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Tom's Hardware > Forum > Systems > New Build > [Solved] Need some help on Sandy Bridge build.

[Solved] Need some help on Sandy Bridge build.

Forum Systems : New Build [Solved] Need some help on Sandy Bridge build.

Hello,
I'm building a rig for the first time and here are the parts which I intend to buy.

Intel i3-2100 3.1GHz
Gigabyte GA-H61M-USB3-B3
Cosair XMS3 2x4GB 1333
Radeon HD 5570

Question is whether I can play recent games(Skyrim, AC:R, MW3. BF3) on mid or mid/high settings. And can I get better parts for the same price as these?

Message edited by Kanra on 11-17-2011 at 08:20:31 AM

Reply to Kanra

Best answer

your processor, memory, and board will serve you well for gaming. But your graphics card is a weak choice. What resolution will you be gaming at? That makes all the difference. The HD 5570 will do fair to OK with mid-settings @ 1680x1050 and below. But the games you mentioned will need even more graphics horsepower.

Reply to clutchc

Yes, I'll probably be playing at that resolution or lower than that cause my monitor isn't very big(It's square, not widescreen).
I know playing BF3 needs a good card but can't I even play AC:Revelations?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Kanra

I would get a 6770 at the least with todays games. That 5570 won't last for 1 year. It's even weaker than my card which is 3 years old.

Drop your Ram to 4gb to be able to get the 6770. You don't need more than 4gb anyway.

Message edited by cutebeans on 11-17-2011 at 08:40:04 AM

Reply to cutebeans

Kanra wrote :

Sure, you can play any of those games. Just not at very high resolutions. And with a minimal amount of eye candy turned on. If you try to use higher resolutions, your framerate will drop to where the games will be unplayable. I agree with cutebeans, use the savings in dropping your memory to 4GB, and put it towards a better card.

The higher the resolution (the more pixels and texels the card has to address), the more work the card is expected to do. Right-click on the Desktop and click on 'Screen resolution' to check what you are using.

Reply to clutchc

What resolution is your monitor?

The weak part of that system is by far the gpu. But if you have a very low resolution, your just wasting your money buying anything more than what you picked, so, my suggestion would be to upgrade your monitor first.

22"/1920x1080 is the standard size. There is no more gratifying upgrade than a monitor, and they are pretty darn cheap, I saw a 24" LED LCD today for under $180. Just upgrading from a 19" to a 22" is like night and day. You'll be drooling at your desk for weeks, trust me.

I would also spend the extra $5 on the i3-2120, it's 200mhz faster. It may not be needed now, but if you plan on keeping your cpu a few years, that extra 200mhz will come in handy down the road when you pop in a big fat GTX600.

Message edited by geekapproved on 11-17-2011 at 07:09:02 PM

------------------------------ Core i3-2100/Asrock H61/8GB1333/XFX HD5850oc/WD Black 500/Antec 300/Antec EA380w bronze
Currently playing Deus Ex:HR a second time on Hardcore
Reply to geekapproved

If a 1920x1080 monitor is too expensive for your budget, look into a 22" 1680x1050 monitor. You still get widescreen gaming (a must-have) without breaking the bank. I use one for my 2nd desktop and don't feel I lose a thing over the 1920x1080 on my main machine... except that I don't need as powerfull a card to get all the eye candy.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ageSize=20

Reply to clutchc

I don't think they make 1680x1050 22" monitors anymore. The standard is 1920x1080.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ Core i3-2100/Asrock H61/8GB1333/XFX HD5850oc/WD Black 500/Antec 300/Antec EA380w bronze
Currently playing Deus Ex:HR a second time on Hardcore
Reply to geekapproved

geekapproved wrote :

I don't think they make 1680x1050 22" monitors anymore. The standard is 1920x1080.

Follow the link...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] zi1c0oh2op
Granted, they are "only" 1680x1050. But at only 22", they provide a good wide screen gaming experience at low cost. And you can enjoy gaming @ high settings and w/all the eye candy... and do it with a mid-range or lower card.

Reply to clutchc

Yeah. If only people sold them here in my country. oh well, I'm going to buy 1600 x 900 then.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to cutebeans

cutebeans wrote :

Yeah. If only people sold them here in my country. oh well, I'm going to buy 1600 x 900 then.

Where is your country?

Reply to clutchc

Thanks for the replies.
My current monitor is 14"x10".
I don't have a job(I'm only 13) so I only have a very small budget for this. Local shops don't have the latest computer hardware as the latest graphics card I saw was from HD4000 series. So havee to order them from somewhere else. So I buy these stuff from Amazon as Newegg does not have international shipping.

Problem is, I've received the video card before I posted this thread. I ordered the video card fist cause it is compatible with my current rig but when I installed it, the power supply died.

I plan on getting a better card and monitor after getting some money.

Message edited by Kanra on 11-18-2011 at 03:47:28 AM

Reply to Kanra

In that case, replace your failed PSU and enjoy the HD 5570 for now. At the minimal resolution of your 14x10 monitor, you will be able to game very good. That resolution won't demand too much graphics power. The HD 5570 should serve you well until you upgrade to a higher rez monitor. Enjoy

Reply to clutchc

Can I play the games on 1024x768 or 1280x800 resolution?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Kanra

Kanra wrote :

Can I play the games on 1024x768 or 1280x800 resolution?

Certainly. Why would you think not?

Reply to clutchc

Yes the 5570 will handle those resolutions nicely.

Reply to Evan20x

Thanks a lot for all the replies.

Reply to Kanra

I have a question, will overclocking the HD5570 allow me to increase the resolution/details?

Reply to Kanra

You don't increase resolution. You run whatever the native resolution of your monitor is. Period.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ Core i3-2100/Asrock H61/8GB1333/XFX HD5850oc/WD Black 500/Antec 300/Antec EA380w bronze
Currently playing Deus Ex:HR a second time on Hardcore
Reply to geekapproved

geekapproved wrote :

You don't increase resolution. You run whatever the native resolution of your monitor is. Period.

Agreed. But, I believe that would only apply to today's flat panel monitors. LCDs, etc. If he is still using an old CRT monitor (he mentioned 1024x768 on a sq. 14x10 monitor), he could actually use whatever resolution the display will generate.

Reply to clutchc

No, my monitor is flat. LCD.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Kanra

Kanra wrote :

No, my monitor is flat. LCD.

Then follow geekapprovec's advice...

Reply to clutchc

If you don't run the native resolution of your monitor, the picture won't look it's best.

------------------------------ Core i3-2100/Asrock H61/8GB1333/XFX HD5850oc/WD Black 500/Antec 300/Antec EA380w bronze
Currently playing Deus Ex:HR a second time on Hardcore
Reply to geekapproved