advice on a new i5 build!

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

ALECUBA

Member
Nov 27, 2006
124
0
0
hi everyone!
the bug to get something new has bitten me and constantly keeps me searching for new deals and reading up on reviews and stuff. So i am here to ask for your expertise on choosing an adequate build based on my budget and what i will be doing with it. I will be gaming from time to time(1-5x a week), BF3, Portal 2, Red Orchestra 2, among others i will install when i feel the need for a new game. All of these will be installed in a separate OS i will have on the RAID0 array. On the SSD i will only have flight simulator X(ill be doing a lot of flying in this) and Digital Combat Simulator A-10 nothing else. So my main OS will be the RAID0 which i will use for everyday use and the games mentioned above. I was thinking of putting up my mobo/cpu/hsf for sale as well as a Thermalright Ultra 120 extreme I have aside and my 8 GB of DDR2. From the money i make off these components if i do sell them i want to build a i5-2500k system. Ive read that the diff from the i7 to the i5 is almost negligible when overclocking(no HT) so ive decided to go for the i5 and do some overclocking and maybe leave it running somewhere between 4.5-4.8 24/7 if its safe. If theres a very important reason i must get an i7 well then i can wait and work overtime for some cash. Now here is my question:
which mobo and ram(i know its the wrong forum but i dont want to double post for the ram) would be best for my future i5? Im thinking of jumping ships to asus since i've read many good things about their overclocking abilities however im happy with my GA. max $200 for the mobo is my budget and 100 for ram in case its necessary to go above 100 for the ram...
i appreciate your help and keep up the tech world!!
thank you and cheers
 
LagunaX

LagunaX

Senior member
Jan 7, 2010
716
0
76
This is the minimum Asus mobo you should consider since it has the 16 phase VRM's for overclocking stability and it is a Z68 for future Ivy Bridge compatibility:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=6#scrollFullInfo
You could consider the P8Z68-V/GEN3 or Maximus IV Gene-Z/GEN3 for $15-20 more.

Get any of the following 2x4gb kits of ddr3 2133 ram as the XMP profiles should make it brainless other than switching the command rate from 2T to 1T, but probably the last one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313234
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231518
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231476

If you are going for 4.5-4.6ghz pick up this cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
But if you are aiming for 4.7-4.8ghz you might want this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

If you live by a MicroCenter they have the 2500k for $179.99 with a discount on the motherboard also when bought as a combo.
 
Last edited:
A

ALECUBA

Member
Nov 27, 2006
124
0
0
LagunaX said:
This is the minimum Asus mobo you should consider since it has the 16 phase VRM's for overclocking stability and it is a Z68 for future Ivy Bridge compatibility:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=6#scrollFullInfo
You could consider the P8Z68-V/GEN3 or Maximus IV Gene-Z/GEN3 for $15-20 more.

Get any of the following 2x4gb kits of ddr3 2133 ram as the XMP profiles should make it brainless other than switching the command rate from 2T to 1T, but probably the last one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313234
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231518
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231476

If you are going for 4.5-4.6ghz pick up this cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
But if you are aiming for 4.7-4.8ghz you might want this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

If you live by a MicroCenter they have the 2500k for $179.99 with a discount on the motherboard also when bought as a combo.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your input. Im thinking of getting the H80 cooler for this build. One question; doesn't the i5 support ddr3 1600 only? Ive read around of some ppl having problems when using faster ram and setting the faster speed on the mobo. Any take on this?
I live in Canada so my options are newer.ca canadacomputers.com ncix.com or amazon.
 
R

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
5
81
I bought the Asus P8Z68-V Gen3 and to be honest while it works very well. I was more impressed with the Asrock Z68 Extreme 3 Gen 3. I feel like Asus robbed me of my money with the cash I dropped on that Mobo.


Edit- If you buy it at Microcenter, then the Asus would be a good deal :)
 
A

ALECUBA

Member
Nov 27, 2006
124
0
0
I am nowhere close to a micro center. I wish i was. Ive seen the deals they have and they are good compared to here in Canada.
 
IntelEnthusiast

IntelEnthusiast

Intel Representative
Feb 10, 2011
582
2
0
The 2nd generation Intel® Core&#8482; processors including the Intel Core i5-2500K support DDR 3 1066/1333 and you can get some advantage from DDR 3 1600 but it isnt offically supported. The important thing with the memory is that you only select DDR 3 that has a voltage of 1.5 ±5%; any more than this cause damage the processors memory controller.
 
S

Smoblikat

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2011
5,184
107
106
IntelEnthusiast said:
The 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processors including the Intel Core i5-2500K support DDR 3 1066/1333 and you can get some advantage from DDR 3 1600 but it isnt offically supported. The important thing with the memory is that you only select DDR 3 that has a voltage of 1.5 ±5%; any more than this cause damage the processors memory controller.
Click to expand...

