How does this CPU/Mobo combo look as the foundation for a build?

[EQPlayer]

Saw this combo on Newegg earlier... seems like a good deal. Thoughts?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.161430

 

[xthekidx]

No. If you are going to spend that much money on a CPU/mobo, then i7 is the way to go, it will outperform the Q9650 in almost everything and can be overclocked like crazy.

On top of that, the 790i chipset is flaky and unstable. I would not recommend it under any circumstances. If you want SLI, you should go with i7/x58.

If you don't want to go to the i7 platform, then you should go with the P45 chipset and go for xfire.

 

[aford10]

No. If you are going to spend that much money on a CPU/mobo, then i7 is the way to go, it will outperform the Q9650 in almost everything and can be overclocked like crazy.

On top of that, the 790i chipset is flaky and unstable. I would not recommend it under any circumstances. If you want SLI, you should go with i7/x58.

If you don't want to go to the i7 platform, then you should go with the P45 chipset and go for xfire.

+1....$530 is way to much for a core built around a 790i board. If you don't want to spend more than ~$1,500, you should go with a p45 as noted above.

 

[EQPlayer]

Oh, spending over 1500 isn't a problem... if I go the Intel route I'm looking at probably EVGA x58, 6GB Corsair DDR3-1600, 2x 285's in SLI with a 300GB VelociRaptor and a 1TB Caviar Black.

If I go for AMD I'm looking at probably either a 940 BE with 2x 4870x2's or a 720 BE with 2x 4870's. Unless I get a 4850x2 I basically have to CF or SLI, I'll be running 3 monitors, so I need 3x DVI outputs.

 

[xthekidx]

Definitely go i7 then.

Here is an i7 gaming build I put together. You can take out one of those velocirapters and substitute in 2 gtx 285's for the GTX 295.
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=12200668

Since that memory is out of stock I suggest you go for these modules, I have them and they perform like champs, and have great timings.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

Hope this helps.

 

[EQPlayer]

I was going with the Corsair Dominators when I specced out an i7 build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

 

[aford10]

Both choices of RAM are good, but I'd choose the ocz over the corsair.

 

[jerreece]

I'd go i7 myself. If you're going to spend that amount of money, get the better product.

 

[Helloworld_98]

I7 but don't get a raptor, get the an OCZ Apex or if you're willing to wait, then get an OCZ Summit, you'll have faster read/write speed's and I'm guessing that's why you put the 'raptor on your list.

 

[xthekidx]

I was going with the Corsair Dominators when I specced out an i7 build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

If money isn't an object to you, then you can get those dominators, but if you look at the specifications, the OCZ's actually look better. They have tighter timings and can run below 1.65 volts, which is the limit for memory voltages on the i7. Many mobo's won't let you run at 1.65 volts, you have to run at either 1.64 or 1.66, and I have read reviews where people couldn't get those dominators stable unless they ran at 1.66v. Now 1.66v is actually probably fine, but I don't like to run anything on voltages higher than the manufacturer ok's, so its too high for me.

But the OCZ's are cheaper, and I think better ram. Dominators are overpriced IMO, although they are very good ram.

 

[aford10]

+1 for the OCZ. Quality RAM at a good price.

 

[Akebono 98]

Definitely go i7 here.

The Corsair Dominators are nice if you can afford it, but here are my favorite Mushkins: link. However, they are perennially out of stock.

Don't know what your overclocking plans are, but Mushkin has also just released this very sweet set of RAM: link, which I would also expect to be perennially out of stock.

 

[xthekidx]

Definitely go i7 here.

The Corsair Dominators are nice if you can afford it, but here are my favorite Mushkins: link. However, they are perennially out of stock.

Don't know what your overclocking plans are, but Mushkin has also just released this very sweet set of RAM: link, which I would also expect to be perennially out of stock.

I like those timings! But for the price...I think the OCZ platinums at 1600 are a better value $30 cheaper...

 

[aford10]

The mushkins look very nice, but expensive!!

 

[Akebono 98]

Gotta pay up to be on the cutting edge!

Some of Mushkin's newer DDR3 offerings are shaking up the heirarchy in terms of RAM timings.

But also note that at $178, it's quite reasonable when compared to DDR3 just 2 months back...

 

[xthekidx]

Quite true. Lets give it a month and see where those prices wind up.

 

[Akebono 98]

+1 and time to sharpen up our recommendations... now if Mushkin Greg were still there, it'd be a no brainer!

 

[jitpublisher]

Like the advice here, the 7 series nVidia based motherboards are ridicously overpriced, they should be priced as bargain basement boards. Why anyone would buy one of these at the prices they demand is beyond my reasoning.

 

[aford10]

I7 but don't get a raptor, get the an OCZ Apex or if you're willing to wait, then get an OCZ Summit, you'll have faster read/write speed's and I'm guessing that's why you put the 'raptor on your list.

True that, gotta pay up for cutting edge. I could probably bring myself to pay that for the RAM, but I don't think I could bring myself to pay ~$50 - 75 per Gb of SSD.