Need some positive 1156 reinforcement

[kevbodian]

So, I am building a new PC. Been a while on laptops only, but I plan to spend about $1500 for a decent PC build.

Originally was going to do:

i7 930
ga-x58a-ud3r
6gb (3x2gb ddr3 1600)


Now thinking to do:

x3440
p7p55d-e pro
4gb (2x2gb ddr3 1600?)

Common parts are also as follows:

gtx 460 sli
dvdrw
wd caviar black sata3 1tb hdd
corsair h50

The following are already purchased:

Antec 1200
Nexus RX8500
Asus VW266H

The 1156 solution is teasing me for the following reasons:

1. 1156 mobo, cpu and ram for under $500 CAD before tax versus $680 cad before tax for a 1366 tri-channel setup or about $620 for dual channel.

2. performance of 2 cards on a p55 board seems (by looking at benches from around the web) to be only ~5% less than on an x58 board (x8x8 vs x16x16). NF200 boards seem to be at a wasteful premium. 460s will only do a 2 card SLI so there may not be need for the x58 x16x16.

3. dual channel ram currently performs only marginally less than the tri channel setups (reviews from around the internets).

I guess that's all. I will edit this post if I remember anything after. But basically, I think, why not save some money? The p55 with dual 460s and a xeon cpu (that I will OC to 3.6-4.0) seems not so bad. Probably still more than I need.

Typical usage is gaming; however, I am in dire need of a system with a processor that can handle AVCHD editing (not major motion pictures; just home videos). My current laptop (t8300, 4gb ram, 13" screen) just doesn't cut it.

 

[asteldian]

i5 750/760 systems is the best buy for gaming.

I am a bit confused as to your second build as you are using a p55 board (compatible with i5 750) yet x3440 sounds to me like the RANA x3 440 CPU from AMD which would not be compatible.

x8/x8 is a small loss in performance especially with weaker cards, so GTX460s will suffer very little.

Personally, for gaming I always point people towards an i5 750/760 build over an i7 build. i7 is not worth the extra money because for gaming you gain no real performance

So, I would suggest your second build is an i5 750/760 instead of the x3440. For RAM grab the G Skill 1600mhz CL7 ECO set.

May want to consider a 1tb Samsung Spinpoint F3 HDD as they are best performance with great price. I would change the H20 for a top quality air cooler - it will be cheaper and will cool better

 

[rxneng]

i7 is not worth the extra money because for gaming you gain no real performance

Unless you can get yourself to a local Micro Center.

Edit: Thanks for pointing out the extra ram / mobo costs asteldian, I negligently left those considerations out of my post (see below)!

 

[asteldian]

Indeed, microcentre can make a difference as their prices are great, in which case you are only paying extra for the mobo and the RAM

 

[asteldian]

Of course, the i5 760 is also on offer. Not as great a deal but still a good price at $170
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0341729

 

[kevbodian]

i5 750/760 systems is the best buy for gaming.

I am a bit confused as to your second build as you are using a p55 board (compatible with i5 750) yet x3440 sounds to me like the RANA x3 440 CPU from AMD which would not be compatible.

x8/x8 is a small loss in performance especially with weaker cards, so GTX460s will suffer very little.

Personally, for gaming I always point people towards an i5 750/760 build over an i7 build. i7 is not worth the extra money because for gaming you gain no real performance

So, I would suggest your second build is an i5 750/760 instead of the x3440. For RAM grab the G Skill 1600mhz CL7 ECO set.

May want to consider a 1tb Samsung Spinpoint F3 HDD as they are best performance with great price. I would change the H20 for a top quality air cooler - it will be cheaper and will cool better

@Asteldian, sorry I wasn't clear. X3440 would refer to the socket 1156, Xeon x3440 (4c/8t)... basically an i7 860 with a lower multiplier (19x instead of 21x) for $60 CAD less.

prices quoted are that of newegg.ca

 

[asteldian]

Ah, ok. I would prefer the i5 750/760 over an i7 on a P55 board. The i7 advantage over the i5 is hyperthreading which is no use for games. To make things worse, the i7 version you are talking about would be a weaker OCer due to lower multiplier.

 

[kevbodian]

When I lived in Virginia (2003), I remember going to microcentre all the time for cheap stuff, haha. I live on the west coast of Canada now so going to a microcenter is not an option.

Wow, i7 930 at Microcenter is $100 cheaper than the ones on newegg.ca.

USD and CAD are about equal now to boot.