I know you see a lot of these new build threads...

[Spiral_13]

Planning on trying to build a computer for the first time, and I've done a moderate bit of reading different threads/articles and such, but I'm still relatively new, so if you make a correction/suggestion can you please provide a link/explanation as to why exactly the change is suggested? Thanks.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: before October

BUDGET RANGE: I was going to say $1200, but what I've gathered is already over at $1250. So we'll put that as the extreme upper limit

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, watching movies, photo editing/organizing, matlab/other scientific program simulations, internet, music

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor (have 24" LCD)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg, ncix

PARTS PREFERENCES: no current preference, but nothing cheap that is prone to not work

OVERCLOCKING: Yes / Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: just looking for current input/info, not quite sure how up to date all the stuff I read was.

Anyways:

PC Case: Cooler Master HAF 932 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160&Tpk=HAF

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66 GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Cooler: Vigor Monsson III LT Dual 120mm Fan http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835702007

Video Card: Sapphire 100279-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102849

Motherboard: AsRock x58 Extreme LGA 1366
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157163

Memory: Corsair XMS3 6Gb (3x2Gb) DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145242

Hard Drive: WD Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

DVD: LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136162

Power Supply: Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

 

[tecmo34]

Two Suggestions:
1) Review the combo deals listed on Newegg for additional savings
2) What till next week for the release of the ATI 5870 card and purchase it over the 4870. The performance won't be in the same ballpark. If you are spending the money for a Core i7 920, you have to utilize a highend GPU now with the release of Socket 1156... IMO If you are not planning on doing so, I recommend going with the Core i5 750.

 

[Spiral_13]

Two Suggestions:
1) Review the combo deals listed on Newegg for additional savings
2) What till next week for the release of the ATI 5870 card and purchase it over the 4870. The performance won't be in the same ballpark. If you are spending the money for a Core i7 920, you have to utilize a highend GPU now with the release of Socket 1156... IMO If you are not planning on doing so, I recommend going with the Core i5 750.

Thanks for this I'll check out the combo deals a bit closer- to address one point, from what I read (who knows if it was accurate) was that the 1366 socket is going to be sort of the replacement or next generation of chips, so if you want to upgrade in the future it would be easier with a 1366 setup. Is there any accuracy in that?

 

[Why_Me]

This is a US build correct? I saw the NCIX link and I wasn't sure. So US build in US dollars. Nice build, but I can see a few changes (hs/combo's/922 HAF case) that would allow you to fit a nice 4890 in your budget and still get just as good if not better performance.

 

[Twoboxer]

1) Have you looked at the HAF 922? $30 cheaper at Newegg (but no free shipping), couple inches smaller.

2) The i5 750 is also a good choice, as is the i7 860. Keep them in mind if you need to shave $100-$200 off the system cost.

3) Suggest you look at the Cogage True Spirit cooler, $40.
Review:
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2009/07/23/intel_core_i7_heatsink_roundup_q309/6
Buy here:
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556090274.html

3) Memory: Again, only if you need to shave some money at some point to afford, say, a better graphics card, this Mushkin 3.2GB 1333 7CAS memory doesn't give away much in practice vs your choice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226036

4) Wait for the ATI 5XXX series to be announced and benched before you commit to the previous generation. Should be next week, and reviews in a week or so following.

 

[Spiral_13]

Actually in Canada - but to make it easier/more universal I've been looking with US dollars.

 

[Spiral_13]

1) Have you looked at the HAF 922? $30 cheaper at Newegg (but no free shipping), couple inches smaller.

2) The i5 750 is also a good choice, as is the i7 860. Keep them in mind if you need to shave $100-$200 off the system cost.

3) Suggest you look at the Cogage True Spirit cooler, $40.
Review:
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2009/07/23/intel_core_i7_heatsink_roundup_q309/6
Buy here:
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556090274.html

3) Memory: Again, only if you need to shave some money at some point to afford, say, a better graphics card, this Mushkin 3.2GB 1333 7CAS memory doesn't give away much in practice vs your choice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226036

4) Wait for the ATI 5XXX series to be announced and benched before you commit to the previous generation. Should be next week, and reviews in a week or so following.

1 - I hadn't actually looked at the 922. Since I've never really built...well...anything computer related at all, I was sort of going with the ideology that if it was bigger it would for sure be able to accept anything I decided to put in it and also ok for future upgrades.

2 - I actually had previously decided on the i7 860, until again I read something (see my lame excuse a few posts up) that insinuated the 1156 may eventually become less used, so I changed my mind.

3a - I'll take a look through the review when I get a chance.

