Trying to pull together the components for a new build

[Evolon]

I've read around this forum and around other places on the internet and believe that I have chosen the components for a workable build. Some basic general info...

- I have budgeted $2,000.00 for this computer, the current sum is a little over $1,700.00 before taxes in an effort to give the build a little wiggle room.
- The only vendor I'm using for now is newegg. I don't feel particularly loyal to newegg, it's just where people I know have bought stuff.
- I intend to use this computer primarily for gaming (max settings), secondarily for playing media, and a bit for other miscellaneous stuff.
- I will probably overclock this computer. I plan to run it for a bit at the cpu's default settings and see how things go. If it runs amazingly I may leave it alone.
- My list of parts doesn't include a 3rd party thermal paste (which I suspect I'll need it if I overclock it), but my brother has some stuff I can use if an when it becomes necessary. I don't know the brand though.
- After checking other threads pertaining to new builds I've noticed that I seem to be spending less on a video card than other people. I do not yet have a sense of how much I should spend on a given component for a given budget.
- I've also noticed that the storage device that I intend to buy has less space than the devices other people have bought (500 gig vs. 1.5+ terabytes). The last computer I owned only had 150 gig and I never reached capacity, so I suspect I will not threaten the capacity of my new hard drive.
- The ssd is meant for the os and some other programs that I'll probably use a lot. The other hard drive is general storage.
- Any equipment not mentioned here is not yet a concern (mouse, keyboard, etc.)
- A calculator on newegg calculated that I'd need ~500 watts to power this build. Is the 630W power supply too much?

parts list:

motherboard: ASUS P9X79 LE LGA 2011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131855

cpu: Intel Core i7-3820 Sandy Bridge-E 3.6GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115229

video card: EVGA 02G-P4-3660-KR GeForce GTX 660 Ti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130809

os: Windows 7

ssd: SanDisk Ultra Plus SDSSDHP-128G-G25 2.5" 128GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820171740

hdd: Seagate Expansion 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822178113

memory: Kingston HyperX Black 16GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104361

case: Corsair Obsidian Series 650D (liked what I saw in the newegg video)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139006

power supply: RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-630SS 630W ATX12V V2.2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152035

heat sink: ZALMAN CNPS12X 120mm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118097

optical: Pioneer Black 15X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 12X BD-ROM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129074

monitor: LG EB2242T-BN Black 22" 5ms Widescreen
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005343

Thank you for your input.

 

[Knufire]

Do you live nearby a Microcenter?

 

[Evolon]

Do you live nearby a Microcenter?

I do not.

 

[Knufire]

Do you need a copy of Windows or you already have that covered outside the $2k budget?

Do you plan on ever running multiple GPUs?

This is assuming yes to both questions. If you don't need a copy of Windows, get the RAM without the combo deal. If you don't plan on running multiple GPUs, you can drop the power supply down to a Corsair CX500.

If you want, since you have money left over, you could go for the 3770K. The main difference between the i5 and the i7 is Intel Hyperthreading Technology, which gives two pipelines to each core instead of one (so the computer sees it as 4 cores and 4 virtual cores). Games currently don't take advantage of this, so i5s and i7s perform about the same. I'm not sure if future games would take advantage of it though, so it might be a good futureproofing option?

 

[Evolon]

Do you need a copy of Windows or you already have that covered outside the $2k budget?

Do you plan on ever running multiple GPUs?

This is assuming yes to both questions. If you don't need a copy of Windows, get the RAM without the combo deal. If you don't plan on running multiple GPUs, you can drop the power supply down to a Corsair CX500.

If you want, since you have money left over, you could go for the 3770K. The main difference between the i5 and the i7 is Intel Hyperthreading Technology, which gives two pipelines to each core instead of one (so the computer sees it as 4 cores and 4 virtual cores). Games currently don't take advantage of this, so i5s and i7s perform about the same. I'm not sure if future games would take advantage of it though, so it might be a good futureproofing option?

I intend to buy a new copy of windows.

I haven't put any thought into running multiple gpu's but now that you've put the idea in my head I don't want to rule it out. How about this for a power supply:
CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 600W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028


After spending some time on google, the only 3770 cpu that I found was an i7. Is this the model you meant?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501
If it is, it fits a LGA 1155 socket and my current motherboard choice has a LGA 2011 socket. Are the 1155 and 2011 compatible? If not, should I find a new motherboard to work with the 3770 or keep my old choices?

 

[Knufire]

You should move off the 2011 platform. 2011 is if you need more than two GPUs, more than 32GB of RAM, or need a hexacore.

CX500 for single GPU. If multiple GPU, I'd go with the TX750 in my build. This is assuming you're not with the 7970 as I suggested for the video card.

 

[Evolon]

Here's my latest choices based on your advice and what I can accommodate with my budget:

motherboard: ASRock Z77E-ITX LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157312

cpu: Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

video card: GIGABYTE GV-R797OC-3GD Radeon HD 7970 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125413

power supply: CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Thank you for your help thus far.

 

[Knufire]

ITX build? Going for super tiny?

A bit of a pain in the *** to build, but building a tiny powerhouse is something I've always wanted to do. .

 

[Evolon]

My previous post is just the changes to the initial parts list. I simply didn't bother re-listing the parts that haven't changed. But if the amended build sounds good, I'm gonna start buying it in the next week or so.

 

[Knufire]

Start buying? You're not buying it all at the same time? How long of a time span are you buying parts over?

 

[Evolon]

So, yea... noob moment for me. I picked that last motherboard without realizing that it was ITX. I definitely want an ATX build, which the Corsair case supports. My brother was the first person I encountered to point out the ITX/ATX issue. He also convinced me to go for a beefier power supply and another gpu later on. I've also read that I should get a board with PCIe slots. This latest choice should have everything I'm looking for:

ASUS P8Z77-V PRO LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...E16813131819&gclid=CNWuv5uN47UCFQ2nnQod1kkA5A

and the beefier power supply is what you suggested earlier:
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

I don't have a particular reason to purchase these parts of a period of days/weeks. If there is an advantage to making the purchase at once, I will do so.

 

[Knufire]

Don't bother with the Corsair case. It's WAY overpriced, and the Lian Li I linked to you is probably better quality.

Don't need such an expensive motherboard either unless you're looking for REALLY high overclocks.

For dual GPU, what I suggested above is EXACTLY what you need. .

 

[Evolon]

I believe that I have enough information now to make my purchase. I'll buy everything at once as I've heard from my brother that buying over a long period of time can complicate a build if anything goes wrong. I'll provide an update as the purchase/build progresses. Thank you for your assistance Knufire.