Looking at input for a PC upgrade I'm doing

[ChopperX]

So I have had my existing machine for 4 years now which I custom built myself. Has some nice hardware inside too. I'm actually in the process of doing a PC parts upgrade to make my PC future proof for another 4 years. I would like to share with you what I already have and what I am looking at getting in the near future to finish this build.

I already bought the following.
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro Motherboard
Intel Core i5 3570k Ivy Bridge CPU

The parts I already have which are being migrated from my existing PC are:
WD 320GB 7200rpm HDD
Pioneer DVD Burner
EVGA GTX570 Graphics Card
Corsair 620w Modular PSU

Here is what I will be looking at the buy soon:
Corsair Force GT 120GB SSD
16GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM

So for ram I have been looking at Kingston HyperX and Mushkin. I have had good experience with HyperX ram but right now prices are over $100. I came across Mushkin for the price and the fact they are made in the USA and have a lifetime warranty. So what do you guys think about the ram choices.

For the SSD im pretty sold on the Force GT. I saw the performance benchmarks and they are quite good compared to others out there.

So what are your thoughts. Please don't reply by bashing brands and stuff. I'm just looking for some constructive responses. Thanks everyone!

[Merc1138]

What? Mushkin RAM isn't made in the US, no RAM is. Maybe the heatspreader, but the memory itself is not. Corsair vengeance 1600 is another option.

The Corsair Force GT uses the sandforce controller, SSDs based off of those controllers don't exactly have the best reputation but that's mostly due to OCZ using crap NAND modules with the sandforce controller. Just keep in mind that when you're looking at SSD benchmarks, that the sandforce based SSDs "cheat" on zero-fill tests by using compression. Their real world performance is on par with idlinx and marvell controller based SSDs.

[ChopperX]

Oh well thanks for clarifying that for me. Any SSD brand recommendations?

[Merc1138]

OCZ and Kingston are the only SSD brands I'd really look to avoid(other than the random no-name brands). Mushkin, Sandisk(recently with their SATA III models), Crucial, Corsair, etc. tend to be solid.

[ChopperX]

Alright. Any word of Patriot?

[Autarchist]

After reading lots of reviews and such, I ultimately ordered one of these for my laptop and love it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W2JKWG

[Brianguy]

Crucial seems to have the best reviews on their ssd. I bought a samsung 830 and its been doin just fine.

[KaHuNaZ]

I had been lucky with ocz in the past, but I switched over to the Crucial M4 last year and it has been great so far. SSD prices are dropping like crazy lately, so now would be a good time to try an SSD if you've been on the fence about it due to costs.

[Turo]

It looks like you've got a pretty solid machine. Mind sharing what your intended use is? Gaming? Video/media editing? Etc?

I was going to say that with the SSD you might want to get a bigger storage drive, but since you already have the 320GB it's probably not worth buying a new one.

Good luck!

[ChopperX]

It looks like you've got a pretty solid machine. Mind sharing what your intended use is? Gaming? Video/media editing? Etc?

I was going to say that with the SSD you might want to get a bigger storage drive, but since you already have the 320GB it's probably not worth buying a new one.

Good luck!

Well it's mainly going to be my gaming PC but I am also going to use it for my adobe applications. Yea I wanted an SSD and ill upgrade the HDD later on if needed.

[kablooie]

i originally bought corsair from microcenter in tusin which was cheap ~$35 after rebate. however the specs are not great.... it is ddr3 1600 but 1.65v forgot what the cas #s were. someone turned me on to these http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electr...6577605&sr=8-1
the reviews are astounding. taking the corsairs back and already ordered the samsungs for my new build (asus p8z68 vlx, 2500k, lian li k63 case, hyper 212 cooler, radeon 6670, ocz 600 PS, 64gb crucial m4 ssd, etc).

[JDay]

I'd go with this SSD instead, it's much faster and a bit cheaper too. I've seen the 256GB version on sale for $199 lately, Amazon has it for $234.99 right now (wish it was that cheap when I paid $310 for my 256GB Samsung 830 last month). Crucial also makes some pretty good RAM, they're one of the few suppliers the OEMs use.

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-2-5-Inch-Solid-State-CT256M4SSD2/dp/B004W2JL2A/

What? Mushkin RAM isn't made in the US, no RAM is.

Crucial (Micron) still makes RAM in the US. They're the only company that still does.