So I am finally going to build a new computer. I have been wanting to do this for a while and finally at the point where I will. I am not necessarily going to purchase everything tomorrow as I want to get some feed back from people here before I pull the trigger, I am in no real hurry (other than I want to do it).

I don't game, but I will do some video editing and graphics editing. This build may be a little over kill, but I don't care as I want it to be sick fast and I plan on having it for a long time so I would rather get the top of the line now. I am still not sure if I will get the "K" cpu or not as I don't know that I want to overclock. I mean, I want to but I don't know that I am comfortable doing it as I fear it will wear out the system quicker if I do. Input greatly appreciated on that.

I am going to get a new monitor as well but I just cannot decide what I want. So if anyone has recommendations that would be great.

Anyway, let me know what everyone thinks and if anything sticks out as inappropriate or not compatible or that there is a better option out there or if you notice that something is missing (I think that I covered everything). Thanks!


1 Corsair Carbide Series 300R Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer CaseItem #: N82E16811139011
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$10.00 Instant $89.99
$79.99

1 ASUS P8Z77-V LK LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
Item #: N82E16813131837
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $149.99


1 CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817139020
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$30.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card $119.99
$89.99

1 Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770K
Item #: N82E16819116501
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy $349.99


1 Intel 520 Series Cherryville SSDSC2CW120A3K5 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Item #: N82E16820167093
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy -$21.00 Instant $199.99
$178.99

1 Rosewill RCR-AK-IM5002 USB2.0 75 in 1 internal Card Reader w/ 3 ports USB2.0 Hub / eSATA port / Extra silver face plate / SATA Power
Item #: N82E16820223113
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$8.00 Instant $24.99
$16.99

1 G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9Q-16GBXL
Item #: N82E16820231429
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy $89.99

1 Seagate Barracuda ST3750525AS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822148702
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$20.00 Instant $99.99
$79.99

1 ASUS Black Blu-ray Drive SATA Model BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS
Item #: N82E16827135247
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$10.00 Instant $67.99
$57.99

1 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit
Item #: N82E16832116986
Return Policy: Software Standard Return Policy $99.99

1 COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
Item #: N82E16835103065
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$5.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate $34.99
$29.99

Total $1,235

Considering the bolded words in your quote and reading the negative portions of the reviews, personally I'd go with a different case unless you're on a super tight budget.

If sticking with Corsair:

Corsair Graphite Series 600T CC600TM Mid-Tower Gaming Case - Performance Award from HardwareHeaven - $149.99 after mail-in rebate card

Corsair Obsidian Series 650D (CC650DW-1) Black Steel structure with black brushed aluminum faceplate ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Editor’s Choice, Award from TechPowerUp - $159.99 after mail-in rebate card

With a quick glance I would increase the power supply from 650 to at least 750. When I built my machine 2 years ago 600 was not enough, and that was 2 years ago.

I'd suggest substituting the 3770k with an i7-2700k. They perform just about the same and the SB is much easier to overclock. With less in the way of heat concerns because of the thermal paste they're using in the new ones. I went back and forth and looked at everything... if OC'ing just get the 2700k. It's proven, easier & $50 cheaper for virtually no drop off in performance.

Without a video card you hardly need a heavy duty power supply. Those specs will run on a solid 430w PSU and still leave room for many video cards, nothing serious but the types non-gamers would be more than happy with. My mother's computer has a 430w with a GTS 450 in there (so she can play Portal 2 of course); works just fine. I'd worry about quality more than just wattage if you're not looking to heavy gaming. I'm a fan of the better Seasonic models despite the cost, though they do build for other companies including Corsair. With a 450w-550w of good quality it will work out.

Intel 520 is a really nice drive but overpriced. It figures to be reliable though they switched their controller to the second-gen Sandforce ones which overall haven't been. Other good 128GB SSDs are popping up around $110 pretty frequently now or less.

Rest seems reasonable.

This is hysterical. With no GPU, he can use a 400w power supply.

Thanks for the input. What specifically jumps out at you? I read the reviews as well, and although some people commented on the side panels being flimsy I didn't notice anything else. I don't really move the computer at all and I will not be changing things constantly so I am not sure that it will be an issue. But I will keep this in mind.

I still am not sure if I am going to overclock. What are your thoughts about overclocking? Does it really put a ton of wear on your system? And I have read the reviews about the new 3770 not being much faster performance wise than the 2700, but it does seem like there are some advantages. One being the new iGPU and the new Z77 motherboards seem to have some nice advantages as well like better USB 3.0 integration and a few other performance tweaks. It also seems that the new 3770 allows for native 1600Mhz RAM as well. Maybe I am wrong on that though. I wasn't sold on the new Sandy Bridge at first either but after watching some videos and doing some reading there does seem to be some nice hidden pluses in the CPU and the MoBo. I will keep this in mind though.

As far as PSU, I will do some digging and find a more appropriate one and post it.

