Another i7 Build

[kiger]

Case:
Silverstone FT02B

PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-850HX

CPU:
i7-920 (D0 verified @ MicroCenter)

Cooler:
Noctua NH-D14

Motherboard:
ASUS P6X58D

Memory:
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB

Video:
Sapphire Vapor-X 5870

Storage:
2 x 5.25" 4-Bay 2.5" SAS HotSwap Backplane
2 x Seagate Savvio 15K.2 146GB 2.5" (JBOD)
2 x Adaptec 2236700-R 1M Int Mini SASX4 SFF-8087 To 4 SATAX1 Fanout ROHS Cable
2 x ICY Dock Trayless Bays for Naked 3.5" SATA Drives
LSI SAS3081E-R PCI Express SATA / SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) Controller Card

Monitor:
NEC LCD2490WUXI-BK-SV (w/Polarizer)

Speakers:
Swan M10

Sound Card:
Auzen X-Fi Forte 7.1

Router:
Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 (w/Tomato)

UPS:
CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W 8 Outlets UPS

OS:
Windows 7 Ultimate Retail


Bought everything except the Swans (out of stock) and the Sapphire (out of stock). Also, the 5970 would be a tight fit and it appears two 5870's (while more expensive) performs better. Regardless, I am not spending the cash for a second 5870 at the moment, but I planned the board so there is room. Also, while it does not look like there is much storage, I have a few TB hard drives that I swap out whenever necessary into the ICY Dock Trayless adapters. This way they are only used when I need them (which is rare since I use them mainly for archival storage).

What do you guys think? Missing anything? By the way, my current system is a Shuttle 2.4ghz Pentium (ewww) but it has a Cheetah 15k 146gb boot drive (yay). Too bad I have to say goodbye to Ultra320... it's been fun. Still, it's going to be an amazing leap to quad 4ghz (and change). I'm going to lap the CPU to squeeze some extra juice out of it. It will probably be nothing like the Gulftown which can do 6GHz on air~ I hope the 920 doesn't end up being a waste, though I am sure it will not be. Oh yeah, the main purpose of the PC is just a powerhouse that will be good for ~ 4 more years or until Microsoft decides to overcharge us for another OS. While the main use is web design I just want it to handle anything I throw at it.

 

[gwarren007]

Dominators are way overpriced for what you get. XMS or gskills get the same job done.
There is no way I'd buy a sapphire when the XFX is cheaper (better warranty and service)
Did you find any deals to reduce your costs? - They are available.
Why the W7 Retail?

 

[kiger]

Dominators are way overpriced for what you get. XMS or gskills get the same job done.
There is no way I'd buy a sapphire when the XFX is cheaper (better warranty and service)
Did you find any deals to reduce your costs? - They are available.
Why the W7 Retail?

As for the ram, the board is somewhat new and I was having trouble finding people who had really done a thorough review with different memory. In the ASUS supported memory document, the dominator was one of the only 6GB packs that would perform at the advertised 1600 speed; plus, it was the last component in the build and I was getting a little tired. I knew it would work and said the heck with it

The XFX is about $30 bucks cheaper but the reviews have said that the Vapor-X runs at least 15 degrees cooler than the rest of the bunch (35 v. 50 is nothing to laugh at). I'm not a fan of the extra heat and prefer my office a cool 71 degrees so anything I can do to help the process is worth $30 bucks.

I was debating over W7 Retail v. OEM but at the end of the day, I like the flexibility of migrating the OS to another system if the need arises whereas the OEM will lock you in. Also, if W7 has a 10 year life like XP then I assume I will be using my W7 in another build down the road.

As for deals, aside from the MIR on the RAM I can't really find much. Although, the ASUS MB was at a nice discount (the average price has been $300 I believe) and I got good deals on the Forte for $130 shipped and the SAS drives for $149/ea shipped from eBay. I also received free 2nd day shipping on the Silverstone and Noctua (Amazon Prime) and the case actually arrived in 1 day.

