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Have i7, need help with rest

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Have i7, need help with rest

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bigpapa7   07-26-2009 at 12:53:00 AM

Hey guys

I have been building a gaming computer piece by piece.

So far I have the Raidmax Smilodon case (with 500 watt PSU which i know i will need to upgrade)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811156098

A Radeon 4850 which i have been using in the computer i have now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161259

and a Intel Core i7 920 that i just bought from microcenter for $200

The problem is, i only have $400-$500 to spend on the rest of my parts (memory, mobo, HDD, psu, and any cooler)

I also have this Zalman CPU cooler from my last build (but i would rather not use it if possible)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835118004

and an IDE DvD burner

my monitor res is 1680x1050 (i may buy a second 4850 to crossfire later on since they are dirt cheap)

and i will probably OC my cpu a bit (possibly to around 3 ghz)

So which parts (ram+mobo+HDD+PSU) do you guys recommend with my budget in mind? ($400-$500)

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AKM880   07-26-2009 at 12:56:05 AM
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For the CPU cooler, get something like the Xigmatek Dark Knight, Scythe Mugen 2, Rosewill Fort 120, etc.


Reply to AKM880
bigpapa7   07-26-2009 at 01:16:49 AM
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yeah i was looking at those, and they seem very good, but do you think i need a great cooler for just my slight overclock? and do you have and recommendations for a mobo/ram/psu?

Reply to bigpapa7
AKM880   07-26-2009 at 01:19:07 AM
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The i7 920 is a great overclocker, especially if you got the D0 stepping version CPU. For the motherboard go with a ASUS P6T, great overclocker and solid motherboard. Or maybe any of the X58 Gigabyte boards.

Reply to AKM880
Silver Home Brew badge hunter315   07-26-2009 at 01:23:53 AM
- 0 +

Asus p6t and OCZ platinum 1600MHz 6GB $333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.209929

WD Caviar Black 640GB $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] lack%20640

Corsair 650TX(currently only $6 more than the 550) $100, brings total to $508
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] sair%20650

Or EA650 $77 brings total to $485
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371015

Reply to hunter315
AKM880   07-26-2009 at 01:27:08 AM
- 0 +

+1 on Hunter315's build.

Reply to AKM880
bigpapa7   07-26-2009 at 01:35:06 AM
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so for an overclock to 3.0 ghz (around) i wont need an aftermarket heat sink most likely?

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to bigpapa7
spinny   07-26-2009 at 01:47:39 AM
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I'm going with this build:

Gigabyte GA-EX58 UD3R + OCZ Gold 6GB DDR3 1600

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W

WD Caviar Black 640GB

For a grand total of $468 (plus $45 mail in rebates currently).

I would try the overclock you want on stock. If the temps are OK, great. If not, you can grab a heatsink. Unless you don't want to have to remove everything to put on a new heatsink, then grab one up front to be safe.


Message edited by spinny on 07-26-2009 at 01:48:32 AM
Reply to spinny
theubersmurf   07-26-2009 at 04:16:20 PM
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bigpapa7 wrote :

so for an overclock to 3.0 ghz (around) i wont need an aftermarket heat sink most likely?

Probably not, the stock cooler is pretty good. I have mine overclocked without being overvolted to 3.0ghz on the stock cooler.

Reply to theubersmurf
theubersmurf   07-26-2009 at 04:19:24 PM
- 0 +

also, I like spinny's build a little better than hunter's. Little less money, psu with more wattage...You probably won't need any psu upgrade from there for sli/crossfire. Curious why you don't like your cpu cooler, you could just buy a 1366 bracket for it, that will cost you about 2 dollars, and give you more overclocking headroom.

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bigpapa7   07-26-2009 at 06:35:50 PM
- 0 +

I guess i could, but i was going to continue to use the computer i have now, and the cpu im using is an Athlon 64 3700+ OC'ed

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to bigpapa7
Helloworld_98   07-26-2009 at 07:02:42 PM
- 0 +

^ I wouldn't, zalman 9xxx CPU heatsinks (even the 9700 and 9900) are rubbish when it comes to the i7.

Reply to Helloworld_98
theubersmurf   07-26-2009 at 07:26:35 PM
- 0 +

bigpapa7 wrote :

I guess i could, but i was going to continue to use the computer i have now, and the cpu im using is an Athlon 64 3700+ OC'ed

That makes some sense, and if the subsequent poster is right, it may be a bad idea anyway. Just trying getting it to 150MHz on the stock cooler, see if you even need an aftermarket cooler. And if you do, and at the time you're willing to spend, you may want to look at this I've been hearing good things about it. Pre-built water loop, no adding of water required. Radiator is the exaust fan...purely for cpu cooling, but once again I've been hearing good things about it. Manufacturer product page

Reply to theubersmurf
bigpapa7   07-26-2009 at 11:52:06 PM
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After reading some reviews on the gigabyte ud3r, i think i am going to go with spinny's build and i may throw in a Xigmatek dark knight aftermarket cooler

would the dark knight fit into my smilodon case? and if not which case would you guys recommend?

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to bigpapa7
theubersmurf   07-27-2009 at 01:14:28 AM
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go check their website, look at the stats on the case.

Reply to theubersmurf
Yoosty   07-27-2009 at 02:51:30 AM
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bigpapa7 wrote :

After reading some reviews on the gigabyte ud3r, i think i am going to go with spinny's build and i may throw in a Xigmatek dark knight aftermarket cooler

would the dark knight fit into my smilodon case? and if not which case would you guys recommend?


Your Case Dimensions 20.5" x 8" x 17.8" (DxWxH)

Xigmatek Dark Knight Dimension 120(W) x 50(D) x 159(H) mm

Since your case is shown in Inches, we need to convert the Xigmatek Dark Knight diminsion for (H) to it. So you will need to use this number (.03937) and multiply the (H 159) to get 6.25983I nches. Which will be very close.

I would go with the Scythe MUGEN-2 Dimensions without Fan: 158 x 130 x 100 mm (L x W x D) = 6.22 x 3.94 x 5.12 inch (the underlined dimesion is what you need to worry about for height)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185093

You could go with the Xigmatek Dark Knight or the Scythe MUGEN-2, but with that case it will be a tight fit.

This case would work nicely, the COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black $119.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119197


Message edited by Yoosty on 07-27-2009 at 03:03:12 AM
Reply to Yoosty
spinny   07-27-2009 at 05:44:58 AM
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Certainly if you have the budget I would change cases. Something like the Cooler Master Storm Scout could be had for $100, would give you more breathing room, and would be a significantly better case overall.

The quality only goes up if you can spend even more. Keep in mind that you can buy yourself a really nice case and use it on many builds, buying some other random case to put old systems in.

Reply to spinny
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