Just before I hit checkout...

Cereal · 1 Aug 2011 at 17:56

Would you guys at all mind casting an eye over this build to see if I've made any mistakes, or missed any special opportunities? Many thanks!

Case: Cooler Master HAF 922
Power Supply: Antec TruePower New Modular 650W
Motherboard: Asrock Z68 PRO3
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) - Retail
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Silver Arrow
RAM: Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB)
Graphics Card: MSI GeForce GTX 560Ti OC Twin FrozR II
Hard Drive: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB

The reason behind the choice of motherboard and PSU is that I've decided that I won't be upgrading or taking advantage of SLi for a long while, at least until my next build. Also that way I'm freeing up a few pounds for a new monitor, namely the LG W2363D 23" TRUE 120Hz 3D Widescreen LCD Monitor (again, unless anyone has any other suggestions).

Thoughts?

Cleeecooo · 1 Aug 2011 at 17:57

Looks great

Enjoy

stulid · 1 Aug 2011 at 17:57

A faster clocked card - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-074-GI&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1341

olivier renault · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:00

I'd use the money from the SA for other stuff (motherboard, GPU), and get a SA later as an upgrade.

The Pro 3 doesn't have the VRM power to match a Silver Arrow, so you'd be as well off with a cheaper cooler, or just a better motherboard.

Just my opinion.

Cereal · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:02

Thanks guys.

With regards to the linked card, going by the comments in the review section it seems more than one person has had to drop the overclock down to a level less that Twin FrozR for it work consistently at a stable rate - is this a common issue, or simply a bad batch?

Cleeecooo · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:03

stulid said:
A faster clocked card - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-074-GI&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1341

In my opinion, the MSI has a better cooler.
The Gigabyte one is quiter but MSI has one which is more efficient

Cereal · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:06

olivier renault said:
The Pro 3 doesn't have the VRM power to match a Silver Arrow, so you'd be as well off with a cheaper cooler, or just a better motherboard.

To tell the truth, I was looking at the Asus P8Z68-V before I decided I wasn't going to utilize SLi. You think this would be a better choice?

Cleeecooo · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:06

Cereal said:
To tell the truth, I was looking at the Asus P8Z68-V before I decided I wasn't going to utilize SLi. You think this would be a better choice?

better to have SLI so you can upgrade to it later if you wish to

stulid · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:08

Cereal said:
To tell the truth, I was looking at the Asus P8Z68-V before I decided I wasn't going to utilize SLi. You think this would be a better choice?

Then don't and save the £29

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/ASRock-Z68-Pro3-Motherboard/1280/6

The CPU voltage regulator circuit of the Z68 Pro3 has four phases for the CPU main voltage (Vcc a.k.a. Vcore), one for the CPU VTT voltage (integrated memory controller and L3 memory cache), and one for the CPU VAXG voltage (integrated video controller). Therefore, it uses a “4+1+1” configuration. This is a very basic configuration, matching the market segment to which this motherboard is targeted.

Although the number of power phases is reduced, the ASRock Z68 Pro3 uses good components, including solid capacitors, ferrite-core coils (lower energy loss, which improves efficiency), and low RDS(on) transistors (higher efficiency). The voltage regulator for the memory and chipset voltages also uses these better-quality components.

Surveyor · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:21

The Silver Arrow is out of stock.

Don't OcUK hold back your order if item(s) are out of stock?

Cereal · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:22

The CPU voltage regulator circuit of the Z68 Pro3 has four phases for the CPU main voltage

Compared to the P8Z68-V's twelve, correct? I appreciate I should Google this and figure it out for myself, but as you're currently browsing the forums I'm hoping you won't mind educating me a little... how much of an impact will this difference make to me?

Surveyor said:
The Silver Arrow is out of stock.

Don't OcUK hold back your order if item(s) are out of stock?

Bah! Fortunately I'm in no real rush. Who knows, something on my list may appear in next week's 'This Week Only'!

stulid · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:27

Cereal said:
Compared to the P8Z68-V's twelve, correct? I appreciate I should Google this and figure it out for myself, but as you're currently browsing the forums I'm hoping you won't mind educating me a little... how much of an impact will this difference make to me?

It will still enable a 4.5+ghz overclock if thats what your wanting.

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...67p67-and-z68-overclocking-and-power-use.html

The more phases the higher you can go (5ghz etc) you need more Vcore and it needs too remain stable without dropping off.

Cleeecooo · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:33

Surveyor said:
The Silver Arrow is out of stock.

Don't OcUK hold back your order if item(s) are out of stock?

Some of my liquid cooling stuff was out of stock. 5UB sorted out a backorder. Everything in stock has been se to me, now waiting for the out of stock stuff to come

Cereal · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:35

Thanks for the info and that last link, stulid.

Spydell · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:52

Bah! Fortunately I'm in no real rush. Who knows, something on my list may appear in next week's 'This Week Only'!

??? Your in no rush but yet thread states "Just before I hit checkout..."

Ok then....

Cleeecooo · 1 Aug 2011 at 18:55

Spydell said:
??? Your in no rush but yet thread states "Just before I hit checkout..."

Ok then....

LOL! Think he wants to order now but doesn't need everything tomorrow

Cereal · 1 Aug 2011 at 19:04

As per Cleeecooo's reply. The next batch of offers is only two days away, so it seems sensible to wait and see anyhow

.

Thanks again to everyone who has offered advice!

Surveyor · 1 Aug 2011 at 19:05

Cleeecooo said:
Some of my liquid cooling stuff was out of stock. 5UB sorted out a backorder. Everything in stock has been se to me, now waiting for the out of stock stuff to come

So the answer is that they hold back the order unless you're able to sort out special arrangements.

fiveub · 1 Aug 2011 at 19:19

Surveyor said:
So the answer is that they hold back the order unless you're able to sort out special arrangements.

Correct, let us know what works best for you and we will try and help.

olivier renault · 1 Aug 2011 at 19:36

Cereal said:
To tell the truth, I was looking at the Asus P8Z68-V before I decided I wasn't going to utilize SLi. You think this would be a better choice?

More VRMs means higher overclock, but also means less stress on the voltage regulation. So, yeah, I think the Asus is a better board, Not just for the SLI factor.

The limiting factor for overclocking is not the clock per-se, but the CPU voltage, which allows to clock higher. IMO no point running the CPU ragged either, or the motherboard VRMs. Usually best keeping CPU voltage under 1.38V as recommended by Intel (although I'd keep it lower still). Sweet spot seems to be 1.325V or there about, and 4.4-4.6GHz.