Final list i7

[stark700]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Today most likely, RAM and 275 GTX GPU already arrived. Just was still stuck on case/psu/mobo. 95% set on this.

BUDGET RANGE: $1500 to get initial build(1 GPU), can always add.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, movies, music, web(actually very important for just about everything), etc.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor(plan on upgrading in a month or two, but unimportant to start off)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com, thinking of trying ewiz.com for mobo, but need input on them. Not sure if I want to risk it.

PARTS PREFERENCES: intel i7 920

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200, down the road anyways

Other thoughts: Leaning towards the Asus Rampage Extreme, $345.
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Case/PSU: Finally decided on the Antec 1200 with the CP-850W, only good for a few Antecs, but this is one of them. Only $257, $12 shipping on the psu, case free. $269 total
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.209010

CPU/Fan: i7 920, roughly $280 everywhere. I'm not trying the OEM from ewiz.com to save $9. Anyone know of surefire way to get the D0 instead of the C0 or C1? I'll be ticked if I end up getting an old one from newegg. And I figure the Coolermaster V8 will be fine, it's also on sale, has free shipping, and $10 off combo. $330 total
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.207726

Artic Silver Thermal paste looks to be the best, and I'm not slacking for a $1 or two on that.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

Graphics/Memory: Looked around alot and decided on the EVGA 275GTX since the prices have dropped to around $200. The 260GTX was around 30-40 cheaper, but I'd rather go with 2-3 275's in SLI.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130475

For the memory, it seems to be many good brands that are similarly priced, and was hard to decide. OCZ-Platinum seemed good with the low latency, had good reviews and was priced right.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381
**Already got this with a combo w/ GPU, $298 for both, also have $20 mail in on both, so it will was $258 for the GPU and RAM.

HDD: Going with the 500GB WD Black Caviar for $70. It's still got the 32MB cache. Seems in reviews, the larger(over 1 TB) drives burn up more. Probably add a SSD or 2 when the prices drop ALOT more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

So far just under $940. Add $100 for the pre order of Win 7, up to $1040.
And here's where I'm torn.

Motherboard: For me, I'd rather have a better Mobo, and be able to soup up parts as I see fit. For the SLI, I'd at least like to have 16x8x8 if I do get 3 cards eventually. I've burned with limited mobo in the past, all part of the learning curve I guess. The Asus Rampage II Extreme was really not where I was leaning, but...it's only $348 at ewiz.com, and they give $15 off July 9th(today). Basically, free shipping, $347. For roughly $75 more, I'm thinking of splurge on the mobo.
https://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-RAMP2EX

I have never dealt with ewiz.com, but have seen their links in peoples builds. Input on them would be appreciated. I'm leery because ewiz has the same combo for the Antec 1200(free shipping if bought seperate) and the PSU(again free shipping if bought seperate), but if you got the combo, they add $62 in shipping(most of the $95 price break). Newegg cost under $12 shipping, and ends up being less.

I was probably going to go with one of the EVGA boards for around $270, and combo it with the CPU for bigger discount otherwise.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.211003
Still under the $1500 mark no matter which Mobo I go with. Any better than the Rampage II?


Sorry about the length, but wanted to be accurate and good feedback before I order this afternoon. Does build look OK? Is Ewiz.com reliable? Anyone have experience with Rampage or EVGA Mobo? Any definate way to get a 920 i7 that is D0 instead of the older C0?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Robbb18]

i have to recommend Ewiz, at least based on my experience with them so far. Literally just got an i7(not oem) and p6t from them yesterday. i7 was a d0 . They were also super fast with delivery. I had some credit card issues but had it all worked out and shipped in the same day.

 

[gkay09]

1. CPU - If you want D0 stepping, then you can get one from tankguys/ here...
http://www.antaresdigital.com/customer/product.php?productid=16135&cat=0&page=1

2. As for the CPU cooler, get this one...
Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093
Check this...
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/core-i7-coolers-roundup.html

3. HDD - WD 500GB ones are older drives...
The WD black 640GB/ 1TB drives are newer, faster and efficient than the 500GB ones...

