Need Help Picking CPU

[sebastian869]

Hello,
I need some help in sorting out the cpu I will pick for my system.
The 3 I was looking into were:
1)Core 2 Duo E8600 Wolfdale 3.33GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W
2)Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W
3)i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W
4)Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W

The one worry I have is that I read the i7s have a speed governor that in some mother boards you can not disable if u plan to OC and I plan to OC some. Though I read that the intel i7 (1366)MB do let you turn off that feature.

After a a pick of the CPU and im incline on the i7 920 what MB do you guys think suits it best?
I plan to get a single GPU but do want one that supports SLI. My previous GC was a 8800gts and was happy with it so I think I'll get a GTX 280 (though I read that the AMD 4870x2 is faster, is that correct) and when prices drop might add one or two on then.
I've read good things about the EVGA X58 3X SLI or Asus P6T.

Lastly what Mem do you think would be best. On the THG 2,500 build they used Super Talent DDR3-1333
3x 3.0 GB, CAS 8-8-8-24. Do you guys think Corsairs is better? and also, does it make sense to get faster mem then tge FSB supports?

This will be a gaming PC and my budget is about 2,500 (but i hope to squeez in a monitor in that price but I can still use my old one if it comes down to it)

Thanks for all the help.

 

[stonebattle]

The Core 2s are great, but are at the end of their time. The new i7 socket is the way to go in my opinion. It's a bit costly, but will have much more upgrade paths in the future.
The 4870x2 is hard not recommend
I would say either memory will work fine and I would not go with faster memory.

With a $2500 budget it seems to me you could get a very quick system and a HD monitor. A 37 inch would be fairly low cost and very nice.

 

[kirvinb]

well i been asking around for help as well...and my answers have been to wait to see what AMD does because while I highly doubt they will give the i7s a challenge they will probably push prices down and you may be able to get the i7 cheaper...or maybe a q9650 or 9770..at a good price.

As for the overclocking I hear that there is a way to manually get by it...toms said so in a review...but the i7s can overclook so well you can oc it by a ghz without the voltage increasing...which is amazing to me.

and the 4870x2 is unbelievable.. but nvidia is supposed to be releasing a gtx 295 which is supposed to be faster so still wait.
my answer is to wait a few weeks to see if prices go down.

 

[MRFS]

> Do you guys think Corsair is better?

I definitely do, particularly if you also install their matching memory module cooler:
= very cheap insurance and still a good idea even though all Corsair RAM
has a lifetime warranty:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145210

http://www.corsair.com/corei7/default.aspx
http://www.corsair.com/_datasheets/TR3X3G1866C9DF.pdf


We use Corsair RAM exclusively, and it is rock-solid stable at stock settings.


MRFS

 

[cadder]

Check out the updates on the main page of the system builder marathon and see what they did with overclocking the i7.

Otherwise the decision will boil down to budget. If budget permits, I think the i7 is the way to go. If cost is important, maybe go for an E8400 or E8500 instead of the 8600 and overclock it a bit more.

 

[sebastian869]

The Core 2s are great, but are at the end of their time. The new i7 socket is the way to go in my opinion. It's a bit costly, but will have much more upgrade paths in the future.

The 4870x2 is hard not recommend

I would say either memory will work fine and I would not go with faster memory.

With a $2500 budget it seems to me you could get a very quick system and a HD monitor. A 37 inch would be fairly low cost and very nice.

what do u say that? Iwas looking into a gtx280 or 60, but i just read the 295 is just about to come out so incline to wait a few days.

 

[sebastian869]

> Do you guys think Corsair is better?

I definitely do, particularly if you also install their matching memory module cooler:
= very cheap insurance and still a good idea even though all Corsair RAM
has a lifetime warranty:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145210

http://www.corsair.com/corei7/default.aspx
http://www.corsair.com/_datasheets/TR3X3G1866C9DF.pdf


We use Corsair RAM exclusively, and it is rock-solid stable at stock settings.


MRFS

Thanks, but do u know of one model just one notch down in price?
Also, why does THG use "3.0 GB Super Talent DDR3-1333 CAS" for their 2,500 build? BWT I have corsair dominator in my last build and was happy.

 

[sebastian869]

I think i'll go with the I7 920 then the next prob is MOBO.
Is the EVGA 132-bl-e758-a1 or the Asus P6T6 or are the versions better like delux?

ty