Moving to Ivybridge (I guess)

Soldato
Joined
30 Dec 2004
Posts
4,681
Location
Bromley, Kent
Hi guys

My trusty Q9550 + P5Q Pro is finally giving up the ghost as I think the Southbridge is going. As such it's time to move on. I don't usually do much around home systems any more so need some advice:

CPU (Quad core)
MOBO (USB3 needed, minimum 1 PCI slot that won't get in the way of my Xonar D2, SATA 6Gb/s)
RAM (6 - 8GB depending)
Cooler (Quiet - have 120mm fans if needed)
Case (Quiet is a priority. Something understated like a Fractal R2 or similar)

That's what I'm after - ideally looking to suffice for around 3 years. It's mainly used for gaming so specced for that it will do what else I need.

Budget is £500 - £550 all in

I'd be looking to buy this at the end of the month when I get paid so any advice now is appreciated so I can start to do some reading

Thanks

- GP
 
When you say specced for gaming - if its replacing your Q9550 does that mean there is a graphics card we could bring over? Or if you feel your old card is too slow can we ask what it was to get an idea of desired performance for the new one? :)

Edit: Oh, in your OP you don't ask for a graphics card! I take it that means we'll be using your existing one.... still, good to know what it is to pick an appropriate level of CPU retc to accompany it!
 
@tamzzy - Looking for new items rather than second hand

@ David_Bisset - Yeah have everything else needed. 6950, Crucial M4, Corsair HX PSU etc. It's purely the core gubbins that need replacing

I've seen a number of the bundles and have an idea of what's around but a lot of the items are very similar with little perceivable difference in their specs

- GP
 
OK, I'm fairly novice at the 'spec me' stuff, but my effort:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £185.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £136.99
1 x Fractal Design Define R2 Midi Tower Case - Titanium Grey £82.72
1 x Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (PV38G160C9K) £49.99
1 x Thermalright Macho 120 CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £500.68 (includes shipping : £12.50).



8 gigs ram but not super-fast. Still a bit of room in the budget if you want...

Edit: Remember this includes postage, which you presumably get free.... more spare budget :)

Edit2: Perhaps this case instead, still fairly understated and should be quieter.
 
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Thanks - looks pretty similar to what I'd seen. Although I;m a gamer mainly I;m not a hardcore one any more for shooters so I;m not looking to get bleeding edge on anything

Thanks so far :)

- GP
 
I looked at that but there didn't seems much improvement form what I understood?

if Haswell is in budget and gives some kind of benefit then sure why not. Again, any ASUS board that's recommended?

- GP
 
Sounds sensible enough. Few queries on tamzzys' spec:

- Is there a suitable ASUS board instead of the Gigabyte one?
- I like the idea of the H80, but not so much one the case. Any other recommendations that it would fit in? For reference I have a Lian-Li A17b at the moment and much prefer the understated look so would prefer something along those lines, or the Fractal for example. not bothered about the material providing it's a metal shell, but I'd guess Steel would be quieter?

- GP
 
I looked at that but there didn't seems much improvement form what I understood?

if Haswell is in budget and gives some kind of benefit then sure why not. Again, any ASUS board that's recommended?

- GP

Sounds sensible enough. Few queries on tamzzys' spec:

- Is there a suitable ASUS board instead of the Gigabyte one?
- I like the idea of the H80, but not so much one the case. Any other recommendations that it would fit in? For reference I have a Lian-Li A17b at the moment and much prefer the understated look so would prefer something along those lines, or the Fractal for example. not bothered about the material providing it's a metal shell, but I'd guess Steel would be quieter?

- GP

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-4670K 3.40GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £197.99
1 x Asus Z87-C Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £109.99
1 x Corsair Hydro H80i High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler (Socket LGA1155 / 1150 / LGA1156 / LGA1366 / LGA2011/ AM2 / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £75.35
1 x Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-17000C11 2133MHz Dual CHannel Kit (PV38G213C1K) £65.99
Total : £460.72 (includes shipping : £9.50).



for the asus mobo, the z87-c does not sli, if you are considering sli in the future, u'd need to get the z87-a instead.
i didnt spec a case this time. if you want a good performance + silent case with understated looks, google: nanoxia ds1, it costs less than the 530 which i specced earlier
 
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