i5 2500k build help

[hig_gins]

Just wanting a hand deciding on parts for my new build please. Going to be using the desktop for everything from gaming to downloading and watching hd movies on aswell. Really looking forward to a much needed upgrade.

Already got a nxt phantom gaming case with a i5 2500k cpu and a noctua nh d14 heat sink so basically just need a mobo, psu, ram and gpu and have £350 left to spend on them now.

I ideally want a z68 type mobo under £100 ideally that has an easy overclocking feature because ive not overclocked before but ive heard its easy on sandy bridge and Im going to try my best to get the cpu to 4.5 ghz (a lottery I know haha.) I also wanted to be able to use SLI or crossfire if i want to upgrade to two gpus in time.

Was looking at 8gb ripjaws x ram at 1600 but open to suggestions.

totally undecieded on the psu but wanted a modular supply ideally around 600w ideally and didn't want to spend too much.

For the graphics card any ideas with the remaining money I know the 560 ti has been highly recommended by a friend if i could afford it.

Any build suggestions or advice welcome , thank you.

 

[Jujumonkey]

Under 100 quit for a z68 limits your choice quite a bit, but i've seen the Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 Z68 for just under 80 quid and its had some good reviews. as for overclocking it i have no idea how easy it would be sorry. I've had an urge to build a 2500k machine myself but to go small form factor with a Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z Gen 3 Z68 for 129 quid and a Silverstone TJ08B-E Black MicroATX Tower for 79 quid

 

[PetrolHead247]

For a mobo i'd go for an ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3, it's £109 but i'd say it's well worth that extra £9 over £100.

Your RAM you've chosen is perfect so no problems there.

A modular PSU around 600W, go for a Corsair TX650M or HX650, or alternatively you could opt for one of the Be Quiet modular units. Seasonic are good too but a tad pricey.

What GPU you get rests on how much money you have left, something like a 7870 would be great if you have enough money for one. 560Ti is a solid card too and prices should drop due to the new Nvidia stuff (believed to be the GTX680) releasing soonish and the recent AMD 7xxx stuff too.

 

[yassarikhan786]

I agree with PetrolHead

 

[hig_gins]

The corsair psu looks good although I hate spending so such on something I can't see haha! Ive been looking at the ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 but ive seen a through threads about it being a poor overclocker, I don't know if anyone can give me any advice or experience on that. Or if anyone has any other suggestions at around same price. cheers.

 

[PetrolHead247]

No idea who said the ASRock boards are poor overclockers, the Extreme3 is a fantastic board and overclocks very well. Imo its one of the best value for money boards for sale right now. As for the PSU, you really don't want to cheap out on it. The Corsair units are super reliable and are well worth it.

 

[Dinoslawski]

http://www.overclock.net/t/1106486/asrock-z68-extreme3-does-not-overclock-at-all/50

 

[hig_gins]

Thanks for that link, I thought a few people were struggling to o/c with them boards. Anyone suggest on other mobos? I could up the budget to £150 if people would recommend spending the extra £50? any ideas?

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

Why did you buy a huge case? You'd of been better off building an mATX or ITX rig at that price point.

Get a 7950 for gaming and save up to buy a better board etc later or if you really can't wait get a 560Ti 448 or something but you really are limited by a really silly margin unless you save up just a little more.

 

[hig_gins]

I got the case off a friend unused. What would you suggest if I did spend a little more?

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

I got the case off a friend unused. What would you suggest if I did spend a little more?

Well you may aswell use the case now seen as you've got it, http://www.ebuyer.co...-atx-p8z68-v-lx for the board (on your budget), http://www.ebuyer.co...x7950-3gbd5-2dh GPU, http://www.ebuyer.co...su-ocz750fty-un OR http://www.ebuyer.co...cmpsu-650txv2uk OR http://www.ebuyer.co...e-ocz-zs650w-uk PSU, as for RAM I'd suggest go with 2x 2GB really fast sticks, you don't need 8GB for gaming really, but dual channel you will.

 

[hig_gins]

Thats good advice with the mobo was looking at the reviews and seems good value and has some good overclocking benchmarks. It was either that or the Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3. How fast would you suggest the ram be? The ones I was looking at were 1600mhz.

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

Thats good advice with the mobo was looking at the reviews and seems good value and has some good overclocking benchmarks. It was either that or the Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3. How fast would you suggest the ram be? The ones I was looking at were 1600mhz.

2133Mhz @CL11 overclocked to CL10 would be good. Like I say only 4GB across two sticks ideally because some games play really poorly in single channel.

If the 7950 is overkill for you then a 7870 has similar performance but not as much overhead

 

[PetrolHead247]

Anything above 1600MHz on Sandy Bridge doesn't yield any performance gains apart from in certain benchmarks. 1600MHz is the sweet spot for SB.

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

Anything above 1600MHz on Sandy Bridge doesn't yield any performance gains apart from in certain benchmarks. 1600MHz is the sweet spot for SB.

Depends what the rest of the chipset is at. If the rest of the board is left at stock ofcourse megafast RAM is useless.

I read that the board chipset should always be 3x the datarate (half RAM frequency) and has always worked a treat so by getting faster RAM you get more overhead for QPI/ CPUNB frequency effect, whatever it is called on SB.

 

[PetrolHead247]

Depends what the rest of the chipset is at. If the rest of the board is left at stock ofcourse megafast RAM is useless.

Although saying that buying faster RAM would be more future proof. Ivy Bridge is bound to benefit more from faster RAM, so faster RAM could come in use down the line i suppose.

 

[GussetPimp25]

In regards to the asrock mobo, I've managed to get 4.8 ghz out of mine before my cpu cooler packed up, its quite a solid overclocker i'm still using the stock bios and managed to get those speeds stable, just thought id chuck it out there

 

[garih]

i have the asrock mobo also. it may be down to me being new to overclocking, but i cant get mine to boot win7 at over 4.3ghz. maybe i just dont know what im doin, or maybe i just lost the silicone lotto, either way. at 4.3ghz its a bloody quick system

 

[Darklight1990]

Thanks for that link, I thought a few people were struggling to o/c with them boards. Anyone suggest on other mobos? I could up the budget to £150 if people would recommend spending the extra £50? any ideas?

Personally on your budget i'd go for this : Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 Motherboard its £138.99 on Amazon.co.uk and Asus do good stuff and its the pro version so you get a few bells and whisltes for you money, don't know what its like to OC but on Asus stuff its usually pretty easy by all accounts.