Looking to build new PC, need advice

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Scoperzor

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I'm looking to build a new PC within the next few months, needing the following hardware: Case / CPU / Motherboard / RAM
I already have a decent 650W PSU and an ATI 5850, so that part is sorted.

Here is the stuff I am looking at now:
CPU - Intel Sandy bridge lga1155 i7-2600K(3.4ghz) Quad Core Processor
Mobo - Asus P8P67 LE Rev.3
RAM - Corsair XMS3 Intel XMS 8GB(2x4GB)
Case - Coolermaster CM 690 II Advanced

My questions are:
1) Is that a good combination of hardware to be considering? I am looking at that CPU as something that will last me a good few years and that I can potentially overclock slightly. Does the RAM fit in with this scenario? I've heard these new processors can give issues depending on voltage/timing settings.
2) I'm looking for fairly decent RAM but nothing that is over the top price-wise, but I do want speed to be high (1800+ etc). Does that RAM provide good performance to price?
3) Airflow has always been an issue in my cases. If I put 5-6 fans in that case, combined with my CM Hyper N520 CPU cooler, will it suffice?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Scoperzor said:
I'm looking to build a new PC within the next few months, needing the following hardware: Case / CPU / Motherboard / RAM
I already have a decent 650W PSU and an ATI 5850, so that part is sorted.

Here is the stuff I am looking at now:
CPU - Intel Sandy bridge lga1155 i7-2600K(3.4ghz) Quad Core Processor
Mobo - Asus P8P67 LE Rev.3
RAM - Corsair XMS3 Intel XMS 8GB(2x4GB)
Case - Coolermaster CM 690 II Advanced

My questions are:
1) Is that a good combination of hardware to be considering? I am looking at that CPU as something that will last me a good few years and that I can potentially overclock slightly. Does the RAM fit in with this scenario? I've heard these new processors can give issues depending on voltage/timing settings.
2) I'm looking for fairly decent RAM but nothing that is over the top price-wise, but I do want speed to be high (1800+ etc). Does that RAM provide good performance to price?
3) Airflow has always been an issue in my cases. If I put 5-6 fans in that case, combined with my CM Hyper N520 CPU cooler, will it suffice?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...

1) Yes, although that motherboard isn't needed. You'll be fine on a P8P67-M (Unless you want to go SLi / Crossfire, then get the -M Pro). Other than that I think it works.
2) I always recommend the Corsair XMS3 modules to my clients. As a question, what will you be using it for? As 1333MHz RAM is more than fine as you wouldn't see any increased performance from the more expensive 1800+ modules unless you are busy with applications that requires high performance RAM.
3) The CM 690 II Advanced already comes stock with 3 fans, 1 front, 1 rear and 1 top. That should actually be more than enough cooling combined with the CPU Cooler in my opinion, but you can always add more, but I'd have a look at the temps first before spending more money for a couple of C's.
 
Thanks for the reply and the quote.

1) I'm not sure if I will be going the Crossfire router ultimately, but it is important that I have the option to overclock. I've heard that the Pro versions of those boards are better suited for that, correct?
2) I wanted to plan for the future (2 years +) and don't mind spending a bit more now. However, I don't know much about RAM so I'm going purely on advice/reviews.
3) I would obviously get the case and check out stock cooling first before adding on anything extra, as you say.
 
Just to add a bit of info, if you google Asus P8P67-M Pro, the 4th or 5th result is an overclocking guide on that specific motherboard, with the best BIOS revision and everything :)
 
Thanks wabbit. I might opt for the ATX form factor board though as opposed to the mATX. Still reading up on the combination of the Pro version and the 2600k CPU and hoping it won't be too difficult to do a moderate overclock with the RAM I have selected.
 
Fuma said:
If you are willing to wait, then wait for Bulldoser or Ivy Bridge.
Click to expand...

When is Ivy bridge meant to be releasing? Q4/2011 or Q1/2012? I'd like to have a new setup at least before Battlefield 3 (November). And will it offer a greater performance/price ratio than the SB 2600k? I don't want to pay anything excessive (3k+) for a CPU.

Not sure what Bulldoser is?
 
LOL Sandy Bridge literally just came out and people are suggesting you wait for Ivy Bridge or Bulldozer! Ridiculous.

Get the Sandy Bridge.
 
Synaesthesia said:
LOL Sandy Bridge literally just came out and people are suggesting you wait for Ivy Bridge or Bulldozer! Ridiculous.

Get the Sandy Bridge.
Click to expand...
To me it feels as if SB has been with us for a long time already. It could and possibly is just my imagination though.
 
It was released in January, but recalled. Then it got re-released on the desktop in April following the SATA bug.
 
Last edited:
Synaesthesia said:
LOL Sandy Bridge literally just came out and people are suggesting you wait for Ivy Bridge or Bulldozer! Ridiculous.

Get the Sandy Bridge.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Its a brand new chipset, this is the best time to buy it. There's always something new on the horizon, but the best time to buy is a few months after it comes out, otherwise you'll wait for Ivy Bridge, then right after that comes out people will tell you to wait for whatever silly codename the next one will have. And the next. And so on...

Edit: In fact, the "high-end" (or in english: insanely expensive) Socket LGA 2011 6-core Sandy Bridges haven't even been released yet.
 
Synaesthesia said:
LOL Sandy Bridge literally just came out and people are suggesting you wait for Ivy Bridge or Bulldozer! Ridiculous.

Get the Sandy Bridge.
Click to expand...
He said he's going to build in a few months time. So he should wait for Bulldozer or Ivy. If he wanted to buy now, then Sandy Bridge all the way.
I just bought my i7 2600 few weeks ago. So I could not wait few months.
 
Yeah, I'm going to wait a few months to decide. No reason why I really need the upgrade now.

In terms of the Bulldozer, I've never owned an AMD and am cautious to get one. But at the same time, rumours are the top spec chip will cost around 200 pounds (R2300), so maybe we'll be able to get them imported below R3000? Can anyone shed some light around this new chip?
 
Well the one interesting things about Bulldozer is it's got 2 integer cores for every FP core. If ya wanna know more read this article (Ars Technica) We will see how well it does when it arrives.

Bulldozer will definitely do very well with server loads which have lots of integer load. As for regular home users - single threaded performance is still an important metric in my opinion.
 
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