First budget build i5-2500k around $750 need help!!

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kipay11

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Jul 30, 2010
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Hey guys! I'm planning on my first ever build this month so I need some suggestions! I read that the i5-2500k is a great cpu and although I've never tried overclocking, I'm definitely going to get on it for this build. I don't know much about which mobos would be great cost/performance-wise, but the i5-2500k+biostar mobo combo at Microcenter (I live in Houston, btw) seems a great deal for a budget build. My budget is around $750 and it would be great if I could lower that without sacrificing too much on performance. So far, this is what I have:

Approximate Purchase Date:This month

Budget Range: 750 USD Before Rebates

System Usage: Mostly gaming and light photo editing, surfing

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg/microcenter/amazon. or any other site

Parts Preferences: i5-2500k.

Overclocking: never tried but this would be my first try! better late than never!

SLI or Crossfire: maybe in the future when games get more demanding!

Monitor Resolution: 1440x900 but will be upgrading soon to a 1920x1080. Not included in budget though.


CPU + MOBO: i5 2500k + Biostar TP67B+ LGA 1155 P67 ATX = $260 w/o tax at Microcenter

GPU: XFX HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521 $200

CASE: Antec 300 Illusion
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066 $55

RAM: G.SKILL 2x2gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277 46$

PSU: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 $95

HDD: SAMSUNG F3 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185 $65

Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!! 😀
 
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hmm.. i don't really know much about RAM latencies but yeah, $5 more can't hurt that much can it? thanks!

also, will my psu be able to handle 2 6870 in the future? or should I get more than 650W? oh and I forgot to add that I already have a dvd drive from my old dell pc.
 
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I would go with 750w for crossfire. I would just get this ram for 29.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231313&nm_mc=AFC-C8JUNCTION&cm_mmc=AFC-C8JUNCTION-_-EMC-070711-Index-_-DesktopMemory-_-20231313-L0A&PID=4176827&SID=pzgip41wla1z&AID=10521304

Most of the time you can get the latencies down on g skill ram may require a bit more voltage but you're safe to go up to 1.65v

I would just get this video card so you don't have to worry about the rebate http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948&cm_re=HD_6870-_-14-102-948-_-Product

Be sure to use promo code newcustomer10 to save ten bucks if this isn't your first purchase just set up another account with a different email address :)
 
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Agree on all points except PSU, where I think 650 will be ample.


Measured power consumption two 6870 cards

System in IDLE = 184W
System Wattage with GPU in FULL Stress = 421W
Difference (GPU load) = 237W
Add average IDLE wattage x2 ~ 19W (ATI specified)
Subjective obtained GPU power consumption = ~ 275 Watt

So if it's 275 watt peak, add in another 150w for highly overclocked CPU and 25w for everything else. That leaves us at 450w, which is plenty IMO, since it's running at 75% capacity AT PEAK.

However, a 750w might be wise just for the connectors required.
 
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It just seems he is getting ripped off for an old model PSU with only an 80+ standard rating it should be cheaper than it is. These are very similar in price and would be worth the little bit extra:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703027
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

In my opinion the PC power n cooling is the best option with an 80+ silver rating, 750w, and at only 109 dollars.
 
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Minor detail, but I find the Sentey Black Box Series BX2-4284 Mid Tower is a cheaper and better case. I have an Antec 300 and a Rosewill Challenger, and I'd buy another Challenger anyday. The Sentey has all the features of the Challenger but is cheaper and comes with an extra fan. Be aware that you will have to buy 2 120mm fans to use the top exhaust.

+1 on the Earthwatts. Not my favorite PSU (I hate multi-rails), but it's the cheaptes 750W you can get without sacrificing quality. If you go below 750 you won't have enough 6-pins to Xfire 2 6870's.
 
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Is there a difference in performance if I get 1x4gb ram rather than 2x2gb?

I chose that video card because of the warranty and free game... but yeah, rebates are annoying. Thanks for the tip on the code! 😀
 
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any more suggestions regarding a good, reliable case?? I'm leaning towards the Challenger more now than the 300 since the promo on the 300 is gone...
 
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Should I go with the Earthwatts or the High Gamer Current Series?? Is the extra $10 worth it for that 80 plus bronze rating??
 
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spending a bit extra on a PSU always helps, with the higher quality ones, you might find that you can extract more "power" then what its rated at. also higher quality PSUs will probably have higher quality parts. try to find a review for both of them and compare, jonnyguru is a nice place to start
 
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Well you will lose dual channel mode, I don't know how much performance decrease that will amount to. If you spend an extra $14 you could get two of the ones I listed and regain the dual channel as well as have 8Gb instead of four. Sorry I didn't look closely at the ram I put up, I originally thought it was 2x2gb.
 
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