new i7 Rig

[MeDS]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
- Gaming, Daily Internet Tasks.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
- 1800
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, Corsair, Nvidia
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
-I'll be using my current harddrives, video card, and peripherals.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
-I've searched similar threads and researched most parts.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
-Only overclocking CPU
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
-Near future, potentially after Christmas


My thoughts so far:

• Motherboard - EVGA X58 Classified
• CPU - i7 920 Quad Core

I need help with:

• CPU Heatsink - researched Zalman/Thermaltake (open to suggestions)
• RAM - I'm lost in this category. I do like the Corsair Dominator sets. I am not sure on what speed would be best.

Things I don't need:

• GPU - going to use my 8800 GT for now.
• Hard Drives

I'm going to be using this RIG for gaming and daily tasks. I'd like to get 720p or better resolution. I'd like if it didn't cost an arm and a leg.
I'd like any input that you guys/girls have with what I mentioned, and thoughts for my missing pieces.


Thanks
Chris

[martin_metal_88]

Welcome to HWC my friend.
In first, we need to know some like the gaming resolution ( if you need the screen KB and mice as well ) budget, knowledge in computing and thing like that. This is a draft of what you could do but, try to give us more info before to get a final rig.

Well mobo is a great choice and CPU...the only choice but a really good guy for sure! For the CPU heatsink, for now Zalman and Thermaltake are not in the best of the best list for price vs performance. If you are open to go with other brand that would improve OC and temp. For the ram good 1600 make the job most of the time, for long time and better oc, 2000 is the best theseset are good. There is a good list of part most of HWCer would recomend you.

CPU - NCIX.com - Buy Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping Quad Core Processor LGA1366 2.66GHZ Bloomfield 8MB LGA1366 -SLBEJ- - BX80601920 - D0 In Canada. 343.15
MOBO - NCIX.com - Buy EVGA X58 Classified EATX LGA1366 DDR3 4PCIE-16 1PCI SLI SATA2 eSATA Dual GBLAN 1394 Motherboard - 141-BL-E760-A1 In Canada. 469.99
This one is also a good choice. With big cooler the classified can make problem because of the rad ( are they removable? I dont know )
MOBO - NCIX.com - Buy Gigabyte EX58-UD5 ATX LGA1366 X58 DDR3 3PCI-E SATA2 Sound 2GLAN 3-WAY CrossFireX SLI Motherboard - GA-EX58-UD5 In Canada. 309.86
Memory - NCIX.com - Buy Corsair XMS3 Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D 6GB DDR3 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 8-8-8-24 Core i7 Memory Kit - TR3X6G1600C8D In Canada. 274.99
NCIX.com - Buy BFG GeForce GTX 260 OC MAXCORE55 590MHZ 896MB 1.998GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I Video Card - BFGEGTX260MC896OCDE In Canada. 175.51
Case - NCIX.com - Buy Cooler Master Haf 932 Full Tower Black EATX Case 6X5.25 1X3.5 5X3.5INT No PSU USB eSATA 1394 Audio - RC-932-KKN1 In Canada. 168.92
HDD - (for OS ) NCIX.com - Buy Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty - WD6401AALS In Canada. 84.14
HDD - ( For Storage ) NCIX.com - Buy Western Digital WD10EADS Caviar Green 1TB SATA 32MB Cache 3.5IN Hard Drive OEM - WD10EADS In Canada. 109.99
Optical - NCIX.com - Buy Samsung SH-S223B/BEBE 22X DVD+-RW SATA DVD Writer Black OEM - SH-S223B/BEBE In Canada. 34.48
CPU cooler - NCIX.com - Buy Noctua NH-U12P SE2 LGA775/1156/1366 AM2/AM3 I7/I5/PHENOM Heatpipe Cooler W/ 2XNH-P12 120MM Fans - NH-U12P SE2 In Canada. 79.99
PSU - NCIX.com - Buy Corsair TX850W 850W CMPSU-850TX 12V 70A 24PIN ATX Active PFC 140M Fan Power Supply - CMPSU-850TX In Canada. 162.99

Total 1904.67. You can get this total down by 150 - 200$ by price matching at NCIX.
For some of the part the market is wierd now. The memory is a little overpriced IMO you can get same performance memory for less if you want to look at other brand like G.skill
NCIX.com - Buy G.SKILL F3-12800CL8T-6GBRM Ripjaws 6GB 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL8-8-8-24 240PIN Triple Channel i7 Memory - F3-12800CL8T-6GBRM In Canada. 194.99

Also the video card market is weird these time. the cream of the ATI card which are the best on the market are unavailable so get a cheap Nvidia liek GTX 260 now and upgrade if you need more when they will became available.
The cooler is sweet but there are some better on the market, Ultra 120, prolimatech Megahalem etc but for now they are Back order so I set you with the Noctua. Great cooler, dead silent and perform with some of the best. There is a lot we can do to build a new rig.

