Potential new hybrid build!!!!!

Markus30 · 28 Feb 2013 at 19:24

Dear All,

My current system (key parts) is:

CPU = Q6600 (O/C to 3.3GHz)
M/B = Asus P5KC
G/C = MSI GTX 560Ti OC
PSU = Antec Earthwatts EA-500, 500W (came with Antec case)
RAM = Crucial Ballistix 2 x 1Gb (DDR2)
HDD = Samsung 320Gb SpinPoint F1

I'm thinking of keeping the case, G/C, PSU, monitor, Mouse, K/B etc... but would like to exchange the M/B, HDD, CPU & RAM:

CPU = ? (Intel, fast)
M/B = ? (would like one with SLI capability for another 560Ti & 1 x PCI slot)
G/C = MSI GTX 560Ti OC (maybe add another for SLI)
RAM = ? (at least 8Gb)
PSU = Antec Earthwatts EA-500, 500W (will this be okay in a new build??)
HDD = ? (want a SSD but which one???)

I'd appreciate any suggestions for the blanks above or any thoughts on bundles via Overclockers. I found the following one on offer this week (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-122-OE), any thoughts? Also, recommendations on a decent SSD (120Gb) would be great.

My budget would be ~£500-600.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

zakblood · 28 Feb 2013 at 19:50

go for the bundle and add,

XFX 850W XXX Edition Modular '80 Plus Silver' Power Supply (if your going sli at a later date, if not the 500 will be fine in the same range) i wouldn't use your's tbh if it's more than a few years old

1 x XFX 850W XXX Edition Modular '80 Plus Silver' Power Supply £99.98
Total : £110.48 (includes shipping : £8.75).

Adata XPG SX900 128GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive £95.99 inc VAT

great drives, and super fast if you don't mind the controller mind you, i have 2 x 256gb pro version, when they was cheap, work great and as fast as the samsung, and a lot less money, most will knock them but with 3 years warranty and a good price, they get my vote

lee32uk · 28 Feb 2013 at 19:56

Your old psu will be fine for running a single card, but if you wanted to sli you would need a bigger one (like the one zak specced).
Also you would need to make sure the cooler below will fit in your current case, otherwise you would have to choose something smaller. What case do you have ?

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £187.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £112.99
1 x Plextor M5 Pro 128GB Extreme Series Solid State Drive - (PX-128M5P) £99.95
1 x Corsair XMS3 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX16GX3M2A1600C11) £79.99
1 x Toshiba (7K1000.D) 1TB SATA 6GB/s 32MB Cache - OEM (DT01ACA100) HDD £59.99
1 x Cooler Master Hyper 612S CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £32.99
Total : £585.30 (includes shipping : £9.50).

Bacon? · 28 Feb 2013 at 22:01

Quick question on your 560. If that the 1GB model or 2GB? If its the 1GB model I would think about selling it and getting a single 2GB GPU like a 7850 or 7950.

Markus30 · 28 Feb 2013 at 22:19

Thanks for the replies - very helpful (I've been out of touch with the latest equipment now for a while).

On the SSD question, what is this thing I've heard about "controllers"? Are some controllers better than others? What's the best/most reliable technology in the SSD field??

@lee32uk: I have an Antec Sonata III (came with EarthWatts 500w PSU)

@Bacon?: The 560Ti is a 1024MB card, so would it be better to sell it, get the 7850/7950 and keep my PSU? (thus saving the money on a new PSU given I wouldn't be running a SLI rig)

Markus

Idleman · 1 Mar 2013 at 02:05

Yes, to selling the 560ti, go for the 7870 XT or 7950.
What cooler do have at the moment?

zakblood · 1 Mar 2013 at 05:36

Markus30 said:
Thanks for the replies - very helpful (I've been out of touch with the latest equipment now for a while).

On the SSD question, what is this thing I've heard about "controllers"? Are some controllers better than others? What's the best/most reliable technology in the SSD field??

@lee32uk: I have an Antec Sonata III (came with EarthWatts 500w PSU)

@Bacon?: The 560Ti is a 1024MB card, so would it be better to sell it, get the 7850/7950 and keep my PSU? (thus saving the money on a new PSU given I wouldn't be running a SLI rig)

Markus

many will say the samsung pro or plextor, but it's choice tbh

i have used intel for many years and never had any trouble what so ever, now i'm using 2 adata pro's 256gb, same again, had them 3 months now and very happy with them, rock stable and as fast as both above, and a lot cheaper, but yes a different controller, one that many says isn't the greatest,but for me and many it works fine, and they keep selling them.

so you won't go far wrong in what ever you choose, just enjoy it, and let the warranty sort out a problem if there is any as i got 3 years, im happy

Doomedspeed · 1 Mar 2013 at 07:24

zakblood said:
many will say the samsung pro or plextor, but it's choice tbh

i have used intel for many years and never had any trouble what so ever, now i'm using 2 adata pro's 256gb, same again, had them 3 months now and very happy with them, rock stable and as fast as both above, and a lot cheaper, but yes a different controller, one that many says isn't the greatest,but for me and many it works fine, and they keep selling them.

so you won't go far wrong in what ever you choose, just enjoy it, and let the warranty sort out a problem if there is any as i got 3 years, im happy

Very true, a lot of people who bought agility 3's were happy too but there were problems with the controller and if an ssd gives in, its an important and expensive replacement. That's the only reason we suggest brands without the sandforce controller.

I also know people who have ran a full-on gaming rig on a unbranded psu with no problems, though I wouldn't suggest anyone risk that.

I have an M4 its great.

That is all.

Johnchristin · 5 Mar 2013 at 10:29

Doomedspeed said:
Very true, a lot of people who bought agility 3's were happy too but there were problems with the controller and if an ssd gives in, its an important and expensive replacement. That's the only reason we suggest brands without the sandforce controller.

I also know people who have ran a full-on gaming rig on a unbranded psu with no problems, though I wouldn't suggest anyone risk that.

I have an M4 its great.

That is all.

I agree with zakblood. Yes, earlier SF controllers had performance issues and they have patched up this with firmware updates. I too have Intel 550 and have been using this happily without any troubles. Many people have created a hype around this product and just would like to contribute in changing this perception.