Gaming/Light Photoshop Build - Input Needed

[vesper39]

Hi guys, this will be my first complete build from scratch. I would love some input and advice. I have done quite a bit of research on parts. Hopefully everything I chose is compatible with each other.

PC will be used for gaming (SC2 tier games), watching 1080p movies, and light-moderate use of Photoshop/Dreamweaver/Visual Studio.

Budget is ~$1000. May go over but would highly prefer under $1200.
I will be buying everything off NewEgg, TigerDirect, Amazon or Slickdeals.

-Intel Preferred, -Nvidia Preferred

Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D-E LX - $110
SSD: Kingston SSDNow V Series SNV425-S2BN/64GB 2.5" - 100$ (after MIR)
Power Supply: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W - $55 (after MIR)
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel - $80 (after MIR)
Optical: ASUS DRW-24B1ST - $20
---
CPU: i5-760 - $210
Video Card: Geforce GTX 460 768mb - $200
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - 100$
Hard Drive: Best Priced HD with 1.5-2.0TB - 100$
Fan+Heatsink - Something Decent Here - $50

Total - $1025 without Tax & S/H

Please note items in italicize have been already purchased. If applicable, recommendations should refer to non purchased items 😀

Additional Questions:
I may be looking for a new monitor as well. My current one is only 19'' and i'm thinking of upgrading to 20+. However, I prefer 1680x1050 as opposed to 1920x1080.

I am also interested in OCing my CPU as I heard it is very applicable. However I have never OC'd a CPU. Is it hard? I'm looking for a minor increase to like 3.0-3.2ghz with minimal temperature raises.

I have been having a hard time deciding to get a i5-760 or the i7-870. Now that the 870 is reasonably priced at 290$...

 

[Sp12]

That's a shame about the PSU already being purchased. Can you return it?

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2008/11/12/ocz_700w_modxstream_pro_power_supply/9

Test #4 is equal to approximately 100% of the rated capacity of the OCZ 700W ModXStream Pro at 45c. This makes Test #4 equal to 700w by loading the 12v rails to 46a, the 5v rail to 1a, the 3.3v rail to 1a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.5a. Test #4 failed on both units tested.

I'd be looking into at least a 1GB 460 for 1080 gaming or longevity at 1680.

Have you considered an AMD build? It'd likely allow you to move up in vidcards.

How much are you looking for in a monitor?

 

[vesper39]

Oh dang, that kinda sucks. I'm pretty sure I can return it as I purchased it last night on Newegg. It just seems like such a good price =( .

Yeah I was on the edge of getting 460gtx 1gb or not. Still deciding and hopefully waiting for a DEAL on that card. I don't really like AMD as I have never used their products and am unfamiliar with their scale. I definitely don't upgrade often so I think a single 460 will last me 2-3 years.

As for monitors I think something around 22" below 200$ will be ideal.

Maybe - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236050

 

[mfenn]

Oh dang, that kinda sucks. I'm pretty sure I can return it as I purchased it last night on Newegg. It just seems like such a good price =( .

Yeah I was on the edge of getting 460gtx 1gb or not. Still deciding and hopefully waiting for a DEAL on that card. I don't really like AMD as I have never used their products and am unfamiliar with their scale. I definitely don't upgrade often so I think a single 460 will last me 2-3 years.

As for monitors I think something around 22" below 200$ will be ideal.

Maybe - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236050

You can't tell a difference between equally-performing Intel and AMD once the system is put together and running. Hell, there is barely a difference while you're putting them together. That being said, the 760 is a good CPU.

I would definitely get the GTX 460 1GB. If you're willing to go down to a 1TB drive (Samsung F3 1TB is $75), you can afford it in your budget. The Hyper 212+ is a good cooler, but a bit overpriced nowadays.

EDIT: That ASUS is fine, but I would personally go with a 23"-24" 1080P that can be had for not much more.

 

[Sp12]

That monitor is rather large for 1680. IMO 1680 starts to be too low of a pixel density at around 21 in. I'd be looking into a 1920 resolution for 22 in +. I might even consider a nicer IPS monitor.

Some food for thought -- an AMD x4 would be 50$ cheaper, and the motherboard probably 20$ less as well. That would get you a 1GB 460 from the 768 and an overall cheaper build. Alternatively, and AMD X6 is 10$ less and would have better longevity and very similar in-game performance, and the mobo savings would also pay for the 1gb 460. Depending on your version of the adobe software, it could also outperform the i5 in those.

AM3 also has the advantage of bulldozer compatibility, at least initially.

However, AMD has the disadvantage of worse per-core performance (though not badly), and so for single-threaded applications like older games it won't perform as well.

 

[vesper39]

So the article that you posted Sp12 basically says the PS fails at full load? Is that a big enough factor where I should return it hands down? I don't think my rig would push the PS that much considering i'm not a heavy OC'er.

I also have some confusion about RAM.

What is the difference between speed for RAM?

DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) vs.
DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)

Seems they are very similarly priced and was wondering what affects the ability to read a 1600 card? Is it the proper Motherboard or CPU?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277 vs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-275-_-Product

 

[Sp12]

Basically yes, the PSU is not able to deliver it's full capacity. I would probably return it if possible, especially if I was overclocking/had high ambient air temperatures. The review says it gets really bad past 45*, which isn't far from typical incase air temps.

This PSU is 15$ more and of much higher quality.

DDR3 1600 is a bit faster and a bit lower latency, but the big benefit is that it removes the OCing barrier that 1333 often poses. You often reach the max your chip can push with 1600 ram, whereas 1333 often needs OCing/worse dividers (something else to worry about) before the chip itself is at it's max.