First rebuild in a long time

[Zathras66]

I'm upgrading my computer, a Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHZ with 6 gigs RAM and Windows 7(64-bit). A lightning strike in 2008 forced me to replace the CPU (and motherboard and RAM and PSU and gfx card, sigh), but we're talking very similar chips with only about a 0.4 GHZ upgrade, so it's basically a 2006-era machine, with only graphic card & RAM upgrades since then. It's been a long time, and I want to get this right.

I'm wanting to upgrade the CPU, Motherboard and RAM at this time. I currently have a GTS 250 video card. The video card needs upgrading as well, but that will be addressed in a few months.

I want something that's going to handle Battlefield 3 handily, and, if possible, still have at least one worthwhile CPU upgrade available down the line without also needing to replace the motherboard. I've played around with overclocking in the past, but I really don't have an interest in it now. I want 4 RAM slots, 2 of which I'll fill immediately with 4 gigs RAM, while still having future upgrade room. USB 3.0 isn't important as long as I can add a card for it later. I have an SATA and IDE hard drives, but have resigned myself to retiring the IDE drive. I also have a SATA DVD burner. I will be using on-board audio. I've always favored having many expansion slots, but haven't really utilized them in my current build. At most, I'll probably only ever need room for a audio card, a USB 3.0 card, and maybe a TV tuner card. That's it.

SLI/Crossfire is nice to have as an option, but it's very likely I'll never use it, so, not important.

I'd like to do this upgrade for about $300-$330. Suggesting something for "only $30-$40-$50 more" won't be helpful. I'm building this for Battlefield 3, the open beta is only weeks away, and this is the money I have to work with now.

Here's the motherboard I was looking at:
http://www.msi.com/product/mb/PH67S-C43--B3-.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130579
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

And the RAM:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

For the CPU, I was thinking of a i5-2400, or i5-2500k if I can swing a good deal on one.
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-2400+@+3.10GHz

I'm open to other suggestions, or critiques of this build. If you see a problem, or think there's better options I should consider, let me know. I'm particularly iffy on the RAM selection. I'm not sure if the RAM I picked is a good match or if it will hold back my system.

NewEgg is a popular site for buying computer parts, but they have a warehouse in my state, so there's a 9.5% sales tax to add to anything purchased there. I'll be trying to buy everything from Amazon or some other non-NewEgg source.

As you can tell, I don't upgrade often, so I want to get it right. The guys in my clan are all AMD fanboys, and while I'd consider a well-presented AMD option, I would like a more balanced opinion than they provided.

I appreciate your thoughts/advice. This is important to me.

ETA: Q & A
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Battlefield 3 and other FPS games, watching video, surfing, etc.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread.
No more than $330

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

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
I'm used to Intel, but will listen to AMD options

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Using existing HD, DVD burner, video card, PSU, monitor

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, but I have my own hardware config I'd like opinions on.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
No overclocking

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1920 x 1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
the next week or 2

 

[Ken g6]

If I were you, I'd actually consider upgrading the GPU first, except that even better GPUs, the Radeon HD 7000 series, are coming out in a few months. So let's start without a new GPU...

if possible, still have at least one worthwhile CPU upgrade available down the line without also needing to replace the motherboard.

Well, that limits you to Z68, as far as I know. So...

Z68 mATX Mobo: $103 with shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157270
2400 CPU + 8GB RAM: $221 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.723828
Total: $324 (with shipping)

Or you could get a G620, a lower-end motherboard, less RAM, and a Radeon HD 6870 all for about the same price!

Edit: Oh, sales tax. Well, an i5 2400 is the same price at Amazon.
Here's a nicer motherboard: http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Z68A...M78O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1316124188&sr=8-4
And the RAM you selected will do fine.

 

[Zathras66]

If I were you, I'd actually consider upgrading the GPU first, except that even better GPUs, the Radeon HD 7000 series, are coming out in a few months. So let's start without a new GPU...

Well, that limits you to Z68, as far as I know. So...

Z68 mATX Mobo: $103 with shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157270
2400 CPU + 8GB RAM: $221 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.723828
Total: $324 (with shipping)

Or you could get a G620, a lower-end motherboard, less RAM, and a Radeon HD 6870 all for about the same price!

Edit: Oh, sales tax. Well, an i5 2400 is the same price at Amazon.
Here's a nicer motherboard: http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Z68A-...6124188&sr=8-4
And the RAM you selected will do fine.

Sweet. Thanks for the reply, and thanks for noticing the important part about the possibility of a future upgrade. I'll look over the motherboard suggestion - I'm also trying to see if I can swing the 2500K instead of the 2400. That G620 is an improvement over what I'm running now, but not as much as I'd like. If I'm gonna upgrade, I want it to be significant.

The GPU needs upgrading, no doubt, but I figure a lot of folks are going to be upgrading with BF3 coming out. I'll try to get something used on the cheap from someone who has to run a cutting-edge rig. After all, it won't be hard to improve on what I'm running now.

