Would be my first build, so I'm completely open to suggestions and whatnot. Looking to keep it below $1300.
And feel free to suggest some different cases as I'm not 100% on anything.

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($235.00 @ Scorptec)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($39.00 @ Scorptec)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-V LX ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($129.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($109.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Hard Drive: Corsair Force Series 60GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($119.00 @ Scorptec)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 6950 2GB Video Card ($333.30 @ Mwave Australia)
Case: Lian-Li LanCool PC-K57 ATX Mid Tower Case ($105.00 @ Scorptec)
Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($115.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222AB DVD/CD Writer ($22.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Total: $1261.30
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-01-16 15:25 EST+1100)

Looks good, would swap motherboard to the p8z68-v gen3 and gpu to nvidia, asus 560ti or 570.

case is ugly, get corsair 500r/600t/650 etc

Looks like you have actually done some research....

If you ever think of upgrading to a second GPU i would consider getting a bigger PSU (850W)

400R was my 1st choice, and now thinking about it, it's not even that much more expensive.
Best compliment a consolefag can get I don't think I'd be doing that for a while, is it worth getting the bigger PSU now or just upgrading?

mose well do it the ritght way the first time, get 850 just for room for the future incase, more gpu's, more hdd etc

Can I drop some cash anywhere? How's this looking.


Edited once, 16/1/12 - 4:17pm.

if you are not planning on overclocking, i'd say dont bother with the aftermarket cooler, the rest looks good

also if you go to cpl you can get a 60gb OCZ agility SSD for $105

plus you can get a coolermaster silent modular 700W psu for $129

Edited twice, last edited 16/1/12 - 4:32pm.

Two HD7970s in Crossfire plus a Core i7-3960X can't break 500W under load without overclocking. You do not need an 850W power supply.

So back to the 650? $60 less

yer a any silverstone strider psu

If you've got an old computer that you've been using you can take the dvd drive out of that which would save you 20 bucks but it depends on how stingy you want to be

CPU: i5-2400 or i5-2500, you dont need the K, nor do you need to OC
CPU Cooler: dont need one, ur not OC-ing anyway
Motherboard: board is fine
Memory: ram is fine
Hard Drive: hard drive is fine
Hard Drive: as long as you setup your stuff right 60gb is enough, 120gb is better for running apps etc from as well
Video Card: gtx560/ gtx570
Case: the lian li's are nice, so are corsair 400r/500r, as well as bitfenix shinobi's etc in the sub $100 category
Power Supply: nothing wrong with the 650w, you wont need more than that, consider these too for that price [FSP Aurum Series 650W Modular Power Supply]
Optical Drive: optical is fine
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.) you wont get discounts from scorptec/pccg etc

also note this

CASE: Bitfenix Shinobi
PSU: FSP Aurum Gold 650w
MOBO: Asus P8Z68-V-LX
CPU: Intel core i5-2400
RAM: Corsair Vengeance8gb 1600mhz
HDD1: Corsair Force 3 60gb
HDD: Seagate barracuda 1Tb
ODD: OEM 24x DVDrw
GPU: Palit/Gainward/Inno3d GTX-570 1280Mb
OS: MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

should be around 1300, would be a lot nicer

This is how my 'final' decision looks. Decided to not bother with OCing as Karma suggested.

looks good

just drop that mobo back to a Z68-V LX or LE