Having trouble picking a MOBO and RAM

[ryvin]

I have a $1200 budget and I am buying this system within the week. I did have a board and ram picked out but now I am not sure. Could someone make a few recommendations?

Current build minus the needed parts is as follows...

CPU
Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz - LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K

GPU-
ASUS ENGTS450 DC OC/DI/1GD5 GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
(not a gaming machine so this card works for my purposes)

PSU-
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V

HDD-
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5"

CASE-
Rosewill BLACKHAWK Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

OPTICAL-
LG Black Blu-ray Disc Combo SATA Model UH10LS20 LightScribe Support

MONITOR-
Acer G235HAbd 23'' WideScreen LCD monitor

-
Current total is $916 I would like to stay under $200 for the motherboard

I'm also having trouble with finding memory that is compatible with the LGA 1155 socket boards.....need to have 2 x 4g sticks DDR3

Thoughts?

 

[joelmartinez]

Mobo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157220&cm_re=h67_motherboard-_-13-157-220-_-Product if res is under 1920x1200 and no overclocking planned
RAM- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226095&Tpk=mushkin%20silverline compatible with LGA 1155

Also change:
HDD- this is faster and cheaper http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-181-_-Product
Case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197&cm_re=HAF_922-_-11-119-197-_-Product I own one myself very quiet big and easy to work with excellent cooling

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/article/1000116/ASRock-P67-Extreme4-Motherboard-Review/0 <--- Fairly recent review of the ASRock P67 Extreme4 with some o/c tips and great screenies.

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/1098/pg10/asrock-extreme4-p67-and-fatal1ty-professional-p67-vs-x58-with-core-i7-950-review-overclocking.html <--- Recent yet not so in depth review of that same board.

http://www.asrock.com/MB/download.asp?Model=P67%20Extreme4 <---- make sure you update to the latest bios

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157217 $159.99
ASRock P67 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226095 $82.99 FREE SHIPPING
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 996770

 

[joelmartinez]

Please not that the only downside to the HAF 922 is the fact of new front USB 3.0

and if not overclocking no need for a K series if overclocking then get this Asrock mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157222&cm_re=Asrock_pro3-_-13-157-222-_-Product the extreme4 isn't needed unless CF/SLI is, and for res under 1920x1200 CF/SLI isn't worth it a single good card will be better

 

[ryvin]

How is asrock? I have never heard of them and was a little wary

Also i would like to OC just an FYI to anyone wondering. I can spend a little over 200 for the mobo if need be

 

[joelmartinez]

go with the pro3 asrock i suggested. Asrock is a break-off from Asus and they offer the same features and overclocking abilities for much less then Gigabyte and Asus.

What cooling do you plan on using? How high an overclock do you want to achieve?

What res?

 

[ryvin]

Cooling is a Cooler Master N-520
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057

As for overclock im not planning on going wild, this computer is meant for 3d animation and render jobs that can last a LONG time so stability / cooling is important so i wont be pushing the CPU to its limits.

Also i would like 1920x1200 res BUT monitors that support that are too pricey so im going to be working around 1920x1080 which should be fine.

 

[ryvin]

Also what about the turbo boost tech that the i7 has? sorry i dont know too much like i used to

 

[ryvin]

What do you think of this as well?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131695

---

update

Never mind I had a special person moment and skimmed the pro3 specs too fast and didn't see the hyperthreading / turo-boost support.

 

[joelmartinez]

If you already bought the cooler fine it is decent but if you haven't buy this instead: http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RR-B10-212P-G1-Universal-Heat-Pipe/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1296431139&sr=8-1 and make sure to purchase TIM as well http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080&cm_re=shin_etsu-_-35-150-080-_-Product

I recommend a 4.2 ghz overclock with Turbo disabled

Turbo basically automatically increases CPU speed when there is a heavy load it will cause instability if overclocking highly

The Asrock is just as good, I wouldn't get more than a Pro3 if 1920x1080 and with the extra saved money buy a gtx 460 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127519 it will help with your rendering and 3d animation

 

[joelmartinez]

If temps are really important this is the best price/performance air-cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142&Tpk=scmg-2100 the hyper 212+ should do, but not with as low temps

 

[ryvin]

looks like that mobo just went out of stock, damn

 

[ryvin]

Best answer selected by ryvin.

 

[Maziar]

This topic has been closed by Maziar