Need Some Motherboard Advice -- First Ever Gaming Build

[JAScott127]

Okay, so I've needed a new computer for a long time, and I'm getting to the point now where I can shop around. However, after some browsing, I realized it's much cheaper to build myself, considering the system that I want, and I imagine it will be much more fulfilling...you know, with that "omg how cool is this thing I built" feeling.

I've spent the last few weeks reading and reading and reading trying to decide on what suits my particular needs and budget, and this site has helped tremendously in that. I think I have my system tuned the way I want it, but I'm a bit unsure about the motherboard.

Here is what I plan to get, and budget is really not a big issue as I plan to buy parts here and there whenever I can.

Tower:
Apevia X-TRP-GN
http://www.apevia.com/ProductsInfo.asp?KEY=X-TRP-GN


Power Supply:
Apevia Warlock Power ATX-WA750W
http://www.apevia.com/ProductsInfo.asp?KEY=ATX-WA750W


Motherboard:
Intel BOXDZ77BH-55K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121606&Tpk=Intel%20BOXDZ77BH-55K

or

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128551


Processor:
Intel Core i5-3750K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504


Graphics Card:
EVGA GeForce GTX670
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130782


RAM:
Kingston HyperX 8GB Model KHX1600C9D3LK2/8GX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104278


Hard Drives:
Western Digital Black 2TB HDD, 7200RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136792

Intel 520 Series Cherryville 120GB SDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167093


Sound Card:
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102003


Disk Drives:
Pioneer BDR-2208 15X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129072

ASUS Black 12X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247&Tpk=ASUS%20Black%2012X%20BD-ROM%2016X%20DVD-ROM%2048X%20CD-ROM


Wireless Card:
Asus PCE-N10
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320071


Monitor:
Asus VH242H Black 23.6" 1080p
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052


OS:
Windows 7 64-bit



I'm trying to stay with a black and green theme, which is where the Gigabyte motherboard comes into play. I know the Intel one will do what I need, but I'm not too certain about the other because it's a micro board (and the bigger version of it is extended and I don't think it will fit my Trooper case). That being said, I'd like to have to possibility to overclock a bit if I would need/want to in the future, but I don't see me adding another GTX 670 graphics card anytime soon, so would the micro suffice? Or can someone recommend a similarly hued, full size ATX board with the Z77 chipset?

I'm really open to any suggestions about anything, especially if you notice something that will be incompatible or something that could save me a few bucks, i.e., buying something I don't really need. I'm fairly new to the building process, so really, any advice will be appreciated. For the most part, it will just be a high end gaming PC, but I'll also use it for some music production here and there. Nothing as taxing as video editing or CAD or anything like that, though.

Thanks!

 

[Wolfshadw]

The Gigabyte board you list is not going to work for you. The wireless card requires the use of the PCI-Ex1 slot. On the Gigabyte board, that slot is going to be covered up by the heatsink and fan assembly of your graphics card.

You are correct in that the larger (E-ATX) Gigabyte Sniper motherboard would not fit inside you Apevia Trooper case. The largest board the case can accept is the standard ATX motherboard.

I don't know that there are other similarly hued motherboards available, but this all black ASRock Z77 Extreme4 has all the same capabilities of the Intel board for $35 less.

As for the rest of your build, you don't need a sound card. Your on-board audio will be more than enough and sound just as good. I don't know enough about SSDs to make a recommendation, but I'd wait to hear from other folks about it. Finally, the Apevia case is fine, but I'd swap the Apevia power supply for something I trusted a lot more; Antec, Corsair, PC Power and Cooling, Seasonic, or FSP (Fortran Source).

The rest of your build looks fine.

-Wolf sends

 

[Emelth]

+1 for the ASRock Extreme4

 

[TheBigTroll]

id swap most of the components
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/uYUm

i have

- a good cooler
-a good motherboard. better value than the extreme4 right now. has everything you need
-not a overly expensive hard drive
-a cheaper SSD that is just as good
-a 670 that is at least 10c cooler
-better monitor
-a way better case and a psu that wont blow up

also, creative makes a lot of crappy sound cards. get asus. but then the sound card will only benefit you if you have some good headphones. otherwise stick with onboard. its decent

 

[JAScott127]

Best answer selected by JAScott127.

 

[JAScott127]

Awesome. I've changed around a few things (including the ASRock motherboard), saved some cash, and now I'm good to go. Thanks!