New i7 System

[anthonynok]

Hey Everyone,
I am building a new i7 system and using it for photoshop, video editing and digital music production. I would like your input since I am a novice at this. The following parts and prices are off Newegg.
I would appreciate any suggestions especially on the mobo, power supply, and if I need any extra fans.




i7 System
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PROCESSOR: $280
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920

MOBO: $250
ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
(SHOULD SWAP FOR INTEL MOBO?)

MEMORY: $92
Kingston 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3N9K3/6G

HD: $60 Each / $120
(2) Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
RAID 0 CONFIG
(IS ONE VELOCIRAPTO BETTER IF SPACE IS NOT AN ISSUE?)

GRAPHICS: $140
EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

CASE: $50
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel
SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

DVD: $200
Pioneer Black 8X Blu-Ray DVD Burner w/ Software SATA Model BDR-203BKS

POWER: $140
Antec EA750 750W ATX12V version 2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS
Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7
(750W TOO MUCH?)

OS: $100
WINDOWS XP PRO SP3 64x OEM?

TOTAL $1372

 

[mdale13]

1) Forget about the XP. Just use Windows 7 RC x64, and then buy a copy of it when its released. I just switched to it from XP, all my programs work, its faster than XP, it looks better (IMO) and is the future of Windows. XP is now 2 generations old, its time to update, mate.

2) 750w is certainly enough for that system, but it future proofs your set up (in case you add more HDD's or go SLI at some point).

3) If you plan on overclocking (which you should with an i7) you will need a better CPU cooler. Check out the Xigmatech Dark Knight. It's only $40, and yields excellent results.

4) The mobo is good. I perfer ASUS over Intel.

If I were you, id drop that Blu-ray drive, and with the saved money, add the CPU cooler, and another 9800 GTX or another 6GB of ram.

 

[mdale13]

and no, a raptor is not worth it when compared to a RAID 0 set up. or at all really, the price of SSD's is supposed to start falling fast, and they are much, much faster than raptors. once the price of a decent 64GB SSD hits the $100-120 mark, and picking a few up to RAID for my OS and programs. blazing fast

 

[mc_coy]

The graphics card is only 114.99 after rebates

EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

I wouldn't go with raptors either.

1) Forget about the XP. Just use Windows 7 RC x64, and then buy a copy of it when its released. I just switched to it from XP, all my programs work, its faster than XP, it looks better (IMO) and is the future of Windows. XP is now 2 generations old, its time to update, mate.

+1, Don't go with XP or Vista. Windows 7 and buy a copy (when it comes out).

 

[anthonynok]

Thanks guys.

I will def add a cooler on to the processor.

I'm not really using this for gaming.. more for Photoshop, Ableton Live (Digital Music Production) and possibly video editing. Would 2 graphics cards be beneficial still?

The only reason I wanted XP was because I still use XP SP3 and it's very reliable. I heard so many horrible headache things about Vista...
I'm thinking Vista is the "Windows ME" of today. Ha.
But if windows 7 is the new XP I'm all for it.

As per the blu ray drive... I think I will take your advice and save the money. Use it towards the fan, keybaord, and more other useful stuff.

Any better suggestions for a graphics card in that price range?

or any other suggestions? Thanks again you were very helpful!

 

[anthonynok]

UPDATED i7 SYSTEM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i7 System
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PROCESSOR: $280
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920

MOBO: $250
ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

POWER: $110
Antec EA750 750W ATX12V version 2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS
Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7

MEMORY: $92
Kingston 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3N9K3/6G

HD: $60 Each / $120
(2) Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
RAID 0

GRAPHICS: $130
EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

CASE: $50
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel
SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

DVD: $28
SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM

CPU COOLING (IF OVERCLOCKING): $45
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

OS: FREE?
Windows 7 RC x64


$1100 (after newegg instant rebates and such)

 

[anthonynok]

1) Forget about the XP. Just use Windows 7 RC x64, and then buy a copy of it when its released. I just switched to it from XP, all my programs work, its faster than XP, it looks better (IMO) and is the future of Windows. XP is now 2 generations old, its time to update, mate.

2) 750w is certainly enough for that system, but it future proofs your set up (in case you add more HDD's or go SLI at some point).

3) If you plan on overclocking (which you should with an i7) you will need a better CPU cooler. Check out the Xigmatech Dark Knight. It's only $40, and yields excellent results.

4) The mobo is good. I perfer ASUS over Intel.

If I were you, id drop that Blu-ray drive, and with the saved money, add the CPU cooler, and another 9800 GTX or another 6GB of ram.

can I install Win 7 RC on the new system with a blank HD or i need a windows disk or needs to be installed? in that case, All I have is a XP Pro 32x

 

[helipro]

if you are building from scratch you need to make a dvd with win7 on it. which can be done by downloading win7 rc from microsoft and then burning it to a dvd. and then just boot from that and it will install.

At least i am pretty sure that is the best way to do it. Someone please correct me if i am wrong.