Core i7 build, need suggestions

[memory]

I am looking into building a new Core i7 system. Should I go with the LGA1156 socket or the 1366 socket? I was considering the 1366 socket for the triple channel RAM but I have heard that it is not stable. I have there are problems with the X58 chipset. I would like to keep it under $1500, the cheaper the better without sacrificing performance. I already have a monitor, keyboard, mouse and OS.

If I go with 1156, these are the parts I chose:

CASE: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

CPU: Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor

MOBO: Newegg.com - ASUS Maximus III Formula LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard

RAM: Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1200 (PC2 9600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-9600CL5D-4GBPI

GPU: Newegg.com - XFX HD-587X-ZNDC Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) XXX Edition 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ Eyefinity

HDD: Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
not sure about these since they may be giving me trouble on my current build.

I am going to use the PSU and dvd drive from my current build. The PSU is a Corsair 850HX. As for the cpu cooler, I may just use the stock cooler for now. I have heard that the stock cooler will be good enough unless I do some extreme overclocking which I don't plan on. I may overclock a little like up to 3.0ghz.

I have thought about getting the GTX480 video card but I do not like what I have heard about them so far.

What do you think about my build? Do you think I should go with the 1366 setup or would this be fine? One reason I would like to go with the 1366 socket is so I could get 6gb's of triple channel memory. I would like to have more than 4gb's but I think 8gb's is way too much and too expensive. Can I use DDR3 ram with this setup?

 

[Slaymate]

The X58 and the LGA 1366 platform are perfectly stable and the best choice. Most of the complainers are people that buy the cheapest parts possible and then expect the highest performance. Then they don't understand why there $1000 pc doesn't perform as well as the $1500 pc.

 

[memory]

Would I be able to keep it under $1500 if I go the 1366 route? With the parts I picked out, I think it is right at $1400.

I have heard that the i7-860 outperforms the i7-920 because of the turbo mode.

 

[CalcProgrammer1]

The stock cooler on the i7 works decently as long as you mount it correctly (which can be tricky). I'm folding on my 930 with stock cooler, all cores at 100% it hovers around 72 degrees C in my Antec 900 case with the fans on medium. I may remove the stock paste and put Arctic Silver 5 on and see if that helps. I have the Radeon HD 5870 (Diamond branded one with reference board design). I would probably recommend an LGA1366 i7 like the 920 or 930, the newer chips are using the LGA1366 socket so if you ever want to upgrade it would be a good choice to move to the new socket. I would also get a SATA3.0/USB3.0 compatible board to ensure compatibility with future devices.

My build cost around $1400 for

i7 930 LGA 1366 with Stock cooler
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R 1366 mobo with USB3/SATA3
6GB (3x2GB) OCZ Gold DDR3 RAM
Diamond ATi Radeon HD 5870
WD Caviar Black SATA3 compatible 640GB HDD
650W Antec Earthwatts PSU
Antec Nine Hundred case

 

[memory]

How does the stock cooler mount? Is it the push pins or does it have screws? Push pins are ok but I would like to stay away from that if possible.

Ok let's go for an LGA1366 build:

CASE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160
Can the PSU be mounted on top? I want a case that has better cable management than my current case. Any better choice out there?

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641
I would like to have one with the ROG tool but most of them are quite a bit more expensive.

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145222

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150487
Thought about getting the GTX480 but I don't like what I have read about it.

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

Is there any place I can get better performance without raising the costs or any place I can cut costs without losing performance?

What is the difference between the i7-920 and i7-930? Is it just that the 930 has a higher clock speed?

If I did decide to get a different cpu cooler, which one would you guys recommend? I have looked at some Noctua's and some of those are huge, some say it barely fit in a Antec 1200.

Again, I am using the PSU and dvd drive from my current build in the sig.

 

[CalcProgrammer1]

It's push pins, that's the big disadvantage and it's kinda hard to mount, but otherwise it has a decent fan and a decent sized heatsink with copper where it touches the CPU. I'm wondering about the stock paste though, you might be better off using a better paste.

 

[Slaymate]

I have heard that the i7-860 outperforms the i7-920 because of the turbo mode.

The i7 920 also has a Turbo Mode. The i7 860 is the joke of the i7 family of cpu's. You'll have to spend $100's in water-cooling equipment to still fall short of what the 920 can do with a good heatsink.

 

[memory]

It's push pins, that's the big disadvantage and it's kinda hard to mount, but otherwise it has a decent fan and a decent sized heatsink with copper where it touches the CPU. I'm wondering about the stock paste though, you might be better off using a better paste.

I have some Artic Silver 5 paste that I will use so that is not a problem.

What cooler would be a good choice?

I may change the case to a Antec 1200. I like to have one that has dust filters which the Cooler Master does not. Would a ATI 5870 card fit in this with no problems? The reason I ask is because out of the cases I have looked at, the Antec 1200 is the shortest one. How long is the 5870?

 

[CalcProgrammer1]

The 5870 is 11" long (or so some people on Newegg said), it is definitely long but it fits nicely in an Antec Nine Hundred (the 1200 is bigger).

 

[Slaymate]

From what I've see and read the 920 has more overclocking potential than the 930. The 930 is the 920's replacement and from what I've seen the 930 has reduced overclocking abilities which makes the higher priced i7's like the 950 and 960 more appealing to the enthusist.

This memory is faster than the Corsair you have chosen and it's the same price.
Newegg.com - OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK

The paste on the stock heatsink will be better than Arctic Silver 5. Get some of this instead.
Newegg.com - Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound