Help with PC Build

[Logan67100]

Hello everyone! Lets get right to it, i am building a gaming pc and need some help with a few of the parts, i am also going to throw out there that this is my first build. As a pre-note i am looking to keep it in the $1500 USD range as my max.

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/Produc...82E16819116504 (Couldn't decide between an i5 and i7 but this one had good speed and was a good price)

Motherboard I have no clue about anything motherboard related but i would like a high performance one if anyone has suggestions

RAM G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231314

Graphics Card EVGA 02G-P4-2678-KR GeForce GTX 670 FTW 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo (If there is a similarly powerful card for less expensive, or another card just a tad more expensive that blows it out of the water please let me know!)

Power Supply CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139020 (I also don't know much about PSU's so suggestions here would be helpful)

Operating System Windows 7 Home premium 64 bit

Case NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Steel / Plastic Enthusiast ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146067


I am not actively looking for a monitor as i already have one! But feel free to suggest anything that can beat it (it is like 3 years old and i can't even remember the model other than it is a dell >.>) Another side note, it can go over that price slightly, but not by more than $200 USD


Thanks to everyone who contributes to this topic!

[Sedative]

Just wanted to add that the 660ti is $100 less than that card and very close performance wise...I'd wager you wouldn't see much difference in anything other than benchmarks.

(and you get Borderlands 2 for free...not sure if you're into those kind of games though)

[Logan67100]

Is it? i will make note of that! thank you! and I am definitely a fan of the first one, Viva la Robolution! hehe

---------- Post added 2012-09-06 at 06:05 PM ----------

Should i get the MSI or the EVGA version of the 660ti if i choose it? it appears the MSI is slightly faster but its open while the EVGA is shroud style, i don't know if the MSI could cause a heating issue

---------- Post added 2012-09-06 at 07:24 PM ----------

Still looking for help on motherboards if anyone can teach me a thing or two that would be awesome!

[demonskies]

Id get an Gigabyte WFx2 660ti or AsusDC2 over an EVGA. The more open shroud will allow for more cooling and the fans to be much quiter over the EVGAs jet engine. Not only that in a lot of the benchmarks that are out the EVGA cards arent performing as well as other brands. http://www.anandtech.com/show/6159/t...60-ti-review/7 . That is if you decide to get a 660ti. I would say the same about getting a 670 also The windforcex3 and DC2 will be a great product. For the mother board I would get the Asrock Z77 Extreme4 probably one of the best price to performance boards on the market. And unless you need more bells and whistles it will probably suit you fine.

[Logan67100]

what about a radeon 7970?

---------- Post added 2012-09-06 at 10:46 PM ----------

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150605 or this