I7-860 vs i7-930 vs x6-1055T gaming <$1000 no GPU

[pijh]

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: May 2010 BUDGET RANGE: <$1000

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Starcraft 2, hopefully some native AVCHD PPro editing on CS4, CS5 later this year.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: *VIDEO CARD*, keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: HAF 922 seems unbeatable

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: 90% sure NO

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I made a previous thread titled "<$1000 gaming/ video editing desktop!" But most of the comments centered on the GPU, which I have decided I am going to hold off on purchasing (and use an old GeForce 7800 GT), until either more FERMI cards are released or the prices of FERMI/GTX 285 goes down.

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i7-860 Build:
(CPU) i7-860
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214&cm_re=i7_860-_-19-115-214-_-Product

(Motherboard) Gigabyte P55A sata 6.0/ usb 3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128417&cm_re=p55a-_-13-128-417-_-Product

(Ram) G.Skill ECO 1333 2GB X2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231318

(HDD) Seagate 7200.12
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

(HSF) Noctua DH-14
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018

(PSU) SILVERSTONE ST75F-P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256059

(Case) HAF 922
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

Grand Total: $940.49


Phenom II X6 1055T Build:
(CPU) Phenom II X6 1055T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851

(Motherboard) Gigabyte UD4 sata6.0 usb 3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128416

Ram, HDD, Case, HSF, PSU all same as i7-860 build above.

Grand Total: $860.49


i7-930 Build:

(CPU) i7-930 + (Motherboard) Gigabyte X58A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.381166

(RAM) G.Skill 1333 2GB X3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231230

Ram, HDD, Case, HSF, PSU all same as i7-860 build above.

Grand Total: $1,040.14

As I mentioned before I am going to use an old 7800GT for now to play some Starcraft 2 and later... when new Fermi cards are released and I can get my hands on CS5 I will purchase the new GPU (I will probably need your expertise with that too!)

Thank you.

 

[MadAdmiral]

I'd get the i7-930, but I'd switch the PSU to a Corsair 750W and the HSF to a Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus.

 

[Onus]

For gaming, second the i7-930; consider the Phenom II X6 if your photo/video editing can really use all those cores, but they won't help for games.
At 80+ Silver and carrying a jonnyguru recommendation (read the review), your PSU choice should be fine.

 

[MadAdmiral]

I thought the PSU was $179, not $119. Nevermind my suggestion on that...

 

[pijh]

Thanks for the quick replies... I do feel pretty confident about the PSU. Modular, 80Silver, good reviews.

The Noctua NH-D14 I picked because of reviews i've read like this:
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1212/6/
Makes it sound pretty cool. (And with the low profile RAM I selected in all 3 builds the size of this beast shouldn't be a problem)

I am also thinking of upping the X6 build to a 1090T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103849&cm_re=x6-_-19-103-849-_-Product
which would bring the AMD build to Total: $947.33

 

[MadAdmiral]

The problem is that the X6s aren't that powerful. In fact, the i7-930 is drastically better in games, and slightly better in many other applications.

On the HSF, the Coolermaster Hyper is easily one of the best coolers out there. It's certainly the best performer at it's price. I don't see the value in paying nearly three times as much to get almost nothing.

 

[pijh]

Yeah that noctua is pricey... I haven't been able to find a review where the Coolermaster Hyper and the Noctua NH-D14 were matched against eachother.

So spend the extra $100 to get the i7-930 (and 2 more GB of ram in triple channel)?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I think I answered you already but:

1. The Prolimatech does a fill 4C better than the Noctua
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=492&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=4

2. HAF 922 is a great case.

3. SilverStone Strider ST85F-P gets a 9.5 performance rating over at jonnyguru.com .... however, I'd get a 650 for a single GFX card or an 850 for twin cards.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=183

4. Good choice with the low profile RAM module selection but 1333 RAM will limit your OC options. For example on the 930 CPU would be limited to 3.5 Ghz w/ the default 8 memory multiplier.

133 BCLK x 21 CPU Multiplier = 2.8 GHz
133 BCLK x 8 memory Multiplier = 1066 MHz

167 BCLK x 21 CPU Multiplier = 3.5 GHz
167 BCLK x 8 memory Multiplier = 1066 MHz

200 BCLK x 21 CPU Multiplier = 4.2 GHz
200 BCLK x 8 memory Multiplier = 1600 MHz

 

[pijh]

1. Yeah the ProlimaTech Megahalems does look to be a great HS... I would have to buy a couple of fans for it (which may be more total cost than the Noctua if I buy noctua quality fans).

3. Yeah you are probably right on the psu... the problem is I don't know what GPU/s i will end up with by the end of the year. Depends on what nvidia releases...

4. Well... the G.Skill ECO series is also offered in a 1600 speed at the same 1.35v... so I could get that instead for the 2 dual channel systems. Unfortunately, they don't offer that ram in 3x2gb (although they do in 4x2gb?) so I may have to find something else that would be faster yet not have monster heatsinks on top. Maybe this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231304

 

[foxmulder13]

I'd go with the 17 860 and get a better psu 750 or 850

 

[pijh]

The silverstone is 750w. They do offer it in 850w but I think I will be covered with 750. Even if I end up getting say, a GTX 480 the 750w should still be adequate.

 

[MadAdmiral]

@Fox: The 860 isn't that great of a CPU, especially not compared to the ability of the 930 being upgraded later to the 980X.

 

[Chuckles_]

If you're going to OC the 930 the NH-D14/Megahalems are a better buy IMHO. The 930 is an easy 4.0Ghz+ OC. The 212+ is not that great at those temps.

 

[dfield]

i7-930 is the way to go for gaming performance, if you are ever going to upgrade to 2 gpu's.
The i7-860 has a lower performance, but if you don't plan to add a second gpu later, that should be fine.
The Phenom II X6 is not a gaming cpu,

 

[goatsword]

+1 for the 930, no doubt.

 

[pijh]

Well it sounds like the majority opinion is the 930... what do you think about RAM? Should I just settle for the 1.6v G.Skill?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231304
Any other 3 x 2gb ram ideas?

 

[pijh]

So the 1.6v G.Skill it is!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231304

 

[lol553]

Theres not many games that use four cores.