i7 Advice

xSDMx

Gawd
2FA
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Messages
582
Well, I'm finally going to sell my current computer (E4500, 8800GTS, etc.), and step up to something to better drive the 2407wfp that I'm picking up in a few days. I was thinking that if I'm going to upgrade now, and not when the i3 comes out, I would be foolish to go 775 instead of 1366.

This rig is going to college with me, so I was thinking about going microATX and getting a SG01 - unless they have a relatively portable ATX case out, or a better microATX solution.

And, my budget is $1000, with the AuzenTech AZT-FORTE X-Fi Forte being part of that.

Main uses are graphics work, coding, writing, and gaming, and ability to easily drive a 24" on decent settings for games like ArmA 2.

1) $1000
2) Everything
3) Have XP
4) Graphics work, coding, writing, and gaming
5) Light OC (maybe)
 
Hm... we need to do something about having those two separate stickys with different questions/numbering, lol.

SG01/2 = no OC'ing w/ i7 unless you have a higher budget to afford a better CPU cooler.

To get you started...

$200 - HD4890
$200 - i7 920 (if you live near a microcenter)
$170 - MSI X58M
$95 - 6GB DDR3-1600 1.5v-1.6v
$90 - WD1001FALS
$30 - SATA DVDRW DL
$60 - SG02-F
$140 - ST60F + PP05
=========
$985 + tax and shipping

awe, look, no room for the auzentech. use onboard HD Audio. :p
 
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Thanks for the help.

I found a build for $1100 with a 275GTX - I'll reuse my X-FI Xtrememusic.
 
1 x ($164.99) MB ASUS RAMPAGE II GENE X58 1366 R - OEM
$164.99

3 x ($1.79) FAN COOLINGFAN MASSCOOL FD08025S1M4 - Retail
$5.37

1 x ($279.99) CPU INTEL|CORE I7 920 2.66G 45N R - Retail
$279.99

1 x ($49.99) GIFT NVIDIA COD - WORLD AT WAR % - OEM
$49.99

1 x ($74.99) HD 640G|WD WD6401AALS % - OEM
$74.99

1 x ($49.99) GIFT NVIDIA TERMINATOR SALVATION - OEM
$49.99

1 x ($69.99) CASE SILVERSTONE|SG02-BF RT - Retail
$69.99

1 x ($199.99) VGA MSI | N275GTX TWINFROZR OC R - Retail
$199.99

1 x ($129.99) PSU CM|RS-700-AMBA-D3 700W RT - Retail
$129.99

4 x ($14.99) MEM 1G|CRUC CT12864BA1339 R - Retail
$59.96

1 x ($28.99) DVD BURNER SAMSUNG | SH-S223L % - OEM
$28.99

1 x ($-99.98) DISCOUNT FOR AUTOADD #3428
$-99.98

I can't wait to get this put together and running on the 24". Hopefully everything checks out; I opted for 4GB as I'm a Windows XP 32-bit user until Windows 7 hits.
 
1 x ($164.99) MB ASUS RAMPAGE II GENE X58 1366 R - OEM
$164.99
...
4 x ($14.99) MEM 1G|CRUC CT12864BA1339 R - Retail
$59.96
...
I opted for 4GB as I'm a Windows XP 32-bit user until Windows 7 hits.

Ok, I have to ask, where did you find the Gene so cheap?!? :eek:
//edit: oh.. its open box from newegg? bleh. Thought you found a hot deal or somethin, hehe. OEM != open box ... hope you get all the cables and i/o plate and everything. Let us know how it goes.

$280 for the 920? :( No MC near you?

Despite using XP 32-bit, you probably would have been better off with the triple channel DDR3 kit instead. Though, its only a slight performance difference, mainly noticeable with memory intensive apps. 4x 1GB sticks!?! wth??!! :confused:

700W? a bit overkill.

BTW, the HD4890 performs the same or better than the GTX275 most of the time. I think you could have gotten a better system for your money, but o wellz. GL, have fun, and post pics!
 
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I live in California, no MC near me.

GTX275 seems to edge out the 4980 on high resolutions; and, it was only $10 more.

4x1GB was the cheapest, faster speed, DDR3 I could get. And, if it becomes an issue, I can just sell what I've got and get higher density ram later. Most of the 2gb x2 DDR3 kits in the same price range didn't seem worth it.

As for the PSU, it was slightly more than lower wattage solutions, and modular.

It was $1,014.26 without shipping and tax
 
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