motherboard/CPU/cooler advice?

captbirdseye06 · 22 Aug 2013 at 09:38

Hi guys,

I've currently got an MSI Z68A GD80(B3) with a Sandybridge I5 2500k and Gelid gelid tranquillo and wondered if it's worth upgrading them?

I've got about £400 for motherboard/CPU/cooler as I can salvage the rest from my old build.

Many Thanks

Idleman · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:14

What`s the rest of your system spec?
Might be worth upgrading in other areas. The 2500K is still a very capable chip.

Doomedspeed · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:15

Well said idle, my 2500k is going strong still..

Maybe great a better cooler so you can achieve a bigger OC..

What are the rest of your specs?

Rainagul · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:16

Unless you are using your computer for some heavy media applications that would benefit from newer tech I would say keep what you have.

Change your cooler to a liquid cooler from corsair, step the overclock up on your 2500k to 4GHZ+ and enjoy better performance for £100.

Could then have £300 for other things.

Doomedspeed · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:19

Rainagul said:
Change your cooler to a liquid cooler from corsair, step the overclock up on your 2500k to 4GHZ+ and enjoy better performance for £100.

You don't need watercooling to get a big overclock on sandy chips, they produce less heat and most will do really well on med/high end air cooling..

I have mine at 4.7Ghz on a D14 (around £60)... No real need to splash out on a H100i. This is unless you're case is too small..

Idleman · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:29

Doomedspeed said:
You don't need watercooling to get a big overclock on sandy chips, they produce less heat and most will do really well on med/high end air cooling..

I have mine at 4.7Ghz on a D14 (around £60)... No real need to splash out on a H100i. This is unless you're case is too small..

True. I had 4.6 and decent temps with a CM Hyper 612S. So he should still be capable of decent OC speeds with the Gelid.

Off topic Doomed, you get your HDMI problem sorted?

Rainagul · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:34

Well regardless of whether it's an air or watercooler, I would argue that a better cooler is in order for OC then what he currently has. Especially if he is like most overclockers and likes to keep temps down as much as possible.

captbirdseye06 · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:44

my spec:
Coolermaster CM 690-II
i5-2500k
8gb ddr3
GT660T
xfx 800 watt

Thanks for the advice and anyone recommend a decent water cooler?

Doomedspeed · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:50

captbirdseye06 said:
my spec:
Coolermaster CM 690-II
i5-2500k
8gb ddr3
GT660T
xfx 800 watt

Thanks for the advice and anyone recommend a decent water cooler?

I assume you meant GTX 660ti and XFX 850W PSU? as XFX don't do a 800W PSU.

What make of RAM do you have? Is it high profile?

Id reccomend an aircooler, the K2 to be precise: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-020-AL

Idleman said:
Off topic Doomed, you get your HDMI problem sorted?

Ohh yeah, i did..

It was the TV at fault, took it back and got it repaired within 2 weeks.. though i had to deal with a 1366 vs 768 (or whatever) res for that time.. Messed my eyes up

Got it back weekend just gone but discovered some light bleeding from the top of the screen, not amazingly noticable but enough to annoy me..

They've been nice and offered a replacement if it is bad, so not all bad..

Thanks for you concern buddy.

captbirdseye06 · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:59

Opps, yeah 660ti and xfx 850. My RAM - Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX). Cheers on the cooler and saving me some cash

.

Rainagul · 22 Aug 2013 at 11:03

For the same budget as the previously mentioned cooler, I would go with

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-006-CS&tool=3

More compact and great performance with a push/pull fan setup.

Idleman · 22 Aug 2013 at 11:14

I would go with the K2, same price as the H60 but will give lower temps at higher OC speeds. The K2 is on par with the SA in the review.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5054/corsair-hydro-series-h60-h80-and-h100-reviewed/5

Doomedspeed · 22 Aug 2013 at 11:16

captbirdseye06 said:
Opps, yeah 660ti and xfx 850. My RAM - Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX). Cheers on the cooler and saving me some cash .

Aren't you glad i can read people in a rush.

Sweet, was just making sure the cooler would clear the RAM, it will, all is good

Rainagul said:
For the same budget as the previously mentioned cooler, I would go with

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-006-CS&tool=3

More compact and great performance with a push/pull fan setup.

Not the same performance as the K2 though, the K2 is up with the H80(i) (£80)..

I had the H50 and now the D14 and the difference (in favour of the D14) is incredible.