Advice for a new PC

[Norgy]

I'm just trying to triangulate on a CPU that's going to perform well enough to run intensive games. From what I read, Intel tends to have better performance. Insane number of cores is probably not necessary as most games don't benefit from it atm, 4 cores should be more than enough?

My monitor's resolution is 1920x1200, so that's what I'm aiming for. Mainly I want enough power and VRAM to run games on high settings and/or with graphics mods (e.g. Skyrim with plenty of texture mods).

My price range is around €800-900 (though I can go a tad higher if it's gets me a performance increase at reasonable ratio). This includes case, CPU, GPU, motherboard, hard disks and a PSU; already have a monitor.

I run Skyrim with lots of graphics mods, and have a gtx 780 (not the Ti kind), and it barely breaks sweat. A 770 with a nice factory overclock and a custom cooler is more than enough.
As for the i7 4770k, it creates a lot of heat. I would seriously consider closed-loop water-cooling for it. I use the Corsair h100i.

These comparisions are helpful:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

CPUs:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

As you can see, AMD offers decent value vs performance, but I would stick with Intel.

[Norgy]

Why a 3550P over a 4770K?

How useful would a i7-4770K would be compared to, say, i5-4670K?

In games? Not even noticeable.
The I5s like 2500k and 3570k have performed better than their big brother previously.

SSD recommendations:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-recommendation-benchmark,3269.html

Motherboards, well, I would go for this one if you go down the Intel route:
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z87A/

ASRock offers some very good motherboards for across platforms too.

[Norgy]

I came up with these specs. Any comments?

GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 770 Twin Frozr IV Gaming OC 2048 MB
CPU: Intel Core i5 4670K 3.4 GHz LGA1150
Mobo: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming OR Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H (not sure yet which)
RAM: 2x Kingston Valueram 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2 TB 64 MB 7200 RPM 3.5" SATA III (6 Gb/s)
SSD: Samsung 840 EVO SSD 120 GB 2.5" SATA3
PSU: Fractal Design Tesla R2 650W, 80 PLUS Gold
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha ATX

Good GPU, great CPU, unsure about the mobos, and get more RAM. Two sticks of 8 GB at higher clockrates. SSD is great, but 120 GB fills up fast even just with OS. Of course, this will probably break your budget. 

[Solmyr]

SSD is great, but 120 GB fills up fast even just with OS.

My current Windows 7 folder is 34,5 GB.

Thanks for the other advice.

[Grey Fox]

Why so cheap of a case?

It's a nice case, I own one but you are putting pretty awesome hardware into a 1988 Chevelle.

[Solmyr]

It had good reviews, and does the price of a case really matter if it has all the important bits?

Btw, as an alternative GPU I'm considering Palit GeForce GTX 770, apparently it has factory overclocking and three fans.

[Grey Fox]

I find it flimsy & I was very disappointed by what passes has Fan mounts on the case.

[viper37]

Mobo: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming OR Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H (not sure yet which)

Pick the one wich has a return facility in your country, ideally, if you need to send it back under warranty.

[viper37]

SSD is great, but 120 GB fills up fast even just with OS.

My current Windows 7 folder is 34,5 GB.

Thanks for the other advice.

If you go the Windows 8 way, it is bigger, and all Windows 8 apps are installed on the C drive, no way to move them elsewhere without breaking something.

[viper37]

For your SSD, I'd recommend either the OCZ Vertex 460 240gb or the Samsung Evo 250gb, depending on the price, pick the cheaper one.

[viper37]

It had good reviews, and does the price of a case really matter if it has all the important bits?

My own case is similar to this one:
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002073

I love having the USB slots on top of the case, and it has great ventilation.

[Solmyr]

My own case is similar to this one:
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002073

I love having the USB slots on top of the case, and it has great ventilation.

Does this one include a PSU?

Also, anyone have experience with the Palit GeForce? This one gives a good review: http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/55865-palit-geforce-gtx-770-jetstream/

[sbr]

I bought a 120GB SSD a year ago and now wish I had bought a bigger one.

[Norgy]

My own case is similar to this one:
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002073

I love having the USB slots on top of the case, and it has great ventilation.

Does this one include a PSU?

Also, anyone have experience with the Palit GeForce? This one gives a good review: http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/55865-palit-geforce-gtx-770-jetstream/

Palit generally makes great cards according to reviewers, but I have no experience. Check out their warranties. I have used MSI, Sapphire, eVGA and Asus myself, and I like the warranty on eVGA's cards, but the coolers have been better on the others.

As for cases, I'd say Fractal Design make some great ones.

[viper37]

My own case is similar to this one:
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002073

I love having the USB slots on top of the case, and it has great ventilation.

Does this one include a PSU?

Also, anyone have experience with the Palit GeForce? This one gives a good review: http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/55865-palit-geforce-gtx-770-jetstream/

One of their model includes a PSU, but most other don't.  If you're looking for a seperate PSU, I'd recommend Antec True Power Gold, 650w.