Two possible builds - $800 vs $1000 Sandy Bridge

[traviskane]

Approximate Purchase Date: 2 weeks(ish)


Budget Range: $1000 before taxes and shipping


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (Blizzard games, Rift, hopefully battlefield 3), Photoshop (maybe), and school work. Reliability is high on my list of priorities, as is the ability to game for long periods of time without turning a dorm room into a sauna. For this reason, I tend to shy away from the idea of overclocking...


Parts Not Required: Monitor, Keyboard, Speakers


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg. Maybe Frys, but probably just Newegg.


Parts Preferences: Intel and Nvidia. Why? I don't know. I have no logical justification for my bias.


Overclocking:Maybe


SLI or Crossfire:Maybe


Monitor Resolution:1680x1050 at the moment, hopefully 1920x1080 some time in the future.


Additional Comments: I might be limited by the case I already owned (not factoring into budget) Storm Scout

Approximate $800 build
CPU - i5 2400
Motherboard - Single PCIE 16x
Power Supply - 600 watt
4gb memory
500gb hard drive
nvidia 460gtx 768mb graphics card
Windows 7 OEM
DVD Drive

vs

Approximate $1000 build
CPU - i5 2500k
Motherboard - Dual 16x (8x) PCIE which allows me to add a second card in the future.
750 watt power supply for, again, in case I expand in the future to SLI
8gb memory
500gb hard drive same as first build
nvidia 560 ti
Windows 7 OEM same as first build
DVD Drive basically same as above. More expensive drive, less expensive shipping.

So. What do you guys think? Obviously the second build is better. Question is, is it so much better as to justify the extra $200? I'd like to save money if I can (poor college student here). Would you change anything to one build or the other? Or do you have a better idea?

I must do a new theoretical build on newegg at least once a day. Sometimes twice. This has been going on since early February. I'm starting to go nuts waiting to build this thing! I'm seriously considering putting up a couple of builds, once I have the money in hand, and allowing the community to vote on it.

 

[geekapproved]

Why do people call the cpu by it's code name? I don't really hear many "need help with my Lynnfield build", or "help with my Propus build".

Sounds dumb really, just call it by it's model number,.

 

[Why_Me]

This build is set up to add another one of those factory over clocked gtx 560's later on for SLI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371025 $89.99 FREE SHIPPING
Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-P67X4B3&title=ASRock-P67-EXTREME4-B3-LGA1155-Intel-P67-B3-DDR3-Quad-SLI-Quad-CrossFireX-SATA3-USB3-0-A-GbE-ATX-Motherboard $153.99
ASRock P67 EXTREME4 B3 LGA1155/ Intel P67 B3/ DDR3/ Quad SLI & Quad CrossFireX/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072 $224.99 FREE SHIPPING
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231427 $49.99 FREE SHIPPING
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=HD-HD103SJ&title=Samsung-SpinPoint-F3-HD103SJ-1TB-SATA2-7200rpm-32MB-Hard-Drive $59.99 Free Shipping
Samsung SpinPoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB Hard Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125363 $239.99
GIGABYTE GV-N560OC-1GI GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204 $18.99
ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754 $99.99 FREE SHIPPING
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

Total: $924.01 *not including case, shipping, rebates, etc..

http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/article/1000116#axzz1EqpvWFEN <---Review on that Asrock motherboard after the latest bios update

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/1098/pg2/asrock-extreme4-p67-and-fatal1ty-professional-p67-vs-x58-with-core-i7-950-review-asrock-p67-extreme4.html <---Review on that Asrock motherboard after the latest bios update

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4080/welcome-to-sandy-bridge-with-the-asrock-p67-extreme4 <--- Review before the latest bios...and it still smoked the Asus and Gigabyte boards

http://www.asrock.com/news/events/201102ex/warranty.html <---- Asrock two year warranty

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=P67%20Extreme4 <----- ASRock P67 Extreme4 Motherboard

 

[traviskane]

Why do people call the cpu by it's code name? I don't really hear many "need help with my Lynnfield build", or "help with my Propus build".

Probably because I'm considering my options WITHIN the line of processors code-named "Sandy Bridge", not just one model.

Plus, it's a cool sounding name. Sandy Bridge. Makes me think of somewhere tropical.

This build is set up to add another one of those factory over clocked gtx 560's later on for SLI

@Why_me -
I like the build! Not sure how I feel about purchasing outside of newegg. Guess it's fine, or I can find the equivalent product elsewhere.

