Qs re: SB build (inc. existing components)

[Caat]

Hi all,

I've been reading Anandtech for years and visiting the forums for ages but have not registered to post until now. So hello!

I have been running the same core system setup for about 5 years now:

C2D E6600 @ 3Ghz*
Zalman 9700 CPU cooler
Zalman 600 Watt PSU
MSI P965 Platinum
4GB RAM *
ATI 5770 1GB*

Typical system use:

Photography – Lightroom 3 (RAW files from a Pentax K-7 14.6mp DSLR)
Gaming – of the ME2, DA:O and RTS variety
Standard web use
Standard PC work (word processing etc)

* I overclocked the CPU to 3Ghz at the same time I added a velociraptor HDD as a system disk and a 1TB storage HDD, replaced my ageing x1850 Pro with the 5770, doubled my RAM to 4GB and upgraded to Windows 7. At the time I couldn’t afford an SSD with the capacity I’d need on a system disk (>100GB) and this is still the case.

Now that Sandybridge is out I am tempted to upgrade my core components but I have a few questions.

1) I know that my Zalman cooler can be mounted on 1156 with an additional, cheap, kit (which Zalman make) and therefore can also be mounted on socket 1155. My only concern is the fan’s motor. How long do CPU fan motors tend to last? It’s been on it’s lowest setting for most of it’s life – I only increase the fan speed when I play games and even then only since overclocking the CPU a year or so ago. Given the irritation of attaching the back plate to the motherboard and mounting the cooler I want it to last at least another year or so before I have to dismantle it and buy a new one!

Should I be considering this in planning my build?

2) The 5770 is a solid low-mid card that works fine at the 21inch monitor’s native res of 1680 x 1040 but I would like to up the detail settings and run AA etc. I bought the 5770 as a stop gap solution with the vague notion of adding a second one when I upgrade my system in the future (the P965 Platinum can’t CF because its 2nd PCI-e slot only runs at 4x) and currently the E6600, even overclocked is a bottle neck in some games that I play, e.g. DA:O.

When I upgrade should I consider getting a second 5770? Or would I be better off waiting (saving up) and getting something like a 6950 for £100 or so extra? (my PSU can’t run anything more powerful because I believe it only has two 6 pin PCI-e connectors, although it has the power capacity)

3) I mainly use my PC currently for photo editing. I know 4GB of RAM is sufficient for this but I am wondering whether I should get 8GB for my new build for future proofing? (the resolution of my equipment will only go up). I have to buy new RAM sticks anyway. Additionally there is a chance that I might be doing some work with laser-scanned 3D models in the future as well, involving files of around 2.5GB.

For the actual components I am considering upgrading to it would be:
Either an i5 2500k or an i7 2600k
Mid-range £150 MB – probably the Asus P67 pro
1600mhz RAM of some description

My total budget would ideally be ~£400-£450. I appreciate this precludes the i7 but I could stretch. My leaning to the i7 is less about what I do now but more about what I might do in the future. This would be a build to last another 5 years and so I am wondering how useful HT might become over that timescale. From this point of view £100 over 5 years isn’t a huge amount of money, but of course I don’t want to spend money I don’t need to. This is likely to happen in a month or two's time so UK prices of the SB CPU's might stablise a little (I think they are slightly higher at the moment due to being brand new)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Zargon]

the i7 isnt likely worth the stretch it seems.

if you are worried about the cooler, use that gap from getting the 2500K for a new CPU cooler

 

[mfenn]

1. If your HSF is spinning and isn't rattling, it is fine.
2. The 5770 is fine at 1680x1050, and when it starts to slow down, just get a better card.
3. Given that a RAM upgrade is a 5 minute affair (including ordering, clipping your toenails while waiting for the post man, and installation), there's no reason to buy more RAM than you need.

As for the parts, the P8P67 Pro is your idea of a midrange board? 😱 I'd go for something like the non-Pro P8P67 or the Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3. The 2600K is only about 10% faster than the 2500K, and cost's 33% more. Not a good value IMHO. Finally, DDR3 1600 isn't really worth much except to increase the cost of your build, I'd get DDR3 1333.

 

[somethingsketchy]

3. Given that a RAM upgrade is a 5 minute affair (including ordering, clipping your toenails while waiting for the post man, and installation), there's no reason to buy more RAM than you need.

Especially true, unless you are running VMs, doing video/photo editing and whatnot. 8GB is nice, but only if you really need the extra memory.

 

[Caat]

1. If your HSF is spinning and isn't rattling, it is fine.
2. The 5770 is fine at 1680x1050, and when it starts to slow down, just get a better card.
3. Given that a RAM upgrade is a 5 minute affair (including ordering, clipping your toenails while waiting for the post man, and installation), there's no reason to buy more RAM than you need.

As for the parts, the P8P67 Pro is your idea of a midrange board? 😱 I'd go for something like the non-Pro P8P67 or the Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3. The 2600K is only about 10% faster than the 2500K, and cost's 33% more. Not a good value IMHO. Finally, DDR3 1600 isn't really worth much except to increase the cost of your build, I'd get DDR3 1333.

Maybe I should have said mid-price! The P8P67 Pro is only about £15 more than the vanilla version. Am I right in thinking the primary difference between them is the additional PCI-e slot in the pro? I like the idea of a UEFI Bios so I think I will stick with Asus or possibly MSI.

Thanks for the advice on the RAM speed - useful to know.

 

[Caat]

the i7 isnt likely worth the stretch it seems.

if you are worried about the cooler, use that gap from getting the 2500K for a new CPU cooler

Yeah I think I will go with an i5 - will probably see how the cooler goes and just pocket the change for now.

 

[Caat]

Especially true, unless you are running VMs, doing video/photo editing and whatnot. 8GB is nice, but only if you really need the extra memory.

True.

 

[mfenn]

Maybe I should have said mid-price! The P8P67 Pro is only about £15 more than the vanilla version. Am I right in thinking the primary difference between them is the additional PCI-e slot in the pro? I like the idea of a UEFI Bios so I think I will stick with Asus or possibly MSI.

Yes, the primary difference is the PCIe slot. It may only be £15 more, but a few quid here and there can really add up to an expensive build!

Thanks for the advice on the RAM speed - useful to know.

You're welcome! 🙂