Is i7 worth it? which motherboard to get?

[wonton1017]

Okay, i asked earlier about e8400 vs q9550 and im about to pull the trigger for the q9550.
But then i thought to myself, since i'm not going to upgrade this computer for a very long time i might as well spend another $200 on the i7. which one would last me longer? which one would have a higher resell value?

ASUS p5Q pro + Q9550 + 4gb pc2-8500 ram = $430 + tax
$230 motherboard + i7 920 + 6gb ddr3 1600 ram= $650 + tax

Which motherboard should i get for $200-$230? best oc'ability/functionality/value
MSI x58 pro-e $205
Gigabyte x58 ud4p
Gigabyte x58 ud3r
Gigabyte x58 DS4
MSI x58 PRO
ASUS p6T SE
MSI x58 platinum $240

Which i7 DDR3-1600 ram?
NCIX.com - Buy Corsair XMS3 TR3X6G1600C9 6GB DDR3 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 9-9-9-24 Core i7 Memory Kit - TR3X6G1600C9 In Canada.
NCIX.com - Buy G.SKILL F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 6GB DDR3 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 9-9-9-24 Triple Channel Memory Kit - F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ In Canada.
NCIX.com - Buy Mushkin HP HP3-12800 6GB DDR3 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 9-9-9-24 Triple Channel Memory Kit - 998659 In Canada.

Gonna be gaming from time to time with this build.

[gingerbee]

i7 for both the first 2 questions. mb question you need to be a little more specific then just price

[wonton1017]

All the motherboards i've just listed are all the same price $10-20 price diff from first being the cheapest, then to to the most expensive.

[Sagath]

Gigabyte x58 ud4p

[somecanadianguy]

If you're only going to use 6GB RAM you may want to look at the ex58-ud3r instead.

[wonton1017]

Damn it, im back to the dilemma between q9550 and i7 920 again =.=
The extra $220+tax can get me a gtx275...

Guess ill just buy which ever appears on the next sale with a nice price!

[gingerbee]

sorry there's no point of buying old tech when you know you can upgrade your card later. when the better cards from both are out. ( unless money is a concern. if money is your motivation then i would look into the phenom 2) and out of the I& stuff i would pick the g.skill and the Gigabyte x58 DS4 just cause i have that board and luv it.
I just think the difference between the c2d and i7 is a big deal games just run that much smoother and a whole bunch more.

[freaksavior]

Get the Gigabyte ud4 (not the 3, because it only has 4 dimms) and get crcuail DDR3 Value ram. it has D9 in it so they can clock to 2ghz @ 88820 and 1.81v.

i7 is worth it, since i9 will use same socket, and 775 is going to be renamed i3, its a "low end" machine by todays standards. i vote yes. i switched from a Q9550 to the i7, and i dont regret it

[jyc327]

as for the ram, I would go with either one which ever is cheaper. i've had both the mushkin and G.Skill. from experience my newer CL6 mushkins will run at full spec specs at only 1.49-1.5 volts giving you plenty of more for OC if need be.

as for the motherboard, i've had the p6t deluxe oc, p6t, and played with the ud5p. ud5p is good for the money. i choose to go with my current p6t over the SE version because of eSata for myself, but also the fact that it's got spacing for 775/1366 style coolers.

now most would be "why would you use a 775 cooler on the i7?" lol cuz i have the waterblock from aqua computers from which I traded my 9800gtx+ OCX for. it's a sexy block; really reason is that I dont want to play $70 with shipping for just the i7 bracket for the block.

Jacky