Check my spec! \o/

Kaeo · 25 Mar 2011 at 18:42

Hey folks! I'm right at the starting stages of building a i5 system.

Spec is as follows, but feel free to throw advice on specific components if they look better -

Motherboard - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-443-AS Asus P8P67 PRO Intel P67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - (Sandybridge) ** B3 REVISION **
or
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-325-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1906 Gigabyte P67A-UD4-B3 Intel P67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - (Sandybridge) ** B3 REVISION **

CPU - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-360-IN Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor

RAM - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-290-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517 Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) [CMX8GX3M2A1600C9]
or
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-299-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517 Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9) [CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9]

GPU - 2x http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-099-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1830 MSI GeForce GTX 460 HAWK "Super-OC" 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

HDD - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-048-OC OCZ Vertex 2E 120GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-2VTXE120G) [OCZSSD2-2VTXE120G]
+
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-075-HI&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=1955 Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 3TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache 7200RPM - OEM [HDS723030ALA640]

PSU - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-000-XF&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1497 XFX 850W Black Edition Modular Power Supply [P1-850B-NLG9]

SC - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-011-AS&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat= Asus Xonar DG 5.1 PCI Sound Card with built in Headphone Amp [90-YAA0K0-0UAN0BZ]

CPU Cooler - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-002-CS&groupid=962&catid=1532&subcat= Corsair Hydro H50-1 High-Performance CPU Watercooler (Socket LGA775/1155/1156/1366/AM2/AM3) [CWH50-1]

OS -Win 7 Home Premium 64bit.

So! I already have the PSU from another system, and I have some form of fondness for the MSI Hawks, as I already have one. I have 2 MSI 580GTX's in another system, but I just like the price of the SLi 460's more vs buying another 580 for this system.

Having read the feedback regarding issues with Asus vs Gigabyte with motherboard replacements, I'm not sure which to go for. I realise that there isn't much between the boards, and that OCuk would deal with replacement if anything was wrong with them, but meh.

(Does anyone else get this feeling of just not wanting to deal with any possible issues with a supplier when they've naffed off so many other people?)

Also, everyone seems to be raving about the Corsair XMS3 RAM, especially the temps they run at. I run enough 64 applications to want more than 4GB of RAM, but not really often enough to warrant paying for an i7!

Oh! and I already have the soundcard, but not sure if the onboard sound from these newer boards may infact be better than it.

Outside of number crunching and some video editing, it's mostly going to be used for gaming.

Would appreciate anything you can throw in the way of advice/feedback!

Edit:- Would also appreciate a case spec that would survive a few future builds. (using Antec 300 atm, and it's not bad)

coldfused · 25 Mar 2011 at 18:49

I would go for 2x 6870 Radeons ASUS Overclocked, instead of 460's. These will be £10/card more expensive but it'll be quicker than the 460's - however I'm not sure how much quicker they will be over MSI's.

Have a look at these comparisons:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/314?vs=301

Kaeo · 25 Mar 2011 at 18:55

Thanks for the suggestion! Looking at it, they would be better off bang for buck vs even the MSI stock OC'd 460s. I shall look into it in more depth.

coldfused · 25 Mar 2011 at 19:01

Actually, if you bought 2x GTX480's for £190 here - then you'll be set for a good few years. You would definitely need that 850W PSU however your bills will certainly rocket. On load (Crysis) 2x 480's = 200W more power draw than 6870's lol

coldfused · 25 Mar 2011 at 19:08

So I did more research into this

200W more = 0.2KW x 4hours usage a day average x 365 days of year = 292kWh
If you were with EDF, this would cost you £102.02
But if you went with British Gas "Online saver 3" this could cost you: £66.26 per year

I'm going to preempt: I'm not a salesman

Kaeo · 25 Mar 2011 at 19:12

Unfortunately it'll be on for about 8 hours or so per day. lol. D8

Ty very much for your suggestions too

much appreciate them.

Kaeo · 27 Mar 2011 at 03:59

Shameless bump!

Anyone else got any suggestions between the parts I'm not totally decided on or third party ideas? Thinking of getting a 1155 MSI board instead. :eek: