~$1200 Ivy Bridge build for new GTX650Ti

ringc

Honorable
Jun 21, 2012
3
0
10,510
Hello!
It’s been a while since I built my last PC (Intel 975BX Mobo, Pentium D chip, ATI 2400 GPU) and I’m looking to build a mainstream PC that can handle a little Skyrim or other current games. My current PC is used 95% of the time for watching Netflix/movies (ditched cable) and occasionally I’ll fire up a game; it’s hooked to a 27” Dell LCD in my living room and I’ll probably upgrade that to a bigger screen in the future. I have never overclocked the processor on my current PC and will not on this build; therefore thought I could save a few dollars with non-overclockable Mobo (H77) and CPU (non-K chip). I’ve already purchased the PSU and GPU (see below in Parts Not Required), now I need the rest of the build and am undecided on Motherboard and RAM. Also wondering if the COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO will fit into the Silencio 550 case I’m looking to buy. Looking for any suggestions/comments other than “why not overclock? You should give yourself the option.” - I prefer quiet and stable; let the kids with twin Asus Mars GPUs in SLI overclock their stuff. Thanks in advance!

Approximate Purchase Date: this week

Budget Range: ~$800 (already spent $400 on new GPU and PSU)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Streaming Netflix, surfing the internet, gaming

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, 1TB hard drive, PSU Seasonic X650 Gold (new), GPU EVGA GTX560Ti 1Gb (new)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon

Country: USA, California

Parts Preferences: CoolerMaster Silencio 550 case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119251

Leaning towards Asus or Asrock Mobo; had a bad experience with Gigabyte.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131826

Intel Core i5-3550 Ivy Bridge
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116505

Crucial M4 128GB SSD for OS & games
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO – Will this fit in the case I’ve selected?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Memory: 8 Gb, no idea which. Corsair Vengeance? G.Skill Ripjaws? Reading the specs for which RAM SKUs match which motherboards makes my eyes go cross. Just need mainstream RAM, I’m not looking to tweak memory settings. In the past I’ve relied on Crucial to pick memory based on motherboard because I hate matching them up.

OS: Win98 SE (ha ha) - 64 bit Win7 Home Premium
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Overclocking: Not the CPU, maybe the GPU by way of EVGA software

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: Need this to be a quiet and unobtrusive PC, it will be in my living room.
 
Solution
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO – Will this fit in the case I’ve selected?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103099

It should but it's hard to judge without seeing interior pictures of the case. If you get something like the Antec 1100 it will without problem.

Memory: 8 Gb, no idea which. Corsair Vengeance? G.Skill Ripjaws? Reading the specs for which RAM SKUs match which motherboards makes my eyes go cross. Just need mainstream RAM, I’m not looking to tweak memory settings. In the past I’ve relied on Crucial to pick memory based on motherboard because I hate matching them up.

Here's a couple to pick from - you'll need low profile RAM (no tall heat sinks) if you're going to be using a Hyper 212:

- Mushkin...

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO – Will this fit in the case I’ve selected?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103099

It should but it's hard to judge without seeing interior pictures of the case. If you get something like the Antec 1100 it will without problem.

Memory: 8 Gb, no idea which. Corsair Vengeance? G.Skill Ripjaws? Reading the specs for which RAM SKUs match which motherboards makes my eyes go cross. Just need mainstream RAM, I’m not looking to tweak memory settings. In the past I’ve relied on Crucial to pick memory based on motherboard because I hate matching them up.

Here's a couple to pick from - you'll need low profile RAM (no tall heat sinks) if you're going to be using a Hyper 212:

- Mushkin Blackline: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226193
- Crucial Ballistix: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544
- Corsair Vengeance: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233186
- G.Skill Ares: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231548
- Kingston Hyper X: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104255

You can't go wrong with any of those - they all meet Ivy Bridge specifications.
 
Solution

ringc

Honorable
Jun 21, 2012
3
0
10,510
Thanks g-unit; really, you were the only one to reply? Turns out that Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO cpu cooler won't fit in the Cooler Master Silencio 550 case (too tall). I ordered the Cooler Master GeminII S524 instead, with the Corsair RAM you suggested. Waiting for those parts to come in now.