Opinions: $1100 build. Worth it?

[SKT88]

So this is my first time choosing computer parts instead of going to FutureShop and buying something that is all bloated and isnt exactly what I want. Im just doing it from the Ncix website.
No brand real brand preference, no re-usable parts, no over-clocking. I am located in Canada and buying parts in Canada, Coquitlam area
Do all these parts work together?
Is the power supply sufficient?
Is there anything that I could get to replace something and save a bit of money?
I just want a computer that will be fast, and also play my Sims 3 game with all gameplay settings on High.
So it would be much appreciated if you guys could give me your input.

Also, for a cd/dvd drive...what is a good basic one for just burning cds and maybe playing movies?

$1247.10

UPDATE! Processor : Intel Core i5 2400 Quad Core Processor LGA1155 3.1GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB ($194)

UPDATE! Motherboard : ASUS P8P67-M Pro REV3.0 mATX P67 LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 USB3.0 Sandy Bridge B3... ($135)

UPDATE! Ram : Mushkin Enhanced Silverline Stiletto 4GB 2X2GB PC3-10666 DDR3-1333 9-9-9-24 Dual Chan... ($26)

UPDATE! Video card : Gigabyte GeForce GTX 550 Ti 970MHZ 1GB 4.2GHZ GDDR5 Dual DVI Mini-HDMI DX11 PCI-E Vid... ($124.99)

Computer Case : Compucase 6C28B ATX Case Black 4X5.25 2X3.5 4X.3.5INT W/ Front USB & Audio No PSU ($34) *

UPDATE! Power Supply :
XFX 550W PRO550W Core Edition Single Rail ATX 12V 44A 24PIN ATX Power Supply 80PLUS B... ($49.99)

Monitor : Samsung S20A300B 20IN Widescreen LED LCD Monitor Black 1600X900 5ms 1000:1 DVI VGA ($140)

Operating System : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT DVD OEM ($116) *

Accounting & Office : Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Student English 32/64BIT Medialess Product Key Card No... ($120)

Hard Drive : Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 7200.12 1TB SATA 32MB Cache 3.5IN Internal Hard Drive ... ($60)

Keyboard : Logitech K750 Wireless Cordless Solar Powered Low Profile Thin Keyboard ($75)

Mouse : Logitech M505 Wireless Cordless Ergonomic Laser Mouse - 3 Year Battery - Black ($60)

Do you think that this Custom PC build will run better, the same, or worse as this IMac??
Are the 2 graphics cards extremely different for playing Sims 3 on highest gameplay settings?

Processor 3.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor
Cache 4MB fully shared L3 cache
Memory 4GB (two 2GB SO-DIMMs) of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; supports up to 16GB
Hard drive 1TB Serial ATA1; 7200 rpm
Optical drive Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer burning (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Display 21.5-inch (viewable) LED-backlit glossy 16:9 widescreen TFT active-matrix display; 1920 by 1080 pixels; millions of colors; IPS technology
Video Built-in iSight camera; Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, dual-link DVI, and VGA video (requires adapters, sold separately)
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB of GDDR3 memory
FireWire One FireWire 800 port; 7 watts
USB Four USB 2.0 ports
SD Card SDXC card slot
Audio Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17-watt high-efficiency amplifiers, built-in microphone, optical digital audio output/headphone out, optical digital audio input/audio line in
Ethernet Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit)
Wireless Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking2 ; built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
Included accessories Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse
Other Built-in IR receiver
Size and weight Height: 17.75 inches (45.1 cm)
Width: 20.8 inches (52.8 cm)
Depth: 7.42 inches (18.85 cm)
Weight: 20.5 pounds (9.3 kg) 3

[ultraman7k]

you will want to find a different motherboard as the one you selected is an AMD socket.

You will want one that is LGA1155 compatible, or you may decide to the AMD processor route?

[SKT88]

Would this work? Is it good?
ASUS P8P67-M Pro REV3.0 mATX P67 LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 USB3.0 Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard

[stoanee]

To start with you have picked out an Intel processor and an AMD mobo. They are not compatible.

Personally I would go with a different case, maybe something like this:
\NCIX.com - Buy Coolermaster Elite 370 Black Mid Tower ATX Case 3X5.25 1X3.5 5X3.5INT No PS - COOLERMASTER - RC-370-KKN1 - in Canada

[SKT88]

Or would this be better?
Intel BOXDH61CRB3 mATX H61 LGA1155 DDR3 Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard

N thank u for the input

[techman95]

no that p67 one is better. but on this budget i would suggest going amd, for us less financially savy gamers they bring alot to the table specifically the six cores. i just picked one up to replace my first phenom and i love it. plus you can get more out of it than that budget i5 that cant be over clocked or any thing. and another note is find a different psu cooler master psus are a no go ever.

[hal314]

Unless you really like the idea of nice keyboards, I would save the cash and get a cheap keyboard and mouse. I personally have an under $20 mouse and under $20 keyboard. They work fine, for all I do. (Surfing, Starcraft II single player or vs. AI, single player FPS)

Asus is a good name for mobos, so long as your mobo supports your CPU it's all good.

It may also be worth upgrading the power supply. Unlike other components, a bad PSU can take other components with it if it fails, so a PSU is a terrible thing to cheap out on. A first guess at quality is to look for an 80+ rating, (or 80+ Bronze, Silver or even Gold). I think 550W would be fine for your build. I have an i5 2500K and 6870 (next step up or maybe on level with the 550) and a 600W PSU with no issues.
ex (the PSU I have):
NCIX.com - Buy Corsair Gaming Series CMPSU-600G 600W ATX Power Supply Active PFC 140MM Fan *3 Year Wrty* - Corsair - CMPSU-600G - in Canada

[PerryC]

Use Shoptbot or another pricing comparison site to get the best price you can, then price match everything at NCIX.

Buy Intel [BX80623I52300] Intel Core i5 2300 Quad Core Processor LGA1155 2.8GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB $179.09 until 16 Oct

ASUS P8H67-M PRO/CSM REV3.0 H67 mATX LGA1155 2PCI-E16 2PCI HDMI DVI Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard - DirectCanada $109.69, not a P67 board, but will be fine for what you are looking for.

NCIX.com - Buy Kingston ValueRAM KVR1333D3N9K2/4G PC3-10666 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1333 CL9 240PIN DIMM Memory Kit - Kingston - KVR1333D3N9K2/4G - in Canada $25.98, its a dual channel board, run two sticks of ram

ASUS GeForce GTX 550 Ti 910MHZ 1GB 4.1GHZ GDDR5 DVI HDMI VGA PCI-E Video Card - DirectCanada $128.32, but there are folks on these forums that will tell you the 550 cards aren't the greatest.

Coolermaster Elite 370 Black Mid Tower ATX Case 3X5.25 1X3.5 5X3.5INT No PS - DirectCanada $39.40, the same case Stoanee linked, but better quality than the one you had looked at.

NCIX.com - Buy Corsair Builder Series CMPSU-600CXV2 600W ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan *3 Year Wrty* - Corsair - CMPSU-600CXV2 - in Canada on sale for $54.99 for a couple more days at NCIX.

Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 7200.12 1TB SATA 32MB Cache 3.5IN Internal Hard Drive OEM - DirectCanada $49.69, lots of storage room for you.

NCIX.com - Buy Samsung S20A300B 20IN Widescreen LED LCD Monitor Black 1600X900 5ms 1000:1 DVI VGA - Samsung - LS20A300BSY/ZA - in Canada on sale for $114.99 for another couple of days.

Buy MICROSOFT [GFC-00599] Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64BIT DVD OEM $93.79 until 18 Oct

NCIX.com - Buy Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Student English 32/64BIT Medialess Product Key Card No DVD - Microsoft - 79G-02020 - in Canada $114.99 for a couple more days

Logitech K750 Wireless Cordless Solar Powered Low Profile Thin Keyboard - DirectCanada $73.34, not much of as difference but every bit helps.

Logitech M505 Wireless Cordless Ergonomic Laser Mouse - 3 Year Battery - Black - DirectCanada $42.30

Total 1026.57 no taxes or shipping

edit-- as has been suggested you could probably price a similair build for AMD and get slightly better performance. The mobo I suggested above was picked solely for the "budget" side of the house.

[Bond007]

I know you said its your first time doing this, but I would change most of the parts you selected. motherboard has to be changed (incompatible), faster processor for less, would get better RAM (its cheap now), video card is expensive for a 550, case and power supply aren't very good, ....


Anyway, this is all my opinion, but a real quick look through NCIX weekly sale I picked these without indepth research.

Case (HAF 912)

RAM (Mushkin silverline 2x4gb)

Windows 7 (on sale in weekly sales)

CPU (i5 2400)

GPU (gigabyte geforce 550)

PSU (xfx pro 550w)

Motherboard (gigbyte z58 )

Monitor (samsung 23inch HD monitor)

[SKT88]

Thank you all so much