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New i7 Build - Need Advice

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: In 2-3 weeks

BUDGET RANGE: $1300/$1400 After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: surfing the internet, gaming, MS Office

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Microcenter

PARTS PREFERENCES: n/a

OVERCLOCKING: Not in the beginning/ Eventually Yes in the future (Most concerned with having a stable system)

Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 2048 by 1152

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (Major preferences in order of importance 1.Stable 2.Fast 3.Quiet 4.Everything Else)


I was totally set on the following setup, but the whole Foxconn socket pin contact/burning issue made me think if i should go for a i7 920 - 1366 setup.

Any feedback is welcome. Thanx in advance.

Intel Core i7 860 Processor
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

Asus P7P55D Socket 1156 P55 ATX Motherboard
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

EVGA e-GeForce GTX 275 896MB DDR3 PCIe 2.0 Graphics Card
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

Corsair Memory TX 650 Watt ATX Power Supply
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

Corsair Memory XMS3 4GB DDR3-1600 (PC-12800) CL8 Memory Kit
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

OS Drive > OCZ Technology Vertex Series 2.5" 120GB SATA II Solid State Drive
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

Storage Drive > I need some ideas for $50-$60, 500GB, 7200rpm, no western digital

CD/DVD Drive > something for $30

CPU Cooler > need something for around $30

Case > Mid Tower - Black - $50-$80 - Conservative design (no lights, etc.)
What do you think about:

Antec Sonata Elite ATX Case
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

Cooler Master Centurion 590 ATX Mid Tower
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

Antec Three Hundred ATX Case
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...


Feel free to suggest anything. I am pretty much open minded. Thank you again.




More about : build advice

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I know you like microcenter, but I'm going to throw in a few newegg links here.

I'd drop the gtx 275 for a 4890. Better card and better price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

DVD drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Artic freezer CPU cooler
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

Cooler master cm690 case
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml...

What do you got against western digital drives?

Thank you, aford10.

I am not sure about the 4890. I probably need some more persuasion since i had good experience with evga products in the past but I am not married to the gtx 275 either.

Dvd drive and cooler look good.

The cm690 case almost made it to the above shortlist so i definitely will take a look at it.

Since two different Western Digital drives died on me few years ago i only have been using Maxtor and Seagate.
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OK

I made the following changes so far:

I decided to go with 5850 instead of gtx 275 (I just have to find one at below $300)


OCZ vertex prices skyrocketed within the past week or so so now i am thinking maybe about:

crucial 128 GB SSD

or

for now one intel x25-m G2 80GB and eventually later another one to be added in RAID 0 when prices come down

what do you think?

Get the X-25M, they are popular and very good. A good storage drive is a samsung spinpoint...very fast! Western Digital are amazing but i guess you had some bad luck so no big deal. Since you don't want crossfire, then a 550Watt quality PSU or a 600watt will be good. If the price difference is tiny then don't worry about it.

I'd recommend against counting on being able to get an identical drive down the road for RAID0. Chances are, there will be a different model with different firmware out by the time you are ready to get a second drive. I'd suggest just getting the performance you want now and not worrying about it until the next generation comes out.

Also, TRIM and SMART are issues with SSDs in RAID. You don't want to exclude yourself from TRIM after you've done a lot of writes to the device.

After reading additional reviews, I made the following changes to my setup:

1. I definitely want crossfire with 2 5850's

2. I will go with a I7 920 - X58 combo

3. I will overclock the 920 to 3.3~3.6mhz


Therefore, I have the following questions:

1. Will a CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX power supply going to be enough or do you suggest something else with better quality, lower noise etc.?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


2. Which x58 motherboard do you suggest with 2 PCI Express x16 slots and enough room for 2 5850's as well as easy and stable overclockability of the 920?

What dou you think about:

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

or

EVGA E758-TR 3-Way SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
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