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System Builder Marathon, May '09: $1,300 Enthusiast PC

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - System Builder Marathon, May '09: $1,300 Enthusiast PC

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the_eliminator   08-30-2009 at 02:55:52 AM

I saw this post (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-sff,2312.html),and wanted to duplicate that build with a few modifications. Here is what I came up with:

Motherboard- GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $239.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128374

CPU- Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Model BX80601920 - Retail $279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] =Core%20i7

Memory- G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231223

Graphics-2X BFG Tech BFGEGTX260896OCE GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail 2X 144.99 = $289.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814143140

HD-Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319

Optical-LITE-ON Black 4X BD-ROM 8X DVD-ROM 32X CD-ROM SATA Internal 4X Blu-ray Reader Model iHOS104-06 - OEM $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106326

Case-AZZA Solano 1000 Black/Black Japanese SECC Steel/Metal mesh in front ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811517004

Power-CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006

CPU Cooler-XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail $44.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233029

OS- Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3 for System Builders - OEM $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116511

Software-Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Licensed for 3 PCs - Retail $67.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116135

$1457.88 + $20.09 S&H = $1477.96 w/rebates&shipping
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Minus the software and shipping, I came out only about $4 more expensive than the original build system. Were my changes that I made good ideas? I changed the Motherboard, Memory, Case, Optical, and Power Source.

This would be my first time building a computer. I could spend $420 more and buy an overclocked system (factory to 3.7Ghz), with Corsair Dominator 1600Mhz memory, a GTX 285 instead of dual 260, various other additional things, and a 3 year warranty from cyberpowerpc. Would that be a better idea?

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system [...] urator_top $1897.80 w/rebates&shipping

Changes to that system:

Power Supply- Upgrade to In-Win Power Supplies 750 Watts Commander
Video Card- Bump it up to EVGA 2GB GTX 285
Speakers- Add 600Watts PMPO Subwoofer Stereo Speakers (600Watts PMPO Subwoofer Stereo Speakers)
Network- Intel Pro Gigabite 10/100/1000 Network Card (Intel Pro Gigabite 10/100/1000 Network Card)
Wireless Network Card- Zonet ZEW1642 IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth- USB Bluetooth 2.0 Adapter (USB Bluetooth 2.0 Adapter)
OS- Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition w/ Service Pack 3
OFFICE SUITE- $50 off Mail-in Rebate) Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007


Message edited by the_eliminator on 08-30-2009 at 03:07:59 AM
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FallenSniper   08-30-2009 at 03:13:48 AM
- 0 +

I like this RAM more (7 latency instead of 9): http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-OCZ3P160 [...] 491&sr=1-1

Those graphics cards are just the regular GTX 260s, I would suggest the Core 216 version instead. Something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130434

That motherboard is pricey for me, but I think it would serve you well.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to FallenSniper
the_eliminator   08-30-2009 at 03:30:00 AM
- 0 +

FallenSniper wrote :

I like this RAM more (7 latency instead of 9): http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-OCZ3P160 [...] 491&sr=1-1

Those graphics cards are just the regular GTX 260s, I would suggest the Core 216 version instead. Something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130434

That motherboard is pricey for me, but I think it would serve you well.




Well those are the overclocked GTX 260s from BFG. Is the Core 216 better than the OC version? The RAM seems like a good substitute. How would the 7 latency differ from 9? I'm relatively new to all this so bear with me :)

Reply to the_eliminator
FallenSniper   08-30-2009 at 04:03:50 AM
- 0 +

Honestly I'm not sure if the Core 216 would be faster than the factory shipped OC version. I guarantee you if you use that fancy motherboard and overclock them, then they would be faster no doubt. ^_^ The difference between the two is the 216 version essentially has more stream processors unlocked. I personally think of RAM latency as like a response time. The lower it is, the faster it is. Keep in mind those numbers are in milliseconds, but it can still be a noticeable difference in performance.

Don't worry about being new. :D You seem to know a lot already and you are asking questions which is good, and you are actually willing to listen to the answers, which is pretty much awesome. ^_^

Reply to FallenSniper
Why_Me   08-30-2009 at 07:13:37 AM
- 1 +

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] 11-119-137 Combo Discount: -$15.00 Combo Price: $164.98 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM | Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] e=10006382 $111.99 Free Shipping
PC Power and Cooling SILENCER 750W QUAD S75CF Power Supply Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157163 $169.99
ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $269.99 Free Ground Shipping
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185093 $36.99
Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-MX2 $4.49
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound

http://www.amazon.com/OCZ-OCZ3P160 [...] 032&sr=1-2 $113.99 Free Shipping
OCZ OCZ3P1600LV6GK DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz 6GB Platinum XTC Triple Channel Kits

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=GA-GTX275C $219.99 | $209.99 $10 off with code SUPERSTEAL10 Free Ground Shipping
GIGABYTE nVidia GeForce GTX275 OC 896MB DDR3 DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video Card

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=GA-GTX275C $219.99 | $209.99 $10 off with code SUPERSTEAL10 Free Ground Shipping
GIGABYTE nVidia GeForce GTX275 OC 896MB DDR3 DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video Card

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] e=10010082 $64.99 Free Shipping
WESTERN DIGITAL Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB SATA II 7200 RPM 32MB Buffer Hard Drive Bulk

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118030 $29.99 Free Shipping*
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM

Total: $1,387.38

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2298.html <--- dual gtx 275's in SLI > gtx 295




------------------------------ "God invented Google so you would stop asking stupid questions."
 Reply to Why_Me
shortstuff_mt   08-30-2009 at 07:15:42 AM
- 0 +

The Core 216 GPU is faster than the old overclocked GPU. You definitely want the Core 216 version.

6GB is an absolute waste with a 32-bit OS. You will have about half of your RAM available unless you go with a 64-bit OS. I would get 64-bit Vista Home Premium with the free upgrade to Windows 7. Windows Vista works fine and Windows 7 is very nice. Putting an 8-year-old OS on a nice build like that is silly.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM $109.99

Reply to shortstuff_mt
the_eliminator   08-30-2009 at 11:12:25 PM
- 1 +

I actually like that Why_Me build a lot. The dual GTX 275 would me more than worth the drop of some of the pricier parts. Since those come OC out of the box, how much more could you push them? Does anyone else have any suggestions/alternatives for his build? Also, what all parts would I be tuning/OCing once I put this together.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by the_eliminator on 08-30-2009 at 11:14:28 PM
Reply to the_eliminator
Why_Me   08-31-2009 at 01:35:21 AM
- 0 +

the_eliminator wrote :

I actually like that Why_Me build a lot. The dual GTX 275 would me more than worth the drop of some of the pricier parts. Since those come OC out of the box, how much more could you push them? Does anyone else have any suggestions/alternatives for his build? Also, what all parts would I be tuning/OCing once I put this together.



Within a few minutes you can have your cpu o/c at 3.6GHz or more... That board comes with easy o/c utilities. I would add a couple more 120mm case fans...that Cooler Master 690 holds up to 7 of them. You can get some decent Masscool 120mm case fans @ newegg for $5 ea.

------------------------------ "God invented Google so you would stop asking stupid questions."
 Reply to Why_Me
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