New i7 build

[kimntom]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming (FPS, RPG) and web surfing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Prefer to keep it around $1,500USD or less.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
US

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
Intel, nVidia

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Just a

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Been catching up in General Hardware for a week or so trying to get up to date.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Planning to run at stock speed

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1900x1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
If just upgrading, fairly soon. If new build, anytime between now and end of the year.

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
I do cry easy...

Hey everyone. Was hoping to get a little input on what route I should take. Built my current PC almost 4 years ago. It's currently running the following:

Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3
Core 2 Duo E6400 @ 2.13GHz
Corsair XMS2 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR2-800
EVGA 8800GTS w/ 320MB PCI-E (running @ 1920 x 1080)
Antec NeoHE 550W PSU
NEC 16x DVDRW
Seagate 320GB SATA HD
Seagate 160GB SATA HD
Windows 7 Pro 64 bit

Since I broke my WoW addiction about a year ago, I mainly just surf the web and game. Usually it's a mix of FPS and RPG like Borderlands, Portal, Titan Quest, Torchlight, etc. All of what I play right now runs great, but I'm getting the upgrade itch just and want to be sure I'm all set for some upcoming titles. Namely Fable 3, Diablo 3, and Portal 2, plus whatever else catches my fancy.

I'm looking at the following components...

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160

ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131641

Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115225

GIGABYTE GV-N480D5-15I-B GeForce GTX 480 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125319

CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139010

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145236

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136284

SAMSUNG Black Blu-ray Combo Drive - Bulk SATA Model SH-B083L/BSBP LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151199

The only item above that I'm 110% sold on is the case. Other than that, if anyone has a better suggestion, or if I've got something glaringly wrong as far as compatibility goes, I'd really appreciate the input.

I don't need a monitor as I'll continue using my current one (ASUS VH242H) @ 1920 x 1080. I'll also be running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.

One last thing, and that's about the heatsink and fan installation. That's the only part of the build I hate. I remember building my current system and being deathly afraid I was going to crack the CPU or flex the mobo too much. What do you guys normally do? Do you install outside of the case, or do you mount the mobo in the case then doing the CPU and HSF installation? In the past, I've put the board on top of the anti-static bag and placed it on top of the box the board shipped in. Is that the best way?

Thanks everyone!

 

[darkewaffle]

I'd skip on the 480 personally, I just don't think the power is worth the package. And SLI 460s can be had for cheaper and give better performance; or just start with a single 460, save some cash initially and give it a test run. If you want more shinies, stick another one in. (Thats what she said)

I would also pay the premium on the PSU and go with a Seasonic X-650 or X-750, they're just top notch and you're putting a lot of money into this machine.

Caviar Blacks are excellent, but not much different from a Samsung Spinpoint F3 which can be had for $30ish cheaper.

Far as motherboards and RAM goes, it looks good. Personally I like Gigabyte and Mushkin but thats simply preference.

Also I think the silver on black bezel on the blu-ray drive is ugly

If the case has a pull out mobo tray, I'd mount it on that, pull the tray out and go to work. If it doesn't, I prefer mounting the mobo first still unless size constraints prevent it (you won't have this problem). If you're concerned about this, you might consider a 3rd party HSF to put your mind at ease. I'm sure there's something out there with "Ease of installation" as a selling point; just don't get a Scythe heatsink for that. I thought installing my noctua was very easy though.

Also if you do, a lot of 3rd party HSFs have custom mounting hardware that will need to be put on the mobo -before- you attach the mobo to the case itself. Pay attention to the instructions and save yourself the frustration, I've done dumb shit like that before and it really takes a lot of the joy out of the whole process :/

 

[mfenn]

I pretty much agree with darkewaffle.

I would say that the benchmarks don't show a big performance improvement for the 1366 platform over the 1156. You could easily save $200 on the CPU and Mobo if you went with an i5 760 and an EVGA P55 SLI.

That's enough saved to go for SLI GTX 470's (with requisite 850W PSU). That setup would rock the socks of what you currently have specced out.

