Decided not to wait on building my new desktop

[Essence_of_War]

After considering it carefully, I think I'm going to move forward and build my desktop now. I'm not looking at dramatic performance increases from either AMD or Intel this summer and no matter what there is always something good around the corner, so I think I'm just going to pull the trigger now.

Here's the sticky:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

I'll be using this for gaming, basic productivity, and for doing data analysis w/ Matlab/Python, and running some plasma physics related simulations. If it's relevant, particle-in-cell and some fluid dynamic type simulations.

Some games I enjoy/want-to-play-at-high-frame-rates-and-high-res include:
Starcraft 2, Dragon Age 1/2, Mass Effect 1/2/3, Dawn of War 2, Skyrim, Dota 2, Witcher 2, Darksiders 2, Fallout 3 and New Vegas, Deus Ex Human Revolution.


2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

I'm looking to spend around $1100 +/- 100 (USD).

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

US

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
We can't be expected to scour the internet on your behalf, chasing down deals in your specific country... Again, help us, help YOU.

N/A

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Not a particular fanboy, but I'm running an amd cpu (phenomx4) w/ nVidia gpu presently, and both have served me well for the past 6ish years, so I guess I'd say I was pre-disposed to those choices.


6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

I'm re-using two 1 TB internal drives, my peripherals (keyboard, mouse, external drive) and my monitors (2x Dell 19in 1280x1024).


7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

I hadn't planned on it, but I'd kind of like the option to be open.


8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?

Presently 2x @ 1280x1024, but in the next 6-8 months I'd like to upgrade to one of: 1x 2560x1440 IPS, 2x 1920x1200 IPS, or 2-3x 1920x1080 IPS. If I end up going the latter, my goal isn't to game at 5760x1080.


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.

I'm hoping to build this w/in the next month.


X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

I have access to home use licenses for all of the software that I wanted to run including the OS. So I guess that's a "No".

Here's my first pass at a build. I feel a little lost, so any feedback would be great. I tried to make a few notes about my thinking/specific questions.

PCPartPicker Link

CPU:
i7-3770K

CPU Cooler:
Cooler Master Hyper 212 - Based on what people have said about quiter/cooler than stock fan even if I'm not overclocking, I think this is a fine choice.

MoBo:
Corsair 2x8gb - 8gb is good enough for gaming, but I'd like 16 for some of my scientific computing related applications.

Solid State Drive:
Samsung 840 Series 250GB - The Sandisk price wasn't available at PCPartPicker, but MicroCenter looks like they have that cheaper. If they do, should I go with the Sandisk?

Ordinary Hard Drive:
Re-using 2x 1 TB internals.

GPU:
Corsair HX650 Modular 650w 80+ gold - Still see my PSU related question below. I think I have a PSU that's more in line with my actual needs now. I'm willing to pay a little more for it to be modular and gold+ certified.

Case:
Corsair Carbide 300R - Looks like great value, thanks for the suggestion!

Note: Cut additional case fans for now.

Optical Drive:
ASUS Blu-Ray-R DVD/CD-R/W - I'd like to be able to play HD videos/movies, but I don't plan on making/editing them.

A few questions:

1) The CPU-Elephant-in-the-room. I have been vascillitating all over the place on the i5, i7, and fx-8350.......

Edit: This point was rendered moot because found that Micro Center is selling i7-3770k for 230 w/ in-store pick-up and I live w/in about 20-30 mins of one.

2) If I'm not planning on overclocking right now, is a CPU Cooler a waste of money?

3) I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing when it comes to picking out a power supply. I don't really have a good feel for how much power I need, or how to find that out. Am I wasting money on power that I don't need?

4) The case is a mid-sized tower, is that going to be cramped for putting all of this stuff in?

5) I have two fluffy kitties in my life, is it wise to get filters for the fan air intakes to help cut down on dust/debris/dander build-up?

Edit:

Build is re-written around mfenn and other's suggestions, and to reflect the change in CPU to the i7. Nothing but the CPU is set-in-stone at this point, so feel free to offer up additional suggestions/pointers/etc.

 

[Torn Mind]

A good 500-550 watts should be more than adequate for a single GPU setup IF the PSU is good quality.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...D=3938566&SID=
This PSU is Seasonic-based, so it should be no problem provided it survives shipping and doesn't have a manufacturing defect. You get a 5 year warranty.

Here's a review of the PSU. http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=225

 

[mfenn]

At your budget, you go with an i5 or i7, it's not even a close call. The extra cores on an AMD FX series processor are useless for your scientific simulations because they can only do integer calculations.

Here's what I would do for $1100:

i5 3570K + Z77 Pro3 combo $245 @ MC
Corsair DDR3 1600 16GB $75 AP
Sapphire 7970 3GB $390 AR
Samsung 840 250GB $210
Reuse HDD $0
Lite-ON DVD Burner $18
Corsair TX650 $70 AR
Corsair 300R $60 AR - you want something more closed and filtered in a feline-rich environment
Hyper 212 EVO $30 AR - not required, but quieter than stock
Total: $1098 AR AP

 

[Essence_of_War]

mfenn,

Is it worth the time/money to fill in all of the fan mounts on the case you recommended?

 

[Sleepingforest]

Nah. The stock cooling on that case is plenty (and adding fans makes it much louder). No need to add to costs here.

Also, since you're going to MC, might as well pick up the SSD mfenn recommended for $190.

 

[Torn Mind]

http://www.microcenter.com/product/..._SATA_60Gb-s_Internal_Solid_State_Drive_(SSD)
Sandisk Ultra Plus is $20 bucks cheaper at MC pre-tax.

 

[Essence_of_War]

I've made a bunch of changes to the OP reflecting what the build looks like now. Thanks to everyone for suggestions! A couple of the links aren't to MicroCenter because the PCPartPicker didn't have them, but I'm keeping a list of things I can get a MC for cheaper when I go to pick up my CPU this weekend.

 

[mfenn]

I've made a bunch of changes to the OP reflecting what the build looks like now. Thanks to everyone for suggestions! A couple of the links aren't to MicroCenter because the PCPartPicker didn't have them, but I'm keeping a list of things I can get a MC for cheaper when I go to pick up my CPU this weekend.

Do not get the i7 3770K, it is not worth $90 more than the i5 3570K (no $50 combo discount). It is not even much faster for the type of work that you're going to be doing.

Also, forget the HX650, it's not worth the money over the TX650.

 

[Sleepingforest]

Man, I think I should start saving my analyses of PSUs. Here I go again:
Gold is simply not worth it over Bronze. The $45 or more price delta takes over 2 years of continuous operation (yes, that's over 17,000 hours) to recoup at a electricity rate of $0.12 per KwH. Modular is also absolutely no help unless you work with an SFX case or buy far too large of a PSU for your needs.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Man, I think I should start saving my analyses of PSUs. Here I go again:...

Hey, it's appreciated by those of us who need the advice

 

[Sleepingforest]

I think I will just type up a generic analysis and set up some links for those who want to get into the nitty gritty details.