 

[Dangman]

While the Sapphire does run cooler, the company itself is poor in terms of customer support and warranty. That's the main reason why XFX ATI cards are recommended around here: For the lifetime warranty and excellent customer service.

 

[izzypizzy]

I was debating over W7 Retail v. OEM but at the end of the day, I like the flexibility of migrating the OS to another system if the need arises whereas the OEM will lock you in. Also, if W7 has a 10 year life like XP then I assume I will be using my W7 in another build down the road.

I've had the same win xp OEM disc in like 4 computers over the last 6-7 years, never been an issue.

 

[kiger]

@izzypizzy
Weird. You used the same serial in each pc (at different times)? Also, you're talking about a legit single PC OEM license key (not one of those VLMs).

Also guys, any advice on a pure sinewave ups? I just realized that the CP1500AVRLCD is a simulated sinewave and because the PSU is Active PFC I should not use it. Problem is I don't know any decent cheap pure sinewave UPS units...

Edit: After reading this I realized that this is only an issue if you have a 240V line and not a 120V line as in the US so long as you use an Active PFC (which the HX840 is).

 

[izzypizzy]

@izzypizzy
Weird. You used the same serial in each pc (at different times)? Also, you're talking about a legit single PC OEM license key (not one of those VLMs).

Yeah, same serial in each pc at different times, legit OEM copy. It never even crossed my mind that it wouldn't work. Maybe someone else knows if that's common behavior or not.

 

[gwarren007]

Vista and Win7 will be diffrent than the Xp experience, but you just tell them you had to replace a defective _______(insert hardware) and they activate it. NP

 

[kiger]

Vista and Win7 will be diffrent than the Xp experience, but you just tell them you had to replace a defective _______(insert hardware) and they activate it. NP

Well, that would in fact be lying... which defeats the purpose of buying a legit version to begin with. (not trying to sound all high and mighty, but I'm of the age where even though the price is high, it's the right thing to do).

 

[gwarren007]

Who said it wasn't true?

 

[kiger]

Who said it wasn't true?

Well in that case it would be perfectly acceptable.

 

[Shalafi]

i agree with the XMS dominators giving you nothing extra really over the Ripjaws

but it's your money

judging by your build, you don't give a flip what it costs, so might as well keep it in there and be a few dollars less in your pocket.

However, I must say your choice of a case is excellent, you have great taste. While i'm a fan of preferring black as the best color for most things electronic, might I suggest you spend a little more (since you don't care about cost) and purchase this case instead? It seems more fitting.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163068

 

[kiger]

i agree with the XMS dominators giving you nothing extra really over the Ripjaws but it's your money

judging by your build, you don't give a flip what it costs, so might as well keep it in there and be a few dollars less in your pocket.

However, I must say your choice of a case is excellent, you have great taste. While i'm a fan of preferring black as the best color for most things electronic, might I suggest you spend a little more (since you don't care about cost) and purchase this case instead? It seems more fitting.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163068

Are you talking about these RipJaws? According to the supported memory sheet by ASUS, the RipJaws could only achieve 1066-8-8-8-20 (for the 6GBHK) and 1333-8-8-8-21 (for the 6GBPI) in the P6X58D while the Dominators reached 1601-8-8-8-24. While the memory sheet does not list the 6GBRM, if they are anything like the other two RipJaws, they will likely fair no better in the P6X58D. Maybe you know something I don't, but 1333 is a big difference compared to 1601. I know that other people have been able to get the RipJaws much higher but I really don't know a whole lot about memory. Either they don't go that high on this board or the memory sheet from ASUS is garbage? Regardless, I just wanted a safe bet and at $200 (after rebate) it's only a few extra bucks.

And I do care about cost; otherwise I would be putting together some kind of sick water cooling setup with three 5970's plated in gold I went with the FT02 over everything else (including the Temjin line) because the reviews show how sick it is for air cooling. Three 180 fans blowing vertically through the case and straight through the NH-D14 will make for one cool system. The Temjin you linked does not share the great cooling that the FT02 has, but yes, it is more expensive.