4. Mobo - If you dont want to settle for less, then the Rampage...Else the EVGA...But even the P6T Deluxe V2 is not a bad buy...

As for the ewiz...
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/eWiz
http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/ewizcom/r/915/

 

[stark700]

Thanks for the input guys. I probably will go with the 640 GB WD instead of the 500GB for $5 more. I had the thought that the older 500GB were 16 MB cache, and these were the "new" ones. Thanks.

I'll check on the cooler, but that's the last/least important step, and can be changed last second.

The Mobo, I think I'm going to go with the EVGA-E758 that is 269.99. Seems to be the same as the one for $280, after mailin. The Rampage upon further review has only 6 SATA slots, and for the $$, I thought it would at least have 9.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.211024

Unless I hear something REALLY bad about this, I feel that this is the best for $$ if you want a board that will support 16x8x8. And it has 9 SATA slots. The Asus P6T looked really nice, but I don't want to get a board that I will regret immediately. It's not very good for 3 way sli configuration, at least according to what I read. And it too has only 6 SATA slots. I've always liked EVGA anyways, at least their GPU's. It seems to be the most reliable, cost friendly, and more expandable mobo anyways. The 3 way sli config was the decider for me though.

 

[stark700]

The more I contemplate ewiz.com, I don't think I'm going to chance it. The overall service looks pretty good, but I don't like the lower marks on returns and shipping. Their best rank was of course the friendly prices. I'll stick with newegg.

I'm checking out the scythe harder now. Seems to be really nice, but most of the reviews don't seem to be i7 owners. Still, says it's i7 compatible, and there are some positive reviews by i7 owners. I'll decide in the next hour or two.

On a side note, why does ewiz list the Antec 1200 as a mid tower? Everyone else lists it as a a full tower. Just curious and don't want to get a case that is smaller than expected. The dimensions seem to be 1" shorter than the huge coolermaster HAF 932. Always has to be something to make my indecision grow, lol.

 

[stark700]

It appears the Scythe Mugen 2 is not compatible with the EVGA X58, which I'm leaning towards. Probably stick with the CM V8 for $59 and free shipping.

 

[stark700]

I got the cart ready I think.

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/ShoppingCart.aspx

Total of just under $950. Add in the $260 for the RAM/GPU already purchased. $1210, then add the $100 preorder of Win 7. I should be able to straight out buy the second 275 GTX for around $200 and still around $1510. I'll upgrade the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and media drives(bluray) when the prices are right, and the quality goes up.

Any thoughts appreciated. Am I forgetting something monumental? Feels like I am....

 

[chanwhk]

I got the cart ready I think.

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/ShoppingCart.aspx

Total of just under $950. Add in the $260 for the RAM/GPU already purchased. $1210, then add the $100 preorder of Win 7. I should be able to straight out buy the second 275 GTX for around $200 and still around $1510. I'll upgrade the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and media drives(bluray) when the prices are right, and the quality goes up.

Any thoughts appreciated. Am I forgetting something monumental? Feels like I am....

If you are close to one of the Microcenters, be sure to get the i7 920 there!! you won't see a bigger discount anywhere else. its $199 compare to $280 at newegg, but you can only pick up in store. They also have D0 steppings, just ask them to make sure. I picked one up last week and building upon that right now.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0302727

 

[stark700]

The closest Microcenter to me would be 2 hours roughly. Too far. I dumped the EVGA, after I read over 20 reviews about the overheating v-reg. I'm gonna go with gkay09's advice and go with the Asus P6T V2. It does support 16x8x8, and I think I can live with the 6 SATA ports. My main concern is the amount of RMA's the board has had the last 2 weeks. I hope I don't get one in that batch. I also think the Scythe Mugen II is much better suited for the Asus than the EVGA. Just haven't verified that it fits in the Antec 1200(I'm alomst positive it does).

So shaved $30 more off. Total comes to $1280 so far, including Win 7. Got some extra $$ now for the new monitor/Bluray drive.

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/ShoppingCart.aspx?Submit=view