Building my first PC

[cabato]

Hello, I am currently working on getting the parts for my first desktop. I was hoping the tech-savvy people here can evaluate my choices to make sure everything works together and to suggest alternatives. Here goes:

CPU: i5 3570K (will overclock)
GPU: EVGA GeForce 650 GTX Ti (should I get 1 or 2gb, I am only using one screen at 1920 or less resolution) (also, should I overclock my GPU?)
RAM: G.SKILL Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) (is this enough RAM)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 LGA 1155 Intel Z77
HDD (may also get SSD): Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB
OS: Windows 8 (just because it costs less, or should I pay more for 7)
Power Supply: Rosewill CAPSTONE Series CAPSTONE-750 (is this enough power even if I wanted to get an additional 650 GTX later?)
Case: Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (this is my old computer's case)
Fans: Not sure what I have, but I assume I'll need 120mm
CPU Fan: ARCTIC Alpine 11 Pro Rev 2 CPU Cooler for Intel

Costs right now are around $820 and I would say $900 is my limit if I am missing anything necessary.

 

[Sean W.]

spend less on the processor and get a better graphics cardL

get a 2500K processor, do away with the 3570 and get at least a 660ti

 

[cabato]

Do you think that the Sapphire 7850 1GB would be suitable (if overclocked)?

 

[PP Mguire]

The 650ti is better than the 7850 actually. He's right, if you're on a tight budget and game then get a lower grade CPU and a better GPU. You would do perfectly fine with getting an i3 3220 now then get a GTX 660 or 660ti in its place. You can always upgrade your CPU to a 3570k later but if your main focus is gaming your performance is in your GPU.

Guess Sean doesn't realize the 3570k and 2500k have been the same price for a long time.

8GB is enough but you don't need anything faster than 1600MHz. Get a standard Ripjaw 8GB kit.

I would change the PSU to a Corsair TX650w.

You can drop the cooler you have listed. It's barely better than stock and there is no way you would have overclocked a 3570k on that. CPU overclocking is not needed with gaming as these CPUs are plenty fast enough for the current crap we have for games.

 

[Talyor]

idk if you can do this but you can just download linux and use the money you used to buy a better gpu

 

[PP Mguire]

idk if you can do this but you can just pirate windows 7/8 and use the money you used to buy a better gpu

You'll be lucky if you don't get an infraction for that.

 

[Talyor]

Ok then just install ubuntu and save money..

 

[Sean W.]

You'll be lucky if you don't get an infraction for that.

he will

and you are right, i dont know much about the 3xxx cpus haha

 

[cabato]

So here is what the new build is looking like:

HDD: Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM
GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N660OC-2GD GeForce GTX 660 2GB
CPU: i5 3570K Ivy Bridge
RAM: G.SKILL Trident 8GB 1600 MHz
PSU: Thermaltake TR2 TR-700 700W
MOBO: MSI Z77A-G45 LGA 1155 Intel Z77
CPU Fan: ARCTIC Alpine 11 Pro Rev 2 CPU Cooler for Intel
Case: Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA

Is Seagate a good brand? Will i have enough power for an overclocked cpu and two gpus? People keep recommending me a different motherboard...but I can't see a difference between other more expensive boards and the one I have chosen. Is that just reputation?

Also, what fan would I need to keep the 3570 cool at 4 GHz? One more thing; will the 650W Corsiar be enough if I wanted to OC my CPU and my GPU, and possibly get another CPU?
I can get the 660 GTX and the 3570K and stay under $900.

 

[PP Mguire]

Seagate has the least return rate last time I looked, course arguments over HDD brands have been had many times here. Seagate, Western Digital, and Samsung all make good drives.

For your second question, yes but I wouldn't do it on the Thermaltake you have listed.
The difference is quality in motherboards, but most importantly CS if you have to return it. It is a combination of reputation and personal experiences. MSI make some good boards but good luck if you have to send them back. I typically stick to Asus or ASRock boards in favor more of ASRock.

The 3570k has a turbo speed of 3.8GHz perfectly capable on the stock cooler. Overclocking to 4GHz would be moot. You will get more gains by OCing your GPU.

To your final question, a 690 which essentially has 2 670 cores can be run on 650w so my assumption is yes SLI 660s and a 3570k can run on the Corsair TX650. If you are dead set on going SLI (I recommend you don't) then just for precautionary measures I would bump up to the TX750.