Core i7 Build

[YueHong]

I am planning to build a new Core i7 system. Here is my spec listing:

Processor Intel Core i7 920 Socket 1366 (2.66GHz Quad-core, 4x256KB L2, 8MB L3 Cache)
Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 / Asus P6T Deluxe
Memory 3GB KINGSTON KVR1333
Hard Drive Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1.5TB
Video MSI R4870-T2D1G Radeon HD 4870 1GB
Power Supply 700W??


This system is mainly build for doing 3D modeling & animation, Video editing and etc multimedia production. There are things I'm not sure about:

1. Which motherboard should I get? Gigabite or Asus? Which one will you recommended?

2. 3GB KINGSTON KVR1333 memory is the cheapest DDR3 memory I know. Does this memory compatible with the motherboard selected? Any other recommendation?

3. Seems I am going use disc space a lot, therefore I am looking for 1.5TB Seagate drive. However, due to the firmware issue that happened in January, is it safe now to buy Seagate drive? Is the problem solved?

4. Do I need to get the same branded video card as the motherboard for better compatibility? Does my current decision (Radeon HD 4870) is the good choice? Will this help to improve the 3D modelling exprience in 3ds max?

5. For this kind of setup (3 to 4 hard drive from my current system) and maybe with some minor future upgrade (maybe more hard drive, more RAM (6GB), or more powerful processor), is a 700W power supply enough?

Thanks.

 

[Syran]

1. I got the Asus P6T (non-deluxe), it's working great.
2. I'd go ahead and upgrade to 6GB of ram, it's hovering in the $100-$150 price range depending on rebates and such, much more bang for your buck.
3. While i'm not suggesting raiding drives, you may want to look at a primary OS/App drive, and then a storage drive. Maybe a WD Caviar Black on the OS/App; work from there, and transfer it later to the 1.5tb.
4. Not at all. The X58's should work just fine with any pci-e video card. I don't know about for modeling, but you may want to look at the nvidia lines for the use of CUDA, which might be able to help with a lot of that stuff. That said, I really like the 4870 1GB, 2 friends have them, work great. They do complain a little about drivers thou.
5. A Quality 700W PSU should be fine. Heck, I like the corsair 620W Modular PSU. Check out some of the PC Power & Cooling 750W PSUs.