I noticed you kept the ram at 4GB instead of 8GB. Guess I probably won't notice a difference on that front, and it's a decent compromise... 4GB's isn't exactly going to bottleneck my system.

The hard drive you picked out is sata2 (3gb/s), but the board supports 6gb/s. Here again though, I'm guessing I wouldn't notice any difference. I suppose i'd need SSD to take advantage of 6gb/s.

THanks for the reply!

 

[Why_Me]

Why do people call the cpu by it's code name? I don't really hear many "need help with my Lynnfield build", or "help with my Propus build".

Sounds dumb really, just call it by it's model number,.

You know what's dumb imo ? Someone actually taking the time to make a post like you did on someones thread on here. Now that's what I call DUMB with a capital D

 

[Why_Me]

Why do people call the cpu by it's code name? I don't really hear many "need help with my Lynnfield build", or "help with my Propus build".

Probably because I'm considering my options WITHIN the line of processors code-named "Sandy Bridge", not just one model.

Plus, it's a cool sounding name. Sandy Bridge. Makes me think of somewhere tropical.

This build is set up to add another one of those factory over clocked gtx 560's later on for SLI

@Why_me -
I like the build! Not sure how I feel about purchasing outside of newegg. Guess it's fine, or I can find the equivalent product elsewhere.

I noticed you kept the ram at 4GB instead of 8GB. Guess I probably won't notice a difference on that front, and it's a decent compromise... 4GB's isn't exactly going to bottleneck my system.

The hard drive you picked out is sata2 (3gb/s), but the board supports 6gb/s. Here again though, I'm guessing I wouldn't notice any difference. I suppose i'd need SSD to take advantage of 6gb/s.

THanks for the reply!

That Samsung h/d stomped the WD gb/s in benchmarks including the ones that count the most...speed, sound, and price. 4 gb of RAM is more than enough for any gaming build. If you ever decide to take up CAD, hardcore video editing, etc...then you can always add another 4gb of RAM later on.

Superbiiz has been around for ages, it's solid and dependable. Just watch out for their shipping charges since they upped them a few months ago.

 

[traviskane]

Excellent! Thanks for the tip on Superbiiz. Also, the RAM, good to know I don't need to bother with extra, that'll save me some money.

Also, i like the sound of that samsung drive; especially the "sound". You should hear the PC I'm working on right now. I tell if it's on the second I step inside the house from the garage, which is a good 30 feet away from my room....

 

[dalauder]

Not much to say, Why_Me's got you all ready go go. Great parts, great prices. I'm not a fan of the OEM Windows, but it's cost effective.

 

[traviskane]

Try as I might, I can't put together a build that I like better then the one Why_Me did. Has the parts I really wanted at a price I'm okay with.

Only misgiving here is the 1 year warrenty on the motherboard. ASRock seems like a reputable brand, and in any case, I'll be bummed out if my MOBO dies on me, 3 year warrenty or not. I plan on taking my time putting this case together, maybe sleeving some cables, deffinetly hiding them better than I did this last time.

On a fun side note- You guys should really see the computer I have at the moment.

Pentium 4 3.2ghz.
160GB hard drive.
1GB ram.
And I built this thing before I knew of such a thing as "cable management". It's such a mess inside.
Probably why I had to remove the side of the case so that the PC wouldn't continue to overheat.
And now, the whole damn thing is coated in dust! Blech!

This will be the most EPIC UPGRADE EVER for me. I can't freaking wait, thanks for your guys' input!

 

[Why_Me]

Try as I might, I can't put together a build that I like better then the one Why_Me did. Has the parts I really wanted at a price I'm okay with.

Only misgiving here is the 1 year warrenty on the motherboard. ASRock seems like a reputable brand, and in any case, I'll be bummed out if my MOBO dies on me, 3 year warrenty or not. I plan on taking my time putting this case together, maybe sleeving some cables, deffinetly hiding them better than I did this last time.

On a fun side note- You guys should really see the computer I have at the moment.

Pentium 4 3.2ghz.
160GB hard drive.
1GB ram.
And I built this thing before I knew of such a thing as "cable management". It's such a mess inside.
Probably why I had to remove the side of the case so that the PC wouldn't continue to overheat.
And now, the whole damn thing is coated in dust! Blech!

This will be the most EPIC UPGRADE EVER for me. I can't freaking wait, thanks for your guys' input!

http://www.asrock.com/news/events/201102ex/warranty.html <--- I posted this link when I posted that build. It's one of the links in regards to that Asrock mobo right down below the "Total Price" in that post.