BrokenSegue

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I know many of you think i7 860s are a bad buy, but I don't plan on upgrades in the near future and I don't think the memory bandwidth limitation is a big deal. What do you think of this build setup? I think it beats a comparable 920 build.

* MSI R4890 Cyclone OC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
* Intel BOXDP55KG LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
* Intel Core i7 860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7860
* G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000)
* Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM
* Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550 EPS12V 550W ATX12V (from an old build, not actually this version since it was RMA'd and replaced with a slightly newer version)

Prices comes to about $1k.

Any glaring errors? I'm willing to defend my decision to go with the 860 if need be. I'm not sure about the mobo really. I think the graphics card is a good buy. Also, the RAM is on the cheap side, but I don't think 8GB is worth it. I might go 2x2 +1x2 later.
 
Save yourself $10 with this combo down below...and I think that Raptor is a giant waste of $$$ imo. You can get a WD 640 Black, WD 1tb, or a Samsung F3 500gb for a lot cheaper, yet those drives run only a hair slower than the Raptors. Also you might look into a cheaper set of ripjaws (RAM).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.246576 Combo Discount: -$20.00 Combo Price: $379.98 Free Shipping*
GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core i7 860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7860 - Retail
 


None of the Intel mobo's (at least not any of the P55 boards) combo with an Intel cpu. That board I posted is just as good as that Intel if not better. It saves you some money is all. But yes those boards are "comparable" Both are P55 boards.
 


My bad...I was looking at the $100 Intel on newegg...I got the Model numbers mixed up. :pt1cable:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.259879 Combo Discount: -$35.00 Combo Price: $424.98 Free Shipping*
ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core i7 860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7860 - Retail
 

belial2k

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Intel boards tend to lack the overclocking features of the other MBs, so if you plan on OCing I would stay away from intel MBs. I'm not really sure with $1000 budget why you don't go with x58 and i7 920...I don't see any gain by going with the 860.
 

alikum

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So you plan on building the rig just for benchmark? Don't forget, most apps cannot even cope with Quads, let alone i7. Unless you want the bragging rights, sure get a 860. But you're paying a lot more just for that right. I may be wrong because I don't live in the states. Here in Australia, i7 920 is way cheaper than 860 even if you take into account of the boards.
 

BrokenSegue

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I'm not talking synthetic bench marks. I'm talking actual tests of applications I plan to run. Especially multitasking benchmarks. Plus the chip is cheaper. Plus I can overclock (in theory) the 860 to be closer to the 870 which everyone agrees womps the 920 and even the 975s in some benchmarks.

The 860 chip is more expensive (by a small amount) than a 920, but the mobos are cheaper. I'm saving money by getting the 860. What's the problem?
 

overshocks

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Clearly the OP doesn't know the benefits of a i7 920 over a i7 860, it's a waste of time arguing with such a fanboy because he "read benchmarks" i7 860 is better.
There's no need to list all the benefits, when one is enough to support it, which is future proof. You may save a little money now with the p55 motherboards, but in the long run, you'll have to switch mobos for possibly clarkdales..it's really up to him to decide
 

BrokenSegue

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fanboy? I am aware of many of the advantages of the 920 (triple channel memory, real sli, upgradability, etc) however I'm just asserting that they aren't relevant to me. I have put together an alternate (slightly pricier) 920 build which I am considering, but really I fail to see why it's better.
 

overshocks

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In this case, it's your decision like I said no point of arguing. 1366 mobo is more future proof period. Your choice, now go buy the stuff.
 

alikum

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Sorry mate, I thought you meant synthetic ones. However, if you can afford it, I'd still advise buying 920 because in due time, Intel will release their 32 nm Hexa core and as of this writing, it is known to be x58 exclusive.
 

eaclou

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people are putting way too much emphasis on the 6-core Gulftown upgrade for LGA 1366.

First of all, it will likely be in a much different price bracket than the 920, especially since AMD won't have a competing product at the time of release, and Intel clearly wants to distinguish the 1156 as mainstream and 1366 as high-end (hence the rumours of discontinuing the 920, the only somewhat affordable 1366 processor)

Also, if you're buying a processor now, on either socket, Sandy Bridge will be around within 2 years, and will require new motherboards anyway.

The idea of upgrading just your CPU 6 months later -- you just spent 200-300 dollars on the 920 for 6 months of use? And for only marginally better performance.

I'd rather get 2 years of use from an 860 that eats 40W less power and make a significant upgrade to Sandy bridge when it comes out.

It seems like people are just reading what others are saying about the upgradeability and regurgitating it without thinking about the situation.