I5 Ivybridge System Build Advice

linktoinsanity

linktoinsanity

linktoinsanity

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Hey guys, wondering if someone can advise me, please note, this is a PC I'm building for my Dad and he can be a bit tight. He doesn't need his computer for gaming, it may get the odd 1280x1024 res game run on it, but wants a pretty fast one to replace his slowing 3 year old E2200 based PC.

He uses it for web-browsing, emails, spreadsheets, listening to music and editing both videos and photos.

I think as it will be the main family PC that it needs to be pretty fast anyway.

I was looking at the following specifications:

Intel Core i5 3450 3.1Ghz CPU
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-407-IN

MSI Z77 based motherboard
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-202-MS

8GB DDR3 Corsair 1333Mhz Memory
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-328-CS

128GB Crucial RealSSD M4
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-009-CR

Antec 300 Case
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-101-AN

Corsair Builder Series CX 430W V2 '80 Plus' Power Supply
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-059-CS

DVDRW Samsung
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CD-099-SA

The total cost comes to £495.74 including shipping (which should be free as I'm a forum member right?)

I will be nicking a 1TB F3 Samsung Hard disk out of the E2200 to use as a storage drive, so he won't be low on space. He won't be gaming much so I reckon the Intel HD4000 will be adequate for graphics, failing that I'll nick the 9600GT out of the E2200. I am hoping the 430W PSU will cope fine with that system (failing that will the current E2200s Zalman 500W Modular PSU do?). It will not be overclocked and I think the retail HSF will be fine for his needs.

So, what do you think? Any advice will be helpful to read through.

Thanks,
Link.
 
That looks good, I'd get 1600Mhz RAM for a few £ more:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-290-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

And maybe a better case?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-010-BX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1850
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-018-XG&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1572

430W is plenty for that system :)

Depending on budget, you might want to push to a 3570K as it has the better Intel HD4000 (the one you selected has HD 2500)
 
YOUR BASKET
1 x Gigabyte H61MA-D3V Intel H61 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £47.99
Total : £47.99 (includes shipping : FREE).



Cheaper mobo that still has USB3 and sata3 and the PCI-Express 3.0 slot. Seeing as you don't seem to be overclocking (no K series cpu) and gaming doesn't seem that important maybe this would be a better choice.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3450 3.10GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £143.99
1 x Crucial RealSSD M4 128GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive (CT128M4SSD2) £88.99
1 x Gigabyte H61MA-D3V Intel H61 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £47.99
1 x OCZ ZS Series 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £44.99
1 x Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) £41.99
1 x BitFenix Outlaw Gaming Case - Black £36.98
1 x Samsung SH-S222BB/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
Total : £419.92 (includes shipping : FREE).



The PSU is overkill unless he does decide he wants to drop in a dedicated GPU later :)
 
Last edited:
What you've spec'd in #1 is essentially fine. But, I would go with 1600MHz RAM and a better case as beejjacobs has mentioned and +1 for the Gigabyte H61MA-D3V motherboard recommended by honosuseri as you won't be overclocking anyway.

Also, BTW the i5-3450 has the Intel HD2500 and not the Intel HD4000 IGP as seen on the "K" versions of the CPUs. It will be fine for everyday tasks and photoediting but don't expect much in the way of gaming performance.
 
Thanks for the help guys. Memory swapped as suggested by beejjacobs, and honosuseri's system looks good, apart from the motherboard, which although it looks good spec wise, I do need at least one PCI slot (for the Wireless card), which it is lacking. Though I didn't mention this before so my bad.

I hadn't noticed the CPU only had a HD2500 graphics IGP in it, so will look again.

I am wondering whether it would be a good idea to cut down the price and go for a Sandybridge based system? Though having said that, prices don't look all that different.

Finally the case, I think cases are down more to personal preference, though your options do look good I have shown my dad the one I've specced and he liked that one. I also know Antec as a brand, so I feel safer using them, however is there some features in those cases you guys have linked which are missing off the 300 that I chose? Or is there a fundamental flaw in my chosen case I should know about?

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated, keep it coming! :)
 
 
Looks like a nice little build. I will be putting something similar together for my parents soon I think. They are still using an old DELL machine with single core processor and USB1. Hence my mums iPad is not recognised (as it requires USB2). She was pretty miffed.
 
Another quick question for you all btw, how is the Intel cooler? It won't be overclocked so it'll just be running stock, and will generally be pretty light useage as said so just checking tht the Intel cooler isn't awful these days. :)
 
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