Computer Build Resource Thread - Page 1325

I really wouldn't recommend a 3570k unless you are willing to delid the cpu. the 3570k, as I understand it, actually overclocks farther and cooler than the sb, but you have to delid it (cut the IHS off using a razor blade and rub off the IHS glue, there's a gap because of the glue that causes IB's high temps at higher volts, but replacing the TIM will help you out even more). If you don't delid, you can get a SB that will overclock further than a non-delidded IB, which will even the 2 CPUs out. Plus, the cost.

I mean it's a $40 price premium for IB, generally, vendor to vendor. IB is maybe 5% better in applications, so assuming a moderate overclock of 4.8ghz on SB/ 4.5ghz on IB, that's 300 mhz - 240mhz = 60mhz for $40. Now, if your willing to delid the IB, that's a full 240mhz just equal overclocks, and given that IB overclocks higher than SB once delidded, your looking at 300-400+ mhz for $40, which is actually worthwhile (5ghz ib, or rather 200mhz higher overclock relatively, + 200-300mhz just for clock for clock performance).

My point here, is that if your willing to delid, you should have the technical know-how and expertise to buy a z68 motherboard, and make things work (swap out bios, buy it used with the newest bios already, whatever). If you aren't tech savvy enough or comfortable enough to delid, frankly, you should buy a sandy bridge CPU for way less, and then a p67/z68 motherboard for basically 1/4th the cost of a z77.

I mean your paying $80+ for your G41, and it's a piece of shit motherboard. Generally VRMs aren't a huge issue on p67/z68/z77 motherboards because they are usually so expensive that they come with good VRMs, but a 4+1 unheatsinked phase with shitty quality nikos mosfets? Your overclocks are gonna be unstable and low on such a board (although that doesnt matter, you cant even overvolt, but i still would question overclocking on a 4+1 phase).

Avoid the G41 and G43. I think for MSI you gotta go at least 55 for an okay motherboard, and even the 55 is crap in terms of features.

You don't need 2GB of VRAM with sc2. If you plan to play other games, whatever. You would be hard pressed to go past 1gb on sc2.

I'd recommend against the Hyper 212 evo. It's just a lapped hyper 212+, basically, with a louder and stronger fan. You can buy a Hyper 212+ (which tend to be on better sales and discounts, by the way) and then 1.5g of PK-3 thermal paste, and get better temps than using the Hyper 212 Evo, and it'll be quieter. You can even afford a decent fan for the price difference, on top of $4 thermal paste (that includes shipping by the way), so you have push/pull 212+ w/ high grade thermal paste (that you can use on your GPU and on future builds) for the same price as the Evo, and, you can lap the 212+ to get that 1-3*C difference of the 212+ vs Evo.

There's also a ton of closed loop 120mm radiators going for really good deals now too, that'd I'd strongly recommend over the Hyper 212+/Evo as a budget cooler. I mean if you only got $20, get the Hyper 212+. If you go the money (and you do if your going for an evo...), then get a closed loop. It all depends on the price, but basically:

H60=Antec Kuhler 620
> H55=H50 w/smooth tubes (which is what the h55 is, sometimes its sold as updated h50)
> H50 w/corrugated tubes
> H70 (piece of shit cooler with 2 loud and shitty fans stock so it performs better at stock but apples for apples its worse and the 2 fans it comes with are so terrible you wouldnt want them free even, or just better to use as case fans).

You can find such coolers for around $39 new now, and you can find a used H50 for $20 on ebay right now, same price as a hyper 212+.

You can also find good deals on the NH-D14/K2/Assassin right now too, for around $50. If your getting an SB/IB, it's definitely worth getting to push a further overclock, and will really lengthen the life and overclock of your CPU. They'll give a good 20*C+ over the hyper 212 and 10-15+ over closed loops.

Do you really need 1TB of a HDD? I'd recommend with an sb/ib build you look into getting an ssd. if you need 1tb, you need 1tb, but you can get a really, really good deal on some 64-128GB ssds for around $100 or less right now. If you dont use more than 50gb of HDD (w7 64bit ultimate with a bunch of smaller programs, office, and HOTS will come to around 50gb, not sure if you play other games) then consider an SSD for the same price.

16gb of RAM is way too much. There's no reason to need more than 4GB unless you do video editing or flash. Shaving $40 off your build and another $20 somewhere else could get you an SSD for $60, new.

If your on budget and really have to get a Z77, I'd recommend the asrock Pro 3. But I really wouldn't recommend z77 over z68 these days. Buy a z68, and figure out the bios problem for $50-100 savings, basically. I'd say it's worth $50-100 to simply buy a $10 bios chip and swap it in. many companies, like NCIX, are selling their p67/z68s for really cheap these days.