Invest in motherboard or Processor?

[loloTHUNDAH]

Hey guys!

I've made 2 threads already here in techpowerup, and they're really helpful. As for those who've read my other thread/s, you would probably know that I'm getting my first rig by August or September (or earlier if budget permits) and Currently I have this

Processor: Core i3 2100
Mobo: MSI H77A-G43 (uATX)
RAM: Corsair 4gb DDR3 1333
GPU: Powercolor HD 7770 (or Powercolor HD 6790)

Now originally they said that I should stick with a Core i3 for my general purposes (Gaming, Lite Photoshopping and 3D modeling, Though I wouldn't go past 1366x768 that's the max res my monitor supports)

Until recently I've been suggested to get a true quad core (like the i5) and just get any Mobo and pair it with a GTX 550 Ti, that way I wouldn't have to upgrade my CPU in a long run.

Then I've read articles that say a future ready motherboard (like Ivy Bridge boards) are a great investment since If I get one now with a low end processor (let's say a G630) I can wait for ivy bridge processor to go down in price and get it later on.

So then I tinkered around with my build and got this

the Core i5 Ivy Bridge Build:
Processor: Core i5 - 3450
MoBo: Intel BLKDH67 (uATX)
GPU: Polorcolor HD 6670 (ddr3 )

The Intel G630 build:
Processor: Intel G630
Mobo: MSI Z77A-G43 (ATX)
GPU: Powercolor HD 7770 GHZ edition

So should I stick with my original build (Core i3), the i5 build, or the G630 build?

if anyone else is wondering my PSU is the Huntkey Jumper Modular 550w.

I just want this build to be great since I had a bad experience with buying a PC without any background knowledge and research

Sorry If I'm becoming a bother to anyone

[Dent1]

Originally Posted by loloTHUNDAH

Hey guys!

I've made 2 threads already here in techpowerup, and they're really helpful. As for those who've read my other thread/s, you would probably know that I'm getting my first rig by August or September (or earlier if budget permits) and Currently I have this

Processor: Core i3 2100
Mobo: MSI H77A-G43 (uATX)
RAM: Corsair 4gb DDR3 1333
GPU: Powercolor HD 7770 (or Powercolor HD 6790)

Now originally they said that I should stick with a Core i3 for my general purposes (Gaming, Lite Photoshopping and 3D modeling, Though I wouldn't go past 1366x768 that's the max res my monitor supports)

Until recently I've been suggested to get a true quad core (like the i5) and just get any Mobo and pair it with a GTX 550 Ti, that way I wouldn't have to upgrade my CPU in a long run.

Then I've read articles that say a future ready motherboard (like Ivy Bridge boards) are a great investment since If I get one now with a low end processor (let's say a G630) I can wait for ivy bridge processor to go down in price and get it later on.

So then I tinkered around with my build and got this

the Core i5 Ivy Bridge Build:
Processor: Core i5 - 3450
MoBo: Intel BLKDH67 (uATX)
GPU: Polorcolor HD 6670 (ddr3 )

The Intel G630 build:
Processor: Intel G630
Mobo: MSI Z77A-G43 (ATX)
GPU: Powercolor HD 7770 GHZ edition

So should I stick with my original build (Core i3), the i5 build, or the G630 build?

if anyone else is wondering my PSU is the Huntkey Jumper Modular 550w.

I just want this build to be great since I had a bad experience with buying a PC without any background knowledge and research

Sorry If I'm becoming a bother to anyone

There is no such thing as future proofing in this game. You'll end up changing motherboards only for it to be old news when it comes to upgrading again.

Your rig looks fine, it looks plenty for your demands. I would keep it for another year or so. The only minor tweaks I would do immediately is add another 4GB of ram and upgrade your monitor to 24" LCD.

[Crap Daddy]

It all depends on how much you have to spend.

I say i5-3450 with this board:

ASRock H77M LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB...

and the 7770.

If the i5 is too much for your budget then go with the i3-2120. Forget the 6670, it's wasted money.

[Dent1]

Originally Posted by Crap Daddy

and the 7770.

He has a GTS 450 already. Going 7770 isnt a big jump.

I wouldn't even upgrade the video card, he games on a 16" monitor @ 1366x768, I haven't gamed at that resolution since year 2006!

Originally Posted by loloTHUNDAH

the Core i5 Ivy Bridge Build:
Processor: Core i5 - 3450
MoBo: Intel BLKDH67 (uATX)
GPU: Polorcolor HD 6670 (ddr3 )

The 6670 is slower than your current GTS 450.

[Crap Daddy]

Originally Posted by Dent1

He has a GTS 450 already. Going to a 6670 or 7770 isnt a big jump.

I wouldn't even upgrade the video card, he games on a 16" monitor @ 1366x768, I haven't gamed at that resolution since year 2006!

I have on my second machine an 32" LCD TV with that res and a GTS450. Apart from the usual suspects (BF3, Metro and such) all games work very well but a 7770 is like 30% better so it is a fair jump. It depends on the budget really. But if money is a problem then an i5 and keep the GTS450. At that res a stronger CPU will get him better results in gaming.

[Dent1]

Going from a Core i3 2100 to i3-2120 will not make any difference. Think its just a 200Mhz increase above base which he can do himself. He can't afford a i5 either, his best bet is to learn to OC.

GPU wise, I just looked at some benches and the 7770 is just behind the 6850 so I guess its a good card which could probably handle most things. I think any sort of gaming is wasted on a 16" screen. It's 2012!

