Need Advice - Building a New Rig

[Droodplz]

Note to begin: I don't know the latest hardware options, I haven't kept up with it as of late. Any and all critique is readily accepted. Items I've got to start are: (Note, keeping it right around $900 USD is optimal)
I'm building it for Diablo III and WoW mostly - nothing too insane but I do want it to be upgradeable for future expansion.

Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case

Mobo: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard

Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor

Graphics: nvidia GeForce GTX 560

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive

PSU: Corsair 600W ATX12V Power Supply

Let the advice streams roll! Thanks in advance, any tweaks are highly appreciated, lemme know what you think on MOBO (I like Asus and Gigabyte)

[hapylol]

This is about the best you can get. I am not sure if you need Windows7 or a monitor included in the budget or not.

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($117.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($52.98 @ Amazon)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($95.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: OCZ 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($43.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $908.46
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-24 11:56 EDT-0400)

Let us know if you have any questions.

[Droodplz]

I actually work at Best Buy so I get a good deal on PSU, Optical Drive, OS, and HDD. Thank you for your suggestions: one question. Why MSI Radeon Video Card vs. my option?

[Droodplz]

Assuming I get an amazing deal on the GeForce, would you still recommend I pay the extra for the MSI card? and more importantly, would the GeForce work well with the build above in place of the MSI card?

also, am I making a good decision to go with this Mobo knowing it doesn't have SLI? (Thinking for the future)

[hapylol]

I probably should have mentioned that. If you want to SLI/CF you might want to bump up to the Asrock z77 Extreme 4 which is ~140.

As far as the GPU's go, you posted an Nvidia 560 which is completely different then an AMD 7850 card. If you want the Nvidia go with the Nvidia 560TI.

[Droodplz]

Thank you for your quick replies hapylol! I'm also wondering what I should do on CPU cooling.... As I said, I'm skeptical of liquid cooling - if any of that fails I'm out a computer! Any suggestions aside from liquid cool?

[hapylol]

CAFA70, Cooler Master Evo 212, NZXT HAVIK-140 are all air coolers ~30-40 that should allow 4.5GHZ clocks.

I wouldn't recommend liquid cooling on such a low budget.

[Deleted]

Xigmatek Gaia get my vote for CPU heatsink, runs quieter/lower RPM and cool just as well and is priced around the same, NZXT Havik 140 is better but also more expensive.

CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 56.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($32.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $32.98
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-24 13:26 EDT-0400)

[Droodplz]

Notarget, Thank you for your suggestion. I'm still very open to any suggested change from the plan - I'm liking the Mobo hapy suggested, the CPU is the one I was wanting as well. Only major difference is graphics card.

[Deleted]

You can save a few dollars by changing the RAM (performance is the same) as well, low profile making sure it fits with whichever CPU heatsink you choose:

Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $44.99
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-24 15:02 EDT-0400)

560ti or better yet a 7850 is definitely the better choice as long as you can keep it within budget of course.

For the case I would recommend something better quality either cheaper or similar price. Corsair 300R is a nice $80 case, a step up would be Corsair 400R ($90) or Fractal Design Arc midi ($110):

Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.49 @ Amazon)
Total: $79.49
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-24 15:06 EDT-0400)

Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($89.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $89.99
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-24 15:09 EDT-0400)

NXZT Source 220 is a nice cheaper alternative as well:

Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $59.99
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-04-24 15:10 EDT-0400)

[Droodplz]

NoTarget, I'm willing to go a bit over budget because I'd rather pay more up front and have something that lasts longer than have to upgrade again next year XD (What happened last time). As it stands my build is looking right around $1000 (before changing case and RAM). I'm researching the option you put up for the RAM and the cases now-- I like Corsair products a lot. The 400R may be an option for me, I just wonder why you say better quality than the one I posted? Reviews for it were good, and I get that Corsair is an amazing brand, but what leads you to post that? (Pure curiosity, since I'm building in the next week)

[Deleted]

CM 922 isn't a bad case, I just think it has a cheap, plastic look to it (this is my opinion of course).

The cable management in the Corsair is superior, comes with USB 3.0 front panel connectors (your Z77 Pro3 has native front USB 3.0 support). Accessible Dust filters. I prefer the fully black interior as well but again that's a personal preference.

Corsair 400R



CM 922

[Droodplz]

Noted, I hadn't looked at any pictures - just read specs. I certainly like the looks of the Corsair and it seems to be a great option (a bit cheaper too as you noted). I'll plan to use that case then. I like how the cable management is pretty much the same but the Corsair has nice spaces for the cables to go into (similar to liquid cooling holes on the back of many cases). I also LOVE the black painted interior.