Im running 2133 just fine, 16gb. It might not be oficially supported, but neither was overclocking.

Im running my ram at 1.6v, is this safe? Im talking from a reality standpoint, not the intel manual view.
 
F

Fallengod

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
5,908
19
81
I dont know but I personally wouldnt want my memory running at 1.6v. I know there are a handful of ddr3 modules that use 1.6v, so id assume its fine but.....I wouldnt want it.

I bought that gskill 1600 low volt stuff that runs at 1.25v just so id have lower power consumption and heat....
 
LagunaX

LagunaX

Senior member
Jan 7, 2010
716
0
76
1.65v is fine for Sandy Bridge DDR3 otherwise all the major manufacturers (g.skill, corsair, OCZ, patriot, etc.) wouldn't make it!

1.6v just feels a little warm anyways I happened to check yesterday when I was ram
overclocking.
 
S

Smoblikat

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2011
5,184
107
106
LagunaX said:
1.65v is fine for Sandy Bridge DDR3 otherwise all the major manufacturers (g.skill, corsair, OCZ, patriot, etc.) wouldn't make it!

1.6v just feels a little warm anyways I happened to check yesterday when I was ram
overclocking.
Click to expand...

1.65 was implemented before SB. So RAM isnt only designed for SB, thats why the low volt stuff is out. 1.65 is still useful for every processor BUT sandy bridge, so the market is higher. Running 1.8v on the chip isnt healthy, yet its supported. Im not disagreeing that 1.65 is fine, i just want you to explore all possibilities.
 
A

ALECUBA

Member
Nov 27, 2006
124
0
0
So can someone point me in the right direction as to which kits i could nuy? Ie:site links?
 
A

abekl

Senior member
Jul 2, 2011
264
0
71
They are bundling 1.65 Volt memory with a board that wants 1.5 volt memory. Bad mistake.
 
F

Fallengod

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
5,908
19
81
Yeah, I dont know why anyone would want 1.65 volt memory in the first place. I dont see the purpose of it when you can get 1.5v or lower for the same cost with same speed and is within spec.
 
ScottAD

ScottAD

Senior member
Jan 10, 2007
736
77
91
Ram discussion has gotten too complicated. Get 8 gigs of 1600 RAM and call it a day.

Almost any manufacturer makes solid RAM. It's hard to FUBAR it.

You will not see any real world gain by running OC'd RAM at this time. So why get RAM that runs at a higher voltage? It's not going to gain you anything.
 
P

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
I have used crucial RAM in the past and just gone to their website, because they have a search engine that lets you put the manufacturer, and Motherboard Model number in their search engine and point you to what works. Typically you get a list of kits or whatever. some other providers offer you similar websites where you can look up their RAM kits based on the motherboard.

It seems motherboards are not as finicky as they use to be. However, Intel Motherboards are sometimes built to standards where exceeding the Ram Voltage or speed may cause problem or incompatiblity. If you exceed the technical standards the motherboard was designed for, you may be voiding your warranty. This is where looking at reviews comes in handy. I just wish on reviews they would say what ram motherboard CPU combo they used and whether they overclocked. Overclocking is often the source of many bad reviews.
 
Last edited:
Mem

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
SLK said:
I bought the Asus P8Z68-V Gen3 and to be honest while it works very well. I was more impressed with the Asrock Z68 Extreme 3 Gen 3. I feel like Asus robbed me of my money with the cash I dropped on that Mobo.


Edit- If you buy it at Microcenter, then the Asus would be a good deal :)
Click to expand...

You are paying extra for Intel onboard NIC and 16 Phase Power design plus longer warranty on the Asus.
 
A

ALECUBA

Member
Nov 27, 2006
124
0
0
abekl said:
Either of these two will do you fine:
G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBSR


http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1609DS1S00

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544
Click to expand...

So i got the sniper for 45CAD after tax. Now, i ordered the 2600k since it was on special and only 60 more than the 2500k, i thought it would be a good move considering i want my build to last me at least 3 years. Now which mobo would mate perfectly with the i7? Im hoping to spend max 200CAD and won't be doing any ssd caching however i will be overcloking.
 
Last edited:
ScottAD

ScottAD

Senior member
Jan 10, 2007
736
77
91
ASRock Extreme 4 Gen 3 would be my suggestion. It's $150 usd atm.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
 
A

ALECUBA

Member
Nov 27, 2006
124
0
0
Any others?
Also what's the difference with a p8z68-v le? Is it the same when it comes to overcloking? I don't plan on running dual gpus
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom