Critique my Sandy Bridge Setup

[[Ion]]

A few days ago I came in here looking for advice on a sub-$500 low-power secondary system. Well, things have changed a bit since then. I've received a very good offer for my i7 setup (which, until recently I had no intention of selling). However, for $1100, I can't pass up the offer. Basically this would allow me to get a Sandy and make a couple hundred dollars.

Gaming will not be a primary use of this system. I have a GTX260_192 that I can use when I game (rarely), so the GPU included in this build is just for day-to-day use for driving 2 monitors (very common). The GPU included needs to drive Aero and normal productivity apps on a 1920x1080 and a 1440x900 monitor simultaneously.

The requirements of this system is that it is reasonably small, reasonably quiet, energy efficient and affordable. Ideally, everything would be under $800 + shipping, although I am willing to go a bit higher.

CPU performance is the most important aspect to me, I intend to take full advantage of the low power usage of Sandy Bridge by running WCG whenever the computer is on. I've chosen a Caviar Blue 500GB because I've been perfectly happy with the one I have ATM and it's more than enough storage. That being said, I'm definitely open to options, as long as they aren't Seagate. I chose 4GB of G.Skill Ripjaws, but again, I'm open to suggestions.

My Asus P55 board has served me very well, so Asus was a natural choice for this system. I considered the P8P67 Pro and the Cooler Master HAF 912, but I decided I'd rather have a smaller case (the HAF looks like a reasonably big mid tower). The Cooler Master Elite 341 was chosen for it's small size, low price, and understated looks, although I am open to a replacement. I added the Cooler Master Hyper 212+ because I plan on a ~4.2-4.4ghz 24/7 OC, and I wasn't sure that the stock cooler would be up for it (and a H50 seemed overkill for this).

Here is my build as it stands ATM, comment away!:

[Radical_Edward]

I would get a better PSU and case than that, but that's just my $0.02

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Radical_Edward

I would get a better PSU and case than that, but that's just my $0.02

Suggestions for which ones?

From what I've seen, a SB @ stock is only 100w and KieX quoted 160w with his at ~4.5ghz. So even when I'm gaming w/ the GTX260, it should only be a ~250w power draw, which is acceptable IMO. And without the GPU, it's right in the sweet-spot of efficiency.

I really like understated cases (read: Lian Li), flashy ones don't do it for me. I'll see what I can find that's affordable & small.

[Radical_Edward]

I'd go with a Centurion 534, a bit bigger, about the same airflow wise.

I'd go with a 550W just to be on the safe side in case you put in a better GPU later on.

Also, make sure to replace the junk hyper 212+ fan, some good fans can get a lot done with that cooler.

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Radical_Edward

I'd go with a Centurion 534, a bit bigger, about the same airflow wise.

I'd go with a 550W just to be on the safe side in case you put in a better GPU later on.

Also, make sure to replace the junk hyper 212+ fan, some good fans can get a lot done with that cooler.

I looked at the C534 earlier and my impression of it was that it was pretty much just a generic cheap case. Yes, it may be built better, but feature-wise it didn't stand out. The 341 did because of it's size, build quality, and airflow. Off to NE to look around some more

What about the Earthwatts 500D?

Suggestions on fans? This is an area where I'm particularly clueless

[Radical_Edward]

The Earthwatts 500D works.

Don't be hating on the Centurion 534 Plus, it's a good case, it just needs some TLC like most "budget" cases.

I've heard good things about Scythe. I've only got one of them myself, people are always talking about their typhoon series thou. I don't have one of those yet.

I like my CoolerMaster R4s, also know as "sickleflow" fans. Although some people like Crazyeyes says they suck, I disagree. (I also don't rage constantly on videogames. )

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Radical_Edward

The Earthwatts 500D works.

Don't be hating on the Centurion 534 Plus, it's a good case, it just needs some TLC like most "budget" cases.

I've heard good things about Scythe. I've only got one of them myself, people are always talking about their typhoon series thou. I don't have one of those yet.

