Almost decided on i7

S

Seep

n00b
Joined
Jun 6, 2009
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I posted a thread here a while back asking for advice on a build, I came to a conclusion there but I've changed my mind, I think. Sorry if this doesn't warrant a new thread.

Here is this:

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, browsing.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
An absolute maximum of 1200$ after taxes and shipping.

3) Where do you live?
Southern Ontario, Canada.

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
CPU(i7 920), RAM, Mobo, Case, Case fans, HSF

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
9800GX2, DVD drive, and PSU(PCP&P Silencer 750W) I will be reusing my harddrives (1x250gb 1x500gb SATA)

6) Will you be overclocking?
Yes, eventually.

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
1920x1200

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within the next week or two, hopefully.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
Nothing crazy, hopefully RAID I guess for the future, but otherwise something cheap, but I will not sacrifice quality for price (to an extent) so something pretty stable/reliable too.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
Win7 RC and/or XP64

Current Machine:
E6600
EP45-UD3R
9800GX2
2x2GB OCZ 1066

Machine I'm Wondering About:
i7 920
EX58-UD5
9800GX2 (Reusing until DX11 comes out, MAY buy a 4890 if my wallet survives this)
3x2GB G.Skill 1333

Case: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811160008
Fans: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233008

Final Prices(shipping included):

Mobo, CPU, RAM: 867.90
Case and fans: 226.96

Grand Total: 1094.96


I'm fairly certain I want to go with i7, it's just too nice to pass up, but like before I'd rather get some second opinions and more information. I'm hoping to keep the new system for 3-4 years with upgrading 1 or 2 parts a year tops (excluding gfx card upgrades).

So hows what I have look? I also need a HSF but am currently debating on which one to get. It's very confusing, I've been looking at the four recommended in the previous thread, but am still unsure, some to have giant grooves on the bottom that kinda turn me off. With the case I have will size even be an issue with the four recommended in the previous thread?
 
its not a bad build.. and the 9800GX2 should last you a while longer..

also i notice since you used ncix canadian site.. you might want to take a look at www.newegg.ca

the 920 is about 30 dollars cheaper.. the motherboard is about 15 dollars cheaper + free shipping.. those were the only two i really looked up though.. im sure everything else would be cheaper as well..
 
Ah yes I went to newegg and in the end all I'd be saving is 30$, and it bothers me none to pay that extra 30$ to ensure a D0 stepping :p.

So I guess this is a good plan for what I need it for? I'll be ordering today if all is well :D.
 
All four HSF mentioned by Tiraides in your first thread will fit inside your current case. All four are excellent HSF choice. It's really how much you're willing to spend on a HSF.
 
The grooves are probably due to the heatpipes... so the absense of material there is filled in by the thermal compound, and the direct touch from heatpipes is what makes such coolers perform so well. So basically, the grooves are nothing to worry about.

IIRC, NCIX will pricematch newegg. Ask... all they can do is say no. :p
 
I am still having some conflicting thoughts on buying all this. Like I said I hope not to upgrade anything major (Mobo, CPU mainly) for 2-3 years. I know this is the classic future proofing question but I'm more looking for a ball park than anything. Will this system hold its own for the next year or two with an upgrade gfx card, new RAM, and maybe some SSD's in the future?

I'm mainly concerned with the motherboard and all the new features being released in the near future.

***I will be purchasing the case, fans, CPU, Mobo, RAM, True120, with a couple other minor accessories if I choose to go with the i7 build.
 
Yes that system will be fine for 2-3 years, most games are gpu limited today, and nobody is going to make a game that only runs on a gtx 360 / 5870 in the next 2 years. And games that need processing power are likely to be multithreaded, but still target the core 2 duo level chips as a minimum for at least the next 2 years, so the core i7 920 will play them well. Pull the trigger and enjoy.
 
Personally I would wait out to see where the core i5 is standing when the dust settles, and whether Intel has decided to take future i7 chips and making them out of reach for the average enthusiast. Thats just a few months away in September, and your current system is pretty damn good at the moment.
 
SonicTron said:
Personally I would wait out to see where the core i5 is standing when the dust settles, and whether Intel has decided to take future i7 chips and making them out of reach for the average enthusiast. Thats just a few months away in September, and your current system is pretty damn good at the moment.
Click to expand...

Crispy002 said:
Do it! You won't regret it!
Click to expand...


This is the problem I've been having.

But there's going to have to be a semi-affordable i7/1366 in the future... right?

But even if I keep the same hardware it'll last as long as I need it, and in 2-3 years completely new technology will have arrived... Any thoughts?

I'm leaning more towards i7 right now.
 
Seep said:
This is the problem I've been having.

But there's going to have to be a semi-affordable i7/1366 in the future... right?

But even if I keep the same hardware it'll last as long as I need it, and in 2-3 years completely new technology will have arrived... Any thoughts?

I'm leaning more towards i7 right now.
Click to expand...

Maybe.

Do note that the Pentium 4 line shipped for 8 years, and Core 2 was built upon Pentium M technology which was based on P6 technology, meaning the final end of the line that is Core technology is actually older than the P4 tech. i7 / i5 will most certainly last more than 2-3 years; the question is whether Intel will support the i7 platform for an enthusiast level consumer, or if they are going to relegate it to the $1000 EE class only chips (thats the rumor right now). If you wait until september and we see some more roadmaps for the future of i7 you'll know exactly whether you want to dive into i7 or sidestep into what may be a much much more consumer friendly i5.

edit: long story short, pretty much everyone agrees that i7 will not be a platform with $200 superchips like the 920 anymore
 
SonicTron said:
Maybe.

Do note that the Pentium 4 line shipped for 8 years, and Core 2 was built upon Pentium M technology which was based on P6 technology, meaning the final end of the line that is Core technology is actually older than the P4 tech. i7 / i5 will most certainly last more than 2-3 years; the question is whether Intel will support the i7 platform for an enthusiast level consumer, or if they are going to relegate it to the $1000 EE class only chips (thats the rumor right now). If you wait until september and we see some more roadmaps for the future of i7 you'll know exactly whether you want to dive into i7 or sidestep into what may be a much much more consumer friendly i5.

edit: long story short, pretty much everyone agrees that i7 will not be a platform with $200 superchips like the 920 anymore
Click to expand...
Oddly enough I wouldn't mind (too much) spending 500-700$ on a processor if it's the only upgrade I'd need to do in a year...

Since i5 ("the future standard") is only going to be dual channel, are triple channel RAM prices going to shoot up like the i7 CPUs? I'm guessing yes...
 
Seep said:
Oddly enough I wouldn't mind (too much) spending 500-700$ on a processor if it's the only upgrade I'd need to do in a year...

Since i5 ("the future standard") is only going to be dual channel, are triple channel RAM prices going to shoot up like the i7 CPUs? I'm guessing yes...
Click to expand...

I doubt the prices will go up, the chips are the same, tripple channel just means you use 3 of them instead of 2, since it's the same memory the cost should be the same.
 
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