Opinion on i7/GTX 285 build

[Tikal]

Hello, I'd like some feedback and opinion regarding a new build. Thanks.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Word processing, spreadsheets and gaming.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$2000

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
Canada

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Intel-Fanboy and nVidia-Fanboy.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
No

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Not until the product(s) go out of warranty.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
This week.

Parts List:
Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz [$357.99]
Seagate 500GB Barracuda 7200.11 [$64.90]
NZXT Tempest [$156.90]
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 [$114.90]
Kingston ValueRAM 3GB DDR3-1333 Triple-Channel CL9 [$112.90]
BFG NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 OC 1GB PCIe 2.0 [$489.90]
Samsung SH-S223F [$41.90]
Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R [$252.90]

Total: $1592.29

[cadaveca]

6gb 1333 CL9 kit frm Gkill, 169.99

NCIX.com - Buy G.SKILL F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ 6GB DDR3 3X2GB DDR3-1333 CL 9-9-9-24 Triple Channel Memory Kit - F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ In Canada.



Hate the case, but that's a personal choice, cases. You could get better quality for the same dollar though.

DVD drive seems $10 too expensive...actually, everything seems a bit on the expensive side...

[Digikid]

Ditch the Seagate and get a Western Digital Black. Better and faster.

Power Supply is a little too.....wimpy. Get yourself a Corsair 850W and you will be set for anything.

The tempest was on my consideration list as well....but went with a better case...Antec Twelve hundred. Yes it is a big case but the airflow is better then the tempest plus it has loads of room to work in a great cable management.

EVGA would be better for the GPU. Better support and warranty and quality.

Now this is just my choice but I feel that the EVGA X58 is the better board....both in quality, warranty and slot layout. It is also one of the X58 boards that can do SLI AND Crossfire. Can the Gigabyte do that? Not all X58 Mobos can do that you know.

[sswilson]

Not sure if I'd buy a seagate 7200.11 drive until they get the firmware issue completely resolved and/or offer reassurances that all of the affected drives have been removed from the supply chain.

[Dogger1]

Swap out the Seagate for a Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB. That particular drive only runs about 10% slower than the VelociRaptor and Digikid’s right on the mark when he said they’re “Better and faster.”

This is a rather amazing full tower case and the price is right.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160

Video review on the HAF



I’d follow cadaveca’s advice about the ram.

The Silencer 610 is well thought of and it’s rated @ 49a on its single 12v rail, so it can provide sufficient Amps to power even a GTX 295. However, the PSU is not a place to save a couple of bucks and bigger is normally better in that regard. My new build has a Corsair CMPSU-850TX CORSAIR psu, with a 70A output on its single 12v rail. So I should be somewhat future proof in that regard.

What monitor(s) are you looking at?

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by Dogger1

Swap out the Seagate for a Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB. That particular drive only runs about 10% slower than the VelociRaptor and Digikid’s right on the mark when he said they’re “Better and faster.”

This is a rather amazing full tower case and the price is right.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160


I’d follow cadaveca’s advice about the ram.

The Silencer 610 is well thought of and it’s rated @ 49a on its single 12v rail, so it can provide sufficient Amps to power even a GTX 295. However, the PSU is not a place to save a couple of bucks and bigger is normally better in that regard. My new build has a Corsair CMPSU-850TX CORSAIR psu, with a 70A output on its single 12v rail. So I should be somewhat future proof in that regard.

What monitor(s) are you looking at?

Heh... you could have at least linked to HWC's review of the haf.....

Cooler Master HAF 932 Case Review

[MpG]

My thoughts:

• If you grab a GTX280 instead of the GTX285, you might be able to knock another $100 off that build price. There's been some pretty serious fire sales on them recently, and aside from the slightly slower stock clocks, there's really no performance difference between the old and the new.
• That PSU is just fine, as long as you're certain you're not going to get the urge to add a second video card in the future. At that point... a little borderline, although technically feasible, I believe. You know your plans best.
• With that build, even if you're not overclocking, you should really consider an aftermarket heatsink for the CPU. Others would know better than me, but Thermalright and Noctua's offerings have both been getting a lot of approval thus far with the i7 air-coolers. If nothing else, there's some peace to be had by ditching the stock whiner.
• There are strong arguments that suggest that 3GB is plenty of memory, regardless of your operating system. But if you're planning to use a 64-bit OS, there are also arguments that say going with 6GB has some benefits as well. Since you're not looking for bleeding edge memory, doubling up your memory might not be too expensive.

[Dogger1]

ss, I even have that review bookmarked

MpG, good idea regarding the GTX 280 and depending on his needs he might even find a GTX 260 would suffice. I also totally agree with your comments regarding an aftermarket CUP heatsink. I pre-ordered this bad boy yesterday for my new i7 build:

CoolerMaster V10! (56k warning) - [H]ard|Forum

[ImmaPC]

1. Switch the HD for WD Caviar Black 640GB. Great bang for the buck, fast as the VelociRaptor
2. Switch the case for an HAF 932, the HAF will beat down that case any day of the week =D
3. The PSU should be fine, unless you want to go SLI, in which case you will HAVE to get at least a 750W
4. Definitely go with cadaveca's suggestion to get 6GB. It's $50 more and you get more value in the long-run.
5. The GTX285 shows about 10-15% better performance and overclocking ability than the GTX280. If you were to buy a GTX280, it would be only $350-$400.
6. The DVD drive is a bit too expensive, you can get a Dual layer one like this one for $35, and save a bit of cash.
7. Personally, I don't like Gigabyte boards, I never did, and I never will. I beg thee, get yourself a P6T or a Smackover or an eVGA X58!

[Jake_HT]

Agreed with what was said.

Caviar black 640GB
GTX280 (barely slower, a LOT better price)
Good DVD drive can be had for 10 bucks less
PSU is good granted that you aren't going to SLI

As for other stuff, I have no suggestions! You're going to enjoy it.. i7's are real gems, they're so fast and overclock well (even though that's not your motives)