Build check please

[Audigex]

Hi guys

Just looking for a quick check over this build for a mate - any incompatibilities/problems or cheaper/same price better options. I'm at the budget limit so I can't go more expensive (other than a couple of quid), but I don't mind going for one cheaper component to make another more expensive.

Usage is mainly gaming, but general quick performance too. He's not into insane framerates or perfect graphics, nor video encoding etc. Rome 2: Total War is the game to bear in mind - I'd like it to run as well on Rome 2 as possible.

I'd rather keep quad core if possible, but if it would give a significantly better gaming experience then I'm open to dropping to a faster dual core and spending the difference on the graphics card. The CPU needs to be able to keep up for a few years though - he'd be happier replacing the graphics card than the CPU+Motherboard.
Any suggestions?

 

[Audigex]

Thanks - I hadn't spotted the ivybridge vs sandybridge thing (They're compatible but may need firmware updates etc? Not something he'll want to be messing about with). I'm guessing that a higher clock dual core is better for MOST games (although not all) than a lower speed quad? It was true last time I built a PC, but I wasn't sure what the state of the nation was now. Either way, £50 for quad can probably be better spent on a better GPU, or to bring it down to the £500 he originally wanted to spend.

Conveniently I've got a 460 lying around doing nothing, I didn't realise it was still better than a low-mid range current gen so it didn't occur to me. I'll give him the option of the new one or my old one for the same price, and he can decide whether the warranty is more important than the extra speed.

I'll keep an eye on the case, but he'll probably be ordering in the next day or so, so may have to just use the one I posted above.

Thanks again. I'll mention the quad core and GPU to him, and give him a couple of options

 

[Audigex]

We don't know what 460 he has, if I was buying one 2nd hand I'd want the 1GB version and avoid the 768Mb and the SE versions.

Yes we do it's in my sig and is the 768mb version which puts it pretty much on a par with the 7770 as far as I know
"Asus GTX 460 768mb"

He's going to go for a new 7770 1GB instead. CUDA isn't much use to him and he'd rather have a new card since there's not as significant a difference. If it turns out the i3 is stunted on Company of Heroes or Rome 2, he can sell the i3 and get an i5 later, and I think the GPU should do what he wants it to do. Thanks again