A couple questions about this setup...

[J P]

Ok... I'm planning on getting these components for my new system:

ASROCK z77 Pro 3
Intel i3 3225
8gb DDR3 1600 Ram

And I have an old...

ATI Radeon 4770 Video Card

What I want to know is this... will my old video card bottleneck the graphics for the HD 4000 graphics on the processor? Can I install the old video card to run dual monitors or do I need something else which will just let me use the processor's built in graphics capability?

ALSO... what type of power supply will I need for this rig? I think I can get by with 400-450 watts, but I am unclear about what type of connectors I need as that doesn't seem entirely universal.

I'm just about to order in a couple days so I'd really like to know and I will give all the appropriate thumbs up and "best answer points" to the most thorough answers.

 

[bardacuda]

I'm pretty sure your old video card is waaay better than Intel's onboard graphics so you should just stick to using the old card. It should have 2 DVI outputs for running dual monitors. If you want to use the built in graphics, the motherboard you chose is compatible with that as well.

EDIT: If you don't plan on using the integrated graphics you can save a few bucks by getting an i3-3220 instead....or spend a couple more bucks and get an i3-3240 which is clocked higher.

A 450 watt power supply should be enough since you have only a low power graphics card and a very low power CPU, but just make sure you buy a good quality one and not some el cheapo no-name-from-china kind of brand. Any modern PSU will have all the connections you need for your CPU, mobo, GPU, drives, etc.

 

[J P]

Thanks, you've helped a lot. About the power supply though... you think they'll all have the right pins and connectors to power everything alright? I keep worrying that I'll get a power supply that only works for AMD boards or maybe an older chipset or something.

Also, if I continue to use my old video card, should I just get a cheaper i3 then? Seems like the HD 4000 graphics would be wasted if I'm actually going to be using my old card.

 

[bardacuda]

Yes your old video card will be better than HD 4000 graphics so you may as well save some money and go with a 3220.

Both AMD and Intel systems use the same power supplies. That motherboard takes an 8-pin (4+4 pin) CPU power connector which pretty much any new power supply is going to have. Here is an example of an inexpensive power supply that would suit your needs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023

If you plan on upgrading your CPU or graphics card in the future however you will need a better power supply but for what you have that one will work just fine.

 

[J P]

You've been most helpful. TYVM.

 

[J P]

Best answer selected by J P.

 

[bardacuda]

No problem. I was just browsing some PSUs and this one is higher quality with more 12V rail amperage for only another $5:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026