900$ Build

[Niebelwerfer]

Hey guys, looking to get a pc mainly for gaming bf3, minecraft etc. Im new here so sorry if this the wrong template.

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: 2-3 weeks

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the internet movies

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: I need everything including keyboard, mouse, monitor, OS

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Microcenter, I live right by one
Location: GA, USA

Parts Preferences: none really,

Overclocking: Maybe, but I think its good to have the option

SLI or Crossfire: Not really unless it fits in budget

 

[CaptainTom]

Hey guys, looking to get a pc mainly for gaming bf3, minecraft etc. Im new here so sorry if this the wrong template.

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: 2-3 weeks

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the internet movies

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: I need everything including keyboard, mouse, monitor, OS

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Microcenter, I live right by one
Location: GA, USA

Parts Preferences: none really,

Overclocking: Maybe, but I think its good to have the option

SLI or Crossfire: Not really unless it fits in budget

Get:

-IB i3 for CPU ~$130
-HD 7870 for GPU $215
-Cheapest ASROCK Motherboard on newegg $52
-Windows 7 from eBay ~$80
-Simple 1080p monitor ~$150

Find the rest and post your parts and then I will take a look...

 

[Niebelwerfer]

I think that there is some like 50$ off when you buy intel processer with a motherboard.
What is your guys opinion of 2500k vs. 3570k?
2500k is 160$ 3570k is 190$
Ive heard they preform same at stock but overclock the same with the 3570k running hotter

 

[Niebelwerfer]

Any board recommendations
This any good
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard

 

[CaptainTom]

I think that there is some like 50$ off when you buy intel processer with a motherboard.
What is your guys opinion of 2500k vs. 3570k?
2500k is 160$ 3570k is 190$
Ive heard they preform same at stock but overclock the same with the 3570k running hotter

Honestly idk. If that is the price difference for you some how then I guess get the i5-2500k. The 3570k IS better. It performs about 15% better clock for clock and uses so little power. I undervolted my i5-3570k and it is currently using ~55w which is crazy lol. Also you should know that once I got a cheap $18 cooler for it, it OC'd to 4.4 GHz (The equivalent of a 5.1 GHz 2500k) with no heat issues...

 

[JJ1217]

Any board recommendations
This any good
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard

It is one of the most common Z77 Boards, and one of the best buck for your bang boards out there. Although I find you can't use a standard PCI soundcard while having cards in SLI/Xfire without blocking the fan of one of your GPU's, meaning it would be preferable if you got a sound card, to buy one that uses a PCIe 1x slot.

 

[envy14tpe]

Honestly idk. If that is the price difference for you some how then I guess get the i5-2500k. The 3570k IS better. It performs about 15% better clock for clock and uses so little power. I undervolted my i5-3570k and it is currently using ~55w which is crazy lol. Also you should know that once I got a cheap $18 cooler for it, it OC'd to 4.4 GHz (The equivalent of a 5.1 GHz 2500k) with no heat issues...

3570k @ 4.4 is like 2500k @ 5.1 ? Where did you see this? I thought the difference wasn't in speed but in efficiency. I assume the 2500k performs slightly better but not as much as you stated. I'm curious to read about your claim. I hope you can back it up with proof or links.

I use a CM Evo and I only get 4.2 GHz (mobo limits it) but could run 4.4 GHz as long as I don't play BF3.

Also, 55W is really impressive. Under heavy load my 2500k pulls 85W. (BF3) For web surfing and video its more like 20-35W.

 

[Niebelwerfer]

Best answer selected by Niebelwerfer.

 

[CaptainTom]

3570k @ 4.4 is like 2500k @ 5.1 ? Where did you see this? I thought the difference wasn't in speed but in efficiency. I assume the 2500k performs slightly better but not as much as you stated. I'm curious to read about your claim. I hope you can back it up with proof or links.

I use a CM Evo and I only get 4.2 GHz (mobo limits it) but could run 4.4 GHz as long as I don't play BF3.

Also, 55W is really impressive. Under heavy load my 2500k pulls 85W. (BF3) For web surfing and video its more like 20-35W.

Well I used a simple multiplier of 1.15 x 4.4 GHz (+15%). +15% is +660 MHz. However looking back on it I was probably a little generous as my example was a best case scenario.

I checked some benchmarks and the clock for clock is 5%-15%. So a more realistic difference is i5-3570k @ 4.4 GHz = i5-2500k @ 4.8 GHz. Actually that matches some benchhmark I have seen too come to think of it.

Also keep in mind that my 3570k consumes 55w only at max load (Prime, IBT) which is almost impossible to find a game that would use it 100% lol.


Got some info from this link:
http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2012/2012042702_Ivy_Bridge_Performance_and_Overclocking_Overview.html