$700 budget

[m0nk3ys1ms]

I have a $700 budget pretty much for a new box minus hard drives and an optical drive.

i5 3550 - $200
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007SZ0EJW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Gigabyte Z77 Board - $110
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R21JWC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Corsair 8GB RAM - $48
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004CRSM4I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

GTX 480 - $220
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EHWMP6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Corsair 600W - $62
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W2T2UQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Cooler Master Case - $70
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00336EM0W/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Total - $710

I know the GTX 480 is dated but it still outperforms anything in its price range, or even above it for that matter. I don't care if it's louder or uses more power. AFAIK, all the new AMD chips aren't worth bothering with. I thought about going with one to save some cash, but I don't want to get one if I can spend a bit more on a i5 and get loads better performance. I really want to spend as little as possible but I've talked myself up from a $600 budget to a $700 already today. Tbh, I almost pulled the trigger on a 3570k and a GTX 570, but I had to talk myself out of it.

Oh yeah, I'll likely be using my 23" 1080p monitor, so as long as I can play most new games comfortably at 1080p on high settings (most importantly Skyrim), I'll be satisfied.

Thoughts?

 

[tech savvy]

I have a $700 budget pretty much for a new box minus hard drives and an optical drive.

i5 3550 - $200
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007SZ0EJW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Gigabyte Z77 Board - $110
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R21JWC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Corsair 8GB RAM - $48
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004CRSM4I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

GTX 480 - $220
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EHWMP6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Corsair 600W - $62
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W2T2UQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Cooler Master Case - $70
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00336EM0W/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Total - $710

I know the GTX 480 is dated but it still outperforms anything in its price range, or even above it for that matter. I don't care if it's louder or uses more power. AFAIK, all the new AMD chips aren't worth bothering with. I thought about going with one to save some cash, but I don't want to get one if I can spend a bit more on a i5 and get loads better performance. I really want to spend as little as possible but I've talked myself up from a $600 budget to a $700 already today. Tbh, I almost pulled the trigger on a 3570k and a GTX 570, but I had to talk myself out of it.

Oh yeah, I'll likely be using my 23" 1080p monitor, so as long as I can play most new games comfortably at 1080p on high settings (most importantly Skyrim), I'll be satisfied.

Thoughts?

Like you stated, it's power hungery, and for that your CX600 PSU will not be enough to power that PC. It takes 600w and a 42amp rail to run that 480 which the Corsair CX600 doesnt supply. I recommend atleast a 750w with 60amp PSU for that rig, other then that it looks good. After market HSF?

EDIT: FYI, I would save the $30(min.) that would be needed for a better PSU(keep the CX600) and put it on top of $220 and get a 570, it would be well worth it.

So you got urself a dilemma here, Spend the extra $30 on a better PSU, or spend it on a better GPU?