A few questions...

Associate
Joined
8 Sep 2010
Posts
510
Location
Kent
I have decided to move over from my P2 build onto an IB/SB setup. I have a couple of questions regarding "the big move".

1) I am going to try and raise some of the required captial by selling my current CPU, MB and Heatsink. Would I have more luck selling them as a bundle or individually? It would make my life a lot easier to sell them as a whole. Will I need to give them all the current MB screws? I can't remember if they came with my case or my motherboard.

2) Will I be able to use my current OS (system builder copy) with my new components? I remember reading that you can contact MS to move it over to a new build, but I can't remember seeing a firm answer.

3) There isn't much of a difference in price, but should I go with a 2500K or a 3570k?

I have picked these parts for my upgrade

MSI X79A-GD45
3570K
Corsair A50 Cooler

Does that all seem OK?

I need the MB to be SLI enabled and I would like PCI-E 3.0

Thanks.
 
I've taken that onboard and modified my basket. I have done a bit more digging about the OS question and it seems I can't switch over, so I will need to buy a new OS. Would it be more cost effective to wait for Windows 8 comes out and upgrade then?
 
You can use the developers copy of windows 8 now (free and legal). Then you can choose between buying windows 7 or 8 once the later is released.
 
I have done some more reading around and I think I am going to go for it. I just need to be reassured that its worth the £400 this is going to cost me.

My final basket. I need the OS, as I am currently using an OEM on my current motherboard.

 
If you are having framerate / performance issues, then yes. the 3570K is the best CPU you can get for gaming.

Gelid GC-Extreme or MX2 thermal paste would be my choice.

Your RAM is low profile? Else I would pick up the True Spirit 120. Can't guarantee what cooler would fit, or if you could move the RAMs into the secondary slots further away from CPU.

EDIT : You are using a Venom, so I suppose your ram fits underneath?
 
Last edited:
Well BF3 seems to struggle to hold a steady 60FPS in not particularly intense scenes. Skyrim struggles when I look into towns from outside. Both of these games are only using about 60-75 GPU usage. Shogun 2 is pretty average too, which I know is a CPU intensive game (which again only gets about 60-70 GPU usage).

My XMS3 RAM fits under my Venom CPU so I imagine the CPU Fan I have picked will be fine.
 
what monitor size/resolution are you gaming at, and have you tried lowering the graphic detail/resolution to see if that resolves the frame rate issue ?
 
what monitor size/resolution are you gaming at, and have you tried lowering the graphic detail/resolution to see if that resolves the frame rate issue ?
I game at 1080.

To be fair, going by the reviews of my 680GTX, I shouldn't have to turn anything down in the graphics department. Especially in skyrim, although maybe in shogun 2.
 
I game at 1080.

To be fair, going by the reviews of my 680GTX, I shouldn't have to turn anything down in the graphics department. Especially in skyrim, although maybe in shogun 2.

no you shouldn't, but its just to test the rest of the system, the 680 is more than up to it.

its just to give you an idea of what you currently have to run at to get the frame rate you mentioned so you can compare it when you get the new kit.
 
Back
Top Bottom