[MeDS]

I updated my post ask per your request. Thanks for your help.

[Victom]

Martin's post has some great advice I would just like to point out try to make sure you get a D0 stepping core I7 920 not C0 and a 260 core 216. They're not always easily notisible differences but they make a substantial difference in performance.

Also look at the socket 1156 core I7's the integrated pci-e controller does speed up the system and only really lowers the lanes if your going to run sli which I would just suggest get a bigger card more performance for the buck.

[MeDS]

thanks guys.. any more ideas? I like to hear what lots of people have to say.

[rjbarker]

Well mobo is a great choice and CPU...the only choice but a really good guy for sure! For the CPU heatsink, for now Zalman and Thermaltake are not in the best of the best list for price vs performance. If you are open to go with other brand that would improve OC and temp. For the ram good 1600 make the job most of the time, for long time and better oc, 2000 is the best theseset are good. There is a good list of part most of HWCer would recomend you.

CPU - NCIX.com - Buy Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping Quad Core Processor LGA1366 2.66GHZ Bloomfield 8MB LGA1366 -SLBEJ- - BX80601920 - D0 In Canada. 343.15
MOBO - NCIX.com - Buy EVGA X58 Classified EATX LGA1366 DDR3 4PCIE-16 1PCI SLI SATA2 eSATA Dual GBLAN 1394 Motherboard - 141-BL-E760-A1 In Canada. 469.99
This one is also a good choice. With big cooler the classified can make problem because of the rad ( are they removable? I dont know )
MOBO - NCIX.com - Buy Gigabyte EX58-UD5 ATX LGA1366 X58 DDR3 3PCI-E SATA2 Sound 2GLAN 3-WAY CrossFireX SLI Motherboard - GA-EX58-UD5 In Canada. 309.86
Memory - NCIX.com - Buy Corsair XMS3 Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D 6GB DDR3 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL 8-8-8-24 Core i7 Memory Kit - TR3X6G1600C8D In Canada. 274.99
NCIX.com - Buy BFG GeForce GTX 260 OC MAXCORE55 590MHZ 896MB 1.998GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I Video Card - BFGEGTX260MC896OCDE In Canada. 175.51
Case - NCIX.com - Buy Cooler Master Haf 932 Full Tower Black EATX Case 6X5.25 1X3.5 5X3.5INT No PSU USB eSATA 1394 Audio - RC-932-KKN1 In Canada. 168.92
HDD - (for OS ) NCIX.com - Buy Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty - WD6401AALS In Canada. 84.14
HDD - ( For Storage ) NCIX.com - Buy Western Digital WD10EADS Caviar Green 1TB SATA 32MB Cache 3.5IN Hard Drive OEM - WD10EADS In Canada. 109.99
Optical - NCIX.com - Buy Samsung SH-S223B/BEBE 22X DVD+-RW SATA DVD Writer Black OEM - SH-S223B/BEBE In Canada. 34.48
CPU cooler - NCIX.com - Buy Noctua NH-U12P SE2 LGA775/1156/1366 AM2/AM3 I7/I5/PHENOM Heatpipe Cooler W/ 2XNH-P12 120MM Fans - NH-U12P SE2 In Canada. 79.99
PSU - NCIX.com - Buy Corsair TX850W 850W CMPSU-850TX 12V 70A 24PIN ATX Active PFC 140M Fan Power Supply - CMPSU-850TX In Canada. 162.99

Total 1904.67. You can get this total down by 150 - 200$ by price matching at NCIX.
For some of the part the market is wierd now. The memory is a little overpriced IMO you can get same performance memory for less if you want to look at other brand like G.skill
NCIX.com - Buy G.SKILL F3-12800CL8T-6GBRM Ripjaws 6GB 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL8-8-8-24 240PIN Triple Channel i7 Memory - F3-12800CL8T-6GBRM In Canada. 194.99

Geez Martin, change out just a few components and you just built my Primary Rig!!!

[martin_metal_88]

Originally Posted by rjbarker

Geez Martin, change out just a few components and you just built my Primary Rig!!!

Wen it's good, it's good:P and RJ you have a pretty solid build so;)

[rjbarker]

^^^^^ No complaints Martin...I will be pulling one of the 3 280's and going with 2 only (put it up for sale sometime in the New Year)....done with having fun running Benches...2 is more than enough.

Goodluck to the OP...great Group of folks here!

[ayah]

NCIX has a 6GB OCZ Obsidian DDR3-1600 kit for 100$ after rebate right now.
It's cheap, and it works but they are high latency.
If you're only overclocking on air, you probably won't go past 1600MHz on your memory anyways.
Just throwing another option out there.

[MeDS]

a few friends of mine said I should go the i5 route.

I'm still leaning towards i7, in what circumstances would I lean back to i5?

Thanks
Chris