I like my CoolerMaster R4s, also know as "sickleflow" fans. Although some people like Crazyeyes says they suck, I disagree. (I also don't rage constantly on videogames. )

I figure 500w would allow me to run SLI w/ GTS450s or something if I so decided, or a single GTX580 (as if that would happen ).

I'll investigate it some more, but if I go for standard ATX, I'm leaning towards the Antec 300. I've had one & cable management was pretty good, as was airflow (looks better than the 534 IMO).

I'll check that out, thanks. I've heard good things about the R4s, will investigate

[KieX]

+1 for the 500W Antec Earthwatts.

For case at same price range you have NZXT BETA Evo. Quite small dimensions but enough internal space for large air coolers and plenty options for air + cable management.

NZXT BETA EVO Classic Series CS-NT-BETA-EVO Black ...

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by KieX

+1 for the 500W Antec Earthwatts.

For case at same price range you have NZXT BETA Evo. Quite small dimensions but enough internal space for large air coolers and plenty options for air + cable management.

NZXT BETA EVO Classic Series CS-NT-BETA-EVO Black ...

Funny that you mention that, I was looking at that case earlier earlier today
Here's my build ATM (current plan is to use a low-RPM Silverstone fan I already have for the CPU):


Every review I've seen of the HAF 912 has been a glowing endorsement, the airflow and cable management are remarkable, and it actually looks pretty good IMO (unlike the rest of the HAF series).

A uATX board does seem like a sort-of strange choice to me in a larger-than-average mid-tower case, so I'm definitely open to different P67 boards around $150 (the cheaper the better, I may cut the DVD drive to keep things under $800)

[Radical_Edward]

Those ASUS DVD burners are pretty good. I still use mine all the time.

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Radical_Edward

Those ASUS DVD burners are pretty good. I still use mine all the time.

I guess I do use my DVD burner a fair bit. Probably about once a week for watching movies....don't really want to give that up

[Radical_Edward]

May I ask, why AS5 and not MX-2?

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Radical_Edward

May I ask, why AS5 and not MX-2?

It was out of stock last time I looked (about a week ago) when I was looking to get some new paste for my GPU.

Looks like it's in stock again now though.

EDIT: Any other suggestions? Yours so far seem to have been spot-on

[Paulieg]

Originally Posted by Radical_Edward

May I ask, why AS5 and not MX-2?

Good question, as MX-2 spreads and cools better. Also, I'd suggest a change in motherboard and memory. I'd go with a Biostar TP67XE and Corsair Vengeance sticks. I've bought these myself, and I can't say enough good things about them. Biostar has the most mature bios of any p67 board, and the build quality is great, especially given the price. The timings will tighten to 8-8-8-24-1T, and the board has allowed me to OC my 2500-K to 4.5ghz on 1.26v.

CORSAIR Vengeance 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600...
BIOSTAR TP67XE LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3...

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Paulieg

Good question, as MX-2 spreads and cools better. Also, I'd suggest a change in motherboard and memory. I'd go with a Biostar TP67XE and Corsair Vengeance sticks. I've bought these myself, and I can't say enough good things about them. Biostar has the most mature bios of any p67 board, and the build quality is great, especially given the price.

CORSAIR Vengeance 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600...
BIOSTAR TP67XE LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3...

OK, thank you. I'll check those out. What's so great about that Corsair memory? And does the BIOSTAR board require a pair of 8-pin CPU power connectors in order to function?

[Paulieg]

Originally Posted by [Ion]

OK, thank you. I'll check those out. What's so great about that Corsair memory? And does the BIOSTAR board require a pair of 8-pin CPU power connectors in order to function?

No, there are 2 8-pin connectors, but you only need to use one of the. The other is to stabilize extreme overclocks. There is a thread on the Biostar board at XS, and "Windwithme" posted a review here, overclocking a 2600-K over 5.0ghz on it. I've found it to be really stable, and forgiving with failed OC's. The thing I like about the Corsair is ability to run 1600 8-8-8-24-1T on just 1.5v. It's a good value at the price point.

