Rate my New Build

[nhardware]

A gaming computer at 1920x1080:


1 Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930 Item #: N82E16819115225
$284.99

1 Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B CPU Cooler Item #: N82E16835242001
$62.00

1 GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard Item #: N82E16813128423
$199.99

1 Mushkin Enhanced Redline 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 998805 Item#: N82E16820226121
$179.99

1 CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply Item #: N82E16817139010
$149.99 $10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

2 GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card Item #: N82E16814125333
$439.98 $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

1 Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7260S-0B Item #: N82E16827118039
$37.98

1 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders Item #: N82E16832116754
$99.99

1 SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$74.99

1 SILVERSTONE RAVEN RV02-BW Matte black 0.8mm Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case Item #: N82E16811163154
$159.99

1 Cisco Valet AM10 IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wireless Adapter 64/128-Bit WEP, WPA, WPA2 Item#: N82E16833186012
$79.99


Anything you'd change?

 

[Mr Pizza]

Do not get an i7 for gaming, it's a waste of money. Get an i5 750/760

 

[Guest]

Mr Pizza, do you mean that it is a waste of money for CURRENT games? Would an i7 future-proof you a bit?

 

[Twoboxer]

I like the configuration, probably because except for memory its the one I gave you lol.

So I'll reverse the memory comment I made last time - if you are NOT OCing, you could save some money by dropping bak to 1333 memory

Mr. Pizza is saying you could save money (eg, $160+/-) by using an i5 750, and the loss in gaming performance would be virtually unnotcied.

Key word "virtually" - the i7 will likely support you further into a future increase in gpu power and screen resolution than an i5 750.

 

[wielander]

Mr Pizza, do you mean that it is a waste of money for CURRENT games? Would an i7 future-proof you a bit?

Not really. The big difference between an i7 and an i5 is multithreading. Most games aren't very well threaded so it doesn't make a difference. For a purely gaming build an i5 is the better value.

I still don't think an i7 is a bad choice. The processor doesn't cost that much more. The motherboard and ram cost more, but you get what you are paying for. The motherboards for the i5 have a very limited PCI-E bus that will bottle-neck high end graphics setups and will prevent you from adding high speed PCI-E expansion cards later.

LGA 1156 is also as good as dead. It will be discontinued Q1 2011. LGA 1366 is at least staying around until Q3. Some people are still hopeful for new processors on LGA 1366 before then, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[wielander]

So I'll reverse the memory comment I made last time - if you are NOT OCing, you could save some money by dropping bak to 1333 memory

Definitely save some money on the memory if you aren't going to be tweaking it.

The i7-950 is also a better value than the i7-930 now. It's only ~$15 more.

I don't like USB wifi adapters. Their performance is entirely dependent upon good drivers, and they can be bottlenecked by the USB bus.

 

[nhardware]

1 Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950 Item#: N82E16819115211
Going with the 950 (thanks, wielander) since it's a cheap deal anyway. And I'm going to keep the i7, since I use some Apps which use multithreading anyway.

1 Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B CPU Cooler Item #: N82E16835242001
$62.00

1 GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard Item #: N82E16813128423
$199.99
Staying with this a safe bet?

1 Mushkin Enhanced Redline 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 998805 Item#: N82E16820226121
$179.99
Planning on OCing.

1 CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply Item #: N82E16817139010
$149.99 $10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

2 GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card Item #: N82E16814125333
$439.98 $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card

1 Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7260S-0B Item #: N82E16827118039
$37.98

1 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders Item #: N82E16832116754
$99.99

1 SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$74.99

1 SILVERSTONE RAVEN RV02-BW Matte black 0.8mm Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case Item #: N82E16811163154
$159.99

1 Cisco Valet AM10 IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wireless Adapter 64/128-Bit WEP, WPA, WPA2 Item#: N82E16833186012
$79.99

**changes in bold.

Sorry, Twoboxer, forgot to credit you and Somebody_007.

 

[Twoboxer]

I'm sorry, too - didn't mean it to sound that way. Was simply trying to say it would be hard for me to disagree lol.

All that matters is you get a configuration that works for you.

 

[WWBD]

Not really. The big difference between an i7 and an i5 is multithreading. Most games aren't very well threaded so it doesn't make a difference. For a purely gaming build an i5 is the better value.

Is multithreading the same as multi-cores? Do the i7 have more cores? I ask because I know multiple cores are more important for something like video editing. Is multithreading important for that too?

 

[Twoboxer]

Your stated objective in this thread is a gaming computer. IIRC, in your original thread you said you wanted an i7 930 configuration.

The i7 930 will perform *slightly* better in gaming, but not noticably. This is why the 750 is a better gaming "value" because the i7 cpu and mobo cost (at Newegg prices) $150+ more than the i5.

Both have 4 cores, the i7 will run 8 threads. The extra four threads are not the same as four more cores. Oversimplifying, using the same core for two threads isn't nearly as effective as putting those two threads on separate cores.

Because of this, the i7's performance is even better in highly multi-threaded applications. There are very few highly multi-threaded applications, but it might be somewhat helpful in video editing, if not now perhaps in the future.

If you are looking for a gaming computer that will do some video editing fine, the i5 750 is the best value. The i7 930 is faster, perhaps not noticably (gaming) and unimportanly (video editing).

 

[wielander]

You can look at this comparison of benchmarks for the i5-750 & i7-920 both at 2.66GHz to see the difference hyperthreading makes:
* All game benchmarks are faster on i5-750 because it was released later with some enhancements.
* Most other benchmarks are faster on the i7-920.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/109?vs=47

 

[ekoostik]

Why a $38 optical drive? Is that a typo? You should be able to find one for closer to $20.

 

[IamPegasus]

I have a similar rig, slightly different brands but same basic thing. I use 7 Pro64, with a Raptor 160G for operating system and a TB hdd for data.

The biggest difference is my twin 9800GT silent pipes (fanless). I know there are better cards, but 2 of these handle anything you can throw at em, and with a 30cm case fan this is the quietest, coolest, most reliable pc I have ever owned. Just make sure you have the space they are huge cards lol

I am permanently overclocked - stable on 4.09GHz with stock cooler at 38C idle, 55 or so when you really get it pumping.

You want a computer that will last you for 5 years, you have one. BUT there will probably be something amazing available then that wont run on a 'mere' i7 ( holographic tv? lol ).

If you sell the house and buy the best money can buy, like a 4x6core nehalem multi cpu setup or something mad like that.. you still are not going to ensure against that possiblity. Todays very best is next years value buy..

Go with the setup you have, you cant go wrong. Dont mess around with an i5, hyperthreading is great for some things already and may or may not be more useful in the future. Doesnt cost much extra so why bother limiting yourself? hey and it always looks good when software shows you have 8 cpu's

 

[nhardware]

Best answer selected by NHardware.