Help me spec a budget but upgradeable rig

minimadmotorman · 16 Aug 2011 at 21:39

Right going to let my old rig go lock & stock to a family member so need to build a new one.

I've got a couple of 500gb SATA II drives a DVI/VGA monitor, keyboard & mouse so just really need to build the computer.

I want an i3 or ideally an i5 and have the ability to upgrade (liable to add to the rig month to month) also planning on using it for a bit of gaming at some point.

£300 is really the absolute max limit for now so if I have to use onboard graphics for now then so be it.

No need for an OS as have a Technet subscription.

minimadmotorman · 16 Aug 2011 at 21:47

Thanks chap.

minimadmotorman · 16 Aug 2011 at 22:06

Hmm interesting comparison there.

minimadmotorman · 16 Aug 2011 at 22:20

I probably won't be gaming on the IGP only when I add a discreet graphics card.

minimadmotorman · 16 Aug 2011 at 22:25

Thanks guys. Food for thought but think I have an idea of which route I will be taking now.

Expect another thread soon.

minimadmotorman · 17 Aug 2011 at 09:13

If I were to marginally up my budget could I get something like a 2500k and a suitable board with OC-ability? I don't think RAID would be required as I'll prob stick a SATAIII SSD in it at some point.

Really sorry for all the green questions. Last time I built a rig it was an FX-57!

minimadmotorman · 17 Aug 2011 at 09:22

I've just realised. I'm already falling into the pit I fell into 5 years ago. Was going to build a basic rig then ended up building a water cooled fx-57 with all the bells and whistles. Must not overspend!

minimadmotorman · 17 Aug 2011 at 10:23

I take it I would have to buy a discrete graphics card for the P67 though?

minimadmotorman · 17 Aug 2011 at 11:02

If I'm going to smash my budget how about?

Intel Core i3-2120 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £99.98
Asus P8P67 LE Intel P67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard ** B3 REVISION ** £70.98
Asus ATI Radeon HD 6670 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card £59.99
Lepa W-Series 600W '80 Plus' Power Supply £56.99
Corsair Vengeance Blue 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B) £47.99
Cooler Master Elite 430 Windowed Case - Black £37.99
Samsung SH-S222AB/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
Shipping : £11.75
Total : £405.01

Feel free to suggest alternatives, cheaper graphics card to get me by with a later upgrade etc.

minimadmotorman · 17 Aug 2011 at 11:11

I don't want to be replacing the mobo again tbh. I'm not looking for something that is going to a planet killer but want a machine that is going to last me.

minimadmotorman · 17 Aug 2011 at 11:32

Whats the difference in the RAM you have specified stulid to the stuff I did?

minimadmotorman · 17 Aug 2011 at 12:31

Could I get 4 of the vengence dimms in that board if i go for it in future?

Also would you recommend changing the thermal paste on the stock intel cooler?

minimadmotorman · 17 Aug 2011 at 12:55

Short and sweet! Better dust off that Visa!

minimadmotorman · 18 Aug 2011 at 09:39

Well as the ram seems to be at rock bottom I have bought 16gb of that now. I'll let the old rig go in the meantime and wait for pay day to order the rest.

minimadmotorman · 19 Aug 2011 at 11:13

I knew this would spiral out of control!

I've got the ram and now my missus has offered to give me £100 (belated birthday present) towards the rig.

I guess this leaves me with £400-£450 to spend. Anyone care to help out with an updated spec. I like the idea of the Ivybridge ready board. And am good for HDD's.

minimadmotorman · 19 Aug 2011 at 11:33

Thankyou very much!

I am quickly beginning to learn that you seem to be the specification guru stulid!

If I were to be a naughtly little boy and overclock what cooler would you recommend?

minimadmotorman · 19 Aug 2011 at 12:29

Would that cooler fit with the 4 vengeance sticks?

minimadmotorman · 19 Aug 2011 at 12:31

Ooooo! I take it the radiator would mount in place of one of the rear fans?

minimadmotorman · 19 Aug 2011 at 18:10

OK.

I know this isn't the case of choice for many people (Silver innards, lack of cm) however I really like it so my missus has ordered me an Antec 300 Case and an Antec TruePower New Modular 650W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply. They were on special £99 delivered.

I've sourced an HP Lightscribe DL DVD-RW SATA drive from a friend.

So after payday it's MSI & 2500k time!

minimadmotorman · 19 Aug 2011 at 18:18

Yeah plus it means my case, cooler and psu would be Antec. I'm really anal like that :-P