New Build - What CPU + MOBO am I going for???

[carneyd1]

Hi all,

I'm looking to do a new build from scratch. I have done one before so have some experience but I haven't been keeping up with the latest tech news on whats hot and whats not.

I need to know what CPU and MOBO are going to suit me best.

I already have a Radeon HD 6870 black edition and 8gb corsair Vengeance RAM ready to go.

Am I going intel or AMD for around about £100-150 purely for the processor. Cheaper would be better.

I'll be using the build for general browsing, word docs etc, HD movies and playing SWTOR. (Please no SWTOR haters on this thread.)

Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated.

DC

 

[diellur]

If it's £100-150 on the CPU alone, you could go for a 3570K (might go slightly over that, but if you shop around you could find it within the budget). The i5 'K' CPUs are the best for gaming systems and will last you for years. If that's too much, then look at something like the i3-3220.

If you get a 'K' CPU, you'll need a good motherboard (Z77) to support overclocking and give you some decent features...probably cost you between another £100-150. If not, then a basic Z77 motherboard with the features you want will set you back about £70.

 

[carneyd1]

If it's £100-150 on the CPU alone, you could go for a 3570K (might go slightly over that, but if you shop around you could find it within the budget). The i5 'K' CPUs are the best for gaming systems and will last you for years. If that's too much, then look at something like the i3-3220.

If you get a 'K' CPU, you'll need a good motherboard (Z77) to support overclocking and give you some decent features...probably cost you between another £100-150. If not, then a basic Z77 motherboard with the features you want will set you back about £70.

Hi diellur,

TBH i'm not too comfortable with over clocking. Havn't actually done it before.

Do you think I could go for a K edition. Buy a budget MOBO for now and then in a few years when I see the performance drop, get a decent MOBO and OC the processor then??

 

[bigcyco1]

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor (£138.74 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: Asus P8H77-V ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£83.99 @ Dabs)
Total: £222.73
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[bigcyco1]

If you want to overclock

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£159.95 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£26.65 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£117.98 @ Dabs)
Total: £304.58
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

 

[da22]

I just bought a very similar build, its running along nicely!!

All form Aria

Your Order:

1 x MSI Z77MA-G45 Intel Z77 Socket 1155 DDR3 PCI-Express Motherboard @ 75.26GBP
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail @ 149.99GBP
1 x GeiL Black Dragon (RED LEDs) 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (GB38GB1600C9DC) @ 29.99GBP

 

[carneyd1]

Thankyou very much for your help.

Before I saw your replies I was thinking of this setup:

Intel Core i5 2400 3.1GHz Socket LGA 1155 6MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed Processor £144.88
Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H Socket 1155 VGA DVI HDMI 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard £79.98
Antec Sonata Proto Mid Tower Case £49.98
Corsair Hydro Series H60 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler £49.98
Hitachi 500GB DESKSTAR 3.5" SATA-III - 7200RPM 16MB Cache 7K1000.D HDS721050DLE630 £47.98
Radeon 6870 Black Edition 1Gb
8GB Corsair Vengeance RAM

Is there anything here you really don't recommend for my needs??

(Also I know the HDD is low but I dont need Tb's worth of data.)

 

[bigcyco1]

You don't buy that H-60 i5-24oo can not be overclocked so your wasting your money by buying that also i don't see a power supply

 

[carneyd1]

You don't buy that H-60 i5-24oo can not be overclocked so your wasting your money by buying that also i don't see a power supply

Hi sorry i forgot to mention I already have a 500W corsair PSU.

The reason I went watercooled is I hate hearing the fan during movies and gameplay.

Any suggestions on what I could use as an alternative??

Also I have decided to go for your suggested i5 3450 - £129.98 on Aria


Do you know if my Radeon 6870 will work with:

Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H Socket 1155 VGA DVI HDMI 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard
Intel Core i5-3450 3.10GHz (Ivy Bridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail

 

[bigcyco1]

Yes it will work with it and for a cooler the H-60 surprisingly ... doesn't beat out air coolers cheaper then it lol that's sad i think but get it if you want to you still can't overclock though just in case you didn't know the overclock is i5-3570k or i5-2500k anyway your good to go enjoy!

 

[carneyd1]

Yes it will work with it and for a cooler the H-60 surprisingly ... doesn't beat out air coolers cheaper then it lol that's sad i think but get it if you want to you still can't overclock though just in case you didn't know the overclock is i5-3570k or i5-2500k anyway your good to go enjoy!

OK Ill have a look round for some other coolers. Thanks for your help, really sorted me out.