3b - Here without much experience, I felt that making an informed decision on a good memory choice was incredibly difficult. There's a TON of variety out there. I think I just picked that one because someone else had recommended it in a review thread somewhere.

4 - Tell you the truth I hadn't even known about the 5xxx series till Tecmo mentioned it. Worried a bit about the cost of the new ones...but with the release would it be plausible to think that the prices of of the 4xxx series may drop somewhat?

 

[Twoboxer]

1) Good thought. There's really no need for the larger case for your build and any reasonable expansion of it. The 932 *may* give slightly better air flow, and might be better for the hotter 920; the 922 is probably a better choice for 860/750 unless size and money don't matter.

2) The 860 won't come cheaper than the 920. You would probably equip the 920 with 3x2GB, while your choices on the 860 would be 2x2GB or 4x2GB (likely choice). Those two tend to offset the mobo savings. But if you are still on the fence, you might want to read this published today:

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3639&p=4

then check back and scan the numbers, and see how you feel.

3a) Cool. No pun intended

3b) You will not see a noticable difference in game or application performance between the two RAM choices. However, the difference in $ is also small.

4) The 4xxx prices could (should) drop, and that's one reson why you should wait just a bit longer. You will of course be paying the highest prices ever paid if you (like I will) buy 5xxx cards in two weeks lol. But here's the thing - with any of these three cpus - buying a 5xxx means you are set for several years.

 

[Why_Me]

1) Good thought. There's really no need for the larger case for your build and any reasonable expansion of it. The 932 *may* give slightly better air flow, and might be better for the hotter 920; the 922 is probably a better choice for 860/750 unless size and money don't matter.

2) The 860 won't come cheaper than the 920. You would probably equip the 920 with 3x2GB, while your choices on the 860 would be 2x2GB or 4x2GB (likely choice). Those two tend to offset the mobo savings. But if you are still on the fence, you might want to read this published today:

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3639&p=4

then check back and scan the numbers, and see how you feel.

3a) Cool. No pun intended

3b) You will not see a noticable difference in game or application performance between the two RAM choices. However, the difference in $ is also small.

4) The 4xxx prices could (should) drop, and that's one reson why you should wait just a bit longer. You will of course be paying the highest prices ever paid if you (like I will) buy 5xxx cards in two weeks lol. But here's the thing - with any of these three cpus - buying a 5xxx means you are set for several years.

Two boxer...I was going to post a 1156 860 build...but what would you recommend ? The 920 or the 860 ? I'l post that 860 since I already have it ready...but tbh for what the OP want's/needs...I'm not sure what's the best way to go on this.

 

[Why_Me]

This cpu supports hyper threading....but after two boxers post I'm not sure if this is the way to go...I have no idea tbh. This just gives you another option to look at. This case down below is actually wider than the 932, it's newer to the market, and it has plenty of room for upgrades, dual vid cards, etc... The mobo has a lot of o/c utilities, and it supports both Crossfire and SLI. I didn't include a vid card for the fact I'm not sure what card you want....or if you want to wait until next week when the new DX11 cards hit the shelves.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.205141.11-119-197 Combo Discount: -$5.00 Combo Price: $217.98
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM | Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 $114.99 (Before $10.00 USD Mail-In Rebate)
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.259882 Combo Discount: -$35.00 Combo Price: $488.98
ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core i7 860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7860 - Retail

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42959&vpn=RR-910-HTX3-GP&manufacture=COOLERMASTER $22.99 CAD
Coolermaster RR-910-HTX3-GP Hyper TX Series Aluminum 3-HEATPIPE CPU Cooler S1156/775/AM3/AM2/939/940

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26895&vpn=MX-2T&manufacture=Arctic%20Cooling $9.99 CAD
Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound Paste NON-ELECTRICAL Conductive 4 Gram

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277 $87.99
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
Dual Channel Intel Core i5 & Core i7 CPU for P55 motherboard

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34286&vpn=WD6401AALS&manufacture=Western%20Digital%20WD&promoid=1026 $75.98 CAD
Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=41501&vpn=SH-S223B/BEBE&manufacture=Samsung $34.48 CAD
Samsung SH-S223B/BEBE 22X DVD+-RW SATA DVD Writer Black OEM

Total: $1,053.38 CAD *not including shipping, tax, and mail in rebates

*For a high o/c you want this h/s and RAM down below.

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42819&vpn=NH-U12P%20SE2&manufacture=Noctua $79.99 CAD
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 LGA775/1156/1366 AM2/AM3 I7/I5/PHENOM Heatpipe Cooler W/ 2XNH-P12 120MM Fans

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231279 $103.99
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH - Retail

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/landing/haf922/ <--- Cooler Master 922 pics, specs, and professional reviews