dvi-hdmi-7-1-channel-audio-atx-motherboard-ga-z77-ds3h?utm_source=google&utm_medium=products

 

[TheBigTroll]

yep. its also a great board

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.ebuyer.com/351614-gigabyte-ga-b75m-d3h-socket-1155-vga-dvi-hdmi-8-channel-audio-matx-motherboard-ga-b75m-d3h £60.14 inc. vat
Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H Socket 1155 VGA DVI HDMI 8 Channel Audio mATX Motherboard

http://www.ebuyer.com/349022-intel-core-i5-3450-3-1ghz-socket-1155-6mb-cache-retail-boxed-processor-bx80637i53450 £145.53 inc. vat
Intel Core i5 3450 3.1GHz Socket 1155 6MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor

http://www.ebuyer.com/342352-crucial-8gb-2x4gb-ddr3-1600mhz-ballistix-sport-memory-kit-cl10-1-5v-bls2cp4g3d1609ds1s00 £36.52 inc. vat
Crucial 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600Mhz Ballistix Sport Memory Kit CL9 (9-9-9-24) 1.5V

http://www.ebuyer.com/264509-ocz-zs-series-550w-80-bronze-psu-with-135mm-fan-single-ocz-zs550w-uk £54.57 inc. vat
OCZ ZS Series 550W 80+ Bronze PSU with 135mm Fan & single +12V Rail

http://www.ebuyer.com/341398-three-hundred-two-tower-case-incl-usb3-0-connector-in-0-761345-15320-1 £54.58 inc. vat
Antec 300 Three Hundred Two Case - with USB3.0