Suggestions for a new build

[icemonkey9]

I'm looking to build a new system. I have an ATI Radeon HD 5870 card I'm obv keeping and a SB Audigy Titanium Sound card. Got 2 hard drives (SATA) that I want to keep as well. I am using the Corsair H50 and would like to keep that. Stuff like the case/psu/bluray I am keeping as well. My PSU is 700w.

So basically what I am looking for is:

1. Processor
2. Mobo
3. Ram
4. SSD for primary drive

I want an Intel i7 although I really don't know much about the latest AMD stuff. I just saw the i7 930 at Fry's for $259 which seemed like an amazing deal ... I just wouldn't know what mobo would be right to go with it for that + my cooler + which ram to go with it. My knowledge of SSD drives is pretty limited as well.

My primary activities include gaming, online poker, and general work stuff (office, etc). I'll have Windows 7 64-bit as the OS. My budget is $800-$1k.

 

[jasonw223]

I've seen that i7 930 hit 199$ at microcenter... but 259$ is still not a bad deal. They go for $299 up here in Canada usually. I've got two i7 systems myself - and I find them both faster than my AMD 1090t used to be.

i7 875k
EVGA P55 FTW
4gb Adata 1600mhz Cas9 memory
30gb Corsair Nova SSD

and

i7 930
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3 (the toms recommended one)
6gb Gskill 1600mhz Cas8 memory
64gb Kingston SSD

I'd recommend either setup for what you've got right now - although most would suggest the i7 930 route if you plan on going Crossfire 5870s. Also, the 30gb SSD is too small to enjoy, pick up a 64gb one or bigger... Let me know if you've got questions about either of mine there or whatever.

 

[sp12]

i5-750
Ga-P55a-UD3p or equivalent
4GB G.skill ECO series 1.35 volts 1600 speed
Corsair force 50GB

210+130+95+150$.

 

[icemonkey9]

i7 930
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3 (the toms recommended one)
6gb Gskill 1600mhz Cas8 memory
64gb Kingston SSD

Good suggestions I was personally thinking along these lines. If I can't find that specific mobo, what should I look for, just a solid LGA1366 with the USB 3.0 support? Also the same with the ram?

 

[jasonw223]

Sounds like you're on the right track. I mean the USB3 isn't super important or anything - same goes with SATA3, so don't worry about that too much. That particular board is a real good deal though if you can find it (around $200). Here's a link on newegg ->

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423&Tpk=x58a-ud3r

And as for RAM, I buy whichever brand happens to be on sale at the time to be honest... Just remember to look at both the speed and timings.

 

[icemonkey9]

Which speed and timings am i specifically looking for?

BTW thanks for all the help. Long time lurker, first time poster obv

 

[christiangordon]

jasonw223 wrote :


i7 930
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3 (the toms recommended one)
6gb Gskill 1600mhz Cas8 memory
64gb Kingston SSD


I agree with Jason

 

[jasonw223]

If you take mine for example, the speed is 1600mhz and timings are 8-8-8-24 (CAS 8). You'll see cheaper stuff that is CAS 9 (9-9-9-27 or something), or runs at 1333mhz. I mean honestly, it's not going to make too big of a difference, but look for a good price on a kit that is as fast as possible in mhz, with as low a number as you can find for timings.

 

[coldsleep]

Generally the best price/performance value is at 1333 MHz or 1600 MHz CAS 7.

 

[Mr Pizza]

agreed ^

 

[sp12]

Why the 930 over the i5?

 

[bliq]

Turboboost? It does make a difference... 930 would use X58 which has 2 full x16 lanes if you're going to use 2 powerful graphics cards

 

[jasonw223]

The 930 is so much more fun and exciting!