DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

i7 and i5 config suggestions

3 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/i7-and-i5-config-suggestions.149976/

S
sreedharvenugopal Original post #1
Dec 14, 2011 at 12:28 AM
Hi guys, check out these two system configs. Let me know the positives and negatives of each. Finally which system would you choose and why.

System 1:
Iball velocity cabinet
Intel i5 2500 proccy (non k) with stock heatsink
4gb kingston hyperx ddr3 1600mhz
Zebronics 500watt psu
GTX 550
Intel DH67Cl b3 mobo.

System 2:
Coolermaster CM690 cabinet
Intel i7 2600k proccy with coolermaster hyper tx3
4gb corsair ddr3 1333mhz
Corsair TX650
Msi R5770 Hawk
Biostar TZ68K+ mobo

System 2 is mine and system 1 is a friend's. I use mine for photoshop, premiere pro, etc. my friends is all into gaming.

My thoughts on the limitations of each:
System 1: Needs a better psu than zebronics. Also the 1600mhz ram might underclock to 1333 as it hasn't been overclocked. The h67 mobo doesn't support overclocking.
System 2: The 5770 is slower than the 550. Ram could have been faster, maybe overclocked.

Thank you. :)
W
Dec 14, 2011 at 12:50 AM
i would take system 2 because i am not a gamer.also zebronics is a big NO for a i2500 system especially when graphics card is GTX550.a value ram is not a good match for any overclockable processor.i have no idea about iball cabinets but NZXT Gamma for 2600(outside mumbai)is the minimum i would recommend for a core i5 system with a GTX550.
guru_urug
Dec 14, 2011 at 2:32 AM
System 1:
Iball velocity cabinet
Intel i5 2500 proccy (non k) with stock heatsink
4gb kingston hyperx ddr3 1600mhz
Zebronics 500watt psu
GTX 550
Intel DH67Cl b3 mobo.

System 2:
Coolermaster CM690 cabinet
Intel i7 2600k proccy with coolermaster hyper tx3
4gb corsair ddr3 1333mhz
Corsair TX650
Msi R5770 Hawk
Biostar TZ68K+ mobo


System 1 has some big flaws(marked in red).
System 2 doesnt have any flaws as such but I would have made some changes to use the money more aptly(bold)

System 1:
*CABINET
The cabinet is not really good. I wouldnt trust the quality and the airfflow. Also I doubt there is enough space for cable mngmt.
I dont know the cost of that cabinet and I havent heard much abt it. @ 1k zeb bijli (without smps) and @ 2k NZXT gamma is recommended.
*GENERAL FLAW
For a gaming machine the most imp part is the GPU which in this case is at best mid ranged. Still even for mid range I would have chosen the hd 6770 over the GTX 550 since there is a significant price difference and negligible difference in framerate. Also 550 consumes much more power. At the same price or a little more he could have got a much better gaming card like HD 6850
Also if cost was a concern, he could have gone for a i5 2300; there is negligible difference in gaming and applications. OR chosen a AMD based setup and saved enough money for a 560ti or HD 6950
*PSU
Bad choice!! Ask him to change it asap. Specially with the 550ti its a disaster waiting to take place. Change it if he loves his PC
*GPU
Bad choice for a gaming PC, a HD 6770 would have saved him money and power too. Also he should have got a better GPU for gaming.
*RAM
That board only supports upto 1333MHz DDR3 RAM, Putting a 1600MHz rated RAM is waste since it will be downclocked.

System 2:
* That cabinet is pretty costly, its a personal choice though. I wont say its a bad choice, I would have rather spent more on the core components and settled for the Gamma.
*Again money saved could have been spent on a better cooler like the CM 212+ . That cooler would have enabled much higher overclocks. Still its ok.
* The PSU is really good. No problems with that again, just that its overkill for this rig. Thats not a bad thing actually and good from future POV. But I would have rather got a seasonic 520II and invested the remaining in a better GPU

The above views are just a personal opinion. :)