Help with system build for Core i5/i7

[mkitchen]

A while back I upgraded my system to a Phenom II x4 965 to combat some bottlenecking I had (Thanks to some folks on this forum, thanks again )

Here is my current system:
CPU: AMD Phenom II x4 965
RAM: 6 GB DDR2 333MHz
GPU: EVGA GTX 660
Mobo: ECS IC780M-A
PSU: Rosewill 630W RG630-12

But most of that information is irrelevant because I want to upgrade my system to either an i5 or an i7.

What I am looking at buying:
Intel i5 or i7 ( I have my eye on a i5-2500K or 3570K)
New Mobo compatible with i5/i7
RAM

If anyone has any advice about how to go about this as cheap as possible it would be great. I do have one constraint on the motherboard, I need 2 PCI slots for peripherals.

Thanks!

 

[casper1973]

First off, go for the 3570k over the 2500k. There isn't a huge price difference so no reason to buy an older chip.

Since you are going for the K version I assume you want to overclock so ideally you want a Z77 or Z75 chipset motherboard. If not, get the i5-3470 and a H77 chipset which will save you nearly $50. I'd also stick to ATX motherboards for the extra PCI slots. mATX will have enough but leave little room for future expansion.

RAM - best going for DDR3-1600. Anything faster gets increasingly expensive with little benefit.

Something like this would do perfectly.

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G43 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($53.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $358.97

One thing to keep in mind - What type of Windows licence do you have, retail or OEM? If OEM then you may have problems re-activating with the new components.

 

[TheBigTroll]

this combo deal is your best bet. combo with a z77-v LE PLUS board to get 15 bucks off
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

cooling. you better get a heatsink for overclocking
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

[mkitchen]

Thanks for the replies everybody, TheBigTroll, good news I already have a Hyper 212 Plus. And casper, I have read that it is almost better to get a 2500K because it overclocks better? Is this negligible if you aren't running a water cooling system or does it matter?

 

[burritobob]

Thanks for the replies everybody, TheBigTroll, good news I already have a Hyper 212 Plus. And casper, I have read that it is almost better to get a 2500K because it overclocks better? Is this negligible if you aren't running a water cooling system or does it matter?

2500k is actually worse even though it overclocks better, the 3570k is actually about 15% faster in general aka. about half a GHz in speed sooooo... that means if you can squeak an extra .5Ghz onto the overclock of the i5 2500k then it may be worth it otherwise no...

Also as a general rule msi motherboard tend to be made on the cheap so be careful when buying from them