Building my first computer, anyone have any suggestions?

[Deadpool 161]

Hey everyone, long time no see. I think I've been away from sG for about 2 or 3 months, and that is because I have not had access to a computer that can run games we play on (I know, not even css).I've been working a lot over the summer and now have enough money to build a computer. It's my first time building one, but I've had some help from a friend with picking out parts. If anyone here could give me some input on what I have picked out, and possibly some suggestions would be great. As far as a video card goes, I was given a gtx 460 from a friend so I plan on using that. Well here is the list, all to be ordered from new egg.

Video Card: Gtx 460 (already owned)

Case: Raidmax Seiran http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156269 $79.99

Ram: 8gigs G.Skill Ripjaws X Series http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231468 $59.99

Processor: Intel Core I5-2500K Sandy Bridge Quad Core http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 $219.99

Power Supply: OCZ ModXStream 600w Modular Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017 $74.99

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148697 $99.99

Motherboard: ASrock Z68 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271 $119.99

Total: $654.94

If anyone has any insight, suggestions, or changes I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

[JFK 546]

If I were you, I'd replace the motherboard with this and the CPU with this.

The CPU I mentioned uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, which has improvements over the Sandy Bridge while the motherboard I linked to can run Ivy Bridge processors while yours needs a BIOS update to do so. You'd have to shell out an extra $35 for all this, but I'd say it's well worth it.

Edited July 23, 2012 by JFK

[DarkPredator 1193]

Deadpool to give you an idea of the performance you're going to get (if you want this info no idea):

I have almost the same build but GeForce 560 instead of 460,

And my brother has almost the same build but Intel 2130 instead of 2500k.

So he has a little less power than you and I have a little more.

We both play Battlefield 3 on High settings and get more than 80 FPS, many times more than 100 (I would find playing at 60 not enough sometimes).

We both can play Starcraft 2 at ultra MAX settings (i think its ultra) with no lag.

We can both play Skyrim, Crysis 2, and Batman Arkham City at the higher end of the scale in settings with no latency.

As for my opinions on your build, I think it's a decent build. My opinion is that your graphics card is going to be your bottleneck (only between CPU and GPU), especially if you upgrade to what JFK has suggested. Although, since your GFX card isn't being bought right now, it's not really an option for you to pay a little bit more, you'd have to pay a lot more for a new one. However with the games as they are now, a 460 will carry you through for a while.

The real bottleneck choice as with all systems being built nowadays is whether you should go for a SSD or not. You've got a single hard drive of 1 TB up there. Maybe you could buy a 64 GB SSD to use for booting Windows and maybe some frequent games you play? The speed difference there would be much more remarkable than upgrading your GFX card to something newer.

[Justice 69]

Good stuff. Consider what you need the PC for.

But... Not ASrock...

[Angel 5]

I agree with JFK, replace those 2 parts and you should be good. As far as your HDD, I would maybe try to find a Western Digital brand..... the few times I tried Seagate Barracuda it already came dead from manufacturer.

As far as the case, there are a few that are the same price.. or close.. and have some better air ventilation/cooling and come with more fans. Check these out.(If you want to save some money.. There is also a few that come with a PSU already in it! .. )

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156098

Now last but not least. If you want even more help.. and want to look at a different build/setup you can go here...

http://www.eggxpert.com/CuteSoft_Client/Chat.aspx

These are new-egg experts/junkies that love to mess with computers. You can tell them you have a 700$ price range and would like to build a whole set up and they will try to get you the best of the best at the price. It is free and just show them what you've got so far and they'll tell you wether its good or not also if it's compatable or not

[Deadpool 161]

Thanks everyone for the help! I did decide to do the switches JFK suggested because it really isn't that much more money. I'm still considering Angel's case (Antec Nine Hundred) but I'm choosing to wait to switch that before I run it by my friend I'm building the computer with. Also thanks for the rundown Darkpred. I knew it would be able to run those games but I never though on high settings, so I'm even more excited now. I'll update everyone when I get the thing built and on what case I choose. If anyone has any last suggestions, that would be great, but I'm ordering Friday night!

[Angel 5]

ANGEL R NEVAR WRONG! NOT EVIN ON MAI SPELYNG!

[BLiNDBoi 930]

Don't get a Seagate, too much bad rep with them to call them a trustworthy HDD imo.

[Toxygen 1885]

Don't get a Seagate, too much bad rep with them to call them a trustworthy HDD imo.

Blindboi is correct for once.

[Dojima 7619]

Apply thermal paste as such to insulate the processor from variations in electric current:

[Dyscivist 5686]

Spinpoints are where it's at for HDDs.

[Dojima 7619]

Spinpoints are where it's at for HDDs.

^

If you're getting a mechanical drive, it better be Samsung.

[BLiNDBoi 930]

Don't get a Seagate, too much bad rep with them to call them a trustworthy HDD imo.

Blindboi is correct for once.

For once?

[Guest Sandy Balls]

I heard drunkula has a really bad computer.

Edited July 28, 2012 by Sandy Balls

[Deadpool 161]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I ordered the parts last night. I changed my processor to http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504 (changed from sandy bridge to ivy bridge) and my motherboard to this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128546. I ordered my hard drive before I saw your posts about how seagate is bad, so I guess its to late for that. I did decide to use the case that Angel had suggested http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021. The parts should be here by Tuesday or Wednesday and I'll post pics of the build and the finished computer.

[Windmill 1521]

good luck. have fun.