Wooh! New build. Budget. I put some random parts together, hoping to make something worth actually building. Any suggestions? (please note I live in the Netherlands -Europe-, and prices may differ.) My budget is about 800€ (altough the parts I chose amount up to 830-ish).
___________________________________________________
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (http://azerty.nl/0-1044-425864/nzxt-source-210-elite-midtower.html)
MoBo: ASUS P8Z77-V LK (http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/ASUS/P8Z77-V_LK/1008133/?event=search)
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K, 3.3Ghz
GPU: SAPPHIRE HD 7870 GHz Edition OC
PSU: XFX PRO550W Core Edition (85%, bronze)
CPU cooler: Cooler Master Hyper212 Evo
storage: Seagate ST2000DM001 (2gig, 8,5/64/7200)
RAM: Corsair 8 GB DDR3-1600 Kit (single stick, for future upgrading purposes)
optical: LG GH24NS70 (random one)
___________________________________________________
Any suggestions? Should I use this mobo? Should I roll with the 2500k or the 3570k? Should I roll with intel? Please backup your responses with arguments, PC noob here.
I can personally vouche for the Source 210 as I just built a computer with that case. Fantastic little budget case. Only complaint is lack of rubber washers for HDD mounts. You may want to add a fan or two for intake.
If you're OCing, I'd go for the 2500k. If nothing extreme, the 3570k has better power management and IPC. At the end of the day, there isn't much seperating them for the OCing gamer, so if you really can't choose, go with the cheaper one.
The motherboard seems solid, but if you want to save a bit, I'd spring for the ASRock Extreme4. It seems better suited for OCing with beefier VRM cooling.
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/ASRock/Z77_Extreme4/990415/?tk=7&lk=4144
Unless you're doing some high end video editing, go for a dual-channel 8GB kit (2x 4GB). Dual Channel memory is noticably faster than a single DIMM, plus a single 8GB module still has a permium over a kit. Most motherboards have 4 DIMMs, so you could upgrade to 16GB, or even 24GB of RAM.
That's about all the knit-picks I have. looks solid and well balanced.
Thank you for your response :)
I've never OC'd before, but if its not too difficult I will. Will my system not overheat? I'm on a budget so more fans is not really an option atm. And if it could handle it, how far could I push it?
Price is the same, 2€ difference between the 3750k and the 2500k.
No video editing whatsoever, just gaming.
About the mobo: is there a direct advantage of the ASUS P8Z77-V LK over the ASRock Extreme4?
Again, thanks for your help :)
And now that I think about it.. the HD7870 is an OC version.. not too sure by how much it overclocks, but any idea if I got the power and cooling to run it in the first place?
http://www.alternate.nl/html/product/SAPPHIRE/HD_7870_GHz_Edition_OC_(11199-03-20G)/990538/?event=search
Then I'd just get the 3570K. Overclocking on K series processors is fairly easy; you just go into the UEFI/BIOS, change the CPU ratio/multiplier, run torture test (Prime95) to make sure it's stable and temperatures are acceptable. A lot of motherboards have an automatic OC function. OCing on stock cooling isn't the greatest, but I don't see why you can't bump it up a few hundred MHz, as long as you keep the voltage the same and temps stay cool.
As for temps, personally, I don't let temps get warmer than 70, and I try to stay under 65c if possible on my 2500k, though I've seen reviews let the CPU's get as high as 100c. A good rule of thumb is take the TJmax temp, subtract 15c, and there is your max temp. So, if TJmax is 95c, don't exceed 80c. In the case of 3770k, 90 would be your max, and it should be the same with 3570k. However, I'd still be uncomfortable exceeding 70, but that's just me. Cooler temps are better for the CPU's longevity.
If you can't add a fan immediately, I'd remount the rear exhaust fan as a front intake and invest in a fan filter (should be really cheap). Positive pressure airflow prevents dust build up and ensures cool air is getting in the case.
If it's just gaming, 8GB is plenty (I don't even use all of my memory) and you'll benefit more from having a dual-channel kit over a single DIMM.
I'm not intimately familiar with either board, but I don't see anything obvious you'd be missing out between the two boards. Here is a comparison.
As for the GPU (I got a product not available page), the card is overclocked out of the box from the factory. You shouldn't have any issues, and if you do, it's under warranty. Though Sapphire is pretty good. As for thermals, I'd keep it under 85c.