SandyBridge system prices expected to drop any further?

[KamalS]

Would it be worth waiting for a few more months to buy a SandyBridge build?

DDR3 prices seem to have hit rock bottom (2x4GB sometimes for $20 AR!) and the i5-2500k can often be had for $150 at MicroCenter

I am thinking of buying:

1. i5-2500k

I wanted to ask if the IGP inside this is enough to play CounterStrike and Quake 3TA?

I don't intend to do a lot of OC.

2. A reliable Z68 MB.

Intend to buy the Z68 not to overclock but with hope that it would be more reliable than a P67 as the MB makers would have sufficient time to learn from their mistakes last time around?

Got the Asrock Z68 Gen3 or Gen4 Extreme on my radar, but have been a die-hard Gigabyte fan (Could not get a decently reviewed Z68 from them, but do recommend if you know one)

I am a bit worried about this Asrock MB as I really want to use the IGP inside the i5, but read a review that said this MB becomes unstable when doing so and only using external GPU makes that go away!

Never used an Asrock before, and their CS does leave a lot to be desired, but seems like a good sub $200 deal.

Of course, a HSF, SLI GPU (thinking of 2x 560 Ti) will come later, but not now if I can do with the IGP.
(As an aside, the upgrade would be done to play BF3, Rage and possibly DOOM4!)

Please suggest if using these parts for a build will allow me the upgrade path I want.

Here are my typical uses :

1. Virtual machines (running either full Windows XP SP4 or Ubuntu under Win7 host)
2. DOOM3/HL2 (I am old ) will be running, occasionally, in the evening, specially during weekends
3. A BIG IDE will always be running - either Visual Studio 2010 or Eclipse/Netbeans
4. Dragon Naturally Speaking will always be running
5. SkyPe will always be running

Detailed usage scenarios:

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming and machine learning (CPU + RAM bound + VM)


2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Max: 2k. Ideal: 1.2k (specially with BF and sales this quarter)


3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.

USA - Tustin, California - Egg, Frys and Microcenters abound :-D


4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
Decided on parts but not bought yet: CPU: i5-2500k
Now (need feedback/recommendation on): MB, RAM, Case, Monitor (> 20"), UPS
Later: GPU, HSF, Cooler (no heavy OC though), SSD
{Why later: Gaming will be sparse and that too maybe HL2 or Doom3. i5 IGP should handle it? No OC for now. Maybe when I get the GPUs}


5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Static wristwrap, soldering iron (?), powertools (?), cables (PSU, SATA2, USB2)


6) Will you be overclocking?
Very little - only because the i5-2500k makes you want to OC a bit ;-)


7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?

I have been happy with my dual 19" CRTs at 1024x768 setup of 7 years, but they are gonna die soon I think (random dimming of tube).
In short, never used LCDs at home, but gonna buy one with a LED backlight when I get one.
Need atleast a dual monitor setup (can the Z68 IGP support dual monitors?)


8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
NOW! (Whenever a part comes on sale during this quarter)


9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.
nVidia Fan: appreciate SLI
USB 3
If the MB has RAID controller than can do RAID0 (OS only) reliably (no toy RAID), that would be a big plus. Otherwise, planned on SSD later


10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Win7 64bit, Ubuntu, SuSE

 

[DaveSimmons]

> I will stock up on DDR3, and would run it ATLEAST @1500Mhz.

Fast RAM doesn't really help Sandy Bridge. Stick with cheap 1333 and just make sure it's 1.5v. For your initial use of VMs with just light gaming 2 x 4 GB is perfect, but you might want to add a second 2 x 4 GB when you do the heavy gaming upgrade if you want more than 1 VM running at the same time.

I've played Half-Life 2 and Torchlight at 10x7 using the slower HD2000 graphics, but haven't tried CS:S. Q3TA and D3 should be fine.

 

[KamalS]

Fast RAM doesn't really help Sandy Bridge. Stick with cheap 1333 and just make sure it's 1.5v. For your initial use of VMs with just light gaming 2 x 4 GB is perfect, but you might want to add a second 2 x 4 GB when you do the heavy gaming upgrade if you want more than 1 VM running at the same time.

Hello Dave,

Gaming and VM would be mutually exclusive

When I was reading up for my EP45 + Q8400 build, I remember reading that DDR3 clocked at less than 1500Mhz was slower than DDR2@1333 - does that hold true for SB?

I've played Half-Life 2 and Torchlight at 10x7 using the slower HD2000 graphics, but haven't tried CS:S. Q3TA and D3 should be fine.

That's wonderful - if the i5 IGP can run HL2, I would be more than happy with that a IGP can run such a game! (How times have changed)

What is 10x7?

Also - any idea if the Asrock I mentioned would be a good choice - esp. if I don't want to use a GPU?

 

[DaveSimmons]

10 x 7 = 1024 x 768 screen resolution, this was on an i3-2100 with the slower HD2000.

The main AnandTech site has a DDR3 speed comparison under the CPU tab. For Sandy Bridge, faster RAM really only helps in benchmarks and not much even then.

 

[KamalS]

10 x 7 = 1024 x 768 screen resolution, this was on an i3-2100 with the slower HD2000.

If an i3 HD2000 can handle HL2, so should the i5 HD3000 with perhaps some AA turned on?

Good enough for me - if the Asrock MB can handle it.

The main AnandTech site has a DDR3 speed comparison under the CPU tab. For Sandy Bridge, faster RAM really only helps in benchmarks and not much even then.

Any specific brand of DDR3 you recommend?

