help with a new i7 build?

[therascalking]

hey all!

im building yet another computer for a friend, and would like some help/input/advice!

so here is what i have so far - straight i7 gaming build, dont need a monitor/peripherals, no crazy overclocking, $1,400USD budget preferred, shopping from US/Newegg, want to maximize performance for the budget... so heres the list for now:

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

COMBO DEAL - $504.98​

EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

$344.99​

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D - Retail

$187.00​

CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power ... - Retail (must be modular)

$164.99​

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

$74.99​

LITE-ON 24X CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS324-08 - Retail

$27.99​

Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

$124.95​

and finally Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 32-bit for System Builders - OEM (he wants to continue to rock XP until Win7 comes out shortly)

$139.99

Subtotal: $1,569.88
Tax: $129.52
Shipping: $20.01

Grand Total: $1,719.41​

so yea... i compiled this list based off some guides/threads ive seen around the forums, plus just my own computer knowledge... but id really appreciate some input as to places where i might be able to save a couple bucks! id really like to get it under $1,400... but not sacrifice much in performance... or go to totally off-name brands...
any help i can get would be much appreciated - Rascal

 

[Hefemeister]

Well save some cash on the ram and go with the ocz gold 1600 ram. The doms are sweet but for no overclocking they are too much.

Get Vista home premium 64bit for $110 from the egg with a free win7 upgrade. Do not waste this system with a 32bit os plus it is cheaper.

You could also look at the 4890 although I prefer nvidia myself.

 

[therascalking]

Well save some cash on the ram and go with the ocz gold 1600 ram. The doms are sweet but for no overclocking they are too much.

Get Vista home premium 64bit for $110 from the egg with a free win7 upgrade. Do not waste this system with a 32bit os plus it is cheaper.

You could also look at the 4890 although I prefer nvidia myself.

wow, actually - my proposed build looks a LOT like the one youre running right now! hows it perform and are you happy with it?

and thanks for the tips - those will help a bit... i know the Dominators are legit - but youre right, without overclocking, i doubt ill need em... its for a friend who isnt tootoo computer savvy, so i doubt he'll OC atall... and i know he said hes used to XP, but maybe i can convince him to hold out with Vista until Win7 comes out... good point about the 32bit OS tho... almost overlooked that... haha
and yea, i really am an nVidia kind of guy myself, as well... maybe if someone makes a strong enough argument for a 4890 tho......

thanks for the input! anyone else? - Rascal

 

[Hefemeister]

I love it and am completely happy with it. I have ran up to 4.6ish although a bit unstable. 4.2 was stable.

Just tell him Vista will get him ready for win7. It is a waste to put a 32bit os on that system.

plus he would have to pay for xp then pay for win7.
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - Operating Systems

the golds are nice:
Newegg.com - OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Desktop Memory

 

[therascalking]

I love it and am completely happy with it. I have ran up to 4.6ish although a bit unstable. 4.2 was stable.

Just tell him Vista will get him ready for win7. It is a waste to put a 32bit os on that system.

plus he would have to pay for xp then pay for win7.

those are three really good arguing points, thank you - ill tell him!

and thats very reassuring to hear :]
do you think i should maybe step down to a GTX260 like yours or something? would you say that that card bottlenecks your system in any way?

or do you have any other ideas for saving a couple bucks? im still a bitttt overbudget, even with those revisions...

thanks so much - Rascal

 

[Hefemeister]

Depends upon how serious of a gamer he is.

I can play most games on high at an acceptable frame rate. I am not a huge gamer so I saved some cash there myself. Plus I got this 4 months ago and everything was more then.

 

[JorgeHGPR]

Dude get the EVGA 260 GTX Core 216 OC. That video card is amazing and will do the job. And will save you almost 200 bucks!!

 

[therascalking]

Depends upon how serious of a gamer he is.
I can play most games on high at an acceptable frame rate. I am not a huge gamer so I saved some cash there myself. Plus I got this 4 months ago and everything was more then.

fully understandable... still, great!

Dude get the EVGA 260 GTX Core 216 OC. That video card is amazing and will do the job. And will save you almost 200 bucks!!

ironic - i actually was JUST on Newegg, and figured that one out for myself... then came back and read it here! i think thats what im gonna do tho :]

so heres the (hopefully) final, revised list:

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

COMBO DEAL - $504.98​

EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI ... - Retail

(+$30.00 MIR) $189.99​

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C9 - Retail

(+$20.00 MIR) $119.99​

CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power ... - Retail (must be modular)

$164.99​

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

$74.99​

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM (the Lite-On one went out of stock >.>)

$29.99​

Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

$124.95​

and finally Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM

$109.99

Subtotal: $1,319.87
Tax: $108.89
Shipping: $14.72

Total: $1,443.48
-MIRs GRAND TOTAL: $1,393.48​

awesome :]

anyone else have any other thoughts? am i forgetting anything for inside the tower? i really appreciate it, guys! - Rascal

 

[Hefemeister]

Looks good. If he decides he wants to do some overclocking over 3.2 later he can pick up a heatsink then.

 

[therascalking]

Looks good. If he decides he wants to do some overclocking over 3.2 later he can pick up a heatsink then.

thanks!

and yea... doubtful... but if he does - i was looking at the Zalman CNPS9900 HSF... i have the 9700 on my C2Q and i love it... i like how the fan and heatsink are so seamlessly integrated... so id prolly reccommend that one to him - not THE most intense cooling out there, but definitely a good one, and one of the best looking/most compact and such...

but ya, thanks again Hefemeister - youve been a big help, and just the fact that you have such a similar build and love it was very reassuring haha :]