1200$ Core i7 build

mc_coy

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Jun 19, 2009
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Hello to all!

This will be my first build and I can use all the advice I can get.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: I would like to buy this computer next monday (june 22nd 2009)

BUDGET RANGE: About 1200$ american (1450$CAD)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, 3D modling, will do a lot of multitasking. using the Internet (lol), maybe watching a couple of movies. Might work with video editing, but rarely.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: I need everything. I will be using Windows 7 RC 64-bit until next year when I will buy a copy, so for the moment no need for that.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Canadian sites : newegg.ca and ncix.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: I would like to use GTX 200 series partly because of CUDA. Core i7 920


OVERCLOCKING: Yes, but lightly because I will be keeping stock fan for the moment.

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not for the moment, might upgrade later but since X58 motherboards can do both (at least the ones I'm looking at), it's not to much of a problem.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 resolution

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: None

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Processor :
Intel Core I7 920 D0 Stepping Quad Core Processor LGA1366 2.66GHZ Bloomfield 8MB LGA1366 ------- 363.46$CAD
I can get a non D0 stepping 920 for about 304.00$CAd. Should I take the D0 stepping for about 60$CAD more? I find that it's quite a lot


Motherboard :
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail ------- 229.99$CAD
This motherboard now supports both SLI and Crossfire with the new BIOS update.

Case :
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail ------- 67.99$CAD (althought it's more expensive in the link, I can get it for this price.)

Power Supply :
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail ------ 119.99$ - 20.00$ mail in rebate = 99.99$CAD

Monitor :
ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail ----- 219$CAD

Memory :
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Retail ----- 104$ - 20$ mail in rebate = 84 $CAD

HDD :
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM ------ 114.99$CAD (I will buy it in bundle with the memory)

I have a question with the HDD. Since it's OEM, I won't receive any cables with it. So Which cable am I supposed to buy? I think a SATA 3GB/s cable is included with the motherboard, but I still need a power cable. Is this one ok ?

Power cable :
OKGEAR 20" SATA Power Cable Model GC20ATA - Retail

Keyboard + Mouse :
Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 Black 105 Normal Keys 9 Function Keys USB Ergonomics Keyboard and Mouse - OEM -------23.99$CAD

VideoCard :
PNY VCGGTX275XPB GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail ------- 229.99$CAD with free COD-WaW.

I beleive this VideoCard is good enough. I was hesitating between this one and the GTX 260 core 216, but the price difference seems too small to go with the GTX 260.

CD-DVD burner :
LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM -----29.99 $CAD
Again a OEM product. Does the motherboard come with a cable to connect the DVD burner? Do I have to buy a power cable? I would like to have a bit more information about this please.


Total price : 1468.36$CAD + shipping + taxes = 1746.29$CAD + surge protector (50$) = 1796.29$CAD

I am open to any critiques about my first build. If you see components that wouldn't work well together, please say so. I could save about 50$ by going with a GTX 260 core 216, what do think about that? I plan on playing pretty much anything that comes out that looks cool. I play Crysis, crysis warhead, Unreal tournament 4, fallout 3, half-life 2. Crysis 2 maybe, as new games come out, I'd like to play them.

Thanks for any information or advice you could give me. I appreciate it.

Mc_Coy
 

astrodudepsu

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Jun 11, 2009
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The 275 will pair nicely with that monitor. If you were to downgrade to the 260 you would notice the performance loss (well, at least I would in your shoes).

60$ is too much of a price premium for D0, I mean they run a bit cooler and thus *should* OC higher, but even that is always a gamble.
 

brendano257

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Apr 18, 2008
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Your motherboard will come with SATA data cables, and an IDE data cable for the Hard Drive and DVD driver (respectively.) Your PSU will have all the connectors your will ever need, I personally have a 750TX and it has the cables for Quad SLI, so you'll be fine, it has plenty of the 4 Pin Molex connectors for IDE devices like your DVD drive and plenty of Sata (6 I think) power connectors.
 

mc_coy

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Jun 19, 2009
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Thanks for the replies!

Ah, it's good to know the cables will be with mobo or PSU. Thanks for the informaiton.

So I guess that there won't be any issues of compatibility?

Mc_Coy