Hi, this is the second time I build a PC. The first build is still up and running after 5 years (PSU died, though) so I perhaps I did a decent job! 
This time I want to do better, ofc. Will you help me?
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1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
I'd like to play FPS like Battlefield 3 and Crysis 2 with high details @ 1920x1080. I'm fine with lowering AA and other eye candies I hardly notice.
I also write OpenGL/OpenCL programs for work and fun.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
It's around 900-1000 euros for the full build.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
Italy, I make no exceptions unless prices are really convenient.
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
I like the best, is that bad?
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Only my HDD, as secondary storage. It's a:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB SATA
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Maybe, I've read it's moderately easy to get the i5-2500k to 4GHz so I'll probably try someday...
8. What resolution will you be using?
1920x1080
9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.
In a week or two.
X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
Nope.
---
So far I'm at this point:
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS-III
(cheap, but has USB 3.0, screwless mounting and PSU at bottom)
Mobo: Asus P8Z68-VLX
(P67 is fine for me if there's something wrong with Z68 I'm unaware of)
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500k
(pretty much every cost-conscious gaming build seems to be using this or 2550k)
RAM: Teamgroup Vulcan PC3 12800 DDR3 1600 2X4GB
(a dude from a local shop told me they're basically corsair and will promptly replace me those if I ever have any problem with them)
Graphics: Sapphire ATI Radeon 7850 2GB O.C.
(following tom's hardware advice here. Also this review says it can be further overclocked to almost reach GTX580 performance!)
Storage: Samsung SSD 830 128GB
(pretty convinced this is the best within my budget)
PSU:
As I said at the beginning, my previous PSU died and it was a 500W Silverstone Elements ST50EF-PLUS I paid about 90 euros back then.
Maybe it was hurt when a lightning struck my home 6 months before, but it seems strange to me...
Anyway I'd like my next PSU to last at least until I'll replace my machine and I don't want to waste money again on brand alone.
So here's a list of PSUs within my budget I can find in shops around here:
I know 600-ish watts is a bit overkill for this build but I'd like to keep the PSU's load low so it doesn't make too much noise, and it's also nice to have a bit of margin in case of upgrades.
I welcome any kind of input, and thanks beforehand!
This time I want to do better, ofc. Will you help me?
---
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
I'd like to play FPS like Battlefield 3 and Crysis 2 with high details @ 1920x1080. I'm fine with lowering AA and other eye candies I hardly notice.
I also write OpenGL/OpenCL programs for work and fun.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
It's around 900-1000 euros for the full build.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
Italy, I make no exceptions unless prices are really convenient.
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
I like the best, is that bad?
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Only my HDD, as secondary storage. It's a:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB SATA
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Maybe, I've read it's moderately easy to get the i5-2500k to 4GHz so I'll probably try someday...
8. What resolution will you be using?
1920x1080
9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.
In a week or two.
X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?
Nope.
---
So far I'm at this point:
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS-III
(cheap, but has USB 3.0, screwless mounting and PSU at bottom)
Mobo: Asus P8Z68-VLX
(P67 is fine for me if there's something wrong with Z68 I'm unaware of)
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500k
(pretty much every cost-conscious gaming build seems to be using this or 2550k)
RAM: Teamgroup Vulcan PC3 12800 DDR3 1600 2X4GB
(a dude from a local shop told me they're basically corsair and will promptly replace me those if I ever have any problem with them)
Graphics: Sapphire ATI Radeon 7850 2GB O.C.
(following tom's hardware advice here. Also this review says it can be further overclocked to almost reach GTX580 performance!)
Storage: Samsung SSD 830 128GB
(pretty convinced this is the best within my budget)
PSU:
As I said at the beginning, my previous PSU died and it was a 500W Silverstone Elements ST50EF-PLUS I paid about 90 euros back then.
Maybe it was hurt when a lightning struck my home 6 months before, but it seems strange to me...
Anyway I'd like my next PSU to last at least until I'll replace my machine and I don't want to waste money again on brand alone.
So here's a list of PSUs within my budget I can find in shops around here:
- Antec High Current Gamer 620W (900W version got a bad review from hardocp and a good one from johnnyguru )
- Antec Earthwatts 650W (750W version got a somewhat bad review from hardocp)
- Corsair GX 650W
- OCZ ModXStream 600W
- Corsair G2 600W
- Corsair GS 700W
- Corsair TX 650W
- Antec True Power 650W (a bit off my budget)
I know 600-ish watts is a bit overkill for this build but I'd like to keep the PSU's load low so it doesn't make too much noise, and it's also nice to have a bit of margin in case of upgrades.
I welcome any kind of input, and thanks beforehand!
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