New build - suggestions for improvement?

PMKeates

PMKeates

PMKeates

Soldato
Joined
16 Jul 2004
Posts
14,075
I'm thinking about a new PC. My current one has been creaking along 24/7 since 2005. My current component choices are below. Any suggestions for improvement? Have I made any bad decisions?

Intel Core i7-2600K 3.40GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor
Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9)
Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9)
Asrock Z68 Extreme4 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard
MSI GeForce GTX 570 OC Twin FrozR III Power Edition 1280MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
OCZ Vertex 3 120GB 2.5" SATA-3 Solid State Hard Drive (VTX3-25SAT3-120G)
Pioneer 24x Internal S19LBK DVD Rewriter including Labelflash SATA Retail
Noctua NH-D14 Dual Radiator CPU Cooler (Socket LGA1366/LGA1156/LGA1155/LGA775/AM2/AM2)
Arctic Silver Matrix Thermal Compound (2.5g)
XFX Pro 650W Core Edition '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply

I currently have a Seasonic S12 600 that I think would run all of this fine, but after 50,000 hours of operation I feel it's due a rest. Everything else will be taken from my current build.
 
You cant improve that apart from getting a 750W PSU as if you wanted SLI then a pair of GTX570's need that sort of power.
 
Very unlikely I'll go with SLI. All those years ago I bought a BFG GeForce 7800 GTX OC 512 and thought I'd go SLI, but the reality is I'll buy, build, and not care for another 5 years.
 
Jony27 said:
i take it your using apps that make use of hyperthreading and LOTS of RAM.
if its just mainly for gaming then i5 2500k with 4gb ram is enough.

are you sure the noctua cooler will fit in your current case?
if it does, id recommend the silver arrow but its currently out of stock.
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Yeah probably. I'll be keeping this for 5 years or more and I don't want to upgrade in that time. In 2005 I went with 2GB instead of 4GB and now I wished I had gone for the later. RAM is cheap enough I may as well go for 16GB.

My current case is an Antec P180 and Google seems to suggest it will fit.
 
Yeah I was wondering about usage too.

For normal/gaming usage I would stick with the 570, drop the 2600K to a 2500K, lose one of the RAM sets. Bank the change?

And I don't think that cooler will fit in that case, despite what google suggests.
 
The cooler is 160mm with fans, so if OP can lay something flat across the side of the case and use this as a datum to measure down to his current CPU surface? and give or take a few mm for randomness.
 
chrisarm said:
Pretty nice system mate, if you are mainly gaming you could get the brilliant i5 and a 580 for about the same price as the i7 and a 570
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Usage will be mostly 'media' (browsing the web, IRC, iPlayer, iTunes etc) with some light gaming. I'll be using it for productivity purposes too i.e. SQL Server.
billysielu said:
And I don't think that cooler will fit in that case, despite what google suggests.
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Well, it's based on people having it in the case, but I guess I haven't seen pictures!
 
I heard that hyper threading is supposed to hinder SQL Server usage (well it used to in xp and vista). I know you used to have to turn it off, if this still is the case then I would recommend the i5 2500k, also if you only use you pc for light gaming would the 560ti or the 2gb 6950 not be better on the wallet?
 
It might be better on the wallet but in 4 years time it will likely cross in to "annoyingly slow" rather than just be "a bit slow". Also the SQL and Hyperthreading thing was way back when, it's fine to use it nowadays.
 
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