Another Sandy Bridge 'Help Me' Thread (with pics)

hikikomori

hikikomori

hikikomori

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Hey guys.

So after days of trawling through forums (this one, mostly), this is what I'm thinking of building. It's the first PC I will have ever put together but I've read a tonne of guides and, honstly, I wouldn't want to throw down this kind of money to have someone else build it for me. And it's not like I can't bug the hell out of people on forums while assembling it with questions like, 'HAI GUYZ WOT IS HARDDRIVE'.

So my build is something like this. However, ideally, I would like to keep it closer to 1k so I can factor in a monitor, too, so something has to give - but what?

I'll be using the finished model for gaming (so DX11 a must), some video transcoding, and occasional music editing. With the gaming, I'm not too bothered about the card so long as I can play new games with decent settings. At some point I might look into SLI so I guess I need a case with that kind of space?

My question to you guys is - am I doing too much too soon? Should I upgrade to some of these parts over time? All I know at the moment is that I want to get one of the SB K's (I've read that the 2600k is unneccesary for gaming?, and a compliable motherboard. I'm coming at this from a position of only ever really using laptops so things like cases, SSD's and coolers (and to a certain extent - GPU's) I really know NOTHING about, I just had to read about via reviews and the like. Are there cheaper alternatives? I looked at some of the OC'd bundles but I want a little more RAM for my buck. Should I consider them anyway?

So basically, my learned friends - I'm asking if I'm doing too much too soon, what could I upgrade later on? Is my heart trying to show off to my brain with things like an SSD, different fans for the case, etc?

Gahhh, I never meant to write for this long, I just, ya know, want to get this absoutely right.

Please help a brother out!

Below is the builddddddd-dd-d-d:



Uploaded with ImageShack.us
 
cheaper cooler - seek suggestions from those who overclock
lose the ssd - unnecessary expense
on board sound will be fine - unnecessary expense
swap the psu for an antec truepower new because it's modular
 
Cheers, dudes.

I've done some fiddling: switched the Noctua for the Akasa Venom, and the Corsair TX for the Antec Truepower (despite confusion, just read banging reviews of both) and got rid of the soundcard and SSD for the time being even though the idiot in me wanted both.

This is the build as of now.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Anything else I can change?

Very tempted to get the 2600k, but I want to keep costs down. Should i get the fans at a different time? Sorry about all these questions - guess folks've gotta start somewhere, right?
 
You could roll without the extra fans and get them later when you feel like it.
I'd get them now though - so you don't have to go back in the system later.
I prefer the "build once then leave it the f alone" approach.

2500K is fine - some say it's hard to tell the difference between that and the 2600K.
 
I would keep the SSD. Best upgrade you could do IMO.

I would also swap the 570 for a 6950 and get the free shaders, you will also save £60 quid or so :)
 
8gig of Ram isn't needed if you plan on installing a 32bit OS.
64bit is another matter though.
 
Been using a SSD in my main system & laptop and pleased with the response ect, would only use a mechanical drive for storage, if you have the funds keep the SSD.
 
billysielu said:
Why would anyone install a 32-bit OS?
Click to expand...

Well, me for starters. I've never done so as far as windows is concerned. Used 64bit Ubuntu for a while many moons ago. I've got an application called netobjects netfusion which I use for my site & I'm a bit skeptical about installing 64bit W7 for fear of it not installing or running.
 
As long as your CPU supports 64-bit (all new ones do) you should be using 64-bit Windows 7.
Take your fear and put it in a box on a shelf and leave it there.
 
billysielu said:
As long as your CPU supports 64-bit (all new ones do) you should be using 64-bit Windows 7.
Take your fear and put it in a box on a shelf and leave it there.
Click to expand...

Right, I'll give it a go with my next upgrade. I'm planning on a Sandybridge upgrade when I've cleared my Xmas debt. :)
 
Yep, 64bit OS here.

And just when I try to get out (of buying an SSD) you pull me back in!

So now im tempted to switch the 570 for a 6950. As I said, I'm not too bothered about GPU just as long as I can get good juice out it for a couple of years before SLI/X-Firing it. Are they good for now?

And totally with you Billy on the 'build and leave alone' modus operandi - once it's built and I can see it works, I want to hide it away pretend it didn't take me seven weeks and thousands of posts to assemble. :)
 
Another vote for SSD's here, no point bottlenecking a thousand pound system with spinnies. They are expensive compared to mechanical drives, but not too bad when you consider what other premium components cost.
For me they are easily the best upgrade I've done in years, and i've gone on to upgrade all five PC's in my house with them. The change in the 'feel' of the system was comparable to when I moved from my old Barton 2500 system to a Core2Duo E6600.

Have to say that "unnecessary expense" made me laugh coming from someone running an i7.
 
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According to this review an overclocked 570 beats an overclocked 6970 and is also slightly quieter so if it were me I would get a 570. Having said that being able to unlock a 6950 to a 6970 is very tempting. I do prefer nvidia so i'm slightly bias tho.

Edit: I hear SSD's are a great upgrade so I would get one if I had the cash
 
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I'd stick with the SSD also, maybe look at the cheaper Geil 8gb ram which apparently will be just as good as the more expensive stuff for sandybridge (I just bought the Geil over the Corsair stuff so made that decision).

Maybe get a cheaper cooler and get rid of the sound card as onboard is pretty good these days (I do some Fruityloops stuff and don't have issues with onboard but I'm not a HEAVY audio user so may be different for you?) plus I now dislike Creative a lot after the stunt they pulled with a guy called Daniel K.

I'd also stick W7 64bit on that machine for sure!
 
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Agreed with Yella Fella, thanks to everyone who has contributed!

I hope this thread helps other people trying to build an SB system under or around the 1k mark. To those people, I would say read as many reviews and threads as you can before taking the plunge. And research your mobo and CPU! Don't pick up something that has bunch of awesome features you won't ever use. I was really set on the 2600k just because 2600 sounds better than 2500, right, but I realised that 2500k was already more (and then some) than I needed.

In the end, I think this is what I'm going for:



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I couldn't resist the Nvidia 570, as much for its potential overclocking speeds as being able to use PhysX (however under-utilised, and even if it's only really awesome in Mafia 2). And same with the SSD, Zarf pretty much guilt-tripped me into wanting to justice to the money I'm spending. Same with the RAM, there wasn't much of a difference between the Corsair and GeIL so i stuck with the Corsair.

That said, if anyone can see anywhere I can save money, I'm all ears.
 
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