No clue what I'm doing

[Legionary]

I don't have much experience with buying parts, or computers in general, just wondering if this setup is good/will even work (picked most of the parts from surfing the web for the past 2 days).

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: this week/sometime soon
BUDGET RANGE: $1000-1300 Before Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the net

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: I have a keyboard, mouse, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States

PARTS PREFERENCES: none, I guess

OVERCLOCKING: Yes, first time

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

Parts:
CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920- $279.99, $12 combo discount w/ memory

Memory: OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK- $131.99, $20 rebate, $20 combo discount w/processor

Motherboard:ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard-$169.99

Graphics Card:XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card- $144.99

Case: Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case- $54.95

Power Supply:CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply- $139.99, $40 rebate, $20 combo discount w/ hard drive

Hard Drive:Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive- $74.99, $20 combo discount w/ power supply

Heat Sink/Fan:Scythe MUGEN-2 and Scythe SY124010L Fans-$36.99

Monitor: ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor- $189.99 w/ $10 rebate

DVD Drive:Sony Optiarc Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1678A- $18.99
subtotal:$1,222.85 w/ $70 rebate

Any help would be welcome!

 

[Gulli]

From the looks of it I'd say you do know what you're doing, that system will definitely work and makes for a good setup.
The only remark I can make is that you could get a better video card with that system (the processor and power supply can handle more than a 4870), maybe a cheap 4890 or even a 5850/5870.

 

[Transmaniacon]

Change to the Antec 300 Illusion Case, it comes with the missing front fans.

Get an ATI HD4890 instead since you have a little room in the budget, they are only $30-60 more.

Everything else looks very good.

 

[Proximon]

The only reason to use an X58 board and i7 920 would be a DEFINITE yes to high end CF... as in two 5850s or better.

Since that is not what you are doing, you are better off with a P55 board and an i7 860. Like this:
Intel Core i7-860
ASRock P55 Pro
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600


Then grab a 5850 when they come out next week.

That balances your system better.

 

[Gulli]

The only reason to use an X58 board and i7 920 would be a DEFINITE yes to high end CF... as in two 5850s or better.

Since that is not what you are doing, you are better off with a P55 board and an i7 860. Like this:
Intel Core i7-860
ASRock P55 Pro
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600


Then grab a 5850 when they come out next week.

That balances your system better.

Yes, if the system is strictly for gaming then do what this guy says, if you have plenty of money to go around or if you have other plans for that 920 besides gaming then keep the 920.

 

[overshocks]

The only reason to use an X58 board and i7 920 would be a DEFINITE yes to high end CF... as in two 5850s or better.

Since that is not what you are doing, you are better off with a P55 board and an i7 860. Like this:
Intel Core i7-860
ASRock P55 Pro
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600


Then grab a 5850 when they come out next week.

That balances your system better.

the p55 mobo will not future proof, and if he CF on it later in the future, it will bottleneck the video cards x8 x8 lanes, seeing how the new cards are so quick.
i7 920 build is much better for future proof. let the OP decide

 

[Outlander_04]

I read the title of the thread and wondered if you'd like a career in politics?

 

[Gulli]

the p55 mobo will not future proof, and if he CF on it later in the future, it will bottleneck the video cards x8 x8 lanes, seeing how the new cards are so quick.
i7 920 build is much better for future proof. let the OP decide

There is no such thing as future proofing when it comes to computer hardware.
When the i5 will be obsolete, say four years from now, so will the 920 and any X58 motherboard.

 

[Transmaniacon]

Well there will be the i9 CPUs coming out for the X58 socket, so there is likely a good bit of time left on those, but yea, its very difficult to future-proof computer hardware.

 

[overshocks]

There is no such thing as future proofing when it comes to computer hardware.
When the i5 will be obsolete, say four years from now, so will the 920 and any X58 motherboard.

You're wrong, future proofing with the i7 920 is better than i5. It will last a little longer, clarkdales on x58. Plus x16 x16, when new cards that will get bottlenecked by the x8 x8 with the p55 mobo. Know your facts before commenting.

 

[Legionary]

Quick question: what sorts of other things would I be planning that would make the 920 worth it? I also watch movies and download a lot of stuff, if that makes any difference.

Also, I know I said 'maybe' for crossfire, but that was only because I have no clue how to do it, and I can learn how to. I say this, because this article (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2404.html) points out that using two 4850s or higher in crossfire would provide better graphics, and that would solve the problem of the graphics card.

