Help a confused newbie

[wgoldfarb]

I not-so-recently did my first overclocked build using an Intel Conroe, so I am not a "complete" newbie, but I am completely unfamiliar with Intel's Sandy Bridge. Also, I am not a gamer and GPUs have always been my "weak point".

I am trying to help a friend build HIS first rig. He is not going to do any gaming and probably not any overclocking either, but does want to run some occasional CPU-intensive simulations for his doctorate work. This will not be the primary purpose of the machine, so while good CPU power is needed, it probably doesn't justify a top-of-the-line CPU. I am leaning towards the i5-2500.

I already have all the components selected, but I am very confused about the built-in graphics on Sandy Bridge. From what I have read, I can take an H67 or Z68 MoBo and take advantage of the i5's built-in graphics, so I would NOT need a separate video card. Is this correct? From everything I have read this seems to be the case, but I have yet to see any configuration anywhere that does NOT use a separate GPU, so I fear I may be missing something. Even Anadtech's "lower end" Sandy Bridge buying guide includes a separate video card.

So, can I do a build with an i5-2500, H67 or Z68 MoBo, and NO video card? If so, what are the disadvantages of doing this? My fiend is not a gamer, but I also don't want him to end up with bad graphics that will be unable to run anything 6 months from now. If I do end up using built-in graphics, is the upgrade to the i5-2500K (and therefore HD 3000 graphics) worth the upgrade in this case?

Any help will be appreciated!

 

[bankster55]

Only the lower end Z68 have iGPU
The ASUS Z68 V and V pro do, the deluxe does not
Gigabyte is very confusing on which do and dont, better do your homework on that brand
I used to have a beautiful chart on all that but cant find it.

Yes you dont need any discreet vid card dGPU, just set iGPU in bios.
However with Virtu softawres you can load both GPU's and the sw will use whatevers necessary automatically. Surf the internet and iGPU runs, start a game, discrete runs, encoding or streaming both run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZCGt9BIjjw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWXqyyl7SSA

 

[wgoldfarb]

Thank you Bankster!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Oh yeahhh . . . . the old ASUS "Deluxe" version . . . . "top-of-the-line. .. . "

I don't get it. You get a CPU with iGPU capabilities, and the top-end mobo doesn't have the external plugs to use it? OR . . . is it "there," but your output is limited to the dGPU?

$40 price differential. Does this mean that "less" costs "more?"

I must be missing something here . . . . As for the difference in the rear-I/O, I only see an extra LAN plug -- maybe some extra USB ports and the addition of a PS/2 kybd port.

Is there some other distinction between the "V" or "V-Pro" and the "Deee-Lucks" that I'm missing here?

 

[Dadofamunky]

I would definitely start with the 2500K. Somebody else around here was considering an Z68 Intel board with a DisplayPort, which sounds like a really good option to me. IMHO, the 2500k and up are the first CPUs with a viable IGP; so far as the board I'd consider looking at Intel choices simply because you know they will work. Get the right board and heck, if the IGP isn't enough you still have an easy upgrade path.