Build Advice Sandy Bridge Spec

Hi there, these are the specification for a new Sandy Bridge system I'm going to build, I'm just wondering if everything is compatible with each other and if there are any alternatives to the hardware I have purposed, thanks.

The PC will be for general use, gaming such as WoW, The Witcher 2, Sins of a Solar Empire, Total War: Shogun 2, Fable 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (when it comes out XD).

Budget: About £850, excluding monitor.

Case: Antec Twelve Hundred V3 [Link] - £129.99

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA – Z68X – UD4 – B3 [Link] - £162.82

Memory: G – Skill 4GB DDR3 2133 Mhz [Link] - £44.40

CPU: i5 2500K 3.3 Ghz [Link] - £163.40

CPU Cooler: Gelid Tranquillo [Link] - £23.03 (Maybe a better one?)

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB [Link] - £40.92

PSU: Unsure about wattage, was thinking Antec TP – 750 New Blue, [Link] or lower? - £101.98

GPU: XFX ATI Radeon HD 6870 [Link] - £127.99 (Can it run games above?)

= £794.44

Monitor: Can anyone recommend one? Preferably HD capable, can probably spend a bit more than £150, maybe stretch to £200.

Are these spec's also 64 – Bit compatible?

And does any one have the Antec Twelve Hundred V3, as I was wondering if the USB 3.0 cable from the Front Panel was one that went to the Motherboard USB 3.0 header, or a stretch around one which goes to the I/O board?

Thanks,
Shikkari

 

I personally think you'd be better getting a cheaper case and upgrading your graphics card. If you like the look of the 1200, how about the 902? This would let you get a GTX 570 and a better cooler. Your links don't seem to work for me so I just had a look on Scan and you can get this for around £800 (you get free postage with 20 posts on here).



If you're dead set on the 1200 you could swap the card for a GTX 560ti and it would still be an extremely capable gaming rig.

 

Although the 1200 was a ood case its gone by its hay day now.

Look at the fractal R3 Corsair 650D NZXT Phantom Raven RV2 Fractal Arc

 

agree with this, although as well as considering the cases murraynt suggested i would take a look at the coolermaster haf range of cases, (Haf X for instance) or the Antec DF 85.

 

My bad about the links, I've been rushing around like a mad man and I forgot to add the actual links. :L

Thanks GenieGenie, I'll check out those specs.

And I wasn't sure about the 1200, so I'll check out some of the ones you suggested Murraynt, thanks.

The Haf range makes me sick when I look at them tbh. lol

 

+1 to what murraynt said about the case. I'm looking at the Fractal R3 for my new build as it's supposed to be very quiet! It does need a couple of extra fans though if you're housing a gaming rig inside.

 

haha, they are pretty ugly, just was following along the lines of case looks, but i have to say the 1200 is far more pleasing to the eye than those haf cases, now that i think about it and look at the one i have sitting on the floor

 

I will probably choose either the Raven RV02 or the Obsidian 650D, the Fractal R3 and the NZXT Phantom have doors which I don't like (I'm really picky) and the Fractal Arc only has two external compartments which wouldn't really do.

Lmao, the have good features though the HAF range especially the HAF X, which I wanted a while ago, but since then I've gone off it. :/

 

Good choice. I am going to get rid of my 1200 shortly for the 650D

 

I would also swap out the PSU for the one GeneGenie recommended or the coolermater 600/700 watt gold PSU.

 

I just checked and the Raven RV02 wouldn't fit on my desk. It would over stretch by about 10cm which might be unstable. :/

The Obsidian will just fit on if I pull my desk out and let the back hang over, :/ my desk must be unusually small.

 

Them cases are just big.

 

Sucks, might be able to build a extension for my desk at a later date, I would rather not let it ang over.

The Antec 902 would fit on my desk, gonna have to look at the spec's decide.

And yay 20 posts.

 

Yes, 800D is humongous. Definitely to be kept on the floor.

I actually gave mine a set of 40mm furniture wheels, much more pleasant to move around now.

 

If the 650 D is overhanging slightly its fine.

 

Anyone know if the 650D's USB 3.0 cable is one that goes to the MB header or through the I/O and out to the back of the MB?

 

£800 budget:

(all prices approx unless otherwise stated)

Case - Fractal Design Define R3 - £85
PSU - Antec HC 620w - £46 (OCUK special offer, normally over £70)
Mobo - MSI P67A-GD53 - £110
CPU - i5 2500k OEM - £150
Cooler - Gelid Tranquillo - £25
RAM - 4GB DDR3 PC12800 - £35
GPU - Asus HD6950 2GB Direct CUII - £210
HD1 - Vertex 2E 60GB (boot) - £85
HD2 - F3 1TB - £40


Total spend - £786.00

If you need an OS add another £75 (OEM) or £115 (retail) to that price.

Changing to a GTX570 will increase the price by £25 or so. Check out benchmarks to find out which card performs better in the games you play and purchase that one.

It is genuinely suprising what £800 can get you currently.

 

*double post*

 

GTX580 cheesecake?

LN36286 1536MB EVGA GTX 580
(Today only)Intel Core i5 2500K Combo
LN28746 1TB Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3, SATA 3Gb/s, 7200rpm, 32MB Cache, 8.9ms, NCQ
LN37493 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair DDR3 XMS3 Classic, PC3-12800 (1600), Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 9-9-9-24, 1.50V
LN35693 600W Corsair CMPSU-600CXv2 Builder Series, 80 PLUS, 80% Eff', EPS 12V, 120mm Fan, Single 12V Rail
LN36083 BitFenix Survivor CORE, Black, Mid Tower Case with Handle w/o PSU
LN37901 Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3-B3, Intel P67 Express, S 1155, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), DDR3 1333, SATA 6Gb/s RAID, ATX
LN36726 Intel Core i5 2500K Unlocked, S1155, Sandy Bridge, Quad Core, 3.3GHz GPU 850Mhz 6MB Cache 95W Retail
LN36787 Pioneer DVR-S19LBK 24x DVD±R, 12x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, RAM x12, SATA, Black, Retail Labelflash

Total £812.29

 

RV02 is the nuts.