New Build

[music5]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning to build a PC with these components:


Sonata III Quiet Mid Tower w/ EarthWatts 500W, eSATA ($109)
Asus P7H55-M Pro Bundle w/ Intel Core i5 Processor 760 ($309.98)
Corsair XMS3 4GB DDR3 1600MHz CL9 Dual Channel Kit (2 x 2GB) ($64.99)
Western Digital 1TB Caviar Blue 7200rpm SATA II w/ 32MB Cache ($69.99)
LG Super-Multi 22x DVD Writer, SATA, Black (OEM) ($19.99)

I will be using my old Keyboard and mouse with it so i don't need to buy these components. I will be partitioning the system with dual OS windows 7 64bit (already have a license) and some sort of Linux distro.

Main purpose (Media Centre) of this machine will be playing movies or video from online. I would like to play games (Command and Conquer, Call of Duty) if this system can. I do believe that I will need video card for gaming which I can buy it later when I do have more money.

Current budget limit is $600 (Max). Also I would prefer buying local if I can because of warranty issue. All of the above prices are from this site (Winter Savings Event (Jan 28 - Feb 3))

Can all these components will work together? Is it too little or too much for media center purpose?

Thanks,

[flanzig1]

To play games you will need a video card, the onboard may run the those game at min settings.

[music5]

Hi flanzig1,

I do realize that part I will add that at later date as long as other components will support the video card. One thing that I noted that on board video card requires special processor with chip and I don't think this i5 will supports that feature.

Thanks,

[glc]

That is correct - the i5-760 does not have onboard video.

I would recommend one of the P8H67 boards with one of the i5-2xxx processors. Those are socket 1155 Sandy Bridge, which has much improved onboard video over anything Intel has had before. I'd also recommend a WD Black over a Blue.

[music5]

Hi glc,

When I searched that site for P8H67 boards then I got 4 choices:

Asus P8H67-M EVO w/ DualDDR3 1333, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, 1394, CrossfireX, HDMI, DisplayPort ($134.99)

Asus P8H67-M LE w/ DualDDR3 1333, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, PCI-E x16, HDMI ($104.99)

Asus P8H67-M LX w/ DualDDR3 1333, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, PCI-E x16 (97.99, Does not have video card)

Asus P8H67-M PRO/CSM w/ DualDDR3 1333, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, CrossfireX, HDMI ($116.99 on sale)

I personally like P8H67-M PRO because it has HDMI and 4 DIMMs and it saves me bit of money compare to P8H67-M EVO.

But if I choose i5-2xxxx then none of the processors has built-in graphics chip and price goes bit up. Can I still stick to i3 with 3.0 + clock speed?

If I go thru i3 processor then i can even afford to buy in-store warranty as well. And with i3 processor I will be able to add some sort of video card for gaming.

I will change the hard drive to black instead of blue. Do you know what is the difference between black and blue WD drives?

Thanks,

[glc]

*ALL* H67 boards have video outputs. *ALL* Sandy Bridge 2xxx CPU's have integrated video. The i3 Sandy Bridges are not on the market yet.

[music5]

Ok, you are right about video option on those boards but I was looking for HDMI port which is not part of this mobo Asus P8H67-M LX.

Yes, I did check and new i5-2xxx has built-in Video.

The i3 which I was talking about it was the old one not the sandy bridge. In my original specs with i5 were part of bundle and that is why I have choosen the i5.

If I build a machine with i3 (Intel Core™ i3 Processor 540 3.06GHz w/ 4MB Cache, HD Graphics) and a video card, will I be able to play few games on this system?

Or if I go with i5-2xxx without video card, will I be able to use it for gaming?

Thanks,

[glc]

You really do need a video card for gaming, but with your budget, I'd get the Sandy Bridge without the card and start saving for a card. You can't afford a card that's worth it right now and the Sandy Bridge is a much better performer than an i3.

The Black drives are faster and have a longer warranty.

[music5]

Thanks glc,

Here is the list of updated components:

Antec Sonata III Quiet Mid Tower w/ EarthWatts 500W, eSATA
LG Super-Multi 22x DVD Writer, SATA, Black (OEM) ($19.99)
Intel Core™ i5-2300 Processor, 2.80GHz w/ 6MB Cache
Asus P8H67-M PRO/CSM w/ DualDDR3 1333, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, CrossfireX, HDMI
Corsair XMS3 TWIN3X 4GB DDR3 1333MHz CL9 Dual Channel Kit (2 x 2GB)
Western Digital 500GB Caviar Black 7200rpm SATA III w/ 32MB Cache

so this is what I will be buying for system components. Here are few more questions about this system:

Should I buy In-store Product Replacement for whole system or just for mobo and i5?

As you mention that I will need video card for gaming, which one and what will be the minimum cost (want to start saving for it)

At this moment, cost of this system is $546.93 + $36.98 (3 years for cpu and mobo warranty).

Thanks,

[glc]

I don't see a need for an in-store replacement warranty, Asus motherboards and Intel processors have a 3 year manufacturer's warranty.

The sky is the limit on video cards. It's very difficult to define what the "bottom end" would be, it all depends on what games you want to play and how far you are willing to turn the effects down. I would probably define the "bottom end" as a Radeon 5670. Those appear to be around 100 bucks in Canada. Tom's Hardware says that in their opinion, the "entry level" card for "serious" gamers is a 5770. Those are closer to $150.

[music5]

Is it still safe to buy the sandy bridge processors after reading that article? Does it effect this build?

Thanks,

[Khalil]

It is not the processors, it is the chipset. I would go back to the 1156 platform or wait a while and see how things go with fixing the problem with the 1155 (sandybridge).

[music5]

Hi Guys,

Sorry for delay in response.

So If I should not buy this processor then what about that motherboard?

Can I buy this motherboard

Asus P7H55-M PRO w/ DualDDR3 1600, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, PCI-E x16, HDMI

And this processor

Intel Core™ i3 Processor 550 3.2GHz w/ 4MB Cache, HD Graphics


Thanks,

[glc]

Yes, those would be good alternates at this time. However, for gaming you MUST get a video card.

[birddog_61]

If your not in a huge rush then I would wait for the sandy bridge, the on board graphics are much improved and the price/performance of the new processors is much better.

[glc]

Even though it's improved, the Sandy Bridge onboard video still isn't really gaming quality.

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by glc Even though it's improved, the Sandy Bridge onboard video still isn't really gaming quality.

The Sandy Bridge Preview - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

It performs decent, especially for integrated graphics. If your willing to turn everything way down then it will play decent FPS. However I was not meaning to imply he should wait for SB because of the on board graphics, but because of the price/performance and because they spank every other processor when it comes to gaming.
The Sandy Bridge Review: Intel Core i7-2600K, i5-2500K and Core i3-2100 Tested - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News