New Build Advice

jackbauer123 · 7 Jun 2011 at 12:55

Hi there, finally signed up for an account after lurking for a while.

I'm currently on the lookout for a new PC on a budget of about £500. I've some minimal experience in building a PC so I reckon I may as well give it a go.

I'd like it to include an i5 2500k in the build if possible. I reckon I'll need a copy of Windows 7 too. I won't need a mouse/keyboard/monitor.

I'd like to use it for gaming eventually, but would rather get a decent base unit with a view to adding a decent graphics card in a couple of months when I can afford to get something worth buying rather than buy something that isn't up to the job for the sake of fitting it into the budget now if that makes sense.

Hope that isn't too unreasonable.

DJ_Martin · 7 Jun 2011 at 13:15

Maybe something like this?

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor £173.99
1 x Asrock Z68 PRO3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £105.98
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Bundle - Home Premium 64 Bit £68.40
1 x Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (WD5000AAKX) £29.99
1 x Antec 100 One Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black £43.99
1 x Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £33.59
1 x OcUK 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
Total : £485.93 (includes shipping : £12.50).

The motherboard includes onboard graphics so you can get by for a bit then add a GPU a bit later down the line.

jackbauer123 · 7 Jun 2011 at 13:31

Apologies if it's included with one of those components, but I don't see a PSU in there.

I could quite easily get by with onboard graphics for a couple of months or so I reckon so that sounds good.

Rexton · 7 Jun 2011 at 13:34

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - OEM £155.99
(£129.99) £155.99
(£129.99)
MSI P67A-C45 Intel P67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - (Sandybridge) ** B3 REVISION ** £89.98
(£74.98) £89.98
(£74.98)
Microsoft Windows 7 Bundle - Home Premium 64 Bit £68.40
(£57.00) £68.40
(£57.00)
Options applied to the above product:
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (WD5000AAKX) £29.99
(£24.99) £29.99
(£24.99)
Antec High Current Gamer 620W Power Supply £49.99
(£41.66) £49.99
(£41.66)
Antec 100 One Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black £43.99
(£36.66) £43.99
(£36.66)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £33.59
(£27.99) £33.59
(£27.99)
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus CPU Cooler (Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/775/1155/1156/1366) £19.99
(£16.66) £19.99
(£16.66)
Sony Optiarc AD-5260S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £15.98
(£13.32) £15.98
(£13.32)
Sub Total : £423.25
Shipping cost based on delivery to My house, PR9 8LT with:
FREE SHIPPING (DPD Next Day)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : FREE
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £84.65
Total : £507.90

Yes, computers seem to work better with a power supply in my opinion. P67 boards don't do onboard graphics, do you want me to add in a cheap GPU for the mean time?

DJ_Martin · 7 Jun 2011 at 13:36

****, glad someones paying attention :L
Ive actually just gone out and can't re-spec very well on my phone. Budget will be tighter than I thought. If the antec 620W PSU is still on offer I would recommend that. Would go about £35 over budget though.

Sorry I can't be of more help right now

DJ_Martin · 7 Jun 2011 at 13:39

Rexton said:
Yes, computers seem to work better with a power supply in my opinion. P67 boards don't do onboard graphics, do you want me to add in a cheap GPU for the mean time?

Just use a Z68 one it allows overclocking and onboard graphics. Better than getting a throwaway crap GPU

Rexton · 7 Jun 2011 at 13:40

Swap the mobo for this.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-052-AK

It will allow onboard graphics until you can add in a GPU.

DJmartin said:
Just use a Z68 one it allows overclocking and inboard graphics. Better than getting a throwaway crap GPU

I know.

jackbauer123 · 7 Jun 2011 at 13:49

Sounds like a reasonable compromise between the 2 specs so far. Thanks for the help so far.

I noticed that the CPU cooler is out of stock, any recommendation on an alternative?

Also, just out of curiosity, is that a decent motherboard without considering the onboard graphics situation? I'm not forcing myself into choosing a poorer quality motherboard just for the graphics am I?

jackbauer123 · 7 Jun 2011 at 14:15

Maybe something like this one?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-035-AR

olivier renault · 7 Jun 2011 at 14:17

Hyper 212+

jackbauer123 · 7 Jun 2011 at 15:06

olivier renault said:
Hyper 212+

And if pressed for an alternative? That part is showing as out of stock.

Stoner81 · 7 Jun 2011 at 15:11

Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 High Performance CPU Cooler - Click me.

Stoner81.

honosuseri · 7 Jun 2011 at 15:29

Nothing wrong with that Asrock mobo, I do believe that is what the resident spec guru stulid has just used in his upgrade with an i5 2500K.

It would be nice to get an aftermarket heatsink. If you can't find something that is in budget and stock you could consider buying the retail CPU. It comes with a stock heatsink and comes with a longer warranty (3 years as opposed to the 1 year on the OEM).

jackbauer123 · 7 Jun 2011 at 15:39

Perhaps a silly question, but what does aftermarket mean? And how do I know which ones are aftermarket and which aren't?

jackbauer123 · 7 Jun 2011 at 15:51

Would a Gelid Tranquillo be a good option instead of the Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 High Performance CPU Cooler?

----------

If so I'm considering this...

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - OEM Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - OEM £155.99
(£129.99) £155.99
(£129.99)
Asrock Z68 PRO3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard Asrock Z68 PRO3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £105.98
(£88.32) £105.98
(£88.32)
Microsoft Windows 7 Bundle - Home Premium 64 Bit Microsoft Windows 7 Bundle - Home Premium 64 Bit £68.40
(£57.00) £68.40
(£57.00)
Options applied to the above product:
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (WD5000AAKX) £29.99
(£24.99) £29.99
(£24.99)
Antec High Current Gamer 620W Power Supply Antec High Current Gamer 620W Power Supply £49.99
(£41.66) £49.99
(£41.66)
Antec 100 One Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black Antec 100 One Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black £43.99
(£36.66) £43.99
(£36.66)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £33.59
(£27.99) £33.59
(£27.99)
Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366) Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366) £25.99
(£21.66) £25.99
(£21.66)
Sub Total : £428.27
Shipping cost based on delivery to work address, with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £13.75
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £88.40
Total : £530.42

That's probably about as far as I can stretch to.

DJ_Martin · 8 Jun 2011 at 10:57

Yeah that looks great,

Good Luck with the build and make sure you post pics.

jackbauer123 · 13 Jun 2011 at 09:48

Just wanted to say thanks for everyone's help with this, I bought and built it last week and it's running brilliantly. I forgot to take any pics during the build though I'm afraid, but I assure you it looks great.