Advice on new build

Puri

Honorable
Apr 7, 2012
1
0
10,510
Approximate Purchase Date: Next week

Budget Range: 1600 Euros maybe abit more

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Surfing the internet, Watching movies

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Monitor (maybe getting an HD or maybe 3D one at a later date), Speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: http://www.pccomponentes.com (they will build it as it's easier for me)

Country: Spain

Parts Preferences:

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K 3.3Ghz Box Socket 1155 (http://www.pccomponentes.com/intel_core_i5_2500k_3_3ghz_box_socket_1155.html)

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12P SE2 (http://www.pccomponentes.com/noctua_nh_u12p_se2.html)

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V (http://www.pccomponentes.com/asus_p8z77_v.html)

RAM: G.Skill Ares DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 8GB 2x4GB CL9 (http://www.pccomponentes.com/g_skill_ares_ddr3_1600_pc3_12800_8gb_2x4gb_cl9.html)
OR G.Skill RipjawsZ DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 16GB 4x4GB CL9 (http://www.pccomponentes.com/g_skill_ripjawsz_ddr3_1600_pc3_12800_16gb_4x4gb_cl9.html)

Graphics Card: Asus GeForce GTX 680 2GB GDDR5 (http://www.pccomponentes.com/asus_geforce_gtx_680_2gb_gddr5.html)

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA3 (http://www.pccomponentes.com/seagate_barracuda_7200_12_500gb_sata3.html)

PSU: Corsair AX850 850W Modular (http://www.pccomponentes.com/corsair_ax850_850w_modular.html)

Case: Cooler Master CM Storm Trooper (http://www.pccomponentes.com/cooler_master_cm_storm_trooper.html)

DVD RW Drive: LG GH24NS70 Grabadora DVD 24X (http://www.pccomponentes.com/lg_gh24ns70_grabadora_dvd_24x_negra_retail.html)

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bits OEM SP1 English Ed. (http://www.pccomponentes.com/microsoft_windows_7_home_premium_64bits_oem_sp1_english_ed_.html)

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024 is max on my current monitor

Additional Comments: What I would like to have some advice on is if this configuration will be able to handle BF3/Skyrim/GTA 4 and pretty much anything else that is thrown at it?
Also which RAM out of the two low profile kits listed above would be best to go for, the G.Skill Ares DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 8GB 2x4GB CL9 OR the G.Skill RipjawsZ DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 16GB 4x4GB CL9?
Will I need more RAM in the future or is it best to stick at 8GB as I don't intend to upgrade anything except maybe the GFX card (if needed) & CPU (to Ivybridge, if it's even worth it) for at least 5yrs if nothing goes wrong.
 

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
Additional Comments: What I would like to have some advice on is if this configuration will be able to handle BF3/Skyrim/GTA 4 and pretty much anything else that is thrown at it?

That build looks really good to begin with - that will play Skyrim on 3 monitors with no problems whatsoever.

The only thing I'd say about that configuration is that supposedly Ivy Bridge is due out in 3 weeks - it makes no sense to buy 2 CPUs. Just get the one and be done with it.

Also which RAM out of the two low profile kits listed above would be best to go for, the G.Skill Ares DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 8GB 2x4GB CL9 OR the G.Skill RipjawsZ DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 16GB 4x4GB CL9?

Go with 8GB - on a gaming system you'll never use the full 16GB.

Will I need more RAM in the future or is it best to stick at 8GB as I don't intend to upgrade anything except maybe the GFX card (if needed) & CPU (to Ivybridge, if it's even worth it) for at least 5yrs if nothing goes wrong.

Depends on what you use your system for - if you play games only - no. If you use it for other purposes (CS5, etc) then yes you will.
 
Z77 board features (Panther Point Chipset) are targeted for Ivy Bridge cpu's although they are backwards compatible and will work with a Sandy Bridge cpu.

Ivy Bridge is due out April 29th.


http://pcper.com/news/Processors/Intel-Ivy-Bridge-Processors-Launch-March-23-2012 <----- Here's a price run down of the Ivy Bridge cpu's in $USD

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=138_711_1183 <----- Z77 boards already for sale in Australia. In the past few years the Aussies have been getting the goodies a month ahead of the US and Canada including Sandy Bridge and the 1155 boards. The Aussies have already pulled some of the 1155 Cougar Point boards (H61/H67/P67/Z68) from their site. In fact a lot of those boards are no longer for sale on that site compared to last month.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5166/ivy-bridge-overview <----- Line-up of Ivy Bridge desktop cpu's to date.

Z77/Z75 motherboards (Panther Point chipset w/native USB 3.0) and PCI-E 3.0

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/PCIe3/overview.html <----- Quick and brief rundown of Ivy Bridge, PCI-E 3.0 cards and the new gen boards.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/index.asp?s=1155 <---- Asrocks Z77 and Z75 boards to date. They all get released with Ivy Bridge.

http://usa.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/Intel_Z77 <---- Asus Z77 board lineup to date.

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/list.aspx?s=42&jid=2&p=2&v=24 <----- Gigabyte Z77 board lineup to date.

http://us.msi.com/product/mb/#/?sk=Socket%201155%20(Intel%20i3/i5/i7) <----- MSI Z77 board lineup to date.


http://www.anandtech.com/show/5626/ivy-bridge-preview-core-i7-3770k/9 <---- Ivy Bridge cpu review with benchmarks

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http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-680-overclock-guide/ <----- Overclocking the gtx 680 w/benchmarks

680oc.jpg




Here are some changes to look at get you a decent SSD and still stay within your budget.

http://www.pccomponentes.com/corsair_500r_carbide_series_negra.html 116 €
Corsair 500R Carbide Series Negra

This psu down below is manufactured by Seasonic for XFX as is that Corsair psu you have in your build.

http://www.pccomponentes.com/xfx_proseries_850w_xxx_edition.html 119 €
XFX ProSeries 850W XXX Edition

http://www.pccomponentes.com/asrock_z77_extreme4.html 134 €
ASRock Z77 EXTREME4

http://pcper.com/news/Processors/Intel-Ivy-Bridge-Processors-Launch-March-23-2012 $225 USD
Intel Ivy Bridge i5-3570K 3.4GHz

http://www.pccomponentes.com/cooler_master_hyper_212_evo.html 29 €
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO

http://www.pccomponentes.com/g_skill_ares_ddr3_1600_pc3_12800_8gb_2x4gb_cl9.html 47.95 €
G.Skill Ares DDR3 1600 PC3-12800 8GB 2x4GB CL9

http://www.pccomponentes.com/crucial_m4_128gb_ssd_sata3.html 124 €
Crucial M4 128GB SSD SATA3


http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=Z77%20Extreme4 <----- A better look at that board