Need some help with my first build!

[Higgs1]

A user on another forum recommended me these parts for my build

MB
GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard 164.99

CPU:
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K 219.99

Heatsink:
ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink 42.99

RAM:
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8 79.99

PSU:
Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-620 620W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply 69.99

GPU
EVGA 012-P3-1571-KR GeForce GTX 570 HD w/Display-Port (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card 324.99-299.99 After MIR

HARDDRIVE:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive 59.99

DVD Drive:
LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM 18.99

CASE:
COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 54.99

Total: 1036.91 shipping costs not included, but that is about 10-20 bucks normally with newegg.



However I was looking at changing the i5 out for:

Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K $314.99

and I added

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium $99


Logitech MK550 Black USB RF Wireless Ergonomic Wave Combo $59.99

ASUS PCE-N13 PCI Express Wireless Adapter $27.99

ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor$199.99


Total: $1536 +$25ish shipping......


Is it worth upgrading from the originally recommended i5 to the i7? Its about a $100 difference so not huge deal, and what about my add ons? This would be my first full PC build, so is there anything else I would need? Thermal paste? anything? Also my goal is to be able to play upcoming games like BF3, Skyrim, ME3 on the highest settings to make it worth it for me to play them on PC instead of PS3.

What do you guys suggest?


Also, I haven't been into PC gaming for quite some time, I was huge into Battlefield 2 and when HL2 first dropped that was when I was really into it, then I dropped PC in favor of Mac. I will continue to use my macbook for day to day use and the PC would only be for gaming, so any other recommendations would be great. And if you can bring the cost down further or tweak in any way for the better feel free to let me know!

Thanks

[doctorD]

As far as the cpu upgrade goes, if your main purpose for the build is for gaming then yes the 2600K is worth the upgrade.

I would recommend "Arctic Silver 5" for themal paste. It is some of the best stuff out there:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

I think some guys on here would recommend SLI but not sure which card they would recommend. I believe if you look in some of the threads below I've seen two 560Ti's recommended for SLi but at that time I don't think the 570's were out. So I'm not sure.

Also, you may want to make sure that the Zalman cpu fan (which are excellent) can be installed on that Mobo. My last build I ran into an issue with my Zalman where the clip interfered with some of the capacitors near the cpu. It bumbed me out that I couldn't use it. I did use one for the build before that on an AMD cpu and it kept that think cool (AMD cpu's are known to run hot).

Anyways, hope that info helps. Good luck with your build. Oh, by the way, Star Wars The Old Republic is going to be cool.

[chaselo1987]

Well my new build is identical with a few changes. Few quick tips to take into consideration. If you ever plan on overclocking, I would recommend water cooling. And no, not the full blown 300$ stuff. Just this simple little fella.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181015

It will keep your case looking sleek inside, without bulky fans, and keep your CPU VERY cool. Way better than the Zalman.

I also would highly recommend you boosting up your PSU, especially If you plan on running SLI. 620W just isn't enough. I have a 750W with GTX 260 SLI. So with 2x570's, You definitely don't want to under power you GPUS. Go with around 850 or so if you want to plan for the future. I was a big BF2 fan to!! I was just beastly in the chopper and jets. Kicked all the time with accusation of hacks lol. BF3 coming soon....so get ready!!!

**Everything looks good m8 Research SSD to if you are interested in speed. (Solid State Drive)

EDIT**
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...86038&Tpk=mx-4

This compound was rated the best, there are a few reviews out there showing temperature comparisons.

[doctorD]

Originally Posted by chaselo1987

EDIT**
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...86038&Tpk=mx-4

This compound was rated the best, there are a few reviews out there showing temperature comparisons.

Wow, I wasn't aware this one was out there. And to unseat Arctic Silver which has been king for quite some years. How things change in a few years. Thanks for posting this.

[Higgs1]

Originally Posted by chaselo1987

Well my new build is identical with a few changes. Few quick tips to take into consideration. If you ever plan on overclocking, I would recommend water cooling. And no, not the full blown 300$ stuff. Just this simple little fella.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835181015

It will keep your case looking sleek inside, without bulky fans, and keep your CPU VERY cool. Way better than the Zalman.

I also would highly recommend you boosting up your PSU, especially If you plan on running SLI. 620W just isn't enough. I have a 750W with GTX 260 SLI. So with 2x570's, You definitely don't want to under power you GPUS. Go with around 850 or so if you want to plan for the future. I was a big BF2 fan to!! I was just beastly in the chopper and jets. Kicked all the time with accusation of hacks lol. BF3 coming soon....so get ready!!!

**Everything looks good m8 Research SSD to if you are interested in speed. (Solid State Drive)

EDIT**
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...86038&Tpk=mx-4

This compound was rated the best, there are a few reviews out there showing temperature comparisons.

thanks i swapped out the heatsink I had for the watercooled one, any reason why i can't mount the radiator for it on the top of my case? Not familiar if it has to mount a certain way?

[chaselo1987]

Originally Posted by Higgs1

thanks i swapped out the heatsink I had for the watercooled one, any reason why i can't mount the radiator for it on the top of my case? Not familiar if it has to mount a certain way?

ehhh, I'm not saying you can't, but it would probably take some serious modding. That radiator is meant to be vertical, so be sure and keep it that way. Otherwise, you can just take the fan in the rear of the case off and mount your H60 radiator and fan that came with it right there. That is what it is built for.

Go to youtube and type in Corsair H50 installation, and it will pull up a lot of quick tutorials. You will be getting the H60 which is the same thing, just built to fit CPU brackets that the H50 doesn't support, (LGA 1155 for example.)