Sandybridge build dilemna

[The Al1en]

I'm wanting to build a Sandybridge system, and after alot of googling and research, still find myself torn over which case and chipset motherboard.
I could do with some input from real people with actual hands on experience, rather than rely on sales blurb and specs.

I'm in NZ and I'm trying to do the deal, within reason, as cheaply as possible, but note, prices are comparatively high over here.
I will be using the pc as an everyday Web, email box, but will also run virtual studio software (like Cubase, vsti's and vst's) as a semi-serious hobbiest. Absolutely no gaming, no Blue ray movies and no 3d intensive graphic apps.
Some of the virtual instruments can be pretty cpu intensive, but with the latest i7's and the leap in comp power, don't really pose too many problems anymore.
I was going to get an i5 2500k, but would feel more comfortable spending a bit extra on the hyperthreading i7 2600.

Ok, my build issues, and the opinions/advice I'm seeking.

I won't need to overclock, and I want to use the onboard gaphics, so I choose the i7 2600 on a h67 asus m pro board, but then I'm concerned about the hd 2000 v hd 3000 gpu and whether it's good enough for what I'll want. An answer on a thread here gave me some useful info and I'm now 70/30 I should do it, but like not wanting to pay for a p67 board if I'm not over clocking, I don't really want to have to put a gpu card in a box that already has vid outputs.
Graphics wise, my ancient integrated celeron 2.8 will run my music apps ok, so unless someone with a negative experience of hd 2000 says otherwise, I'll risk it and give it a bash.

Now the case and psu. I'll only run the chip at stock, 4or 8 gigs of ram, 2 dvd drives and one 500gb HD. I've checked the psu calculators and none say more than 350w.
I did look at some coolermaster cases with inbuilt power supplies, ranging fro 420 up to 500w, but online reviews left me feeling a bit uneasy about using them. I'm happy to future proof myself a bit and buy a bigger 500w+ lump, and have an Antec neo eco 550 in mind. It has good feedback, so fingers crossed.
As for cases, I'm spoilt for choice, and finding the right one for the right price is a drag.
I'd really like to use a uATX case, but have fears about the case temps being to high in a small enclosure with stock cpu fan. I've seen a couple I like the look of, one being a Gigabyte GZ-M3, yet I can't find any reviews anywhere.
For a mid tower, again, I like the look (and price) of a Gigabyte case, the Luxor M 1004, but sadly no reviews and virtually no pictures, other than one 3/4 profile shot. Anyone know anything about build quality and performance? Especially airflow.

To sum up my basic build, I think I want an i7 2600, Asus p8h67m pro, Antec neo eco 550w, Gigabyte Luxor m 1004, Ram+HD.

Suggestions?

 

[fffblackmage]

I won't need to overclock, and I want to use the onboard gaphics, so I choose the i7 2600 on a h67 asus m pro board, but then I'm concerned about the hd 2000 v hd 3000 gpu and whether it's good enough for what I'll want.

I'm not sure if it matters which IGP you get, since you're not gaming.

I'm also not familiar with your software, but hyperthreading won't be useful unless your applications are multithreaded.

An answer on a thread here gave me some useful info and I'm now 70/30 I should do it, but like not wanting to pay for a p67 board if I'm not over clocking, I don't really want to have to put a gpu card in a box that already has vid outputs.

P67 doesn't allow you to use the IGP and it doesn't provide video outputs.

Now the case and psu. I'll only run the chip at stock, 4or 8 gigs of ram, 2 dvd drives and one 500gb HD. I've checked the psu calculators and none say more than 350w.
I did look at some coolermaster cases with inbuilt power supplies, ranging fro 420 up to 500w, but online reviews left me feeling a bit uneasy about using them. I'm happy to future proof myself a bit and buy a bigger 500w+ lump, and have an Antec neo eco 550 in mind. It has good feedback, so fingers crossed.

If you have absolutely no plans to add a discrete graphics card, you're fine with a 350-400W PSU. You can even add a low to mid end graphics card and still be ok.

As for cases, I'm spoilt for choice, and finding the right one for the right price is a drag.
I'd really like to use a uATX case, but have fears about the case temps being to high in a small enclosure with stock cpu fan.

Without a discrete graphics card dumping heat into your case, I doubt you'll have heat issues, even with a small case, so long as you have some decent airflow.

To sum up my basic build, I think I want an i7 2600, Asus p8h67m pro, Antec neo eco 550w, Gigabyte Luxor m 1004, Ram+HD.

In this case, you're missing a graphics card for video output. Or, you can replace the P67 mobo with an H67 mobo, so you can just use the IGP.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Apparently there are some issues with the encoding that carried over...

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/...-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/7

 

[mfenn]

A few comments:
- You won't notice the difference between the i5 2500 and i7 2600 unless you run benchmarks all day. By the time the i5 2500 is considered a slow CPU, the (charitably) 10% i7 2600 won't be doing you any favors either.
- HD 2000 vs. HD 3000 is a non issue if you're not planning to game.
- In all honesty, you should probably get by with a 250W PSU. That being said, I wouldn't get a PSU bundled with a case unless it's an Antec. Find a quality Antec or Seasonic PSU in the 300-400W range. Then find a case that you like (sans PSU).

 

[BoomerD]

OP, in case you missed it in blackmage's long post, if you don't go with a dedicated video card, you'll need an H67 based motherboard to take advantage of the built-in IGP. The P67 based boards require a video card.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

What other differences are there between the P & H 67?

 

[mnewsham]

What other differences are there between the P & H 67?

P67 is overclocking and no IGP. H67 is no overclocking with the use of IGP and the features that come with it.

 

[The Al1en]

I appreciate the help, thanks.
Two people have posted that about the motherboard. Maybe I should have made it clearer, but yep, I got that h67 thing covered.

To sum up my basic build, I think I want an i7 2600, Asus p8h67m pro, Antec neo eco 550w, Gigabyte Luxor m 1004, Ram+HD.

I get the point about the 2500 being a good chip, and was almost sold on it until I read some music specific results comparing it with the 2600. The hyperthreading will make a big difference in the number of plugins I can run, but whether it's NZ$140 worth of difference (between a 2500 and 2600), I'm still yet to be 100% convinced. Time for some DAW user with a 2500 to come forward with the hard numbers?

I'm still not too concerned about the gpu. The frame rate issue won't bother me. Just as long as it's doesn't take too much cpu power, I'm good.

Psu wise, I'm ok with getting the Antec as it's still relatively cheap, though I will look again for some decent smaller units. However, most places I've looked, only seem to carry the higher rated varieties.

So no heat problems with a 2600 on stock fan in a uATX case? I should have mentioned the smaller gigabyte I like has a 90mm rear exhaust and a 90mm front intake. Make a difference?

 

[mfenn]

So no heat problems with a 2600 on stock fan in a uATX case? I should have mentioned the smaller gigabyte I like has a 90mm rear exhaust and a 90mm front intake. Make a difference?

It's only a 95W chip and you'll have no other heat sources of any significance. You'll be fine with the stock cooling.

 

[The Al1en]

Sounds good, thanks for the help. Not sure I'd fit a big cooler in the small case anyway
Will probably get the Luxo m1004 instead of the teeny GZ-M3, as a bit of future proofing, but as I've got to wait for the motherboards to be back in stock, I'll no doubt change my mind again for the 20th time.