Rebuilding/re-use - MB/PSU/CPU Died

I've relied on TH for years for the skinny on building home systems, which I do only every 3-5 yrs, depending. So I'm not very good at this!

Learned last week that my mobo is dead, PSU tests bad also, and CPU too. Not sure what killed it - came out one morning, the system was off and wouldn't boot. Ended up taking it in and the guy @ Data Drs. gave me the news. So, time to update the system.

I've been trying to price an i7 vs. a quad core system. But I really need help... My last system had heat issues, despite my best efforts to do things right. So, I don't want to screw things up by doing the wrong thing. It's too much of a pain in the butt to have problems - I just want it to work, be rock-solid and have no issues, period!

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Next week BUDGET RANGE: US$500 - $750?

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: surfing the 'net, working from home, occasional gaming (first person shooters).

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Want to re-use as much as possible from the old system - DVD, Video card, Case & fans, HDD:

• PLEXTOR Beige 12X DVD+R 4X DVD+RW 8X DVD-R 4X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 8MB Cache IDE DVD Burner - Retail Item#:N82E16827131326 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827131326

• MSI N9600GT 512M OC GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail Item #: N82E16814127333 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127333

• Antec Performance TX640B Black Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 400W Power Supply - Retail Item #: N82E16811129157 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129157

• FANS: --1 x Antec 75009 92mm Case Fan - Retail (side duct for CPU) -- 2 x Antec 75013 80mm Case Fan - Retail (side intake) -- 1x Antec 120mm 3-speed fan (exhaust) -- 2x other 80mm fans (intake) -- 1x expansion slot exhaust fan

• Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM Item#:N82E16822144122 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822144122

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, pretty much

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel CPU, Intel chipset, no ATI! (wife's a 20+ yr Intel employee )

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe. SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe later?

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Don't care if there's lots of fan noise. Main concern is stability, longevity (i.e., reliable, no problems, long lasting, quality).

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So, I've been researching. And I've ended up here. And I really need your help! Below are two systems - one an i7 and the other a quad core. I need to know if I've screwed up anywhere! I've tried overclocking before, but w/ very limited success (mostly none), starting back w/ a Pentium 133Mhz processor that would NOT overclock, period! LOL But I'm willing to consider OCing - but stability/longevity is more important to me.


QUAD-CORE SYSTEM

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q8400 - Retail
Model #:BX80580Q8400
Item #:N82E16819115057
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115057

ASUS P5Q-E LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: P5Q-E
Item #: N82E16813131296
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131296

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-8500C5 - Retail
Model #:TWIN2X4096-8500C5
Item #:N82E16820145215
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145215

SeaSonic M12D SS-750 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS12V V2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail
Model #:M12D SS-750
Item #:N82E16817151068
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151068

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
Model #:HDT-S1283
Item #:N82E16835233003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

The RAM is on the ASUSTeK QVL. Wasn't sure about what RAM to get, so tried to pick something I thought would be solid, reliable, etc.


QUAD-CORE SYSTEM COST: $636.46



i7 SYSTEM

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Model #:BX80601920
Item #:N82E16819115202
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202

ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: P6T
Item #: N82E16813131359
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131359

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail
Model #:F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ
Item #:N82E16820231225
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231225

SeaSonic M12D SS-750 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS12V V2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail
Model #:M12D SS-750
Item #:N82E16817151068
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151068

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
Model #:HDT-S1283
Item #:N82E16835233003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

Once again, the RAM is on the ASUSTeK QVL. Wasn't sure about what RAM to get, so tried to pick something I thought would be solid, reliable, etc.


i7 SYSTEM COST: $856.45




As you can see, I'm waay over budget for the i7 system! But I didn't want to "skimp" on quality - like the PSU. I'm looking at the PSU as an "investment" - hopefully something I can use in the next several systems.

The case - re-using it - was on the list of Intel "Thermally Advantaged" cases. I tried very hard to follow Intel's recommendations. The processor was a freebie-loaner for employees. I think maybe there was something wrong with it, because it ran HOT from the get-go. Used the Intel fan, per their insistence! Eventually, Intel told me to ignore the heat problems. LOL So I have, for years. Whatever. Would just like to NOT have issues w/ this system. It runs 24/7 (for no particular reason other than I don't wanna hafta wait for bootups).

Do you think the i7 system is overkill? I rarely game - like maybe 1 new game a year. So maybe I don't care so much about that. How much $$$ should I SPEND for playing one new game??

Can you guys help me out? RAM in particular I have no clue about - just pulled something off the QVL. Everything else I *think* I've done decent diligence in researching.

Will the rifle cooler fit in my case? What do I do about the side duct for the CPU if I use this cooler? Or should I use a different cooler?

Thank you very much in advance for any help.



EDIT: Forgot to add... Running WinXP Home, and intend to do so until Windows 7 SP1 is out, probably. Want to be able to run Win7 on this new system. Willing to upgrade RAM and video card then if needed. Video card I have now is only 5 months old... Already obsolete. So probably no SLI right now. But maybe the capability is important for the future??

Thx for the reply.

Not so concerned about the i7 being updated w/ something newer as much as having to replace a system to run desired software. Goal is to delay that to the extent so doing is fiscally reasonable.

So by suggesting a less expensive PSU, are you recommending putting the $ toward the i7 instead of the quad core processor? I was kind of thinking the i7 might be overkill. But a top-end PSU is an investment - something to use in the next 2-3 builds. So I tried to plan for future PSU needs...

I would get the i7 system too, the i7 is an awesome chip and if you want to put off your next upgrade as long as possible, you should be getting near to top of the line.

You can save a little on the MB with this, its just as good as the P6T:
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-EX58U4P

This PSU is very good and would be fine for one graphics card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] &Tpk=650tx

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227381

CPU Cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 0mugen%202

~$750

Thanks everyone for the replies!

I think I'm gonna go for the i7 system, and to heck with the cost! LOL

Just noticed that the XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler won't work on the i7, and FrostyTech doesn't have a guide yet for i7 coolers. What air cooler will keep this processor chilled best. Doesn't have to be quiet - just has to fit in my Antec TX640B ATX Mini Tower, and fit the i7 of course.

??