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When using this resource, please read FragKrag's opening post. The Tech Support forum regulars have helped create countless of desktop systems without any compensation. The least you can do is provide all of the information required for them to help you properly. |
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What is your budget?
600$
What is your resolution?
1280x 768
What are you using it for?
SC2 - Anything that plays SC2 on medium smoothly is fine.
What is your upgrade cycle?
3-4 years
When do you plan on building it?
Within the month
Do you plan on overclocking?
No
Do you need an Operating System?
Yes
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
No
Where are you buying your parts from?
Have a Fry's nearby. Also can buy from newegg and other online retailers.
Computer is basically so my brother can play sc2 on at least medium. Don't want him stuck with a prebuilt.
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So I recently purchased the i5-2500K and the 1TB 7200RPM WD Blue Caviar HD bundle from Microcenter and was wondering what I should be looking out for in terms of motherboards in particular. I've read that P67 boards are what I should be looking for because H67 boards have integrated video and since I'm obviously intending to get a video card I don't need that?
What should I be looking for in a good budget p67 motherboard, or does anyone have any suggestions? I'm planning to run 4GB of RAM setup with maybe a GTX 460.
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This looks much better than what I'd had :| there's always room for me to learn! Though I have a question: I went on the Intel site and had a look at their i5 processor listings, and under memory they had DDR3 1066/1333 MHz listed; does this mean they won't use 1600MHz memory to the fullest, or that they won't even accept it at all?
Also, I realize I forgot about the initial list of questions I'm supposed to answer. Derp. My apologies xP I've gone through the thread a few times, guess it just didn't occur to me to read it again.
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Only the H61 and H67 chipsets support only 1066/1333MHz memory. The P67 and Z68 chipsets support frequencies higher than 1333MHz such as 1600, 1866, etc, you'll just have to set it to XMP profile in the BIOS.
If you get a motherboard such as H67 that is only capable of supporting 1333MHz memory. 1600MHz memory will just downclock to 1333MHz.
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On May 15 2011 09:19 marvin. wrote:
So I recently purchased the i5-2500K and the 1TB 7200RPM WD Blue Caviar HD bundle from Microcenter and was wondering what I should be looking out for in terms of motherboards in particular. I've read that P67 boards are what I should be looking for because H67 boards have integrated video and since I'm obviously intending to get a video card I don't need that?
What should I be looking for in a good budget p67 motherboard, or does anyone have any suggestions? I'm planning to run 4GB of RAM setup with maybe a GTX 460.
Well, having the option to use the integrated graphics (like if your graphics card dies) is not a con. You already bought the integrated graphics--it's on the CPU die itself. But only the P67 and Z68 motherboards allow you to overclock the CPU. Since you got a i5-2500k I'm guessing that's what you want to do. Or at least you could keep that option open.
Gigabyte P67A-D3 comes to mind. It's $110 on newegg. AsRock Pro3, Asus P8P67, etc. also work.
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Thanks, I really appreciate your guys' quick replies - Another question - My friend was thinking about going to an SLI setup on his current pc so he was gonna replace his Thermaltake TR2 430W PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023). He was going to sell it to me for $15. It's one year old, and it seems to be working fine (I use his computer on occasion). Will this PSU work with a 2500K and a GTX460?
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On May 15 2011 09:40 marvin. wrote:
Thanks, I really appreciate your guys' quick replies - Another question - My friend was thinking about going to an SLI setup on his current pc so he was gonna replace his Thermaltake TR2 430W PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023). He was going to sell it to me for $15. It's one year old, and it seems to be working fine (I use his computer on occasion). Will this PSU work with a 2500K and a GTX460?
No mention of total amperage on the 12v rail, deducting 130 (total amperage on 5v & 3.3v) from 430 would put it at 25a on the 12v rail.
No PFC at all.
Manufactured by HEC.
I wouldn't trust it with my components.
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I wouldn't touch a Thermaltake PSU again ever, personally. Had one go catastrophic on my mobo and CPU last year. Ended up forcing me to upgrade to 1366 instead of waiting for sandy bridge.
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Yeah I'd take that combo. Just make sure you don't need USB3, SATA3, more than 2 RAM slots, and more than 4 SATA ports. Granted, USB3, SATA3, and more SATA ports could be provided later on with an expansion card.
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If you don't want USB3 than go for it.
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What is your budget?
I'd like to keep it below 700... but willing to go 800, i presume.
What is your resolution?
I'm unsure. I usually just play it at 1440x whatever number it is because that's basically all my current computer allows.
What are you using it for?
Gaming/school, maybe streaming for fun
What is your upgrade cycle?
probably every 3 years.
When do you plan on building it?
4-8 weeks.
Do you plan on overclocking?
Unsure. I don't think I would right away.
Do you need an Operating System?
Yes
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
No
Where are you buying your parts from?
Newegg, I have a nearby fries, but I've never been there. I'm also open to other suggestions for online deals.
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Well, with the list you posted and the information I've gotten I think I'm just about set besides a few tweaks here and there for price and a bit more research between now and the twentieth maybe.
Thanks guys for all the help, and the speed! It's really nice to have some confidence in what I'm doing rather than blindly stumbling across the internet and trying to wade through the mass of information.
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@Progamermatt
Come back in 4 weeks or whenever you're buying, and we'll have a better idea. Between now and then, AMD will have released their next-gen higher-end desktop CPU line. We don't really know about their performance or pricing yet and it may be worth getting that depending on how that really is.
edit: or just get the build skyR posted and sit on it. That's very good for that amount of money, but I suspect that the newer AMD quad core will be a better fit for you, since you want to keep the total under $700.
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installed my new win7 that dropped outa nowhere on my lap ^^
ASrock mobo has nice features i like and very easy, can control fan noise. the H61 asrock motherboard has an option for overclocking lol, im assuming its just meant for mild overclocking?
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I'm pretty sure it's for overclocking the integrated GPU (lol?).
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EPT
