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xspectrum

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I posted a build on here yesterday, but have made some changes to it. I need some suggestion on the CPU, though as I'm undecided on whether I should get the i5-2400 or 2500k.


Case: Rosewill Challenger link
Mobo: If I get the i5-2400: link; if i get the 2500k: link
PSU: Rosewill Green Series link
Graphics Card: GTX 550 Ti link
RAM: G.Skill Value Series link
HDD: Western Digital 320GB 7200RPM link
CPU: i5 2400: link; i5 2500k: link

I will be using this computer for some gaming, quite a bit of video/photo editing, and a lot of multitiasking. Also, if I got the 2400 processor, I would upgrade my graphics card to a HD 6870 as well as install 2 more fans into the case.
 
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neal0790

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It completely depends on if you want to overclock or not. Overclocks with speed your prcessor up and give you extra performance. You will need to buy an CPU cooler too. The hyper 212 does a great job at $30. If your unsure about overclocking and your interested in it, take a look at the asus boards. They feature a great auto overclocking feature that will do it for you, if your afraid your going to mess things up manually. Hper 212 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 - $27

Asus p67 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131707 - 149

The PSU in your build isnt a great PSU. I would reccomend a Corsair or Seasonic.
Corsair - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027 - $60

The 550 is a great card for what your looking to do. I would take a look at the evga cards. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625 - $140


Other than that it looks fine.
 
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xspectrum

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Someone recommended me that PSU, and it has great reviews. Rosewill is a pretty good company.
 
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neal0790

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Im not saying its a horrible brand but you can do better for the money. Ask anyone on here corsair and seasonic are the best/ most recommended psu brands on the market. Its wise to get a great brand considering your whole rig depends on it. Stay on this site for a week and look at how many people have computer issues that end up being related to there PSU. Rosewill makes good cases/fans/ etc but only make half decent psu's. You asked for advice and i gave it. Whether you want to listen is up to you.
 
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xspectrum

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OK. It seems like I'm stuck between choosing a 2500k processor (with overclockable mobo) or a 2400 with a better graphics card, fans, and power supply... I'm still stuck, though.
 
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neal0790

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Just go with the 2400, its still a great CPU. They only say the 2500k is the best CPU for gaming because of the option to overclock and get as much juice as possible out of it. There both pretty much the same right out of the gate. If you have a microcenter near you they have the i5 2500k for $179. I was just in there a week ago and there still offering $50 off a mobo too when your purchase it.
 
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xspectrum

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Any idea on how long that $50 off deal is going to last? I'm gonna go to microcenter in a week or two, will it still be on then?
 
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ringzero

ringzero

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Based on the fact that you'll be doing "quite a bit of video/photo editing," I'd say go with the 2500k, since a lot of the non-gaming stuff you'll be doing will benefit from the extra performance.

What games are you looking to play? If you're not wanting to have highest settings on a bunch of FPS games, then that level of card is just fine. However, I would recommend a Radeon 6770 or 6850 over that 550 Ti. nVidia cards at that level are overpriced. You can get a 6850 for around the same or even a little less and it will perform better. Or you can get a 6770 for much cheaper that performs just as well as the 550 Ti.
 
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neal0790

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Not to sure its been going for about a month now. Im guessing the CPU offer will still be around but not to sure about the mobo offer. They originally just had the CPU offer and added the mobo offer along with it. But definitly go down there. They also price match newegg/tiger direct so if you do your research before hand you can get some good deals.
 
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aznshinobi

aznshinobi

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@Ring, what performance boost? The i5 2400 is going to give him the same performance as the 2500K the only difference is overclocking hence the K. Basically the same chip besides a minor clock speed change and overclocking.

As for the card, yes I'd go with the 6850 or 6870 at the 550 Ti's price. The 6850 and 6870 are a bargain at the current price w/ the performance offered.

Regards to the Rosewill PSU, the green series is one of their best PSUs, here's a PSU review to show.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Rosewill-Green-Series-630-W-RG630-S12-Power-Supply-Review/881/10
 
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xspectrum

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I think I'll go with the 2500k if they offer the $50 off motherboard, otherwise I'll go with the 2400.
 
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ringzero

ringzero

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I hear where you're coming from. It's just that the overclock on the 2500k is soooo easy and provides more than just a minor performance boost. And thus it provides greater longevity than a stock 2400. Plus I was trying to gauge his usage based on what he said in the original post: "some gaming" and "quite a bit of video/photo editing, and a lot of multitasking." It sounded to me that the CPU would be of more use than the GPU. And since it sounded like it was either a better CPU or a better GPU, I went with the CPU.

Then again, this is in the Gaming Build Advice forum, so there ya go. But yeah, I agree that the 2400 and 2500k are not miles apart, but there's still a fairly significant difference: at least 4.5Ghz vs the 3.1Ghz (3.4Ghz TB) of the 2400.
 
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aznshinobi

aznshinobi

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True, I'm just saying at stock. Complete stock since not everyone likes to overclock. I've seen a few thread starters that have been opposed to even slight overclocking.

The i5 2400 and i5 2500K are basically the same in performance, though if OP plans to overclock then yes the 2500K is justified. But at stock no overclocking or in the near future the extra $30+Extra for the Z68/P67 board is better spent on the motherboard or GPU. Mainly the GPU.

 
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ringzero

ringzero

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Agreed! :-D
 
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darkclownjoe

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Last month's Microcenter deal only had certain selection of mobos available, but this month they are boasting $50 off ANY mobo combo with the 2500k.
 
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serialkiller

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go with 2500k and asus mobo and oc it automatic to 4 or may be above usually 4.2 to 4.5ghz :D

as for gpu get amd hd 6870 as there is less price different between 6850 and 6870 :)

as for psu 95 percent of regulars on THF recommend corsair,seasonic,silverstone,antec,xfx and even ocz and very few cooler master and thermaltech and hardly roswell and no name brand

if u want to save few bucks go with roswell but we warn u that those few bucks can put ur entire system in danger.

Its ur choice and we are not forcing just giving advice at last u are gonna buy and suffer not us. And u might get good psu but that is sheer luck and why take so big risk?

And by the way ur build is gonna be kick ass :)

:D
 
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