PC in need of an upgrade

Bicko · 20 Oct 2011 at 12:48

Afternoon chaps. I'm feeling like my PC could use a bit of an upgrade, mostly because it's been having some issues with RAM for ages now and I'm pretty sure it's just the mobo being a pain in the ass (BSoD whenever I try and use more than 2 sticks of RAM).

I'm currently sitting on a IP35-Pro running a Q6600, I've got an Akasa AK-CCX-4002HP Venom CPU Cooler which I'd like to keep although I could deal with getting rid of it if I had to.

Otherwise I'm looking to get a new mobo, CPU and RAM (happy with my graphics at the moment) and the mobo should have 5.1 onboard (I'm not an audiophile, but I've got some Roccat Kaves (yes I know they're not real 5.1)).

Any recommendations? I'm probably looking to set my budget at around £200-300, and I'm not interested in overclocking anything.

mp260767 · 20 Oct 2011 at 13:00

cooler you have should be fine, long as you have the brackets required for 1155 socket.

Intel Core i5-2300 2.80GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £147.98 (£123.32)

Asus P8H61-M Intel H61 Chipset (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard **B3 REVISION** £61.99 (£51.66)

Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C10 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (BL2KIT51264BA160A) £37.99 (£31.66)

Sub Total : £206.64
Shipping : £9.50
VAT : £43.23
Total : £259.37

mickyflinn · 20 Oct 2011 at 13:05

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - OEM £149.99
1 x Asus P8Z68-V LX Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £81.59
1 x G.Skill RipJawsX 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL ) £37.99
1 x Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366) £25.99
Total : £306.96 (includes shipping : £9.50).

Drop the ram to 4gb if you want to reduce cost or didtch the cooler and get the boxed cpu with fan unless you have 1155 bracket.

Bicko · 20 Oct 2011 at 17:35

I think I'll go halfway between both of you and choose this, because mickyflinn's mobo has the 5.1 I need and for £2 more that i5-2500K seems much nicer, plus I trust Crucial as a brand more than G.Skill (who I've never heard of). Gonna have a dig around, see if I've still got the 1155 bracket kicking around.

God bless OcUK though, always the best location of quick advice