From my side, I am conflicted between:

1. $47 G.Skill Ripjaws F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231311

2. Patriot Signature 8GB (2x4) DDR3 1.5v SDRAM 1600 $30AR shipped
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3397336

3. Patriot Gamer 2 8GB DDR3 1333 (2X4gb) for only $53 at Newegg

I just wish there were more people using the Z68 Asrocks

 

[mfenn]

Huh? There are plenty of people using the ASRock Z68 Pro3 and Extreme3.

Regarding the IGP, here is a page with benchmarks. Remember that these are all at 1024x768 and low settings. You may be able to push some old games up to high details, but don't expect too much.

Can you update your post with the answers to the question in the sticky, especially the ones about reusing parts and overall budget. It may very well be the case that you are better off getting a GPU now.

 

[KamalS]

10 x 7 = 1024 x 768 screen resolution, this was on an i3-2100 with the slower HD2000.

Regarding the IGP, here is a page with benchmarks. Remember that these are all at 1024x768 and low settings. You may be able to push some old games up to high details, but don't expect too much.

Sweet IGP in the i5!

Reminds me of those days when the IGP in the Intel 815 MB used to be good enough to pay the latest games!

Huh? There are plenty of people using the ASRock Z68 Pro3 and Extreme3.

Hmm.. maybe I should ask them for a comparison - new thread for that?

Can you update your post with the answers to the question in the sticky, especially the ones about reusing parts and overall budget. It may very well be the case that you are better off getting a GPU now.

Done.

I would not prefer a GPU buy now unless the MB+CPU combo does not do dual monitors or run HL2 or DOOM3 on a monitor.

 

[Patrese]

I don't know about the rest of the "family", but the AsRock Z68 Extreme4 have (had?) issues with the IGP. On the topic linked below you can see the full story: there are people that solved the issues with Intel driver updates, but others still get BSODs no matter what they do.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/asrock/44772-asrock-z68-extreme-4-bsod-clock-interrupt-not-received.html

AsRock response to the problem is less than stellar so far, going from either putting the blame somewhere else (memory compatibility) to suggesting a workaround instead of a real solution (fixing the VCORE on 1,19V). It's a real shame, because otherwise it is a great board. I don't use the IGP and haven't had a single problem since I bought it...

 

[pauldun170]

If you are not overclocking then skip the K variant.
I've had no problems with my Asrock z68m/usb3

Any of the sub $140 Asrock z68 boards will be fine in your case (note: Make sure to check their recommended memory list for the board you select)

If you are going to be doing development work while virtual machines are running an i5-2500 will get the job done but the i7-2600 (logical cores) might be worth the extra bucks depending on the vm software and what you're running on the vm os's (DB's\Appservers etc).

 

[KamalS]

I don't know about the rest of the "family", but the AsRock Z68 Extreme4 have (had?) issues with the IGP. On the topic linked below you can see the full story: there are people that solved the issues with Intel driver updates, but others still get BSODs no matter what they do.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/asrock/44772-asrock-z68-extreme-4-bsod-clock-interrupt-not-received.html

Is the problem exclusive to Win7 64bit?

I mean to ask - given the same HW settings that lead to freeze/BSOD in Win7 64bit, would it run just fine, given the very same HW settings on say Win7 32 bit or Linux?

How is Linux support for the Extreme4?

These guys have their US distribution center near me and they offered that I could drop it off by their office and save on shipping if problems cropped up after 30 days.

 

[s44]

Might as well get the 1600 G. Skill. $5 more and 1600 is the standard speed for Ivy Bridge.

 

[titan131]

1600 is the standard speed for Ivy Bridge.

How do you know this?

 

[mfenn]

Might as well get the 1600 G. Skill. $5 more and 1600 is the standard speed for Ivy Bridge.

Not that it will do jack. Same microarchitecture.

 

[mfenn]

If your "ideal" is 1.2K, I see absolutely no reason to build this system piecemeal. $1100 buys you a very nice system with GPU and HSF for overclocking.

i5 2500K $220 (or $180 at Microcenter)
ASRock Z68 Pro3 $105
Hyper 212 Evo $35
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $42
6950 2GB $245 AR
Crucial M4 128GB $198
Hitachi 7K1000.D $65
Samsung DVD Burner $18
XFX Core 650W $60 AR
HAF 922 $90
Total: $1078 AR

 

[KamalS]

i5 2500K $220 (or $180 at Microcenter)
ASRock Z68 Pro3 $105
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $42

Thanks so much for doing my homework for me.

Well, if you don't mind, what do you think this is like compared to the above quote:

1. i5-2500K + P8Z68-V PRO bundle at MC for $350
2. 8GB 1600MHz DUAL CORSAIR VENGEANCE #CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9, UPC:843591010801 for $40 AR

A bit more pricier by $60, but "higher quality" perhaps?

What I am most worried about is that the heatsinks on the RAM look very tall. Am I going to run into issues with a Hyper 212+ on this board?

 

[lehtv]

$40 AR for 1600MHz vengeance? Absolutely. As long as your CPU cooler doesn't block tall heat spreaders. $170 is not a bad price at all for P8Z68-V PRO... Tempting, but I wouldn't get it if I didn't actually have need for the extra features it offers.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks so much for doing my homework for me.

Well, if you don't mind, what do you think this is like compared to the above quote:

1. i5-2500K + P8Z68-V PRO bundle at MC for $350
2. 8GB 1600MHz DUAL CORSAIR VENGEANCE #CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9, UPC:843591010801 for $40 AR

A bit more pricier by $60, but "higher quality" perhaps?

What I am most worried about is that the heatsinks on the RAM look very tall. Am I going to run into issues with a Hyper 212+ on this board?

I'd be concerned that the Vengeance would interfere with the fins on a big air cooler like the 212+. The price is good though.

As for the mobo, sure the Pro has a lot of extra features, but you've got to ask yourself, "how much are these features worth to me?". Once you start adding it up, I doubt that you will bridge the $65 price differential.