Gaming PC compatibility check

[burns94]

Hi, I am building my first computer and need some help whether all the part are compatible.

CPU: INTEL Core i5 Ivy Bridge 3570 - 3.4 GHz - 6 MB

Motherboard: MSI H61M-P31 (G3) - Socket 1155 - Chipset H61 - micro-ATX

GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7870 OEM - 2 GB

HDD: SEAGATE Barracuda 3.5" internal hard drive - 1 TB

Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 24x DVD Rewriter

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) 1600MHz

Case: CiT Vantage Case Black

PSU:Corsair 500W Builder Series CX 80+ Bronze ATX Power Supply

I will be using a Screen resolution of 1920 x 1080

Also will I be able to play modern games at their highest setting (EG Battlefield 3)

Will I need any extra coolers?

Thanks

 

[N.Broekhuijsen]

That's a very good system, with a few lowpoints:

500GB HDD will hold you back, those are slow, usually higher capacity hard drives are a bit faster as well, but your best bet would be a small SSD for your OS, and then put the rest on your hard drive. That's up to you if you can justify it though.

Secondly, that power supply is nowhere near powerful enough to run that system. I would consider at LEAST a 500 watt PSU from a reputable company to run your expensive parts. A bad PSU can lead to serious stability issues, and may not protect your hardware properly in case of a surge. A PSU is the last thing you want to skimp on.

Beyond that it's a decent system!

 

[burns94]

That's a very good system, with a few lowpoints:

500GB HDD will hold you back, those are slow, usually higher capacity hard drives are a bit faster as well, but your best bet would be a small SSD for your OS, and then put the rest on your hard drive. That's up to you if you can justify it though.

Secondly, that power supply is nowhere near powerful enough to run that system. I would consider at LEAST a 500 watt PSU from a reputable company to run your expensive parts. A bad PSU can lead to serious stability issues, and may not protect your hardware properly in case of a surge. A PSU is the last thing you want to skimp on.

Beyond that it's a decent system!

Hi, thanks for your response.

I was unsure what make psu i should get, but would a COOLER MASTER GX Lite 500W be okay?

I only really want one hdd, would a 'SEAGATE Barracuda 7200.14 ST1000DM003 3.5" internal hard drive - 1 TB' be better?

Also will i need a separate cpu cooler or will the stock one be ok?

 

[tiny voices]

You don't want to get a cooler master PSU. They are of poor quality. Stick to brands like Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic

 

[burns94]

You don't want to get a cooler master PSU. They are of poor quality. Stick to brands like Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic

Thanks, i have updated my spec with your suggestion.

 

[Sakkura]

That's a very good system, with a few lowpoints:

500GB HDD will hold you back, those are slow, usually higher capacity hard drives are a bit faster as well, but your best bet would be a small SSD for your OS, and then put the rest on your hard drive. That's up to you if you can justify it though.

Secondly, that power supply is nowhere near powerful enough to run that system. I would consider at LEAST a 500 watt PSU from a reputable company to run your expensive parts. A bad PSU can lead to serious stability issues, and may not protect your hardware properly in case of a surge. A PSU is the last thing you want to skimp on.

Beyond that it's a decent system!

I disagree. A 400W PSU is sufficient for that system, provided it's a reliable 400W PSU. However, CiT is not considered reliable at all, so yeah...
Something like a Corsair CX430 or an Antec PSU in the same range would work. However, there are several other issues with the build that I'll detail below, and changes there can of course also play into the PSU choice.

Hi, I am building my first computer and need some help whether all the part are compatible.

CPU: INTEL Core i5 Ivy Bridge 3570K - 3.4 GHz - 6 MB

Motherboard: MSI H61M-P31 (G3) - Socket 1155 - Chipset H61 - micro-ATX

GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7850 OEM - 2 GB GDDR5 - PCI-Express 3.0 (AMD-HD7850)

HDD: SEAGATE Barracuda 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - 500 GB (ST500DM002) from

Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 24x DVD Rewriter

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) 1600MHz

Case: CiT Vantage Case Black

PSU:CiT 400W 12cm Silent Fan Dual Rail Power Supply

I will be using a Screen resolution of 1920 x 1080

Also will I be able to play modern games at their highest setting (EG Battlefield 3)

Will I need any extra coolers?

