Evaluate/Rate/Comment, FINAL i7 920 DAW

[brianlin]

Hi guys, if you could comment/evaluate on this build, and make me aware of any issues/compatibility problems that might occur between the parts, that'd be great!!! I'm real excited to have this build completed after about 4 days of straight researching! . i really hope future i7 system builders use this as a template for their own build

-$110.00 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium. upgraded to Windows 7 later (64 bit- so i can run more than 4 gigs RAM): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677

-$234.00 Case(with aftermarket Noctua fans): Antec 182 case: http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=E00561&src=PG (replace 3 stock fans with 3 Noctua quiet fans http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608009 - $81.00)

-$110.00 PSU: Corsair 750 Watt: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

-$200.00 Motherboard: Gigabyte UD3R: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128375

-$200.00 i7 920 d0 stepping, already bought from local microcenter.

-$100.00 RAM: OCZ 6gb ddr3 1600mhz: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

-$150.00 for 2 Hard Drives: 2 640gb Western Digital Caviar Black, one for OS/system/apps, and one for samples, recordings, etc: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&Tpk=western%20digital%20caviar%20black%20640gb

-$32.00 Optical Drive: Sony DVD/CD burner and reader: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030 (read reviews that its a real quiet drive)

-$55.00 CPU cooler: Nexus LOW-7000. it's basically the only LOW PROFILE cooler for this motherboard chipset, so it doesn't block the "windtunnel" in the case, and also keeps the cpu running around 7-8 Celsius lower than a stock intel cooler... really quiet at max speed too.

-$6.00 Thermal Paste: OCZ Freeze (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835202006)

-$6.00 ArctiClean 1 and 2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100010

-$8.00 PSU to Motherboard extension cable (read that it might be necessary for bottom mounted power supplies, figured 8 bucks to save potential hassle is worth it): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812706004

-$92.00 Video Card: HIS Radeon 4670, for dual monitors and passive cooling: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161272

-$100.00 Sound Card: E-Mu 0404 semi-pro PCI Digital Audio Recording System: http://www.guitarcenter.com/E-MU-0404-PCI-Digital-Audio-Recording-System-102777596-i1125876.gc

 

[tastelikecrab]

I take it, you're not much of a gamer

 

[brianlin]

haha why do u say that?

i picked a video card that would support newer games with decent framerates (30-50 fps)...

not exactly optimal, but playable.

 

[brianlin]

bump

 

[AKM880]

Nice build however you probably won't need the 750W Corsair.

 

[rawirig]

im guesing you're into music?

"-$234.00 Case(with aftermarket Noctua fans): Antec 182 case: http://www.techonweb.com/products/ [...] 561&src=PG (replace 3 stock fans with 3 Noctua quiet fans http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835608009 - $81.00) "

"-$150.00 for 2 Hard Drives: 2 640gb Western Digital Caviar Black, one for OS/system/apps, and one for samples, recordings, etc: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ck%20640gb "

"-$100.00 Sound Card: E-Mu 0404 semi-pro PCI Digital Audio Recording System: http://www.guitarcenter.com/E-MU-0 [...] 1125876.gc"

this setup looks good for sound, what speakers you got?

 

[brendano257]

Not a bad build, I would only say.... you'll be fine with the 750TX, the 650TX is not much less and 750W is good if you upgrade anything in the future. Graphics wise, I would hate to see an i7 system with only a 4670. Aim for a 4770, or even a 4870 (only $149.99 if you find a good one) At this level of a build I don't see why not.

You may not get passive cooling, but your temps should be fine and quiet enough, the P180 is a pretty enclosed case I think, so what noise it does make shouldn't be too bad.

 

[brianlin]

akm, i'm gonna go with the 750tx for future proofing/any oc'ing i MIGHT wanna do.

rawirig, i'm not sure about speakers yet but i got a decent set of surround sound altec lansing 6 speaker setup. i might go for high end monitors though. or maybe a pair of really good headphones will do it.

brendano, i think imma stick with this card for the passive cooling. i really cant compromise any sound interference for graphics quality. besides, i heard this card will work well for running counterstrike source (probably 60-80fps max settings) and decently for newer games (company of heroes, crysis, etc., around like 30 fps). i don't play much of the newer stuff, mainly Warcraft 3 and CS:S so i should be good!

thanks you guys! appreciate the input, i'm pulling the trigger on this build