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CPU Advice

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Joined
17 Dec 2004
Posts
413
Location
UK.
Seems to be so many different opinions and choices that i'm feeling a bit :confused: about upgrading my CPU.

I've got the money to spend, building a water-cooled setup so was thinking of an i7 980 and a Gigabyte Guerilla X58 Mobo.

I mainly do gaming, the occasional video converting and such. Gulftown or Sandybridge? i5 or i7? I also heard there's a new range of Intel coming out soon which I would have to assume to be the i7 Sandybridge varient?

Want to stick with Intel just not sure what the best option is. I dont want to be paying huge amounts for small gains but I want the very best I can get without being foolish.
 
I mainly do gaming, the occasional video converting and such.

I dont want to be paying huge amounts for small gains but I want the very best I can get without being foolish.

Gulftown or Sandybridge? i5 or i7?

With what you've said above, for me, it would have to be the 2500K as you will get very little gain for the money spent on the other chips.

Spend what you save on a better gfx/Sli, more memory, SSD...
 
With what you've said above, for me, it would have to be the 2500K as you will get very little gain for the money spent on the other chips.

Spend what you save on a better gfx/Sli, more memory, SSD...

Thanks, yeah I have all the rest in my basket which is almost at 3k that's why I need to make sure I get my core right.
 
Thanks, yeah I have all the rest in my basket which is almost at 3k that's why I need to make sure I get my core right.

As you have already have everything else in your basket make sure you switch to a Sandy Bridge motherboard if going down that route.
 
Thanks, yeah I have all the rest in my basket which is almost at 3k that's why I need to make sure I get my core right.

That's an impressive budget; you must be building a mighty rig - what have you got so far?

I still stand by my recommendation of the 2500K for your usage but if you're building a premium rig then the 2600K wouldn't look out of place but would only be of benefit for 'spec aesthetics' and benching - and the odd HT game/app.

But i can see why you're undecided given your budget.
 
Work in progress but this is what I have so far.

>snip<

As you’re going under water and thinking of swapping over to a Sandybridge setup i would consider a post in the watercooling forum.

As you have a windowed case you may want some feedback on the most suitable boards, gfx cards for watercooling – i.e. SLI spacing and colour co-ordination etc (if this is important to you.).

Just a reminder, as you’re probably well aware, if you swap to a SB you only need a dual channel memory kit in your basket.

It should be a stonking build when it’s finished - whether you get the 2500K or the 2600K.
 
Thanks, I appreciate the advice. Decided on the Corsair Dominator GT 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-17200C9 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit with DHX Airflow Fan - as i've heard good things. Gives me room to upgrade to 8gb in the future too.

Almost forgot the power supply, Lepa G-Series 900W '80 Plus Gold' Modular Power Supply should be enough to cut it.

Not to concerned with colours, will get green cooling liquid maybe. Decided on the OcUK V12 Watercooled Case - Corsair 800D **2011 Compatible** instead of the Coolermaster. It has the water kit included so all I need are the GPU Waterblocks I believe.
 
Decided on the OcUK V12 Watercooled Case - Corsair 800D **2011 Compatible** instead of the Coolermaster. It has the water kit included so all I need are the GPU Waterblocks I believe.

Great choice - i much prefer the 800D to the Coolermaster - I kept quiet before as i don't see the point in putting a downer on someone elses case choices as it's a personal thing.

It's a great case to work on and looks stunning in the flesh.
 
Just a word of advise for the headset...

I see that you have choosen the Creative Fatal1ty HS-980 Professional Gaming Headset MkII...

I have the Creative Sound Blaster Arena HS-1100, which is basically USB version of the HS-980. Despite it is very comfortable around the ears since the earcups will surround you ears completely, what I can tell you is that after a while of wearing it, the headset will leave a line across your head due to the weight. If I were you, I would get something like that the Razer Carcharias, which have much thicker cushions at top, and it distribute the weight to two sides, rather than right down the center like the Creative headsets.
 
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