System Builder Marathon, June 2012: $1000 Enthusiast PC

By Don Woligroski
published

CPU And Motherboard

CPU: Intel Core i5-2400

We already know that overclockability is severely limited by Intel's Core i5-2400, but saving $30 on Intel's Core i5-2500K helps keep us closer to our already-tight $1000 budget.

For some folks, the prospect of pushing Sandy Bridge to 4.6 or 4.7 GHz justifies the extra splurge, and if you're not operating within a strict budget like we are, spending a little more is likely worthwhile.

Read Customer Reviews of Intel's Core i5-2400

What, exactly, do you give up by saving those $30 dollars, though? Because dual-channel memory support was broken on the retail motherboard we ordered for our last build, we wanted to give this CPU a second chance. We also wanted to try using it on a motherboard that lets us manually set a 38x multiplier.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P67X-UD3-B3

Read Customer Reviews of Gigabyte's GA-P67X-UD3-B3

Gigabyte does an admirable job of naming its motherboards in such a way that you can tell what chipset it's using and where it falls in the company's stack. Nomenclature aside, though, the P67X-UD3's guts are what interest us.

With a solid reputation for overclocking headroom and granular BIOS controls, we’re hoping to squeeze as much performance as possible from our multiplier-locked Core i5-2400 using this budget-oriented P67 Express-based board. Although we like that it supposed SLI and CrossFire, Newegg's $120 price tag is what closes the deal for us.

Don Woligroski
158 Comments Comment from the forums
  • esrever
    This PC is awesome.
    Reply
  • ddan49
    I personally think they went a little TOO overboard on the GPU. Sure, it'll tear through games... but at 4GB of RAM, a non-overclockable i5 CPU, and a P67 motherboard... well... meh...
    Reply
  • pistolpete31
    Should have waited for the 670
    Reply
  • ddan49
    We have two very similar systems here, and the new one has to make due with 4 GB less RAM, no SSD, and no aftermarket CPU cooler.

    May want to put "do" in there, instead ;)
    Reply
  • mayankleoboy1
    i'd put an SSD in any system i build. Its so much better than a HDD.

    Reply
  • mayankleoboy1
    not criticizing, but this build looks like a half-hearted attempt.
    Basically the whole article tests the improvements of a single channel over a dual channel RAM.
    Reply
  • mousseng
    I realize the SBM is sponsored by Newegg, so that means they're only able to get what they can from Newegg?

    Because if not, I would posit that the i5-2380p is a better CPU choice than the i5-2400:
    1) You've not got a huge need for the IGP, what with the 7970 (I could see it could still have use, but I don't think it would be that helpful)
    2) From what I've read on Newegg's page for the 2380p (which they no longer sell), the 2380p is a great overclocker (up to 4.5Ghz according to one reviewer)
    3) It costs the same as the 2400, with the same stock clocks

    Apart from that, I think it's a pretty solid build. A little too much corner-cutting compared to what I would've chosen, but I'd probably put together something rather standard and boring.
    Reply
  • ojas
    Why not use the HAF 912? Wouldn't have had a problem with the 7970.
    Reply
  • pistolpete31
    mayankleoboy1not criticizing, but this build looks like a half-hearted attempt. Basically the whole article tests the improvements of a single channel over a dual channel RAM.
    Yeah I totally agree, I would have loved to see a 3570k and a gtx 670 because those two seem like the popular choice right now. Who sets this budget anyways? "We didn't wan't to go over" umm is there like a slow painful death if you go over the budget or what? Set the budget higher then. Hope the next round of these is better.
    Reply
  • koshadows
    I'm not quite sure how I should respond to both of the system builders comment section from this week. Gtx 670 wasn't available, we know. Stop beating this dead horse. Its just like last quarter's waterfall of "why no 680????"

    As of right now at the time of this post, the sapphire 7970 o/c on newegg is at $480. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102982 So i can only assume whatever price hike has been dealt with?

    Good job on making a computer perform about the same for $250 less! I'm sure if I was to build a computer right now this would give quite a bit of breathing room. Not everyone has quarter of a grand to throw around.

    Downside is it does feel like you guys ran outta ideas on new combinations. I think I'd be kind of interested in either a SLI config 560 ti or 7850s. But the 7850 would've pushed it past budget I think. I'd still vote on the SSD though!
    Reply