Thanks

That motherboard is from the old generation launched with the Sandy Bridge line of CPUs. The Core i5-3570k is a CPU from the new Ivy Bridge generation. While it is possible to run it in a motherboard from the old generation, the motherboard would first have to be updated with a new BIOS - and you can't (usually) update the BIOS without having a compatible CPU in it. So you should either get a CPU from the old generation or swap to a motherboard from the new generation.

Also, the Core i5-3570k is meant for overclocking. But the H61 chipset, as well as its replacement (H77), does not allow CPU overclocking. So you'd want to make a change there, either saving some money by not getting overclocking parts, or getting overclocking-oriented components all around. That would also include a good CPU cooler, since the cooler that comes with the CPU is insufficient when overclocking.

The graphics card you picked is an OEM version, which means it has a bad cooler. Get one with a custom cooler on it; it'll be less noisy and would overclock better.

 

[nix327]

You can get an i5 without the 'K' and an H67 or B75 motherboard if you are not overclocking. They offer more features like USB3.0 and SATA 6 Gb. If you are overclocking 3570k is fine but i am not sure about the motherboard..may be some one else can help you..and yes you can definitely play games at 1920*1080.

 

[N.Broekhuijsen]

You don't want to get a cooler master PSU. They are of poor quality. Stick to brands like Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic

Bah, cooler master is fine. I know plenty of folks with their PSU and haven't heard any complaints. Sure they're not the best, but you do get good value.

 

[Sakkura]

Bah, cooler master is fine. I know plenty of folks with their PSU and haven't heard any complaints. Sure they're not the best, but you do get good value.

Some of their PSUs are downright good, actually. BUT some of them are also downright bad. It's a mixed bag, so it's safer to go with the quality brands (eg. Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, XFX). And often doesn't cost more.

 

[burns94]

I disagree. A 400W PSU is sufficient for that system, provided it's a reliable 400W PSU. However, CiT is not considered reliable at all, so yeah...
Something like a Corsair CX430 or an Antec PSU in the same range would work. However, there are several other issues with the build that I'll detail below, and changes there can of course also play into the PSU choice.


That motherboard is from the old generation launched with the Sandy Bridge line of CPUs. The Core i5-3570k is a CPU from the new Ivy Bridge generation. While it is possible to run it in a motherboard from the old generation, the motherboard would first have to be updated with a new BIOS - and you can't (usually) update the BIOS without having a compatible CPU in it. So you should either get a CPU from the old generation or swap to a motherboard from the new generation.

Also, the Core i5-3570k is meant for overclocking. But the H61 chipset, as well as its replacement (H77), does not allow CPU overclocking. So you'd want to make a change there, either saving some money by not getting overclocking parts, or getting overclocking-oriented components all around. That would also include a good CPU cooler, since the cooler that comes with the CPU is insufficient when overclocking.

The graphics card you picked is an OEM version, which means it has a bad cooler. Get one with a custom cooler on it; it'll be less noisy and would overclock better.

Thanks for the response, is their any motherboards that you would recommend to go with the i5-3570?

 

[Sakkura]

Do note that there's a CPU called the Core i5-3570 and a different one called the Core i5-3570k. The k makes a difference because it means the processor is unlocked and can be overclocked to its physical limits.

For the Core i5-3570k I would look for something like an Asrock Z77 Extreme3.

 

[burns94]

Do note that there's a CPU called the Core i5-3570 and a different one called the Core i5-3570k. The k makes a difference because it means the processor is unlocked and can be overclocked to its physical limits.

For the Core i5-3570k I would look for something like an Asrock Z77 Extreme3.

Yeh i was aware that the k version was for overclocking, im going to go for the standard i5-3570 will that motherboard still be suitable?

 

[Sakkura]

Well, in that case it's a question of whether you want to have the option of Crossfire (adding a second graphics card later on), and how much you want to spend.
If you don't intend to run two graphics cards, you should get something cheaper. Perhaps an Asrock Z77 Pro3, or even cheaper Asrock B75 Pro3.

Not that it has to be Asrock, they just tend to be good value for money.

 

[burns94]

Well, in that case it's a question of whether you want to have the option of Crossfire (adding a second graphics card later on), and how much you want to spend.
If you don't intend to run two graphics cards, you should get something cheaper. Perhaps an Asrock Z77 Pro3, or even cheaper Asrock B75 Pro3.

Not that it has to be Asrock, they just tend to be good value for money.

Thanks for your help, I have changed the cpu to the standard one and changed the motherboard.

CPU: INTEL Core i5 Ivy Bridge 3570 - 3.4 GHz - 6 MB

Motherboard: ASRock B75 Pro3-M

GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7870 OEM - 2 GB

HDD: SEAGATE Barracuda 3.5" internal hard drive - 1 TB

Optical Drive: LG GH24NS90 24x DVD Rewriter

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) 1600MHz

Case: CiT Vantage Case Black

PSU:Corsair 500W Builder Series CX 80+ Bronze ATX Power Supply

Does anyone know if all this will fit into the case? Because i read some reviews stating it is very small inside.

 

[Sakkura]

I would probably get the Asrock B75 Pro3 instead of the Pro3-M. It has one more case fan connector. Which is nice, since that case seems to have a lot of fans. The more you can get the motherboard to control (only making them spin fast when temps are high), the better.

All the stuff should fit. I think the main problem with the case will be cable management. It is a cheap case after all.

 

[burns94]

I would probably get the Asrock B75 Pro3 instead of the Pro3-M. It has one more case fan connector. Which is nice, since that case seems to have a lot of fans. The more you can get the motherboard to control (only making them spin fast when temps are high), the better.

All the stuff should fit. I think the main problem with the case will be cable management. It is a cheap case after all.

do you know where i can get the ASRock B75 Pro3 from?, I cant seem to find it at overclockers, amazon, pixmania or ebuyer.

Also, what fan would you recommend to go with my GPU?

 

[Sakkura]

Well, if you're in the US it's available from Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157314

However, their Z75 Pro3 is just $5 more, so that's better value for money:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157304

As for the graphics card, you just buy one with a custom cooler pre-installed. Fiddling with it yourself is possible, but not as straightforward as installing a CPU cooler. Here's one example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150606

 

[burns94]

Well, if you're in the US it's available from Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157314

However, their Z75 Pro3 is just $5 more, so that's better value for money:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157304

As for the graphics card, you just buy one with a custom cooler pre-installed. Fiddling with it yourself is possible, but not as straightforward as installing a CPU cooler. Here's one example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150606

I cant buy from there because im from the UK and they dont offer shipping outside US

 

[Dead Goon]

I can't find ASRock's B75 from any UK supplier, but Novatech sell them from other manufacturers. http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/motherboards/intel1155b75chipset/ga-b75m-d3v.html

 

[burns94]

I can't find ASRock's B75 from any UK supplier, but Novatech sell them from other manufacturers. http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/motherboards/intel1155b75chipset/ga-b75m-d3v.html

Is it the same board as the AsRock? Because it is a lot cheaper, will this be a suitable replacement?

 

[Sakkura]

Is it the same board as the AsRock? Because it is a lot cheaper, will this be a suitable replacement?

It's a cheap mATX version again, like the Asrock B75 Pro3-M. It's annoying because it sorta sucks to pay £10-15 more for just a simple fan header or two (costs more like 10-15p).

Scan has the Gigabyte GA-B75-D3V for just over £60 for example.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-b75-d3v-intel-b75-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-pcie-30-%28x16%29-d-sub-%28vga%29-dvi-d-micro-atx

 

[burns94]

It's a cheap mATX version again, like the Asrock B75 Pro3-M. It's annoying because it sorta sucks to pay £10-15 more for just a simple fan header or two (costs more like 10-15p).

Scan has the Gigabyte GA-B75-D3V for just over £60 for example.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-b75-d3v-intel-b75-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-pcie-30-%28x16%29-d-sub-%28vga%29-dvi-d-micro-atx

Thanks, I'll get that motherboard.

 

[burns94]

It's a cheap mATX version again, like the Asrock B75 Pro3-M. It's annoying because it sorta sucks to pay £10-15 more for just a simple fan header or two (costs more like 10-15p).

Scan has the Gigabyte GA-B75-D3V for just over £60 for example.
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-b75-d3v-intel-b75-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-pcie-30-%28x16%29-d-sub-%28vga%29-dvi-d-micro-atx

that mother board does not have a hdmi output, which i will need for my screen, do you have any other suggestions?

 

[Sakkura]

When you have a graphics card you plug the screen into that instead of the motherboard. So just check whether the graphics card has HDMI, or an HDMI adapter.

 

[burns94]

When you have a graphics card you plug the screen into that instead of the motherboard. So just check whether the graphics card has HDMI, or an HDMI adapter.

Yeh it does thanks.

Would this motherboard be better ? And would it be sufficient if i wanted to get the i5-3570k?
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-b75a-g43-intel-b75-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-sata-raid-pcie-30-(x16)-d-sub-(vga)-dvi-d-hdmi-atx