New build/upgrade advice please.

carnag3

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
405
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Extensive photoshop/illustrator, web, some games too, demanding ones such as supreme commander, would like to be playing sc2 as well etc, (not an issue as im waiting to upgrade my gtx260 to a 3 series when they are out. I also do some encoding etc.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
900 AU Dollars.
3) Where do you live?
Australia, so please no US prices :D
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
CPU, RAM (I think) and Mobo
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
PSU: corsair 620 (hx? modular one), p182 case, 2x dvd burners, hardrives (sata), TRUE hopefully...
6) Will you be overclocking?
Heck yes!
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
24" @ 1920
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
asap.
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
I would like sli, but its not an essential, god only knows if i will ever use it, more of a maybe. and esata is a godsend, but it seems a lot of mobos still dont have it.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
windows 7 ultimate baby. (technet)

Ok, so now the problem, I have a reseller acoXXXX at a site so i can get my hands on i5's and i7's, a) a lot cheaper than retail, and b) now, so i wanna upgrade my e8400, 4 gig setup, i just dont have a clue which way to go, do i need the i7920? probably not but its pretty damn future proof for a while, and the octo thread is attractive for future apps, (encoding etc too),

RAM? so what is the go with ram these days, ive always had ddr2 800, is 1600 or 1333 the way to be going, is there any real difference?

HEre are some prices on things so you know what kind of price ill be getting, although if you request a price on something i cane asily look it up :D, or even staticice.com.au seems to get sites offering close to what i can buy for.

Core i7 920 = $385
Core i5 750 = $330
Core i7 860 = $440

NEW! Corsair CMX8GX3M4A1333C9 8GB (4x XMS3 2GB) PC-10600 (1333MHz) XMS KIT, DDR3 = $275

Corsair TR3X6G1600C9 6GB (3x XMS3 2GB) PC-12800 (1600MHz) XMSP DDR3 For X58 MB/i7 Core, 3x240-pin DIMMs, Triple Kit, 9-9-9-24, 1.65V $170

Altech has a crap range of motherboards so I am almost considering getting it from another source. altech.com.au if you want to see what i mean, or let me know if you see somehting worth my attention there....

Thanks HEAPS guys, this is way mor econfusing then my core2 build, also anyone got thoughts on weather i should go 1366 & 1156?
 
p.s looking at my prices its almost as if the i7 build might be cheaper :S, anyone know if thes ei5 prices will drop within a few weeks?
 
Dude it's only been two hours since you posted. Calm down.

Anyway, if you're overclocking, go for the cheapest DDR3 1600 RAM you can find. And to try to shoot for a 6GB set, not 8gB. The Corsair TR3X6G1600C9 you chose is a good choice.

I say go for the i7 920 if you need the setup right away. i5 CPU prices might drop like $10 but the 1156 mobo prices might drop after a few weeks or so.

For your needs and budget range, I'd go for the i7 920.
 
lol, sorry, i am in a 'can do mood' so i get a bit excited lol, can anyone see a descent motherboard on that site for the i7 920? they all look so crap, might get it elsewhere...

so id be looking at,
Corsair TR3X6G1600C9 6GB (3x XMS3 2GB) PC-12800 (1600MHz) XMSP DDR3 and
Intel i7-920
for $550 so far. (aus dollars) now i need a mobo, I cant help but feel like its dumb spending money on an 920 but when theyve been out a while... what are these i7 for 1156 going to perform like? any indications? all in all i7 1366 is meant to be a better product but?
 
Mobo wise, the Asrock X58 Xtream mobo is probably the best X58 mobo available on that site from a price to performance perspective:
http://altech.com.au/productinfo.aspx?id=23834

If you can, get the mobo somewhere else.

i7 is for LGA 1366 only. i5 is for LGA 1156. i7 is suppose to the high performance enthusiast model so it should perform better than the i5.
 
there are i7's for 1156 too but... 860 etc. ok ill get the mobo else where, any reccomendations on board?
 
there are i7's for 1156 too but... 860 etc. ok ill get the mobo else where, any reccomendations on board?

Huh, didn't know about that. I stand corrected.

Mobo wise, the Asus P6T SE is a good budget choice.
 
hehe no worries, thanks for the suggestion, what is the SE lacking over the standard, and what does the deluxe offer, theres $10 different on the first to, and $100 on the deluxe...
 
lol for $10 seems like the p6t is the way to go, now to buy all these :p. still torn does anyone know when we will see the i5's with hyperthreading, as in 4c8t?
 
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