New Build ($1200 max) Need Advice/Fine-Tuned

[gnarxy]

Approximate Purchase Date: Today/Tomorrow


Budget Range: $USD 800-1200 (Lower the better but will spend up to 1200 for the right price vs. performance)


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Cat fur filter system.


Parts Not Required: monitor (will buy later to optimize what rig I get) OS, KB,Mouse


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg but open to others if price is well worth it.


Country of Origin: USA


Parts Preferences: None


Overclocking: Eventually Yes


SLI or Crossfire: Not in any immediate future.


Monitor Resolution: Old 22" Acer 1680x1050 But will purchase better monitor after Computer has been built and I know what will fit it best.

****PARTS LIST****

CPU:
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor - $219.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

HSF:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 - $27.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065


MOBO:
ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $179.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131759

-OR-

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

-OR-

GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $121.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502


RAM:
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory - $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233185

-OR-

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory - $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231402

HDD:
Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697

CASE:
Antec Nine Hundred Two V3 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Gaming Case - $99.99 w/ promocode: EMCKAKJ44
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129097

-OR-

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

PSU: Open to any suggestions
GPU: Open to suggestions

Can probably spend $300-500 on GPU/PSU combined.


Totals w/out GPU/PSU: High - $653 | Low - $584

 

[Why_Me]

Nix the Asus Genie mATX if you plan on going with dual cards later on. Just take a look at the pics of that board on newegg or read some reviews on the net. That board has horrible slot spacing, especially for a dual card set up.

I have no idea why you limited yourself to just those those two sets of RAM? Those cake cutter heat spreaders on that Corsair do nothing but impede a decent size heat sink.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006050%20600006069%20600000261%20600006157%20600006127&IsNodeId=1&name=DDR3%201600%20%28PC3%2012800%29 <----- Any of those sets of RAM will do...but I wouldn't get the Corsair ram with those large heat sinks.

For a h/d take a look at the Samsung 1TB for $59.99.

 

[gnarxy]

Thanks Why_Me - which RAM would you go with? I don't think about things like it not fitting in there with that HSF thats why I like that I found you guys! Also with the other mobos:

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157271
-OR-
GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $121.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128502

Would either of those be able to be future proof a bit with new chips and able to use an SSD?

 

[Why_Me]

Thanks Why_Me - which RAM would you go with? I don't think about things like it not fitting in there with that HSF thats why I like that I found you guys! Also with the other mobos:

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157271
-OR-
GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $121.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128502

Would either of those be able to be future proof a bit with new chips and able to use an SSD?

Any of the G.Skill, Corsair or Mushkin on that link...although Patriot, Crucial and Kingston are right in that group now. Depends on color scheme. You have the G.Skill for red heat spreaders, and Corsair makes that nice low profile ram in that link that comes in either black or blue.

For the boards...I lean towards the Asrock board for looks and the PCI-E 3.0 slots that Ivy Bridge will support and the UEFI bios...although I prefer old school bios myself. Either way you can't go wrong with either board imo. Both are solid.

Case wise the CM has the Antec beat for size to work with. Antecs have crappy psu cable management...or at least they used to.

 

[gnarxy]

Here is my current list now:

****PARTS LIST****

CPU:
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor - $219.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

HSF:
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 - $27.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

CASE:
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

MOBO:
ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

RAM:
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory - $52.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186

HDD:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185


Total Cost: $586


Now all I need is help selecting: DVD, PSU, GPU - also like the idea of having an SSD but not sure if they are worth it and if I should use it as a cache drive (That mobo I'm getting has its own slot for that) Or use it for OS and a couple games.

 

[gnarxy]

Would 650w PSU be enough or should I bump that up to something else so I am future proof in the future if I end up going SLi at somepoint?

 

[gnarxy]

Figured this is simple enough for the optical drive and under 20 bucks

LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Also, would this monitor be a good buy for the price for a gaming rig using the hardware I have above? (still need to pick a GPU, debating if I should splurge for a gtx580 or get something cheaper..

ASUS VE247H Black 23.6" 2ms Full HD HDMI LED BackLight LCD Monitor - $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236112