So I'm getting 2500 bonus for my next paycheck, figured it would be a fine time to get a newer computer, I'm looking to budget around 1500 dollars and debating on doing dual cards.

Any input would be awesome, I'm looking at i7 or i5 or as well, since there aren't much of difference to my knowledge.

Well it depends are you looking at an entire new setup (keyboard, mouse, monitor hardrive, Dvd drive etc)?
Or are you looking to keep some of the usable components like the case, Dvd drive, mouse, hardrive etc?

I got the monitor, keyboard, mouse, dvd drive covered as I'm going to pick those up in retail. I'm talking about PC itself including case, cooling fan, all that jazz. I'm just clueless of what to get.

Well with a budget like that you have numerous options keep in mind prices are always changing so my build comes out at around $1670 But this could fluctuate depending on neweggs weekly sales or offers

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119213
Power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817171055 (this Psu has more than enough juice to allow for upgrading to Sli and pretty much anything else you could need, A strong Psu is Recommended in this build)
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128558
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115095 (its the core i7 whats not to love?)
Memory/ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820220710 (I chose to have 16Gb on 2 sticks, However you could get 8Gb and still be set for today, also you can get 4gb sticks and shave some more if you like, Just make sure you get atleast 8Gb at ddr3 1866 speed, you have alot of options)
Graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130797 (this card can easily max ANY game on 1080P)
Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820167121 (I recommend using your current hard drive as a secondary storage drive and using this drive as your primary Os Drive, Keep it clean and only install the O's and its drivers, Use the secondary drive to store your games, music ,etc)
OPTIONAL CPU cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835608018 (I only including this if you plan on doing some heavy overclocking, if your plan is to run at stock speeds or with a minor overclock the stock heat sink should be fine)

Im am also assuming your going to reuse your old dvd drive If not they can be bought locally for around 25-30 bucks


This build as of now totals out to $1670 with the cpu cooler, I could find ways to shave 200 or 300 off this build if need be, but let me know what you think.

Looking good, I will see if I can find cheaper deals on those pieces.

I'm planning to attempt to do sli for this time around.

Well if you go with the Gtx 680 you will have no need for at least a few years
If your going to do sli, I would go with Dual gtx 660 Ti cards but I think its actually more money to go that route

Im currently in the works of building another PC.
Go with the GTX680. It will last you a years at the top without changing a thing.
I like everything else tho.

Word of advice, if you use that Noctua CPU cooler you can't use that RAM. You have to use low profile ram because that cooler is a beast and it will go over two of your RAM slots and anything with heat sinks won't fit. That set up is almost exactly mine except I went with a Asus Z77 Motherboard and a Cooler Master Scout case for the handle. I also bought the 4 gig version of that video card.

Wouldn't recommend an SLI setup.

Just sayin'. I mean, why pay for something you're not really going to need? Just get a high-end video card.

For my e-dick size obv.

Having to read about that, I think I will just stick with one high end card.

I would save the cash and get an amd 7970 and a cheaper psu, no reason to drop 240 on a power supply when you can get just as good of one for 170 bux.

I would also go ahead and get ivy bridge instead of a sandy bridge cpu. Or if I am honest, I would wait for haswell since intel is about to switch sockets again.

I would probably also go with the new samsung 840 SSD, may as well get the new hotness.

One thing I have learned about buying a computer is that "waiting" for the next best thing will have you waiting forever! They are always coming out with something new few months down the road, just buy the best for what you can afford now and leave yourself room to upgrade later.