 

[Ken g6]

I'm also trying to see if I can swing the 2500K instead of the 2400.

I've played around with overclocking in the past, but I really don't have an interest in it now.

Then why get the 2500K? The whole point of the "K" is overclocking. Technically, you can overclock the 2400 too, a little - certainly enough to get it up to the 2500(K)'s stock speed, and without changing voltages or heat sinks. And then there's the 2500 non-K in between them too.

 

[Zathras66]

Then why get the 2500K? The whole point of the "K" is overclocking. Technically, you can overclock the 2400 too, a little - certainly enough to get it up to the 2500(K)'s stock speed, and without changing voltages or heat sinks. And then there's the 2500 non-K in between them too.

Because someone was recommending a motherboard that allows overclocking. If I get that one, I might get the 2500K, otherwise I'm missing out on a big feature of that board.

Truth is, between this posting and one on another board, I'm getting a lot of ideas thrown at me. I don't want to leave any replies sit for a day or 2 while I think about each one, as folks will think I posted and disappeared. As a result, not every response will contain well-thought-out replies. I'm juggling a lot of new info right now. I'd LIKE to get the best of everything, but I've got to make it fit in my budget, and figure out the best bang for the buck now, while maximizing the possibility of future upgrades.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

well then.
i would say dont OC and save some money so you can put it to other uses
maybe a 2400 and a p67 Mobo

 

[Zathras66]

well then.
i would say dont OC and save some money so you can put it to other uses
maybe a 2400 and a p67 Mobo

Yeah, every build, I go back and forth on the OC issue. I think I've settled on the 2400. I read an interesting piece about OC'ing the 2500k, the actual gaming benefits and the actual cost. If you factor in the extra cost for an OC-capable motherboard, the cost for a cooling solution, and the additional cost of the 2500k, it works out to about $100 more, and a 4.9 GHZ 2500K yields an extra 10 FPS on average, but only an extra 2 FPS Max in Crysis over the 2400. It's fast, but the cost doesn't scream 'bargain'.

Ken g6 said above that the z68 chipset is what I want to assure my ability to plug in at least one more worthwhile CPU upgrade in the future. Why the z68, and does everyone agree with this?

 

[Ken g6]

Honestly, I don't know for sure which motherboards will or won't work with Ivy Bridge. Googling turns up old reports from Fudzilla and Semi-Accurate that all LGA 1155 boards will work with a BIOS update. A more recent article, translated from Dutch says it's possible that none will work.

I have heard more official statements (example) that some Z68 boards will work with Ivy Bridge; I have not heard that about P67 or H67 boards. And that's all I know.

 

[mfenn]

Ken g6 said above that the z68 chipset is what I want to assure my ability to plug in at least one more worthwhile CPU upgrade in the future. Why the z68, and does everyone agree with this?

Yes, the Z68 will supposedly support Ivy Bridge. I say "supposedly" because Intel hasn't said anything official yet.

However, you asked for a "worthwhile" CPU upgrade, and I don't think that that's possible with any of the currently available parts. The reason for that is that I don't expect any of the current sockets to last 3 generations. Upgrading from one generation of CPUs to the generation the immediately follows is rarely worth it unless you are chasing benchmark scores.

 

[Zathras66]

Honestly, I don't know for sure which motherboards will or won't work with Ivy Bridge. Googling turns up old reports from Fudzilla and Semi-Accurate that all LGA 1155 boards will work with a BIOS update. A more recent article, translated from Dutch says it's possible that none will work.

I have heard more official statements (example) that some Z68 boards will work with Ivy Bridge; I have not heard that about P67 or H67 boards. And that's all I know.

Yes, the Z68 will supposedly support Ivy Bridge. I say "supposedly" because Intel hasn't said anything official yet.

However, you asked for a "worthwhile" CPU upgrade, and I don't think that that's possible with any of the currently available parts. The reason for that is that I don't expect any of the current sockets to last 3 generations. Upgrading from one generation of CPUs to the generation the immediately follows is rarely worth it unless you are chasing benchmark scores.

Ah, thanks guys. Ya know, I think I go through this every build as well. I always think I'm going to replace the CPU once before I switch motherboards, but I never do. Usually the best CPU for a given chipset remains expensive a very long time, and yields a relatively small improvement, so I always end up spending just a little more and do the CPU/motherboard/RAM shuffle. It's a pipe dream. I'll just build the best rig for the buck now and let the upgrade paths reveal themselves when the time comes.

 

[mfenn]

I'll just build the best rig for the buck now and let the upgrade paths reveal themselves when the time comes.

:thumbsup::thumbsup: Best plan in my book.

 

[Zathras66]

I found a deal on the 2500k for $199.99, so I went ahead and ordered it. What the heck, the price was right.

