Need help with first new build in 6 years.

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FearoftheNight

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
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Hey guys. I've been out of it for a bit to say the least. I'm looking to update my system. I only have an antec trupower 430 so what kind of motherboard/cpu duo would be good for me? I plan to game with with it and I want to spend around $200. I was thinking of maybe some kind of low end Sandy Bridge or http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html? Thanks in advance.

Also did they change motherboard standards? I have this case http://www.techwarelabs.com/reviews/cases/lianli_pc6010/
 
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z1ggy

z1ggy

Lifer
May 17, 2008
10,010
66
91
Plan to OC? Plan to SLI in the future? Have any other PCI cards?
 
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FearoftheNight

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,101
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71
all i have as far as pci cards go is a m-audio revolution 7.1 not sure how onboard sound is right now. i'm not really interested in sli and i might oc if its not too much work.
 
z1ggy

z1ggy

Lifer
May 17, 2008
10,010
66
91
FearoftheNight said:
all i have as far as pci cards go is a m-audio revolution 7.1 not sure how onboard sound is right now. i'm not really interested in sli and i might oc if its not too much work.
Click to expand...

ASrock z68 ATX mobo is $120 on newegg
i3-2100 I think I saw it for $125 on newegg, but I got mine for $85 on a tigerdirect promo.

This goes over your $200 limit. If you don't think you will ever OC, then perhaps go for the H61 chipset. The ASRock H61 board is only $60. I didn't search hard, but maybe you can find some combos out there for around $200? Personally, I was just going to go w/ a mATX h61 because I knew I was not ever going to use SLI, and was going to go w/ the i3-2100 or i5-2400. But I figure I want at least 3 years out of my new mobo, so I went z68 ATX because I wanted an extra PCI slot in case I get a sound card, or wi-fi card on top of my existing USB expansion card. Also, the z68 will let me OC if I ever get a K series in the future.
 
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FearoftheNight

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
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hmm what about the combos on the microcenter link? would that suffice for some budget gaming when paired w/ a 6850/6870?
 
z1ggy

z1ggy

Lifer
May 17, 2008
10,010
66
91
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=102

i3 vs x4 965 BE

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/291?vs=313

gtx460 vs HD6850

Personally, I would get the gtx460 or HD6850, which ever you can get the better deal on. I picked my 460 up got $120 AR.

You need to decide whether or not you want to OC. If it is just a "maybe", then I would examine the price difference between a mobo that can and can't OC. You need to define your requirements before you can make a good educated decision on what you really want.

ASRock H61 for $60
i3-2100 for $125
 
mvbighead

mvbighead

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2009
3,793
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They would... be alright:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/186?vs=289

The higher end quad of AMD scores close to the Intel i3, but personally, I would go Intel on this one. It scores higher pretty much everywhere.

Better combo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.674762 - 220

Doable combo based on budget - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.675362 - 175

I would spend the extra 27 (220 + 7 = 27 over budget) for the Z68 for the added flexibility. But these are simply better processors.

AMD, at one point, really took hold when introducing the AMD64 CPU. It was much, much faster than the Intel Pentiums of that time. At this point, Intel's offerings have trounced what AMD has offered. Honestly, you're looking at Intel's i3, the lowest tier of their latest offering, vs. one of the best CPUs AMD currently has to offer. And the i3 is almost always a notch ahead.

Those bundles aren't bad, it's just that the i3 is better. It'll also be quite a bit nicer to your 430watt PSU.
 
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FearoftheNight

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,101
0
71
hey man thanks that was super informative. so with an i3 and a 6850/70 what kind of performance would I be looking at? can i play sc2 at high settings at 1920 x 1080?
 
mnewsham

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
You should find it playable at medium to high, maybe not with AA or anything like that however.
 
z1ggy

z1ggy

Lifer
May 17, 2008
10,010
66
91
Id go with the 6850 if you are set on going with amd.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/CPU/129

As you can see, the i3 gets 45fps on medium settings with a 1024x768 res. So more than likely with what you are buying, you will prob dip under 30fps or come very close on that res and quality settings. I got the i3 and gtx460, and I plan on using that same res, and I am not experting to play everything maxed out, which is fine because I am aiming for a mid range budget system, much as you. Later, I will first upgrade my GPU, then the CPU perhaps to an Ivy next summer or winter.
 
mvbighead

mvbighead

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2009
3,793
1
81
FearoftheNight said:
what would be the limiting factor then? cpu or gpu?
Click to expand...

Maybe a little A, a little B... probably mostly the GPU I would guess.

Truthfully, if you're running a modern CPU, your eye-candy is going to be limited "mostly" by GPU power.

Granted, an i5-2500k will definitely gain you some frames, but a better GPU would provide a better performance increase for your games.
 
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FearoftheNight

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,101
0
71
z1ggy said:
Id go with the 6850 if you are set on going with amd.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/CPU/129

As you can see, the i3 gets 45fps on medium settings with a 1024x768 res. So more than likely with what you are buying, you will prob dip under 30fps or come very close on that res and quality settings. I got the i3 and gtx460, and I plan on using that same res, and I am not experting to play everything maxed out, which is fine because I am aiming for a mid range budget system, much as you. Later, I will first upgrade my GPU, then the CPU perhaps to an Ivy next summer or winter.
Click to expand...

actually you guys have swayed me to intel ;) so now i am looking at a lower end sandy bridge...how does the i3 2100 oc at stock cooling and voltage? i'm thinking of pairing it w/ a z68 mobo
 
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FearoftheNight

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,101
0
71
alright guys so right now i'm thinking about a i3 + z68 + with either the 6850 or 6870? what do you guys think? (keep in mind is a few year old antec 430 psu)
 
mnewsham

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
ssd caching, (if you decide to get an SSD) using the integrated graphics AND a dedicated GPU, quicksync. It is a more flexible motherboard.
 
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