A few questions on Sandy Bridge - I'm sure such a thread has never existed before!

fini

fini

fini

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Ok, need to build a system relatively quickly as my motherboard has died. I use the computer mainly for normal office based tasks as well as photoshop/image editing. I can't deal with noisy computers so I don't want to stress it out in any way and this is also why, traditionally, I've not overclocked.

First question: I was thinking of going for a 2500k, but considering that I'll almost certainly not want to overclock it should I just go for a 2500? Am I being stupid in deciding not to overclock given how easily Sandy Bridge overclocks?

Second question: If I don't overclock I'd go for a H67 board as I'm using an old 6600GT graphics card at the moment so integrated would actually be an upgrade! I assume that Photoshop can make use of the integrated in the same way it does discreet?

Third question: I currently use two monitors and will potentially move to three in the future. I was thinking of going for the Asus P8H67 motherboard which provides three outputs (VGA, DVI and HDMI). Is it able to drive all three outputs at once in the same way a discreet graphics card does or am I limited to using only one? Clearly if it can only drive one then I'm better of just going P67 as I wont be using the transcoding capabilities of H67.

Fourth question: Is the only difference between the Asus P8H67-M and P8H67-M Pro just the PCI ports? It seems bizarre that they have two different models just for that difference...


On the basis of the above, how does this look:
Intel Core i5-2500 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail
GeIL 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz VALUE PLUS Dual Channel (GVP34GB1600C9DC) - I would go 8GB, but am trying to keep the price down and can easily upgrade in the future.
Asus P8H67M Intel H67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro-ATX Motherboard - (Sandybridge)

I also need a new hard-drive so was thinking of chucking this in too:
Western Digital Caviar Green 1.5TB SATA-II 64MB Cache - OEM (WD15EARS)

Thoughts?
 
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fini said:
Ok, need to build a system relatively quickly as my motherboard has died. I use the computer mainly for normal office based tasks as well as photoshop/image editing. I can't deal with noisy computers so I don't want to stress it out in any way and this is also why, traditionally, I've not overclocked.

First question: I was thinking of going for a 2500k, but considering that I'll almost certainly not want to overclock it should I just go for a 2500? Am I being stupid in deciding not to overclock given how easily Sandy Bridge overclocks?
Click to expand...

If you are doing anything requiring decoding then overclocking could lead to substantial boosts in performance. It is extreamly easy as well on Sandy bridge so i'd consider it. However having said this it brings me onto my next point which suggests not overclocking answered in the next question:

Second question: If I don't overclock I'd go for a H67 board as I'm using an old 6600GT graphics card at the moment so integrated would actually be an upgrade! I assume that Photoshop can make use of the integrated in the same way it does discreet?
Click to expand...

One would think so but I can't garantee it. If you do do a lot of decoding then you may want a h67 board allowing quick sync, which is aparently a huge deal:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sandy-bridge-core-i7-2600k-core-i5-2500k,2833-4.html

However as I think you are already aware, this means you cannot overclock.

Third question: I currently use two monitors and will potentially move to three in the future. I was thinking of going for the Asus P8H67 motherboard which provides three outputs (VGA, DVI and HDMI). Is it able to drive all three outputs at once in the same way a discreet graphics card does or am I limited to using only one? Clearly if it can only drive one then I'm better of just going P67 as I wont be using the transcoding capabilities of H67.
Click to expand...

I can't garantee it but I would think it could display to at least 2 of them. I suspect no one will know the answer to your graphics card questions as no one has tried it yet so you may need to do some research into it.

On the basis of the above, how does this look:
Intel Core i5-2500 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail
GeIL 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz VALUE PLUS Dual Channel (GVP34GB1600C9DC) - I would go 8GB, but am trying to keep the price down and can easily upgrade in the future.
Asus P8H67M-EVO Intel H67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro-ATX Motherboard - (Sandybridge)

I also need a new hard-drive so was thinking of chucking this in too:
Western Digital Caviar Green 1.5TB SATA-II 64MB Cache - OEM (WD15EARS)

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Im not sure the evo is worth its price tag considering what it adds personally.

:EDIT:

also might I point out that overclockers mobo prices in particular are pretty hiked up at the moment. For instance asking for £30 more for a asus delux then other places might ask.
 
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