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Paulieg

No, there are 2 8-pin connectors, but you only need to use one of the. The other is to stabilize extreme overclocks. There is a thread on the Biostar board at XS, and "Windwithme" posted a review here, overclocking a 2600-K over 5.0ghz on it. I've found it to be really stable, and forgiving with failed OC's. The thing I like about the Corsair is ability to run 1600 8-8-8-24-1T on just 1.5v. It's a good value at the price point.

That's definitely good to hear, I don't want an expensive PSU w/ 2 8pins.

I'll check out that review and OC results now.

What has your experience been in general and with overclocking on the Biostar board?

[Paulieg]

Originally Posted by [Ion]

That's definitely good to hear, I don't want an expensive PSU w/ 2 8pins.

I'll check out that review and OC results now.

What has your experience been in general and with overclocking on the Biostar board?

It's just really solid, and clocks very well. The AMI bios is a modified UEFI bios, and has a nice layout. The one thing that you have to watch for is the Loadline settings are the opposite of may other boards. If you disable it, it actually gives you more voltage, enabling gives less. I think the way Biostar is heading, they are going to be the new DFI, with great boards that fly slightly under the radar.

[BraveSoul]

how about a different cooler, little more heavy, say 790 grams of Prolimatech Megahalem, i just think its worth the effort for a $330 cpu... playing starcraft2 myself and cpu speed seems to be the trick in times of heavy loads(desert stirke map), reaching limits with my cooler, wish i have gotten a bigger one

antec1200 filter mod

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Paulieg

It's just really solid, and clocks very well. The AMI bios is a modified UEFI bios, and has a nice layout. The one thing that you have to watch for is the Loadline settings are the opposite of may other boards. If you disable it, it actually gives you more voltage, enabling gives less. I think the way Biostar is heading, they are going to be the new DFI, with great boards that fly slightly under the radar.

I'm definitely very interested in this board then. Thank you, unless someone presents a very compelling reason not to get it, I think I'll build my SB setup around it

Originally Posted by BraveSoul

how about a different cooler, little more heavy, say 790 grams of Prolimatech Megahalem, i just think its worth the effort for a $330 cpu... playing starcraft2 myself and cpu speed seems to be the trick in times of heavy loads(desert stirke map), reaching limits with my cooler, wish i have gotten a bigger one

Honestly that's well more than I want to spend on a cooler for a chip that will hit 4-4.2ghz on the stock cooling. I'm not going to cheap out and try and run WCG @ 4.4ghz 24/7 on the stock cooler, but I think that the Hyper 212+ will be plenty.

[Paulieg]

Originally Posted by [Ion]

I'm definitely very interested in this board then. Thank you, unless someone presents a very compelling reason not to get it, I think I'll build my SB setup around it


Honestly that's well more than I want to spend on a cooler for a chip that will hit 4-4.2ghz on the stock cooling. I'm not going to cheap out and try and run WCG @ 4.4ghz 24/7 on the stock cooler, but I think that the Hyper 212+ will be plenty.

I'm doing some significant overclocking, so I'm using a Venomous X cooler, but I did WCG testing on the stock cooler. These chips run so damn cool, that I could run 4.1ghz with slightly less than stock voltage, and temps stayed in the mid 50's. I did switch out the paste to some Shin Etsu. Your Hyper will be fine for WCG with a mild overclock.

[[Ion]]

Originally Posted by Paulieg

I'm doing some significant overclocking, so I'm using a Venomous X cooler, but I did WCG testing on the stock cooler. These chips run so damn cool, that I could run 4.1ghz with slightly less than stock voltage, and temps stayed in the mid 50's. I did switch out the paste to some Shin Etsu. Your Hyper will be fine for WCG with a mild overclock.

Wow, that's nothing short of remarkable. I think my i7 860 is about average in terms of OCing results, but it's ~70c load @ 3.83ghz @ 1.30v w/ a H50...and IIRC sucks down not quite 150w load for the CPU alone.

[MxPhenom 216]

Id get a Better PSU then that. For example, a Seasonic X650 or Corsair HX650 and ditch the Arctic Silver 5. that stuff is old and easily beat by other stuff. Look at OCZ Freeze or Arctic Silver MX-4