CPU, Motherboard, And Cooler
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K
The Core i5-2500K has it all: fantastic stock quad-core performance, superlative overclocking headroom bolstered by an unlocked multiplier, and a reasonable $220 price tag. With 6 MB of cache, it gives up 2 MB compared to the Core i5-700-series chip it’s replacing, but the high 3.3 GHz (3.7 GHz max. Turbo Boost) clocks, efficient 32 nm manufacturing process, and Sandy Bridge architecture more than make up for that cache deficit.
Read Customer Reviews of Intel's Core i5-2500K
Check out our Core i5-2500K launch review here.
Motherboard: ASRock P67 Extreme4
In our P67 Motherboard Roundup, the ASRock P67 Extreme4 managed the highest memory overclock and second-best efficiency. It also comes loaded with attractive extra features like three PCIe x16 slots, dual USB 3.0 controllers, and four 6Gb/s SATA ports. Those extra ports allow us to completely avoid the 3Gb/s SATA issue associated with the Cougar Point chipset.
Priced at $152.99, this board is a value leader in the P67 segment. Unfortunately, if you’re interested in one, you’ll have to wait until the new revision with the fixed chipset hits retail. In the meantime, Asus' similarly-priced P8P67 is a viable alternative.
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
Read Customer Reviews of Cooler Master's Hyper 212 Plus
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 is an easy pick, with its 120 mm fan and four direct-contact heat pipes. It is both quiet and capable, especially considering the budget $30 price tag.