Now, I've got about $140 for 4 gig RAM and the motherboard. Probably should get one that open up all the potential of the chip. I was looking at this one for $99.99:

GIGABYTE GA-Z68P-DS3
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3899#na
Http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

The only problem I have is the memory. I ain't got a clue. I can't even find any good "memory for dummies"-type articles. I looked at the PDF at the Gigabye website, and it supports everything from 2400 to 800. I'm pretty sure the upper end is severe overkill, and the lower end is bottleneck city, but I don't know what would be appropriate memory for a no-to-mildly overclocked 2500k. I won't be buying aftermarket cooling soon, so the CPU may be at or near stock for awhile, and the memory I buy needs to work with that config. It would be nice if it also let me OC more aggressively at a later date, when the CPU is getting a little old and underpowered.

 

[Ken g6]

Just get the cheapest 1333MHz RAM you can find. Here's some:

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-1333MH.../ref=pd_cp_e_3

If you can spend $40 for 8GB, even better:
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-PC3-10666-...369992&sr=1-12

Conversely, if you're really short on cash at this point, you could just get one stick, and get a second later. (Single sticks are OK, but memory works better in pairs.):
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Value...6370072&sr=1-1

 

[Zathras66]

Just get the cheapest 1333MHz RAM you can find. Here's some:

http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-1333MH.../ref=pd_cp_e_3

If you can spend $40 for 8GB, even better:
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-PC3-10666-...369992&sr=1-12

Conversely, if you're really short on cash at this point, you could just get one stick, and get a second later. (Single sticks are OK, but memory works better in pairs.):
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Value...6370072&sr=1-1

Gotcha. I'll look for good prices and good reviews. Thanks again.

Kinda excited at the thought of the new build. It's been a long time since my computer has had that "new computer" feel - snapper, faster than I'm used to. (sigh) That wears off so fast. In 2 days I'm impatient again!

 

[Spikesoldier]

good choice on the 2500K.

i would try to snag a 8GB kit if i were you.

here is my recommendation for a mainboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

 

[Zathras66]

good choice on the 2500K.

i would try to snag a 8GB kit if i were you.

here is my recommendation for a mainboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157271

There are budgetary constraints. That motherboard would, with shipping and the 9.5% state tax I would have to pay (Newegg has a warehouse here) leave me without money for RAM.

Thanks for replying, though.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

buy locally

 

[Spikesoldier]

$114.99 shipped @ ewiz after coupon code SIZZLE

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-Z68E3G3

4GB 1333 set for $25.49

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=W1333UX4GV#

total = $140.48 shipped

48 pennies over budget will that break you?

 

[Zathras66]

buy locally

That really is not helpful. What makes you think that by buying locally I can get ANYTHING cheaper? What makes you think I WOULDN'T if I could? I'm not near a Frys or a Microcenter. There are no local store here that offers ANY kind of selection, anywhere near to the prices you find online, and I already mentioned the 9.5% sales tax.

 

[Zathras66]

$114.99 shipped @ ewiz after coupon code SIZZLE

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-Z68E3G3

4GB 1333 set for $25.49

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=W1333UX4GV#

total = $140.48 shipped

48 pennies over budget will that break you?

I could swing that :biggrin:

That's where I got my CPU this morning for $199.99. I used the code on that. I don't know if I can use it twice.

Why is that motherboard better than the one I was looking at above for $99.99?
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3899#na

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[Spikesoldier]

I could swing that :biggrin:

That's where I got my CPU this morning for $199.99. I used the code on that. I don't know if I can use it twice.

Why is that motherboard better than the one I was looking at above for $99.99?
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3899#na

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

ah i assumed you got the 2500K at MC or something.

i dont know if you can double dip coupons. im assuming no.

 

[Zathras66]

ah i assumed you got the 2500K at MC or something.

I wish. MC have (or had yesterday, anyway) a B&M-only deal, $80 off any z68 motherboard and 2600k. A few combos took you into the $300-$320 range. That would have been sweet.

So, no thoughts on the Gigabyte board I posted?

 

[Ken g6]

The Gigabyte is mostly good. Its only major problem is a complete lack of USB 3.0! If you want that, pay $7 more.

One other surprise you may get with Gigabyte is that they don't have the GUI UEFI BIOS most other brands do. IMHO, that's not a big problem.

 

[Spikesoldier]

I wish. MC have (or had yesterday, anyway) a B&M-only deal, $80 off any z68 motherboard and 2600k. A few combos took you into the $300-$320 range. That would have been sweet.

So, no thoughts on the Gigabyte board I posted?

i would like to see the heatsinks on the VRM's around the CPU on any board i buy; but thats because i OC every CPU i get my hands on.

you state you will not OC so i guess the naked VRM's are OK. its not like they have to have a heatsink on them, especially at stock frequencies.

but then again you got the 2500K which is just begging to get OC'ed.

gigabyte is a good brand i would not have any doubts about them really.

 

[Zathras66]

This RAM:
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengea.../dp/B004O69XAY

With this motherboard:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Objections/problems?

Last check before pulling the trigger. Thanks in advance.