Getting Core i5 2500K Processor. Help with Motherboard! And the rest...

Hi guys, I want to upgrade my PC and I thought it would be quick and easy.

After buying a new Graphics card (Radeon HD 6870), i needed a new PSU, and my current proccessor is the bottleneck, so the GPU isn't working at its full potential. So now I want to upgrade that aswell and the Core i5 2500K looks the best value for money. So i think i'll get that.

Now i need an accompanying motherboard and as far as i can tell the Asus P8P67 - Socket 1155 looks to be the best value for money.

I'll also get the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (for future overclocking perhaps)

I'll probably need other RAM aswell? Can you suggest some please?

What PSUs can you guys recommend? A good, not too pricy PSU!

Is there any other motherboards/CPUs that you'd rather suggest?

I want a PC that'll be good for a long time, not one that will be obsolete next week.

This upgrade is costing me way more than i hoped initially

Well after all this it's basically a new PC, not just an upgrade anymore... :wtf: lol

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

If you have DDR3 memory, then you don't most likely don't have to buy more RAM.

I'd recommend the Asus P8P67-M, which is the cheapest, yet decent P67 chipset motherboard that I know of at around R1400 (incl VAT).

Could you perhaps tell us what your current PC's specs are, including RAM & PSU?

You could get away with a 500W PSU with the Sandy Bridge setup.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Sorry i forgot to put in current specs, I have 4gig DDR2 RAM unfortunately. I have a Intel Core 2Duo E4500 2.2GHz Processor. Mobo model is DP35DP. GPU is Radeon HD 6870.

I think thats everything. I can save you a GPU-Z log if you want more info

I'm not sure about the PSU, it's a 500W, but it's a no-name cheapo brand i guess. I'm currently using my brother's because mine didn't have the 2x6Pin connectors needed for the GPU. That's the main reason i want to get a new PSU.

Is 500W enough even after an upgrade and with the GPU?

500W should be enough, but an actual 500W PSU, the el cheapo no-name brands normally give peak power output, or just plain lie. What do you consider "not too pricey" for a PSU?

To make sure if it will be enough, use this tool, and just bang in everything you'll have in the PC, it will tell you how much power you need.

I guess R500 or less is about what i have for a PSU. But looking at Take2 you won't get a decent one in that range :wtf: Grr...

PSU will have to wait then.

Thanks for the link, will try it out

tooone7 said:

I guess R500 or less is about what i have for a PSU. But looking at Take2 you won't get a decent one in that range :wtf: Grr...

PSU will have to wait then.

Thanks for the link, will try it out

Click to expand...

You could get some Coolermasters for around that I think, not sure about the quality though. For R600 you could get the Corsair CX500 which looks good, most Corsairs are re-branded Seasonics, and if it is, it will be great, Seasonic power supplies are rock-solid.

An Asus P8P67 board is a good choice. I also got one.
The i5-2500K also seems a good choice and ideal for gaming. Just keep in mind that it doesn't have hyperthreading, which the i7-2600K does.

Ram, you could get Kingston Hyper X or G.Skill, DDR 3 1600, 2x2GB or 2x4GB... If you aren't planning on upgrading ever, you could get 4x2GB with lower latencies.

For PSU, Corsair are good.

Hope this helped.

Don't ever go for 4x 2GB, unless you're only going for 2x 2GB now.

The Corsair CX500 is the most entry level PSU that I can recommend.