Build Advice Coming back to desktop gaming! Help me with my build!

Ok, I think I'm locked onto the Intel 3570k (unless there is a better suggestion)

Suggestions on a motherboard? I want to spend around 180, was looking at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131806

Seems like the 7950 might better suit me since the drivers are more established and can be OC'ed. Thought seems like the 660TI is on par with it...

For the 7950, brand...I hear from above HIS is good, and my friend loves his xfx...any thoughts on the best brand?

 

Great motherboard, highly recommended. HIS, Sapphire, along with a few others, just find one with a decent cooler, decent warranty and good customer support. For me in the UK and nvidia that is MSI. If i was to buy ATI it would be sapphire or HIS (but then thats because XFX customer service in the UK is shocking)

 

Ooops, just realized it's mATX...not my bag I may have to add more cards later...

 

Mobo suggestions for 1155?

 

Just bought my friend a P8Z77-V Pro, excellent motherboard. Don't be put off by the MATX though..that Gene is a great motherboard.

 

Thoughts on: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131820

ASUS P8Z77-V LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Also been pointed at
ASUS Maximus V FORMULA LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Extended ATX Intel Motherboard

I'm told the lucid technology gives you more FPS in games, this true?

 

Just as an update I ended up with the items in my updated signature and I could not be happier. I get full 7.9 WI, 3D mark scores are amazing and all my games run like butter on highest settings. I cannot believe how gimped my laptop was.

Thanks as always for the help and info.

 

That is a really excellent well-rounded build.

The one thing I would say is don't underestimate how much dormant performance there is in that 7950. If you are willing to overclock, given the general results I have read on the web, I would be pretty confident that you would to be able to increase the core clock to 1000MHz (or even 1050MHz) from 800MHz using stock voltages. This 25% extra clock speed should yield almost linear improvement in games, probably >20% FPS.

Even without overclocking, it's still a beast of a card.

 

The 7950 is a black edition which comes at 900 mhz, I'm going to let her break in before I play around. With Virtu MVP on the motherboard I have gained about 30% increase in games, even with out that enabled my games run at a steady 60 fps or more.

Tried so far on max settings and achieved 60 or more fps
Sleeping Dogs, Diablo III, CS Go (16aa)

I'm not sure if i'll bother over clocking yet, but with a cosair H100 it would be silly not to push it a little