 

[Gulli]

You're wrong, future proofing with the i7 920 is better than i5. It will last a little longer, clarkdales on x58. Plus x16 x16, when new cards that will get bottlenecked by the x8 x8 with the p55 mobo. Know your facts before commenting.

It may last 6 months longer, but it will still be old tech 4 years from now (who's to say x16 lanes will be enough for 2012's graphic cards?) and the vast majority of people will never SLI/Crossfire.

In fact, I'm curious how many people who say they future proof, actually reuse those 3-4 year old parts during their next round of upgrades...

 

[overshocks]

If you are not planning to upgrade the computer after you've built it then i5 750 build would be better. But if you plan on future upgrades like clarkdale processors, using crossfire/sli then i7 920 build would be better. In terms of performance it would be better too.

 

[Onus]

Well, the OP says "maybe" to Crossfire/SLI, and I haven't read anywhere that x8/x8 is much of a bottleneck. As quickly as things change, "futureproof" is a myth, so I will agree with Proximon on the i7/860 on a P55 board. If Crossfire is a more likely possibility though, I think a stronger PSU might be in order, even though the Corsair is certainly high quality. I'd choose an Antec Truepower New 750W PSU or a larger Corsair for multiple high-end video cards. At the OP's stated resolution though, a single 5870 will probably be enough. Hopefully, future games won't be coded as poorly as Crysis.

 

[overshocks]

It may last 6 months longer, but it will still be old tech 4 years from now (who's to say x16 lanes will be enough for 2012's graphic cards?) and the vast majority of people will never SLI/Crossfire.

I'm talking about the 5xxx series cards. And the upcoming cards in half a year. Not four years from now, don't make up stuff.

 

[Gulli]

If you are not planning to upgrade the computer after you've built it then i5 750 build would be better. But if you plan on future upgrades like clarkdale processors, using crossfire/sli then i7 920 build would be better. In terms of performance it would be better too.

That I do agree with, though the performance difference between i7 920 and i5 570 will be negligible when it comes to gaming, the 860 will probably perform even better than the 920.

 

[Proximon]

The Intel roadmap says both platforms will have CPU upgrades through 2010. Beyond that there are no guarantees either way.

 

[zach538467]

Reply to OP:

920 is capable of hyperthreading, so it acts as though it has eight cores(eight threads). x58 mobos can use triple channel memory, which won't gain you a lot of performance really, but it is the best available right now. Like everyone else said, the six core clarkdales will also be able to drop right in, meaning better upgradablility.

you don't want to go two 4850's right now a single 4890 would be better. And even better would be 5850-5870 but of course thats more money

 

[Onus]

Ouch, I just noticed that particular P55 board is x16/x4, not x8/x8; which is NOT good. I'm at work, with limited opportunity to search, but another board that IS x8/x8 would do better if Crossfire is likely.

 

[overshocks]

That I do agree with, though the performance difference between i7 920 and i5 570 will be negligible when it comes to gaming, the 860 will probably perform even better than the 920.

The reviews I've read, 920>860. But the thing is you can't compare these two because there's one major flaw. Triple channel memory vs Double, and the they use have 6GB vs 4GB.

 

[Onus]

Here's another ASRock board for $150 that has THREE PCIE slots, 16x/8x/4x: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157172

 

[Proximon]

Here's another ASRock board for $150 that has THREE PCIE slots, 16x/8x/4x: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157172

Yes my bad, or the Gigabyte UD4 I think at the same price.

 

[Gulli]

The reviews I've read, 920>860. But the thing is you can't compare these two because there's one major flaw. Triple channel memory vs Double, and the they use have 6GB vs 4GB.

Yeah, the 920 is a better processor, just not for gaming, current games (and those of 2010 and 2011 as well) don't give a damn about HT and triple memory channels.

 

[Proximon]

The reviews I've read, 920>860. But the thing is you can't compare these two because there's one major flaw. Triple channel memory vs Double, and the they use have 6GB vs 4GB.

Show me one game the OP is playing or will play that needs more than 4GB of RAM, and I'll sign on.


As to 6 cores, yes if you are doing video editing or some such you may benefit from 6 cores. Game developers are having to be dragged by the ears to code for 4 cores.... you really think they will be coding games for 6 cores two years from now?

The OP wants to game. That can EASILY be done on a dual core CPU today. The recommended quad core is all the future proofing needed.

The whole point here is NOT to spend all the OPs cash on a platform. It's to create the best performing machine possible in games right now. That means more money for the GPU and less on the MB, CPU, RAM.

 

[Onus]

Thumbs are missing at the moment, so ^+1 (Proximon).