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Need build help

OILFIELDTRASH

OILFIELDTRASH

Lifer
Haven't kept up with computers like I usually do. I have a friend that wants me to put a rig together for him. The budget is like $700. I'd like to stay with intel CPU, and I would prefer nvidia gpu but I'm not sure if they have anything competitive out. I'm not sure if i3 works in i5 mobo's or what? Or is i3 a new platform? Any help is appreciated.
 
You really need a secret decoder ring to figure out all of Intel's new CPUs.

There are two main platforms (socket type) - 1156, and 1366.

For the 1366 platform, there are only Core i7s available, the 920 being the most popular (and cheap, $200 at Microcenter).

1366 works with X58 motherboards, that support 36 PCI-E 2.0 lanes. Meaning full-speed Crossfire (and usually, SLI as well).

For the 1156 platform, there are more choices. The first chips for that platform, didn't have integrated graphics. The P55 mobos don't have support for IGP. Later chips have integrated graphics, and require an H55/57 mobo for using the IGP.
Although the chips with the IGP will still work in P55 mobos, just without using the IGP.

There are Core i3, i5, and i7 CPUs, all for 1156. The i5-750, for example, is a native quad-core, without IGP, and without HyperThreading. The i7-860, is also a native quad-core without IGP, but has HyperThreading. Both the i5-750 and i7-860 have Turbo.

The Core i3 and lower-end i5s are dual-cores with HyperThreading. i3 lacks Turbo. Both have an IGP.

So you see, there's no hard and fast rule with these CPUs, you really have to look up each one individually to find out what the capabilities are.

The 1156 CPUs have integrated PCI-Express, something like 16 or 20 lanes, so they only support x8/x8 crossfire. Even more confusing, there are some reports on the web that certain 1156 CPUs don't support Crossfire, and some do. I'm still researching that.
 
Man that's a clusterfuck. I built an i7 rig about 8/9 months ago and now intel has went stupid. I'll probably tell him to go to microcenter and grab an i7 and we'll get a cheap 1366 Matx board.
 
Well, building an i7-920 machine, even getting the CPU from Microcenter, will definitely shoot pass the $700 budget. I'm not sure what parts he can reuse, but I'm assuming your friend wants a whole new system.

I think MC has deals on the i3-530 ($100) and i5-650 ($150) which will likely be good candidates if he's firm on the $700 budget. But if the budget is flexible, go for the i7 I suppose.

Also AMD/ATI has better video cards for the value right now. Look for some deals on the Radeon HD 5770 or even the HD 4890. nVidia cards have been at a standstill in both performance and price for the past year, while ATI has been surging ahead.
 
He'll be doing some moderate gaming, no crossfire/sli though. I can't find the prices on microcenter's site for CPUs. Is the i3 any good? And it will work with any 1156 board just without igp for p55?
 
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