In this order I would go with, monitor, RAM and GPU. And forget the motherboard and CPU for this year.

[micropage7]

if you have to choose take processor, as long as the socket supported you still have another chance to replace your board

[lilhasselhoffer]

Originally Posted by loloTHUNDAH

Hey guys!

I've made 2 threads already here in techpowerup, and they're really helpful. As for those who've read my other thread/s, you would probably know that I'm getting my first rig by August or September (or earlier if budget permits) and Currently I have this

Processor: Core i3 2100
Mobo: MSI H77A-G43 (uATX)
RAM: Corsair 4gb DDR3 1333
GPU: Powercolor HD 7770 (or Powercolor HD 6790)

Now originally they said that I should stick with a Core i3 for my general purposes (Gaming, Lite Photoshopping and 3D modeling, Though I wouldn't go past 1366x768 that's the max res my monitor supports)

Until recently I've been suggested to get a true quad core (like the i5) and just get any Mobo and pair it with a GTX 550 Ti, that way I wouldn't have to upgrade my CPU in a long run.

Then I've read articles that say a future ready motherboard (like Ivy Bridge boards) are a great investment since If I get one now with a low end processor (let's say a G630) I can wait for ivy bridge processor to go down in price and get it later on.

So then I tinkered around with my build and got this

the Core i5 Ivy Bridge Build:
Processor: Core i5 - 3450
MoBo: Intel BLKDH67 (uATX)
GPU: Polorcolor HD 6670 (ddr3 )

The Intel G630 build:
Processor: Intel G630
Mobo: MSI Z77A-G43 (ATX)
GPU: Powercolor HD 7770 GHZ edition

So should I stick with my original build (Core i3), the i5 build, or the G630 build?

if anyone else is wondering my PSU is the Huntkey Jumper Modular 550w.

I just want this build to be great since I had a bad experience with buying a PC without any background knowledge and research

Sorry If I'm becoming a bother to anyone

Here's the deal:

Motherboards are largely dependent upon their PCH (Platform Controller Hub). The PCH is what determines how you can connect to the motherboard, with the obvious exception of additional installed controllers. Enough nerd speak?

The simple truth is that a motherboards features are largely determined by one component.

Currently, you're looking at either a P67/H61/Z68 or Z75/Z77 choice on the PCH (split up by generations). The newer PCH (Z75/Z77) supports slightly faster RAM stock, a couple of new features that aren't often used by gamers, offers PCI-e 3.0 (which no cards currently need), and costs a bit more. The older PCH (you want to go with Z68, because it offers the most) is cheaper, and more than sufficient if you've already got a Sandy Bridge processor.


The CPU is another game entirely. As true quad core processors become the norm (read: dual cores are budget solutions only) you're more likely to see programs that take advantage of them. Certain games, photoshop, and most multi-media editing software absolutely love the extra cores. While a hyper-threaded (2 physical cores, 4 logical threads) dual core is respectable, it will not perform as well as a true 4 physical cores.



Summing all of this up.
1) Get a Z68 motherboard if budget concerns are high. H67 and P67 aren't great choices for any forward looking build. They are cheaper, but that's because they lose a lot of features.
2) Invest in an unlocked i5. The quad cores are going to offer an immediate performance boost in editing. The unlocking means you can squeeze a little more out of the build in the future.
3) Do you have a budget, and if so where are you purchasing from? If you ask the question: "Please help me build a good rig for $xxxxx.xx, here's what I have." I'm sure we can help you a lot more.

[loloTHUNDAH]

Thanks for the Detailed reply lilhasslelhoffer!

My budget is around $640 (which is P 27,000 in the Philippines) and I'm buying from the site pcx.com.ph

I don't need a monitor anymore so I need everything else. I've already set my eyes on a Cooler Master elite 371 case, A huntkey jumper 550w PSU (or Antec VP450) and 4gb Corsair Ram. It's really the Proccessor, Mobo, and GPU i'm having a hard time choosing

[Fourstaff]

keep everything as it is (i3, H77, etc), when time comes (in 5 years or so) then upgrade everything again. The only thing I would recommend is getting 8GB ram. Don't get the Huntkey PSU, that brand is not so good.

[Widjaja]

If the Huntkey PSUs are the same quality as their cases, I would not depend on one.
Best to check some reviews on their PSUs before making the purchase.

In saying that about Huntkey, I use a Huntkey Mouse mat and Surge Protector.
But then again these aren't too critical to the systems reliability and performance

[Frick]

Originally Posted by Widjaja

If the Huntkey PSUs are the same quality as their cases, I would not depend on one.
Best to check some reviews on their PSUs before making the purchase.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/989/

Huntkey PSU's are actually pretty good.

[Fourstaff]

Originally Posted by Frick

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/989/

Huntkey PSU's are actually pretty good.

They have probably improved by quite a bit over the years

[loloTHUNDAH]

Hey guys I need some advice on Memory here.

I was able to swap out The Huntkey Jumper Modular 550w psu with an Antec Neo Eco 520w (I've read reviews that its a great PSU)

Now I have enough to invest in an 8gb memory

My Current Choices are:

Kingston HyperX 8gb BLU (4gbx2) Frequency speeds — DDR3: 1,333MHz-1,600MHz
G.Skill RipJaws 8gb 1333mhz (4gbx2)

So which is better?