Advise an old timer on a gaming-only system motherboard?

Felid

Hi,

I used to build PCs for myself and others years ago, but I am a software developer and definitely not a hardware guy.
I recently got back into the hang of it building cheap desktops for my kids, but I have decided to build a gaming system just for me.
This is my first gaming only PC build and there's just too many newfangled options! More after the standard questions:

1. What is your budget? [€200 credit note for maxburns.ie] Can spend more anywhere else (online or in Dublin). Would prefer not to spend more than 500.

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer?
Gaming. Have other PCs/laptops that are i7s for everything else.
What games? Play a bit of everything but as an example here is what I bought in the Steam sale last week:

• The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
• BioShock 2
• Batman: Arkham City - Game of the Year Edition
• The Walking Dead
• Thief: Deadly Shadows
• RAGE
• Hitman Absolution
• Assassins Creed 3
• Dishonored

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [No, have Windows 8 license]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer?
Video Card: GeForce GTX 560 Ti
Hard drive: Already have several SATA spare
DVD Drive: Already have several, was going to leave out though
Case: Already have variety, may need bigger one though

5. Do you need a monitor? [No]

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [NA]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080] [No]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Keyboard/Mouse/Wireless Card/Card Reader/Speakers/etc.] No

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Yes]

8. How can you pay? [Any way]

9. When are you purchasing? [Between now and Christmas]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [South Dublin City]

As I already have an unopened GeForce GTX 560 Ti (a present) I want a system to do it justice. I think all I really need right now are:
CPU, motherboard, RAM, PSU.

I have ~200 quid to spend in Max Burns in Tallaght, I was thinking of getting the i5 2500k there, a motherboard to match (from anywhere) and some RAM/PSU (from anywhere).

Spent a while researching motherboards but there is so much conflicting opinions I am turning to the experts here: what is the cheapest, reasonably reliable motherboard that will support some overclocking and is suitable for a gaming only build?

Sorry for length, old people tend to wander on and on I'm afraid.

Regards,

Felid

tl;dr: what is the cheapest, reasonably reliable skt 1155 motherboard that will support some overclocking and is suitable for a gaming only build?

balkieb2002

Hi Felid

The 2500K is great choice as you can get some serious overclocking out of that.

I bought one earlier this year and very happy with my choice (though haven't got round to overclocking it, my system is set up for it).
My choice of motherboard was ASUS P8P67 PRO (rev. 3.1) - 1155 Socket - P67 Chipset - ATX, Memory: Corsair 2 x 4 GB DDR3-1600 - PC3-12800 - CL9 Vengeance Performance PC Memory Modules and a standard 600W PSU (OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W PC Power Unit).

Just for your reference I bought these to go with my Radeon HD 6870 and can all of those games you mentioned on high settings (bar The Witcher 2) with a bit of tweaking @ 1680x1050 (my max resolution). Now your card is better so would be no problem for you either though your monitor res may be higher.

I bought my stuff from Pixmania as was I ordering other things at the time but I'd say you could find cheaper elsewhere (e.g. Hardwareversand)

Felid

Thanks balhieb, that's reassuring. Appreciate it.

Felid

Unable to find the same board recommended above, it has great reviews but is discontinued.

Already have gear including NVidia GTX 580, hd, case etc.

I went to my local hardware store and was quoted the following:
ASROCK 1155 H77 PRO4/MVP
Intel Core I5 2500K 115 RETAIL
Antec PSU EarthWatts 750W Green A/PFC
Patriot G2Series 8GB DDR3 1600 CL9.0
...for ~€500


It was closing time in the shop and the chap who spec'd it up for me was under pressure, but he thought the motherboard would allow overclocking.
Reading reviews online it seems to say that H77 boards don't do overclocking in any real sense?
On a budget but will spend a little extra if it's recommended.

Cheers!

tuxy

The z77 is what you want for overclocking

The 2500k has been replaced by the 3570k so that's the one I would go with

Item|Price
ASRock Z77 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX|€86.09
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 550W|€54.04
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€29.39
Intel Core i5-3570K Box, LGA1155|€208.05
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€396.56

You will need a cpu cooler too.

The price your local store gave you is probably not too bad, they have a lot of overheads. But you can save €100 shopping online.

tuxy

BTW the I th 550 watt will power all that just fine even with an overclock but you could get this if you think it's not enough for you.
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/600+-+700+Watts/24479/Super-Flower+Amazon+80Plus+650W.article

Felid

tuxy wrote: »

The z77 is what you want for overclocking

Thanks, appreciate that.

The 2500k has been replaced by the 3570k so that's the one I would go with

I did see that, but this shop doesn't seem to be selling that yet. Also, for pure gaming, is it worth the extra?

Item|Price
ASRock Z77 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX|€86.09
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 550W|€54.04
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€29.39
Intel Core i5-3570K Box, LGA1155|€208.05
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€396.56

You will need a cpu cooler too.

That's excellent, thanks.

The price your local store gave you is probably not too bad, they have a lot of overheads. But you can save €100 shopping online.

I understand, and normally I would order from a specialist store, but I have a 250 quid credit note with this shop, so at least some of it will be spent there.
I could order the rest from hardwareversand.de of course...

Thanks a million for the info.

Felid

tuxy wrote: »

BTW the I th 550 watt will power all that just fine even with an overclock but you could get this if you think it's not enough for you.
http://lb.hardwareversand.de/600+-+700+Watts/24479/Super-Flower+Amazon+80Plus+650W.article

That's interesting, I have a GTX 580 as well, was afraid that it and an overclocked CPU might need more than the usual PSU. Already have a 700 watt supply, but it doesn't seem to have the correct rails for 580 card, and when I use adaptors it works in Windows, but switches off the entire PC as soon as any GPU work done. Decided to build a new machine rather can keep the Frankenstein PC I was testing on going.

Thanks again.

tuxy

No problem, the 3570k is only a little bit better than the 2500k but there is also less than €10 in the price, so that's why I say go with the newer model.

The 580 is a power hungry card, check this out

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU12/414

This shows full power system draw of 425, still leaves room for overclocking once it's a good quality 550watt psu . I can't see why there would be a problem but maybe go for something a little higher spec for peace of mind. The other 650 is definitely more than enough for the system.

Felid

tuxy wrote: »

No problem, the 3570k is only a little bit better than the 2500k but there is also less than €10 in the price, so that's why I say go with the newer model.

The 580 is a power hungry card, check this out

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU12/414

This shows full power system draw of 425, still leaves room for overclocking once it's a good quality 550watt psu . I can't see why there would be a problem but maybe go for something a little higher spec for peace of mind. The other 650 is definitely more than enough for the system.

Thanks, I got the shop to requote for i5 3570, Asrock z77 pro, coolermaster 700 watt and 8 gigs of ram. Price went up 65 quid but I can live with that.
Thanks for all the advice.

tuxy

Cool, make sure it's the i5 3570k that you are getting.

Felid

tuxy wrote: »

Cool, make sure it's the i5 3570k that you are getting.

Yep, I did ask for the K, as it would be overclocked; I changed the whole order because the h77 motherboard wouldn't let me overclock.