 

[kimntom]

And SLI 460s can be had for cheaper and give better performance; or just start with a single 460, save some cash initially and give it a test run. If you want more shinies, stick another one in. (Thats what she said)

Yeah, initially I was looking at going with a 470, but really it didn't seem that much cheaper so that's why I picked the 480. I thought about just going the SLI 460 route, but I've never done a dual card setup with either SLI or Crossfire. If I were to start with just one 460, then later on add another, is it a big PITA with the OS, or is it just a driver install and configuration?

If the case has a pull out mobo tray, I'd mount it on that, pull the tray out and go to work.

This case actually doesn't have a removable tray...which is about the only thing I don't like. I do plan to stick with the retail HSF so I figure I'll mount the mobo as you recommended and the install the HSF. From what I've read about this case, the mobo seems to mount in the middle of this case vertically since there is room for a PSU mount at the top and bottom, so I'm thinking that should leave me plenty of room to work inside the case.

Thanks for the input!

 

[kimntom]

I would say that the benchmarks don't show a big performance improvement for the 1366 platform over the 1156. You could easily save $200 on the CPU and Mobo if you went with an i5 760 and an EVGA P55 SLI.

You read my mind. Initially, I did spec out this combo, but figured since I have the money right now (unless the dentist takes it all Thursday ) I might as well go for the i7. My thought was one of trying to improve the longevity of the system, but performance-wise it seems silly to spend a couple hundred more when it wouldn't be necessary.

If I'm understanding this right, the only (key) difference is the lack of hyperthreading and USB3, right? I'm not concerned about the lack of USB3, but I'm wondering if the lack of HT would be a bottleneck in the near future if more stuff supports it? I realize there is really no such thing as "futureproofing" a build though.

 

[darkewaffle]

I've actually never worked with SLI or Xfire yet either, my monitor is too small for it

But to my knowledge they have both, especially SLi, matured to the point where they're fairly well supported. I think it goes something like this; power down, install new card, connect power pin connector(s) to new card, install SLi bridge, turn on, install SLi specific drivers/enable SLi.

Running multiple cards still isn't perfectly supported in all, particularly old, games but I'm sure it's a simple process to switch back to a single GPU if necessary as well. And pretty much everything from a few years ago and onward has adopted it or supports it.

And if you're bothered with the HSF, do a dry install. No TIM, don't even need a cpu in there, just practice with the clips or hinges or whatever it is. I'd leave the little plastic sheath on the base of the heatsink for this though.

 

[mfenn]

You can get P55 mobo's that support SLI and USB3.0. The UD4P for example. If it doesn't matter to you, then don't worry about it though.

As for HT, doesn't really give much (if any) improvement in gaming, so it's pretty much a non-feature for you. HT only really has a huge impact on things that have a ton of threads working at once like web and database servers.

Regarding the 470's price, for a while they weren't very much cheaper, but today you're looking at $270 for a 470 and $450 for a 480.

Gratz to you for understanding the futility of "futureproofing" though. :thumbsup:

 

[kimntom]

Thank you guys for your input and advice. I went ahead and ordered the following last night...

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160

ASUS P6X58D-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131641

Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115225

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145236

PNY XLR8 VCGGTX470XPB GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133318

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185

LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Writer LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106335

CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139009

Yeah, I know, I could have saved some money going with the i5 but I figured what the hell. I did go ahead and go with the PNY GTX470 since it was on sale for $294 w/ a copy of Mafia 2. Also picked up the Spinpoint instead of the WD.

Darkewaffle, you were absolutely correct about that awful looking silver and black bezel on that blu-ray drive. After thinking about it a little more I decided I really had no desire or need for a blu-ray drive in this machine anyway so I dropped it and just got the Lite-On DVD burner.

Hopefully it'll ship out today and I can build it this weekend. I'm sure I'll either be posting that I love it, or come crying for help because something isn't working. Let's hope it's not the latter.

 

[mfenn]

Looks good and good luck with the build!