I cannot believe they are getting that cheap! The reason that I went with the Intel 520 is because it offers a 5 year warranty and seems to be the only SSD that turns out that level of speed and yet doesn't have all of the bad feedback about BSOD and such. It seems that Intel is the only one that has a handle on the second-gen Sandforce. Although the others might have worked out the kinks by now. Any SSD that you recommend?

Also, how to you calculate how many watts your PSU needs to be? I have never quite figured that out?

It mainly depends on the graphics card. A solid 550w PSU would cover cards that are under $300. More expensive cards generally require more power. See this chart.

I'd keep everything you listed. Except maybe grab the ASRock Z77 Extreme4 motherboard.

It's completely standard. Just buy an aftermarket cooler and do it, they're built for it.

Yes, but not to a degree that seems to matter unless you're going really extreme. If you'd feel better, instead of trying to clock a 3.4 GHz chip up to 4.9 GHz, you could back it off to 4.2 or something. I just don't see people burning out CPUs very often.

All correct - but you can put a 2700 in a Z77 board and get the USB.

With the right RAM you can do this on Sandy Bridge also. And FWIW: the effects of RAM faster than 1600 is negligible. Just a heads up before you get to the part where you're thinking about spending on DDR3-2400 speed modules.

Sandy and Ivy aren't that different. Ivy is better and more efficient at stock speed, but it gets hotter than Sandy as you overclock it - if overclocking, I call these two a wash). Ivy does have better integrated graphics if you actually use them, but I suspect if Ivy's integrated is good enough chances are so is Sandy's. Then LDO there's price to consider, and the fact that Z77 boards can use either of these chips.

You might be correct, and the only issue of concern for me in Sandforce, not Intel. I have a 510 (not Sandforce) which is excellent, and have an early Intel X25 40GB that's still running strong in my Mom's computer. My argument against is basically (a) it's still Sandforce and there's a chance of problems beyond Intel's control, and (b) it costs a lot.

See Slickdeals: the 128GB Crucial M4 goes on sale for $100 free ship at midnight at NewEgg. If the 520 is $185 it's not even a close decision for me. M4 is proven, not Sandforce, good company, and the drive is decent if though not spectacular performer. You could almost buy 2 of them for the same money as the 520. I doubt you'd notice a performance difference between the two anyway as far as day-to-day things. I have or have had 5 different SSD models and unless you're really tasking them with big jobs they're all fast.

It's not even the wattage so much. It's how much you can carry on the rails - before I bore you to tears I'd just figure out what you want to build and possible video card options and go from there. The underlying idea is that you find a nice efficient power supply with a good reputation (modular would be a nice plus), and going overboard a bit is okay if you do that.

Bad PSUs are a nightmare and unless they come DOA they can't be hard to identify as the culprit when troubleshooting. They're a PITA to replace also. I'd put good money into one that gives you piece of mind that you can hopefully run with for many years.

I have an X650. Definitely more than needed right now, but I needed something for a silent PC that gave me video card options I might look into in for a future build (PS- it's tested performance is pretty far beyond it's rated 650w, usually it's the other way around with PSUs). Cost a lot but I've seen them on sale for $99, and I love everything about it so far. I usually don't fawn over power supplies... but it's one of those things you understand when you buy the perfect part for what you want, and there's no doubt about it.

Seasonic SS-460FL Active PFC F3, 460W Fanless ATX12V Fanless 80Plus Gold Certified, Modular Power Supply

What about this PSU? Or this one

Antec EarthWatts Platinum Series EA-450 450W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified Power Supply

I am struggling to find the difference between PSU's as far as quality is concerned. Whether it is 80 PLUS Gold or Platinum or whatever doesn't seem to matter that much price wise. It seems that there are a few things to look for

1. Modular or not
2. Certification
3. Wattage

But I cannot tell what transfers into quality.

Would the cooler that I have listed suffice? It seems to be a popular recommendation around here.

Ok, good to know.

Very true I didn't think about that.

You would have to overclock the RAM to do this though, right? And I did not know that faster than 1600 is negligible, good to know.

Very good points. What would you say the biggest advantage to the Ivy chip is? They do seem to be very close in specs.

Man, there is quite a difference in price and researching a bit shows you are right that in real world scenarios there will not be much of a difference in performance. You have sold me on the M4.

I would be concerned with overall build quality due to numerous comments such as:

If you're putting this case under a desk or is otherwise hidden, that might not be a big deal for you.

A bigger issue for me would be noise. You might be able to do some things to alleviate it, but it would be a concern for me:

It's fine. I've used it myself and it was part of the tutorial build I did last year.

Yes and no. If you have XMP enabled in bios it will read the RAM at it's rated speed and change it automatically. 1866 is gives a very slight real world improvement but you wouldn't see it.

That it's more energy efficient at clock speeds and a small bit faster. It also has some nice video encoding features if you do that in particular. And the integrated graphics have improved quite a bit, though still not enough for serious gamers. For a $50 savings I'd take the 2700k though, which I did.

Those little savings add up. Now you can buy a better display or mouse or something you'll actually notice and appreciate. Hard to go wrong with any SATA 6gb/s SSD so long as it works.