$1000 to upgrade old rig.

Shorvok

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Aug 15, 2010
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Currently I'm looking to upgrade my old rig that has a fried mobo now. I have given myself a $1000 budget, but I can flex a little.

I will be recycling a GTX 460 and a 1TB Cavair Black HDD so I will not need those items. I basically need everything else though.

I have an Antec 300 case, but I would really like to get a new case as it does not cool quite as well as I had hoped, and is rather hard to work in.

For the case I was considering the HAF 932 from Cooler Master http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4146085&Sku=C283-1187

However, that can change, and I'm open to whatever.

Basically I'm just starting this build and my options are open. I would like for this to be an i7 rig (I was thinking about the i7 930) and I would like to have at least 8GB of RAM.

I am very partial to the EVGA mobos as I have some friends with them and they are very nice, but if there is something better for the money, I can potentially settle for another brand, however, I do not want anything ASUS as I've bad some bad experiences with ASUS mobos, including the ones that is now fried in my old rid.


Basically, the run-down is something like this.

Need: Intel i7 CPU (Considering 930) [I do not do AMD, so don't suggest]

Need: SLI ready EVGA Mobo (If possible) [No ASUS]

Need: Cooler Master CPU Cooler (Open to change) [Considering http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4420236&Sku=C283-1197 ]

Need: 8GB+ of RAM

Need: PSU (Has to be able to potentially support another graphics card in the future) [ Considering: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5233231&Sku=P450-9200 ]

Have: EVGA GTX 460 SC 1GB

Have: Optical Drive

Have: WD Cavair Black 1TB HDD

Want: Sound Card if possible (Anything better than onboard)

(I feel like I'm missing something, but maybe not.)



Anyway, that's the idea. I would appreciate any comments, and any suggestions.

Thanks.
 
You don't need a sound card that's for sure. Lest you be connecting a 5.1 stereo system IE a Bose speaker set. Then you really don't need it.

I suggest waiting if you can, for P67 to get revived. If you want any of my suggestions, go to my website in my siggy.

Hyper 212+ is a great CPU cooler BTW. Get it off amazon for cheaper, and free shipping.

i5 2500K > i7 930 in case you didn't know.

BTW, I think brand names are stupid (not like OEM kind of things), things like "EVGA" make the best motherboards ever is just stupid. Because in this day and age, even Asrock enthusiast class motherboards can overclock to the level of a dubbed "Extreme" class motherboard.
 

Shorvok

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The main reason I like EVGA is their support and their attention to quality I have seen over the years. They seem to me, to stand above other companies in their desire to make a product that will work 100% of the time and if it doesn't to fix it quickly and without delay.

Even if a ASUS mobo was the same specs and price as the EVGA I can without a doubt go with the EVGA as I will, from experience, get a better product, and if something does go wrong EVGA will be much more cooperative in fixing it than ASUS.

I have had multiple incidents where EVGA has quickly replaced a product without running me through many loops, but I've had situations with ASUS where I can't even get support on an issue.
 
A 850w is more than super over kill for two of those 460's. This 750w is a bit over kill...but it gives you some headroom in case you decide to switch up on vid cards. Those CM V8 h/s were over priced door stops from the time they first came out. They sold for the fact people liked their looks. Add another one of those 460's for SLI.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207009 $109.99 - $89.99 after mail-in rebate
XFX Core Edition PRO750W (P1-750S-CAB9) 750W ATX12V v2.2 & ESP12V v2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-X58-Extreme-CrossFireX-Motherboard/dp/B000T9PP8E/ref=sr_1_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1297576934&sr=1-1 $164.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping
ASRock X58 Extreme Core i7 / Intel X58/ DDR3/ Quad CrossFireX & Quad SLI/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.593338 Combo Price: $339.95 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $319.95
Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601950
XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S1283V REV.W with ACK-I5361 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler I7 i5 775 1155 ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226181 $89.99 FREE SHIPPING
Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 998946


 

Shorvok

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That mobo still seems kinda sketchy to me according to the reviews I'm seeing. Plus I can't even tell that it has a warranty.


Also, with the CPU. I've heard that a 930 is the best overclocker of the i7s and can be OC'd on air up to 4.2 easy, not sure if you guys can confirm or deny that though.

PSU seems good though, and the RAM is a little less than what I wanted, but I might settle depending on how much it saves me.

And one last thing, not sure if it makes too much of a difference, but I live in Tennessee, so I have to pay tax on Newegg.
 
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cheap-x58-motherboard,2368-18.html

His link is off amazon.

As for overclocking, yes the 930 is a decent overclocker, but the 950 is the same price practically. Both will get up to 4.2 "easy". In my definition, I wouldn't say easy. Since 4.2 would be using something like a Prolimatech Megahalems. And that's 60$ itself.
I would have to say that if you REALLY wanted easy overclocking. Go wait for the 2500K/2600K because they kill the first gen i5/i7s easily. The 2500K/2600K can be OC'd to 4.6 on a stock cooler and 5.1ghz on something like the Hyper 212+ (27$ off amazon free shipping). I REALLY SUGGEST WAITING!
 

pankadin

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so when does this mean can buy one!?
 

It's not in the article, but on the post/reply's in that link. Two of the posters (retailers) got an email from the wholesalers saying the 1155 boards will start being shipped by February 16th.
 
Can't put 8 GB of RAM in a 1366 rig.

As for the Asus / EVGA thing, I am having the exact opposite experience. Have a factory overclocked FTW vid card from EVGA and all they do is waste your time and stonewall. On RMA No. 3 now and w/ each one we have to go thry the same dance step of trying all the solutions that we already went thru twice before. Card simply will not run at more than 10% of the difference between the "reference speed" and the factory overclocked speed.

