perhaps a i7 build, need suggestions

[tastegw]

if i can get my phenom pc sold, i could build me up a i7 machine.
what got me to this idea was wheather or not i wanted to sli my current rig. a 2nd gtx 285 would run me a pretty penny, and with the current prices on the 4850x2's i thought a pair of those would be not only cheaper but better than a pair of 285's
budut for this is about $1400 give or take a lil
my goal is to get the best bang for the buck while still having a high end machine.

so here is what i have so far.


$280 **i7 920 (set in stone)
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
need a good cooler recommendation for the i7

$240 **is there a better performing mobo for cheaper? if so let me know
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TPOWER X58A LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
what about this nice looking foxconn bloodrage?
Newegg.com - Foxconn BloodRage GTI LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
please no Asus, I cant stand their website.(my last 2 boards were asus)

$260 each **two of these below (bang for buck?)
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100260SR Radeon HD 4850 X2 1GB 512-bit (2 x 256-bit) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

$61 **iffy on this ram, no listed voltage requirements. (but price is nice)
Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

need a psu recommendation, looking for Modular psu for easy cable management with enough juice to power 2 4850x2's, if cost is too much, just recommend a nice non-modular (looking to spend $200 or less on this)

$60 **ill be using another antec 300 (set in stone cuz i liked my current one a good deal) (will pick this up localy)
Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

$70 **This is way more space than ill need, but only $5 more than the 250GB version
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

$30 **lite-on combo drive/burner
Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners

total is just under $1300 not including psu.
if you can make this cheaper with the same performance give me your suggestions, thanks!

 

[Hefemeister]

You will definitely want 6gb of ram.

I would get this.
Newegg.com - OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

 

[Slaymate]

I like the EVGA X58 board but NewEgg is out of stock. I would avoid the Foxconn myself. Have you looked at MSI or Gigabyte?

You should definitely look for a 3x2GB kit of DDR3 1600
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
or
Newegg.com - OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Nvidia over ATI FTW
Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

This will serve you better than a Modular Power Supply
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

 

[tastegw]

but do i really need 6gigs of ram? currently the difference from 2gigs to 4gigs of ddr2 for me and what i do is almost nul. and my benchmarks showed very little improvment in scores to back this up.

i can do 6gigs if i must, but i wasnt sure if i needed it.

and as far as nvidia or ati, this doesnt matter to me on this build, i was going for performance per dollar. with $500(give or take some) cap for the video cards. and im currently sporting a 285, the object is in increase performance with the buget given.

 

[Hefemeister]

No brainier.
Report: 3GB vs 6GB RAM on Core i7 Benched - Tom's Hardware

The set ocz set slaymate and I posted is $30 more than what you are looking at.

 

[H4x3r]

No brainier.
Report: 3GB vs 6GB RAM on Core i7 Benched - Tom's Hardware

The set ocz set slaymate and I posted is $30 more than what you are looking at.

That pretty much says it...plus i've found that the i7 is beastly awesome at running VM's....so the added ram really really helps in that area as well

 

[tastegw]

That pretty much says it...plus i've found that the i7 is beastly awesome at running VM's....so the added ram really really helps in that area as well

good deal then

6gb it is, thanks for the heads up guys

 

[Slaymate]

and as far as nvidia or ati, this doesnt matter to me on this build, i was going for performance per dollar. with $500(give or take some) cap for the video cards. and im currently sporting a 285, the object is in increase performance with the buget given.

I missed where you said you have a GTX 285. I'm not a fan of dual gpu cards, they run hotter and the aftermarket cooling options are always thin. But with that said, why not just buy a second GTX 285. You'll rule with quad SLI.

 

[tastegw]

I missed where you said you have a GTX 285. I'm not a fan of dual gpu cards, they run hotter and the aftermarket cooling options are always thin. But with that said, why not just buy a second GTX 285. You'll rule with quad SLI.

quad sli 285's is fiction

and my current 285 will be sold along with my current rig.

i have a couple of weeks before making final decisions, so i will weigh my options.

perhaps i could go witha 295, and when i get some extra cash get a 2nd.

 

[tastegw]

just an update for more suggestions

this is what is in my newegg shopping cart (i copied and pasted hehe)

LITE-ON 24X CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS324-08 - Retail
$29.99 ( i trust lite-on )

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
$79.99 (im not much of a hard drive guy because honestly, i dont know enough about them to be picky, but i do know that i dont need anything more than 300gb because i would never use more than 150gb at the current age, but the price point is basicly the same as 750gb models )

SAPPHIRE 100277L Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$109.99 (this is only a temp video card, i dont have enough money currently to get what i really want and did not want to skimp out on my other parts too much to make room in the budget )

PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS910 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready (up to 2 x GTX295) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER ... - Retail
$199.99 (picked this psu because my goal is to have 2x 295's, later down the road, or a new gt300 card)

OCZ Reaper HPC 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3RPR1866C9LV6GK - Retail
$125.99 (not 100% on these, make suggestions that are in the same price range and speeds)

BIOSTAR TPOWER X58A LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$239.99 (altho the color scheme isnt me, its a rock solid board with a nice price)

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
$288.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
$99.99

------------------------
Subtotal: $1,165.92
Tax: $96.19
Shipping: $11.64

Grand Total: $1,273.75

my budget was $1,400 ....and that included my video cards, but i had to cut them out for now. the most workload game i play is guildwars, so i really dont even need anything better than a 9600gso, but its not about what i need, its about what i want, so the 4770 is going to have to cut it for now until i can whip out some cash for the cards i want, and if something newer is out by then, then ill jump on that bandwagon.

case is already bought, antec 300 (currently working a few minor mods to it)

many people suggested i get the hx1000 by corsair, and im certain its a very nice psu, but i felt with the pc power and cooling silencer, i could save a lil change and still have a rock solid psu capable of firing up 2x 295's.

so the only items im not completley sold on are my hard drive (i really need nothing bigger than a 300gig, but those are only like $5-10 cheaper) and the ram, for the ram, i really want something that i can atleast clock up to ddr3 1600 standards (pc3 12800) while remaining under $150 for a 6gig kit (3x2)