Def getting an i7 - Which one?

[bmark0610]

Whats up guys?

Well on newegg I was going to order the i7 920 but they are out of stock or something....

Anyone know whats up with that?

Anyway, should I just get the i7- 960 that runs a 3.2ghz? and use the stock cpu cooler?

or order the 920 on like tigerdirect or something?

My plan was to overclock the 920 to about 4.0ghz and use an aftermarket cooler....

I'm a little hesitant about overclocking my cpu unless it is REALLY easy, since this would be my first time!


Well I appreciate the input thanks guys!

 

[ares1214]

now isnt necessarily the ideal time to buy a new cpu, but anyway, you are going to want to either wait for a week or 2 for the 950 to drop in price, or get the 930 now. Overclocking is extremely easy with a good cooler and mobo.

 

[WR2]

What is the current price difference between the i7 920 and i7 930?

 

[WR2]

TigerDirect has i7 920 for $270 and Buy.com has i7 930 for $275

 

[ares1214]

microcenter has the i7 930 for 200$ if you live by one.

 

[WR2]

I'm a little hesitant about overclocking my cpu unless it is REALLY easy, since this would be my first time!

It can be super easy starting out with overclocking. Most X-58 motherboards come with software utility programs that will do light, safe overclocking for you.

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R motherboard:
Gigabyte has a EasyTune 5 utility program with Easy Mode and Advanced Mode tweaking, including overclocking.
You can start out easy while you're learning and then use the more advanced methods that give you top performance when overclocking.
Gigabyte Easy Tune 5 User Guide

 

[ares1214]

HA, i can top that Buy and MSI board, press the OC genie button, and it overclocks it a very good amount for you. Id say it would get the i7 930 to atleast 3.4-3.6 GHz with a decent cooler. Not as good as manual, but pretty darn close.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130294

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130289

 

[bmark0610]

I already have purchased the Asus P6X58D Premium motherboard and I would be using the cpu with that....

Are their any directions on overclocking?

That 930 from microcenter seems very promising for 200$

 

[chedderslam1976]

930 is just an updated 920. No point in a 920 with the 930 so close in price.

 

[ares1214]

yeah, which is why the 930 is a better buy. and the basic steps for overclocking are increase voltage, increase frequency (via bus or multiplier) test for stability, look at temperatures, and repeat until you reach too high of temps, or an unstable voltage. what cooler are you using?

 

[bmark0610]

probably the cooler master v8

 

[WR2]

Asus calls it's overclocking utility program TurboV and its an easy way to get started overclocking.
Very similar to Gigabyte's Easy Tune 5

 

[aznshinobi]

bmark, the reason why they aren't selling the 920 anymore is because its been discontinued, and the 930 took it's place. The better deal is to wait, because towards next month, the i7 950 will drop to the 930's price. http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gulftown-westmere-nehalem-core-i7,10796.html

However if you don't want to go with these high wattage CPUs, you can always go with the i7 870, the reason being is that the 870 dropped it's price this month 47% to the exact value of the 860 and 930.

 

[bmark0610]

My motherboard is already purchased the "Asus P6X58D Premium".

I am really on the fence here about what to do...

Probably by this Friday ( the 30th) I will want to purchase everything else for my build... What to do, What to do...

 

[ares1214]

its really quite simple, buy the 930. what will you be using it for?

 

[bmark0610]

Gaming mainly, Music, Video's, Downloads, Editing, Office...

 

[WR2]

Do you want to spend an extra $270 to move up from i7 930 2.8Ghz to i7 950 3.06Ghz?
Or $280 to i7-960 3.2Ghz?

I don't think so, not when the click of a mouse can let you overclock your i7-930 to 3.3Ghz safely and easily with your Asus P6X58D Premium software.

 

[ares1214]

right. however, if you wait just a little bit, maybe a a week or so after friday, the i7 950 will drop to the 930's price. just info, but id say 930.

 

[rohn_avni]

ya wait if u can otherwise i7 930 is a good deal.......

 

[bmark0610]

Do you want to spend an extra $270 to move up from i7 930 2.8Ghz to i7 950 3.06Ghz?
Or $280 to i7-960 3.2Ghz?

I don't think so, not when the click of a mouse can let you overclock your i7-930 to 3.3Ghz safely and easily with your Asus P6X58D Premium software.

I thought you had to do the overclocking in BIOS... I didnt think you could do the overclocking with software within the OS...

 

[WR2]

I thought you had to do the overclocking in BIOS... I didnt think you could do the overclocking with software within the OS...

BIOS overclocking is the most advanced method. The TurboV software utility option is an easier option to start out with until you get a handle on using the BIOS settings.

Read about Asus Turbo V here: ASUS P6X58D-Premium Features

 

[ares1214]

yeah, most decent mobos come with software that makes overclocking very easy, however the BIOS is the most advanced and informative way to do it. do you know how to enter the bios?

 

[bmark0610]

OFCOURSE i know how to enter BIOS.. lol... I have changed things in there before and done some things in BIOS before, just never overclocked anything in BIOS

 

[WR2]

While you're waiting on your CPU you can read through your MB manual.
Check out a couple ASUS P6X58D-Premium reviews and get an idea what your board can really do

Asus P6X58D Premium Motherboard video review

Here is a pretty good review of Asus TurboV @ PureOverclock

HardOCP did a review on the MB thats worth a reading

 

[bmark0610]

Where do you guys get your information that intel will be lowering the cost within the next 2 weeks?