New $900 PC D3 and Future

[pvcrisp]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2, everyday computing, OTA DVR if it is more efficient than my HTPC
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
900
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Jacksonville, FL
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
CPU & HSF, MOBO, RAM, SSD, PSU, GPU, possibly a case
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Tuner Card, Regular HD, case
6) Will you be overclocking?
Possibly CPU
7) 7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
Currently 1280x1024, will be getting new monitors in 6 months (22"-24", not sure resolution)
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Now - 2 Weeks
9) W
hat features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
USB3, SATA6, eSata
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Win 7 Pro 64


Possible Part List (Most of these were picked based on recommendations in other build threads)
PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018
CPU: i5-3570K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504
HSF: Hyper 212 EVO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
MB: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128545
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128544
SSD: Crucial 128 GB M4 (There are multiple on Newegg??)
RAM: No Preference (8 GB)
GPU: No clue, just enough for D3 and Starcraft 2

Cases I could reuse:
Antec Performance Plus PLUS1080AMG http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129115
Cooler MAster Elite http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119115
Would either of these be quiet enough with good airflow and fit the new GPU?

I keep my computers for a very long time (5-8 years) so I want quality parts that will last and provide decent future upgrades.
I mostly use Newegg for parts but can do Amazon and have a local CompUSA

 

[Dangman]

Motherboard wise, it sounds like all you need is the UD3H. PSU wise, get the mobo and a significantly better quality PSU together from this combo link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.964502

RAM wise, I recommend this:
$40 - G.Skill Value Series F3-10666CL9D-8GBNT 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM

Case wise, none of those cases are really going to be good for the PC in the long run. Even a budget option would beat either of those caes in cooling and GPU fit alone:
$50 - NZXT Source 210 Elite White with Black Front Trim ATX Case

However if you want a really quiet case, I recommend the following:
$120 - Fractal Design Define R3 Arctic White ATX Case
$120 - Fractal Design Define R3 Silver Arrow ATX Case
$125 - Fractal Design Define R3 Black Pearl ATX Case
$140 - Antec P280 ATX Case
$140 - Corsair Obsidian Series 550D ATX Case
$144 - Silverstone RV03B-WA ATX case
$178 - Silverstone RV02B-EW ATX case
$220 - Silverstone FT02S-W ATX Case

GPU wise, you should be fine with the HD 6870 even if you upgrade the monitors:
$180 - XFX HD-687A-ZHFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB PCI-E Video Card

 

[pvcrisp]

Thanks Danny,

I like that case and will be getting it.

Is there a difference in the 5 M4 SSD's?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=Crucial+128+GB+M4&x=0&y=0

Also, is there any benefit using a PCIe 3.0 GPU?
HD 7770 GHz EditionXFX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150599

 

[Dangman]

Is there a difference in the 5 M4 SSD's?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=Crucial+128+GB+M4&x=0&y=0

Small differences really. Just go for the one with the most amount of Newegg reviews or the cheapest one or both.

Also, is there any benefit using a PCIe 3.0 GPU?
HD 7770 GHz EditionXFX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150599

Based on interface alone, no.

 

[pvcrisp]

I just wanted to say my system is up and running great except for one thing, I really wish I would have stuck with my original choice for the PSU.

I went ahead and bought the recommended one, a Corsair TX650 V2 and this thing is LOUD. I have never had a PSU come even close to this in terms of noise. Doing some research, many people are having this problem with this unit, and Corsair just says to RMA it, but the replacement unit is just as loud.

Please stay away from this PSU.

 

[E4g1e]

I just wanted to say my system is up and running great except for one thing, I really wish I would have stuck with my original choice for the PSU.

For that matter, stay away from your original choice of that OCZ PSU: It cannot handle the full 700W in realistic operating temperatures of close to 50°C (at least not without causing severe damage to some or all PC components even if that PSU does not shut itself off or blow itself up). In fact, its maximum practical handling capacity in such conditions is only around 550W unless you want to risk destroying some or all of the components of your build in just days or even minutes. And even at 550W, the ripple out of that OCZ PSU is already at or above the maximum that's allowed by the official ATX+12V spec. This is because the ModXStream Pro is based on a not-so-good (read: mediocre at best) Sirfa platform that really isn't designed to output more than 500W to begin with. OCZ is one of those brands that actually cheat on their low-to-mid-level PSUs by rating them at a lower-than-realistic operating temperature (inside the PSU itself, not ambient temperature) - in this case, OCZ rates the maximum power capacity of its ModXStream Pro line at an internal PSU temperature of only 40°C whereas most good brands use a temperature of a much more realistic 50°C to rate the maximum continuous wattage of their PSUs. And what OCZ failed to tell consumers is that the maximum power capacity of their PSUs drops significantly when the PSU operating temperature is raised by even 10°C above the temperature they used for rating maximum capacity. (Thus, if OCZ is one of the cheaters in the mid-level PSU rating game, a few off brands and budget brands flat-out lie about their maximum wattages.)

As for the TX650v2, the loud, noisy fan is not part of Seasonic's decision to put that fan in - but rather it was Corsair's decision to tell Seasonic to put that fan in. The bearings used in that particular fan are of low quality.

 

[pvcrisp]

That is some good information, thank you.

 

[AP514]

can always change the FAN on PSU out but that will kill the warranty