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Hasty i7 930 build...keep or exchange for i7 860?

Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
OK, I'm changing the intent of this thread. I saw this deal and now I'm torn!

-Intel Core i7 860 (1156) Processor + MSI P55-GD55 Motherboard combo
$260 AR @ Fry's B&M
-Corsair XMS3 4GB Dual-Channel DDR3 1600 (2x2GB) kit
$99.99 AR @ Fry's

Since I haven't opened anything or started on the rebates, should I just return everything and start with this? It will save me at least $220 and seems more appropriate for my GTX280 video card.

Old OP:

Before I start unboxing / assembling anything, I thought I should check to see if any of these parts were poor choices or not-so-good prices.

Just bought from Microcenter:
Intel Core i7 930 CPU
$199.99 (Microcenter price)
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R Motherboard (USB 3.0)
$219.99 - $20 rebate = $200
Corsair XMS3 6GB DDR3 1600 8-8-8-24 (TR3X6G1600C8 G "ver3.2")
$209.99 - $30 rebate = $180
OCZ 600W Stealth X Stream PSU
$74.99 - $30 rebate = $45

+ $42.30 tax = $747.26

After rebates:
$667.26

Already had:
Antec 900 case
about $70 on clearance at local Best Buy...also have another that I paid $60 for.
BFG GeForce GTX280 GPU
$280.00 (Ugh! Still unopened after a year and a half!)
Logitech G15 keyboard (rev 2)
I think I paid $50 after rebate long ago
Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000
Don't remember what I traded for this
Hanns-G 27.5" 1920x1200 LCD
$259.99 on Black Friday. I think I got a significant amount of Bing Cash-Back on this too.

When I picked up the memory, I didn't realize there was a rebate. I rushed over to Fry's to compare prices because they were about to close. I found/bought Kingston HyperX DDR3 1600 for $169.xx, no rebate (KHX1600C8D3K3/6GX). I rushed back to Microcenter to return the $209.99 Corsair memory that I had just bought and arrived at EXACTLY 9:00PM, but they wouldn't let me in to return it. After I got home, I realized that the Corsair memory from Microcenter actually had a rebate and would have turned out to be $170 anyway. Now I'll have to spend hours driving just to return one of these, or be stuck with both. Also, I have to decide which to keep. I suppose it only makes sense to keep the HyperX, because it didn't require a rebate. I believe they're both 8-8-8-24.
 
Last edited:
Ichinisan said:
Before I start unboxing / assembling anything, I thought I should check to see if any of these parts were poor choices or not-so-good prices.

Just bought from Microcenter:
Intel Core i7 930 CPU
$199.99 (Microcenter price)
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R Motherboard (USB 3.0)
$219.99 - $20 rebate = $200
Corsair XMS3 6GB DDR3 1600 8-8-8-24 (TR3X6G1600C8 G "ver3.2")
$209.99 - $30 rebate = $180
OCZ 600W Stealth X Stream PSU
$74.99 - $30 rebate = $45

+ $42.30 tax = $747.26

After rebates:
$667.26

Already had:
Antec 900 case
about $70 on clearance at local Best Buy...also have another that I payed $60 for.
BFG GeForce GTX280 GPU
$280.00 (Ugh! Still unopened after a year and a half!)
Logitech G15 keyboard (rev 2)
I think I paid $50 after rebate long ago
Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000
Don't remember what I traded for this
Hanns-G 27.5" 1920x1200 LCD
$259.99 on Black Friday. I think I got a significant amount of Bing Cash-Back on this too.

When I picked up the memory, I didn't realize there was a rebate. I rushed over to Fry's to compare prices because they were about to close. I found/bought Kingston HyperX DDR3 1600 for $169.xx, no rebate (KHX1600C8D3K3/6GX). I rushed back to Microcenter to return the $209.99 Corsair memory that I had just bought and arrived at EXACTLY 9:00PM, but they wouldn't let me in to return it. After I got home, I realized that the Corsair memory from Microcenter actually had a rebate and would have turned out to be $170 anyway. Now I'll have to spend hours driving just to return one of these, or be stuck with both. Also, I have to decide which to keep. I suppose it only makes sense to keep the HyperX, because it didn't require a rebate. I believe they're both 8-8-8-24.
Click to expand...

All that looks good. Since its a long drive, I would keep both sets of memory. 12GB baby!
 
mfenn said:
All that looks good. Since its a long drive, I would keep both sets of memory. 12GB baby!
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I haven't mixed memory since there were so many problems back when DDR first went dual-channel. Not sure if Kingston HyperX and Corsair XMS3 will play nice...but I guess it all depends on the mobo.
 
I guess I left out the optical disc drives...which I already had around here. Some Samsung 24x drives.

Also, a Western Digital GreenPower 2TB 64MB Cache WD20EARS drive is on the way.

Thinking about getting the $120 Hitachi 2TB 7200RPM as a boot drive...
 
