Cheap SB 2500k Build Review Needed

[keyed]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
Browsing (Firefox w/ 20-30 tabs), converting DVDs to MP4s, and gaming. I have a heavy backlog of Steam games but Civ 5 is the only recent release.

2. What YOUR budget is.
$600-700. Less is better, but I don't mind paying for quality.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
Intel Sandy Bridge.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts.
Monitor, case, hard drive, dvd drive, kb+mouse.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I'll play around with what I can get air-cooled on a Sandy Bridge.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1680 x 1050.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Next week.

__________________________________________________

I received an intel 40 gb ssd for Christmas and I've been thinking about building a new system ever since. My brother also called me and asked me to build him a computer and the researching for it crystallized my decision.

Here's what I'm upgrading from:

CPU: Intel e5200 Dual Core
MB: ??
RAM: 4GB DDR2 RAM
OS: Vista Ultimate-64
VIDEO: Ati Radeon 2600 XT
PS: Thermaltake 430W
HD:
Main - 640 GB WD
Secondary - 1 TB WD Black
DVD: Blu-Ray/HD-DVD Combo Drive
Monitor: 20" Samsung @ 1650x1050

This was a back-up HTPC that was never used for it. I'll be reusing the 1 TB HD and BR-HDDVD drive for the new build.

__________________________________________________

This is the build that I'm currently looking at:

CPU+MB: Intel 2500k SB w/ GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD3 $342.54

GPU: Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 - 768MB GDDR5 $92.72/62.72 AR - bought

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333 $34 - bought

HD - Primary Intel X25-V 40GB SATA gifted

HD - Secondary Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB reused

DVD: LG Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM reused

OS: Windows 7 - 32 $50 - bought a while back

PS: Either COUGAR CMX 700 80 PLUS BRONZE $76.99 AR
or XFX 650W 80 PLUS BRONZE $73.98 AR
Antec TruePower 550W 80 PLUS BRONZE $39.99 AR - bought
__________________________________________________

The reason for the 4 GB of RAM instead of 8 GB is that I'm limited by Win7-32. I have both 32 & 64 bit versions, but I'm going to use the 64 for my brother's gaming build. It's going to get a much better graphics card than I will.

Another current limitation is the resolution of my monitor, 1650x1080. I believe that a 460-768mb should be a decent card for it. I'm not sure that I'd get more benefit out of it from another card in the $100-150 range vs the potential $90/60 cost.

I realize the power supplies seem like overkill, but I'd like to leave room for a graphics card upgrade if I should find a great deal in a year or so. My main dilemma is which one to go with. The Cougar is a new brand but is getting good reviews. The XFX is highly recommended and has a 5 year warranty, but is 50 watt less and some of the reviews say the cables are a little short. It'll be going to the bottom of a Rocketfish full tower case that I got a couple of years, and I don't want to have to the power cords taut because of having to go around a graphics card.

Thoughts?

 

[mnewsham]

you need a better graphics card for civ 5 even at those resolutions, a gtx 560 ti would be better. But overall not a bad cheap sandy bridge build

 

[gregoryvg]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
GPU: Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 - 768MB GDDR5 $92.72/62.72 AR - bought

I'm looking for a video card for my new 2500k build, how did you get that video card at that low price? I went to the link and it's $109.00/AR . . .

 

[keyed]

I'm looking for a video card for my new 2500k build, how did you get that video card at that low price? I went to the link and it's $109.00/AR . . .

There was a visa $10/100 discount link and a $20 off TD code. There was a 2nd $20 rebate that's now expired, but they've lowered the price by $20, so that's even better. There's also a third $30 rebate that's iffy, hence why I put the two prices. The first couple of posts should explain everything here. The $40 and iffy $30 rebate end on the 30th.

 

[gregoryvg]

There was a visa $10/100 discount link and a $20 off TD code. There was a 2nd $20 rebate that's now expired, but they've lowered the price by $20, so that's even better. There's also a third $30 rebate that's iffy, hence why I put the two prices. The first couple of posts should explain everything here. The $40 and iffy $30 rebate end on the 30th.

Wow, that sounds really complicated!

Think I may just pick up the same card at Newegg for $144.99 - $40.00 MIR = 104.99 + 7.87 shipping, but I also get copies of Just Cause 2 and Mafia 2 which seems pretty cool. I don't think the Tiger deal has those games . . .

 

[gregoryvg]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
__________________________________________________

The reason for the 4 GB of RAM instead of 8 GB is that I'm limited by Win7-32. I have both 32 & 64 bit versions, but I'm going to use the 64 for my brother's gaming build. It's going to get a much better graphics card than I will.

Another current limitation is the resolution of my monitor, 1650x1080. I believe that a 460-768mb should be a decent card for it. I'm not sure that I'd get more benefit out of it from another card in the $100-150 range vs the potential $90/60 cost.

I realize the power supplies seem like overkill, but I'd like to leave room for a graphics card upgrade if I should find a great deal in a year or so. My main dilemma is which one to go with. The Cougar is a new brand but is getting good reviews. The XFX is highly recommended and has a 5 year warranty, but is 50 watt less and some of the reviews say the cables are a little short. It'll be going to the bottom of a Rocketfish full tower case that I got a couple of years, and I don't want to have to the power cords taut because of having to go around a graphics card.

Thoughts?

