YAi7B - Yet Another i7 Build

[memleak]

First off, thanks to everyone that posts here, because I've learned a ton just by reading other people's build threads on the forums. Now it's finally my turn to get some validation .

I'm a first time builder, so I'm looking for any advice you guys can give me. My budget was originally $1500 (no monitor), but I'm OK with the current price (definitely can't go higher, though, and would love to knock the price back down some if I could). If I'm being wasteful somewhere, please let me know!

Goals/Use: I'm a programmer, so I'd like to get good performance doing tasks like compiling the Linux kernel, running virtual machines, and doing similar CPU intensive tasks. I also do some gaming, so I'd like the system to perform in that area, as well. I don't have a monitor picked out, but it will be either a 22" or 24" of some sort. Price range on that is $200-$300, so any suggestions there would be great. I would like this computer to last me about 3 years, but longer would of course be better.

The things I'm most unsure of are the graphics card, the power supply, and the cooler. I picked an nVidia card because they seem to have good Linux support. I'm not planning on going crazy on overclocking, but I do plan on seeing what gains I can get with minimal effort (and maximum safety). I really don't care about noise and I'd like to have more cooling than I need.

Here's my Newegg wishlist: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=10038226

I'm not sure you guys will be able to see that, so here's what we're working with:


Intel Core i7 920 - Retail - $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202



Thermaltake V1 Max-Performance CPU Cooler with Massive 110mm Blue LED Full-Range Variable Speed Fan Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition & Core i7 Ready LGA 1366 CL-P0401 - Retail - $57.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106102



ASUS P6T Deluxe LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131346



EVGA 896-P3-1267-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $259.99 w/ Instant Rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130400



CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D - Retail - $269.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224



Western Digital VelociRaptor 150GB OEM - $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136296



Cooler Master HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Steel Full Tower Case Retail - $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160



Samsung 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q OEM - $28.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173



Thermaltake Toughpower W0172RU 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail - $179.99 w/ Instant Rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153062



Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284



The grand total is $1,867.89 with thermal paste.


Thanks!

 

[Liderc]

I'd go with the 300gb Velociraptor, it's like 70 bucks more and double the storage space. Not sure about the CPU heatsink either, you can get a Thermalright ultra extreme(TRUE) for like 5 bucks more and I imagine it would be better. Try FrozenPC.com, got mine from there in 2 days. Also if you're not dead set on the Asus x58, you could get the EVGA x58+GTX260-216 combo and save 20 bucks. Everything else looks good.

 

[hofstra66]

Im about to be your new best friend. Microcenter is running some pretty decent deals this weekend. Check the website out to see the flier for yourself. But they have the I7 for 250.00, Microsoft Home premium 64 for 80.00, PSU-Pc power and cooling 750 watt for 90.00, and a 1tb western digital hdd for 100. Here is where it gets really good. If you buy the cpu and os together at microcenter you get a 50 dollar gift card for free. so you buy the psu os and cpu for a total of 420. Then you go back and get the hdd for 50 when you use the 50 dollar gift card. So thats the psu cpu os and hdd for a grand total of under 470.00. Thats a really good deal

 

[memleak]

Thanks for the heads up on the EVGA Mobo + GFX combo; I'll definitely go that route. Both the card and the board look like they've gotten great reviews. I'll check the budget once I get everything sorted out and check into the 300GB Velociraptor. I'll check out the Themalright cooler as well. Thanks for your help!

I'd go with the 300gb Velociraptor, it's like 70 bucks more and double the storage space. Not sure about the CPU heatsink either, you can get a Thermalright ultra extreme(TRUE) for like 5 bucks more and I imagine it would be better. Try FrozenPC.com, got mine from there in 2 days. Also if you're not dead set on the Asus x58, you could get the EVGA x58+GTX260-216 combo and save 20 bucks. Everything else looks good.

 

[memleak]

Sounds like an awesome deal, unfortunately I think you can only get those prices in the store and there aren't any Micro Centers around me . I appreciate the heads up though, those are some nice deals

Im about to be your new best friend. Microcenter is running some pretty decent deals this weekend. Check the website out to see the flier for yourself. But they have the I7 for 250.00, Microsoft Home premium 64 for 80.00, PSU-Pc power and cooling 750 watt for 90.00, and a 1tb western digital hdd for 100. Here is where it gets really good. If you buy the cpu and os together at microcenter you get a 50 dollar gift card for free. so you buy the psu os and cpu for a total of 420. Then you go back and get the hdd for 50 when you use the 50 dollar gift card. So thats the psu cpu os and hdd for a grand total of under 470.00. Thats a really good deal

 

[memleak]

Does anyone have any input on the PSU? How much wattage do I actually need? If that PSU is overkill, that might be a good place to save some money...?

Thanks

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You can save a bit by going with one of these RAM kits instead:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=50008476%2040000147%201052129233%201052429371%201052345114&name=6GB%20(3%20x%202GB)&SpeTabStoreType=0

A 750W PSU should work fine and save you some money. Here are a couple great options:

PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009 $124.99 -$25.00 MIR

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750TX $119.99 -$20.00 MIR