Sounds good. I wouldn't have paid that much for ram, but then again I got spoiled on some sweet OEM ram deals too.

Other than that, nice build.
 
SunnyD said:
Sounds good. I wouldn't have paid that much for ram, but then again I got spoiled on some sweet OEM ram deals too.

Other than that, nice build.
Click to expand...

If I do end up going back out there, I'll try to make it worth the trip.

Where did you get a good deal on RAM? Maybe I'll return both kits!
 
Nothing there is bad..or rather you didn't go wrong with any. You definitely could have optimized a few slots..but your build isn't bad at all.
 
Ichinisan said:
If I do end up going back out there, I'll try to make it worth the trip.

Where did you get a good deal on RAM? Maybe I'll return both kits!
Click to expand...
FS/FT forums. eBay. Craigslist. People seem too intent on getting brand name ram kits that cost 3x more than the OEM stuff they pull from their prebuilt machines. Funny thing is most brand name ram kits are the exact same OEM kits, just "tested and binned" higher and have some fancy heat spreader slapped on them. Oh yeah, and a bigger price tag too.
 
SunnyD said:
FS/FT forums. eBay. Craigslist. People seem too intent on getting brand name ram kits that cost 3x more than the OEM stuff they pull from their prebuilt machines. Funny thing is most brand name ram kits are the exact same OEM kits, just "tested and binned" higher and have some fancy heat spreader slapped on them. Oh yeah, and a bigger price tag too.
Click to expand...

Not really, there isn't that huge of a price difference lately for ram kits.

We're talking about differences of $20 at the most for the same speed of ram.
 
OK, I'm changing the intent of this thread. I saw this deal and now I'm torn!

-Intel Core i7 860 (1156) Processor + MSI P55-GD55 Motherboard combo
$260 AR @ Fry's B&M
-Corsair XMS3 4GB Dual-Channel DDR3 1600 (2x2GB) kit
$99.99 AR @ Fry's

Since I haven't opened anything or started on the rebates, should I just return everything and start with this? It will save me at least $220 and seems more appropriate for my GTX280 video card.
 
Ichinisan said:
OK, I'm changing the intent of this thread. I saw this deal and now I'm torn!

-Intel Core i7 860 (1156) Processor + MSI P55-GD55 Motherboard combo
$260 AR @ Fry's B&M
-Corsair XMS3 4GB Dual-Channel DDR3 1600 (2x2GB) kit
$99.99 AR @ Fry's

Since I haven't opened anything or started on the rebates, should I just return everything and start with this? It will save me at least $220 and seems more appropriate for my GTX280 video card.
Click to expand...

That looks fine too. An 860 is pretty much on par or faster than a 930 since they have the same base clock speed and the 860 has more aggressive turbo modes. Tri- vs dual- channel memory doesn't really come into play for desktop workloads.

Although, at some point, the cost of gas is going to erase your savings. D:
 
mfenn said:
That looks fine too. An 860 is pretty much on par or faster than a 930 since they have the same base clock speed and the 860 has more aggressive turbo modes. Tri- vs dual- channel memory doesn't really come into play for desktop workloads.

Although, at some point, the cost of gas is going to erase your savings. D:
Click to expand...

Thanks. Now I just hope I'm able to score this @ my local Fry's.
 
So I would lose USB3.0, have 4GB RAM instead of 6GB, dual-channel instead of triple-channel.

Is that worth $220 overall?
 
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Id say hell yes its worth $220!

Once USB 3.0 becomes popular (what do you have thats 3.0? Thought so) you will most likely be able to pick up a motherboard that has it (they will be cheaper too) or an expansion card for it...not a big deal what so ever right now in my mind.

4GB vs. 6GB...doing what? I have 4GB DDR2 and I game hardcore...Ive never seen any game use more that 2GB AT THE MOST (thinking GTA IV after playing for 4 hours)...so again, dont see the importance of that either.

Save yourself $200+ and get something nice like a new desk chair or something.
 
The 860 deal is much sweeter. Sucks that you have to drive hours(?) to these stores though, gas costs must be eating into your deals.
 
M0RPH said:
The 860 deal is much sweeter. Sucks that you have to drive hours(?) to these stores though, gas costs must be eating into your deals.
Click to expand...

Yeah. It usually takes me an hour and a half to get to Duluth, GA (closest Microcenter / Fry's) depending on traffic. Because I have to return the extra memory I'm stuck with and also save about $220 exchanging all this, I guess it will be worth it.

It's all the lost time that bugs me...oh well. That's what happens when I have to rush things.
 
Well, he got the 860. Or, rather, I did and mailed it to him (I'm his twin brother on the other side of the country). I was sending him a package anyway including a better PSU.

Priority Mail got EXPENSIVE! What happened to the 3-day option?! Had to send Parcel Post instead (7-day). Oh well. Add another $20 to the cost of things (most of the other stuff was small/light).
 
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