The 4GB RAM will be a limitation for you, especially since 32-bit Operating Systems only recognize about 3.25GB of that (at least that's what happened to me). The video card you picked should be fine for quite a long time depending on your expectation, especially for the cost.

Regarding the PSU . . . honestly a good quality 500W unit will be able to run any single video card out there just fine, I would only get something bigger if I was gonna put two power hungry cards in SLI or CF.

I picked up this 500W PSU from Newegg for $49.99 shipped, you might want to give it a look:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371035

Overall, your system looks pretty good (except for the 32-bit O/S).

 

[mnewsham]

If you can find 100 bucks I would go ahead and pick up a copy of w7 64bit as at least then you can use all 4gb of ram, as 32bit only sees 3.2 or so

 

[fffblackmage]

700W is overkill... and you won't be look at SLI with the GA-P67A-UD3.

Antec NEO ECO 520C $41 AR and promo

 

[mfenn]

700W is overkill... and you won't be look at SLI with the GA-P67A-UD3.

Antec NEO ECO 520C $41 AR and promo

:thumbsup:

This. OP, I realize that you got a really good deal on the GTX 460 768MB, but that doesn't make it a very good card for what you want to do.

Let this be an object lesson in how you can screw yourself by trying to "future proof" you rig. You gave up a good chunk of necessary GPU performance in the quest for a larger PSU, and it is going to bite you right now.

 

[SickBeast]

IMO you should buy an extra 8gb of ram for a total of 12gb, because it's cheap and it will give you a nice performance boost. I just did the same upgrade to my rig and the difference is enormous.

I'm also very happy with my OCZ Modxstream 600w that I got for $30AR. People say OCZ PSUs aren't great, but mine is dead silent and has been rock solid with both my CPU and GPU heavily overclocked and overvolted.

 

[Davidh373]

IMO you should buy an extra 8gb of ram for a total of 12gb, because it's cheap and it will give you a nice performance boost. I just did the same upgrade to my rig and the difference is enormous.

...

 

[mnewsham]

...

I was doing that when I read it too...

 

[keyed]

:thumbsup:

This. OP, I realize that you got a really good deal on the GTX 460 768MB, but that doesn't make it a very good card for what you want to do.

Let this be an object lesson in how you can screw yourself by trying to "future proof" you rig. You gave up a good chunk of necessary GPU performance in the quest for a larger PSU, and it is going to bite you right now.

I'm not so worried about the graphics card, short-term. I'm not interested in any recently released games and I'm backlogged on the PS3, 360, and Steam. I also play at 1650x1080, which is less demanding.

I figure I can always sell the 460 and buy a ~$200 card when I'm compelled to, either when I get a new monitor or a game that demands it.

The power supply is overkill for a 460, but I'm looking long-term for the card after that. It won't be an sli or crossfire setup, but I'm not sure what the draw would be. There's also a dearth of modular power supplies in the 500-600w range and they're pretty expensive. The cheapest is an Antec 550 for $69. I'm just getting some extra headroom and efficiency for slightly more. I'll probably order the XFX tonight because of the 5-year warranty.

The 64 bit os does worry me though. I might use the one I have and let my brother buy his own.

 

[SickBeast]

...

Have you ever tried running your system with 12gb of ram? So long as you don't reboot your computer often, Windows will SuperFetch all of your programs, and everything will load up instantaneously, along with the 2 or 3 games that you play the most often.

I can't see memory staying this cheap for very long. It's not sustainable. In the long run, perhaps, but if I had a 2500K I would want at least 8gb if not 16gb of ram.

I was skeptical at first as well, but believe me, it gives your system a nice boost. You can disable your swap file as well.

 

[mnewsham]

16gb is about 200 bucks and 12gb isn't possible (well not recommend) on SB because memory should be paired, (2x2, 2x4 etc...)

 

[SickBeast]

16gb is about 200 bucks and 12gb isn't possible (well not recommend) on SB because memory should be paired, (2x2, 2x4 etc...)

I've seen 16gb go for ~$100, and 12gb would be fine if he used his current 2x2gb with 2x4gb.

At the most, you should be able to get 16gb for $150. Like I said, if I were to spend that much on a CPU, I would want 16gb. It seems silly to have such a high end processor and cut corners everywhere to the point that you can't enjoy it properly.

 

[keyed]

This morning had highs and lows. On the positive side, that Antec 550 dropped down to $40 AR, so I placed an order for that. On the negative, intel came out with their SB SATA problems. It looks like the CPU+MB upgrade is on hold for a couple of months.

 

[Davidh373]

This morning had highs and lows. On the positive side, that Antec 550 dropped down to $40 AR, so I placed an order for that. On the negative, intel came out with their SB SATA problems. It looks like the CPU+MB upgrade is on hold for a couple of months.

Heh

 

[SickBeast]

I would be tempted to see how Bulldozer performs as apparently they will be demonstrating it from March 1st to March 5th at Cebit.

It's a shame about the bug, though.

 

[mfenn]

I would be tempted to see how Bulldozer performs as apparently they will be demonstrating it from March 1st to March 5th at Cebit.

It's a shame about the bug, though.

Yeah it is a shame that everybody pulled their stuff. I don't think the bug was bad enough to warrant that sort of response IMHO.

 

[fffblackmage]

Yeah it is a shame that everybody pulled their stuff. I don't think the bug was bad enough to warrant that sort of response IMHO.

After the lawsuits Intel has been through... I think I can understand their overreaction.