The HAF-32 is outdated and been replaced by the HAF-X ....is it worth the $60 difference ? In a word "Yes". I have built with the HAF-32, ANtec 1200, HAF-X and DF-85 and the DF-85 left the best impression on me, with the HAF-X a close 2nd .....but w/ the DF being $40 cheaper, it's my 1st choice of late. However unless you doing serious overclocking and using GFX cards w/ more heat output than the 460, a mod tower such as the HAF-922 or Antec DF-35 is more than enough.

The XFX Black @ $110 is a great selection. No you don't need anything that big but a 650 watter of comparable quality will cost ya just about the same price..... HX650 ($105) Seasonic X-650 ($140). All of these, as well as the CP-850 get 10.0 performance ratings at jonnyguru.com The CP is the best of the bunch IMO given its equal electrical performance and superb acoustics but it only fits in the Antec 1200, P183, P193 and DF-85

On board sound is more than adequate quality for speaker systems costing less than $1000.

I'd grab my CPU cooler off the list here .... if ya looking at other test sites, check the test system and make sure the cooler shave been tested on what your using, that is a 1366 CPU .... tests on LGA 7775 simply are irrelevant.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=447&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=15

Here's my standard Prolimatech setup

Cooler - $62 - Prolimatech Megahalems http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835242001
TIM - $5 - Shin Etsu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080
CPU Fan - $11 - Scythe SY1225SL12LM-P http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10026/fan-639/Scythe_Slip_Stream_120mm_x_25mm_PWM_Mid_Speed_Fan_-_SY1225SL12LM-P.html?tl=g36c365s936
CPU Fan - $11 - Same
Fan Cable - $8 - Akasa PWM AK-CB002 http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10350/cab-183/Akasa_PWM_Splitter_-_Smart_Fan_Cable_AK-CB002.html

But if close to $100 is more than ya wanna spend, then the Scythe Mugen 2 provides the bet choice under $50

Cooler - $40 - Scythe SCMG 2100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142
TIM - $5 - Shin Etsu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150080

If ya interested in one of those new fangled enclosed water cooling systems :), BMR writes:

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=694&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=5

But what I do know are the performance figures I got in my testing, which place the Kühler solidly in the lead of all other all-in-one water coolers that I've tested. Frankly its performance is almost unbelievably good: its stock-fan performance is 7.2 degrees cooler than Corsair H50, whose radiator appears to be identical. With the high-speed Delta fan on both coolers, the performance gap widens to 9.4 degrees.

It's the first compact liquid cooler I've tested that can honestly be considered as competition for the likes of the Cooler Master V6 GT, Prolimatech Megahalems, and Thermalright Venomous X
.

RAM prices have sunk to very low levels. Since ya can't go 8 GB w/ 1366, that puts ya at 6 and 12 as your choices. For 6 GB, this is an amazing buy...CAS 6 memory was over $200 3-4 months ago:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226183
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226181

Do ya need CAS 6, well it will give ya a 2-4% increase in gaming over CAS 9 but on memory intensive apps like database access .... things that actually, unlike gaming, just $20 more than CAS 8 or 9, seems like a no brainer. And since I doubt ya thinking of going to 24 GB, no need to worry about filing the extra slots. Ya *might* have to relax timings a little bit if you do a big OC, but certainly not to 8 or 9.

Finally down to MoBo ..... If usage is gaming, I'd wait till the Sandy Bridge processors hit. Chips getting to MoBo vendors this week which should mean about 6 more weeks till they hit store shelves. personally, I have had great success with Asus MoBos with over 100 builds and 0 issues that haven't been solved quickly by Asus quickly via telephone and / or forums. The Sabertooth line w/ its militarized components and 5 year warranty is of particular interest to those with an eye on quality / durability.

Over the years I have tried not to dismiss an entire company on the bais of a single support incident as there's good and bad employees everywhere. I must say I haven't had any other issues with EVGA nor MSI .... Gigglebyte and I however might best be described as "ex's who don't talk anymore" :)

Here's a comparison between the Sabertooth and EVGA's comparably priced board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%2050001315%20600007887&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=280|13-188-068^13-188-068-TS%2C13-131-665^13-131-665-TS

Main differences are:

-Asus has x16 x16 PCI lanes versus EVGA's x8 x8 meaning no performance impacts w/ higher end GFX. No real impact with a pair of 460 GTX

-EVGA has 8 USB 2 ports to Asus' 6

-Asus has e-SATA ports, EVGA no

-Asus has 5 year warranty, EVGA 1 year
 

Shorvok

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I ended up getting together with a friend of mine and throwing a build together in about 2 hours. I spent a little more than I had planned to, $1100, but I am really happy with what I got.

Despite some mixed feelings on here I think this will give me a really beastly build, that should do anything I want it to.

So full build now will be:

Intel Core i7 Processor i7-930 w/ Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler
(Plan to OC)

EVGA X58 SLI 3 Motherboard

8GB of G.SKILL Ripjaws Series RAM
(Good reviews, good specs, good price and lifetime warranty)

Cooler Master Silent Pro M1000 Series Modular 1000W PSU
(Went with this because it has a think that helps with energy surges and leave me room to add a third card if I want.)

2x EVGA GTX 460 SC 768MB in SLI
Bought one identical to the one I have, going to run SLI.

1TB WD Cavair Black HDD
(Already had this)

Cooler Master HAF 932 Case
(I'm very happy with this)


 


You have dual channel RAM up there. You want triple channel as in DDR3 triple channel. Either 3x1gb, 3x2gb, or 3x4gb