Looking to build a Q1 2011 "Sandy Bridge" PC

[Missnasty]

I'm look to build a new Sandy Bridge Processor based PC. I know the processor, motherboard and graphics card I want. Optical and hard drives are easy to chose as well. The problem is that I have no idea how to pick the RAM, fans, case, etc. that will fit and work with everything else. Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated.

I'm going to use newegg.ca links but I may buy the stuff elsewhere.

Processor: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA 1155 Intel P67 or ASUS P8P67 Deluxe LGA 1155 Intel P67
Video card: SAPPHIRE 100311SR Radeon HD 6970 2GB

I'll probably get a Blu-Ray burner and an SSD drive as well, I just don't know the particulars yet.

Like I mentioned previously, I have no idea how to pick cooling (I'd like to "reasonably" overclock the processor), RAM and case that's going to be able to hold all of this stuff and I'd like to keep the cost of these remaining components (meaning not including the SSD and optical drive) under $1000. Well under $1000 if possible .

Thanks. :D

[Olo401]

I'm probably gonna rebuild around Sandy Bridge as ell, but I'm waiting a couple months for my tax return to come in and for the motherboards to get fleshed out a bit. Here's my tentative build outline:

CPU : Core i7-2600K
Memory: 2x2GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3-1600 (7-8-7 timings)
Mobo: Undecided, but most likely will be Gigabyte/EVGA/Asus brand

Everything else will be carryovers from my old machine, but if I were to change them..

GPU: Add a EVGA GTX 460 FTW to match my existing 460 (no link on newegg.ca )
PSU: Corsair AX750 or Seasonic X-850
Cooling: Either the Corsair H50 or Zalman CNPS10X Extreme will do a decent job. If you want more than that on air-cool you still can't beat the Prolimatech Megahalems or Armageddon (sold @ frozencpu.com), but they're expensive. BTW I imagine the 1156 heatsink mounts for any of these will work for 1155 as well.

[Boyiee]

Those heatsinks work, yes.

What are you upgrading to sandybridge from? They aren't more than a sidegrade from decent i7 chips.

[Missnasty]

Those heatsinks work, yes.

What are you upgrading to sandybridge from? They aren't more than a sidegrade from decent i7 chips.

AMD Anthlon 64 (not X2) 3800+ @ 2.4 Ghz. >_>p

[Olo401]

Those heatsinks work, yes.

What are you upgrading to sandybridge from? They aren't more than a sidegrade from decent i7 chips.

Core 2 Duo E8400.. and pretty much every benchmark review I've seen shows the i5-2500k and i7-2600k equaling or outpacing the older i7s (with the non-K ones running close too).

[CoronA1979]

I doubt it's gonna run circles on my i7-980x but the lower budget i7 CPU's, absolutely.

I would stick w/ EVGA stuff but that's mostly cause I am a fanboi >.>

I sincerely doubt I will be doing any upgrading to the system I have right now for quite some time, even though I am running SLI 470's. Watercooling makes upgrading more complicated/expensive.

Olo, I still have that i7-920 setup sitting in the floor, lol..

[Akiyama]

I'm probably gonna go with a Sandy Bridge build as well as I'm sitting on DDR2 RAM and an X3 720.. plus I've wanted to go Intel for a while now. I'll need a new Mobo/RAM (may grab a new case too, full tower ftw), but my video card (EVGA GTX460 1GB) is gonna carry over.

New PSU too. I wanna get a 650/750W Corsair Modular.

[Callisto]

Just curious for curiosity's sake, since I just made a build around an i7-950, should I be salty about the the i7-2000 line being announced the day after I put my new machine together or are they pretty comparable?

[Akiyama]

Just curious for curiosity's sake, since I just made a build around an i7-950, should I be salty about the the i7-2000 line being announced the day after I put my new machine together or are they pretty comparable?

You should feel very salty. From what I've seen, the i7 2600 line compared to the i7 950 and what not is above it and a bit cheaper. Not only that but more energy efficient.. so yeah. >.>

[Callisto]

Good to know, lol

[Akiyama]

Good to know, lol

Hey, you wanted honesty right? I could lie and say 'nah, you'll be aight for a couple years'

which technically you will be. just saying, though.

[Olo401]

I doubt it's gonna run circles on my i7-980x but the lower budget i7 CPU's, absolutely.

I would stick w/ EVGA stuff but that's mostly cause I am a fanboi >.>

I sincerely doubt I will be doing any upgrading to the system I have right now for quite some time, even though I am running SLI 470's. Watercooling makes upgrading more complicated/expensive.

Olo, I still have that i7-920 setup sitting in the floor, lol..

Well yeah.. the 980X is still up there at the top too - it runs about equal to the 2600K without an overclock on everyday stuff and pulls ahead in multithreaded apps. Will be interesting to see if they bring out a hex-core i7 for 1155 or if they hold off until the replacement for LGA 1366 comes out.

Oh damn, I was supposed to PM you about buyin' that stuff. Sheeeit!

[Cantih]

Like I mentioned previously, I have no idea how to pick cooling (I'd like to "reasonably" overclock the processor), RAM and case that's going to be able to hold all of this stuff

With the RAM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_b...top_Processors
shows you want a dual-channel kit, 4GB total should be fine, as will 1333. (idk if going to 1600 will do much, but the price jump from 1333 to 1600 is so minor, you may as well consider 1600)

With cases, you're in luck
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...-430,2707.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...sion,2723.html

Callisto got the antec 300 iirc, so you can ask him how he likes it.

Cooling, the H50 Olo mentions has a better (more expensive) brother, the H70. The H50 should be considered a "standard" fan.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...or,2757-6.html
He's right that the Zalman is better, and the Megahalems is as good, (and if you go to the next page for the noise, you'll see the H70 is noisy as fuck, and the Mega is the best for cooling AND noise)
And actually, newegg has the Megahalems for a few dollars LESS than the Zalman
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835242001
It does look big as fuck though.

[Callisto]

Hey, you wanted honesty right? I could lie and say 'nah, you'll be aight for a couple years'

which technically you will be. just saying, though.

Yeah, I figured I should still be set for at least a couple years, it was just the timing that sucked since I had pretty much just put the last screw in when I read the release news lol. Shouldn't be too big of a deal to swap in a new mobo/cpu later on once I'm working again, all my other parts should hold me for a good while.

[Boyiee]

Current i7 owners should not upgrade to these as they won't see a performance upgrade of much (at least in games). i7 owners want the next series. These are sidegrades, at best.

[Akiyama]

Yeah, Ivy Bridge should be out in what.. another 5-6 months maybe?

[Boyiee]

LGA2011 is the time to upgrade for i7 users, or q4/next year.

[Akiyama]

Ahh. Well as I've said, I'm on X3 720 (like.. 4 steps behind i7's or some shit) so this upgrade would actually be beneficial.

[Darus Grey]

LGA2011 is the time to upgrade for i7 users, or q4/next year.

Yep, I'm surprised how long the i7 is lasting, I got a 980x when they first came out and it'll probably be the longest lasting CPU I've ever owned(as someone who always gets "the next big thing", long as it's "big enough")

[chiyio]

surprised so many other 980x owners here. was kind of an impulse buy for me, I just hate upgrading and wanted something that would last at least 2 years.