Noob needs components checked

[tehgibson]

So, breaking my build-cherry and I only have a vague idea about how it all comes together, but I'm looking forward to the learning process. I've been haunting newegg, reading reviews and looking at a bunch of hardware and this is a list I've come up with based largely on those reviews.

1. Using for gaming, mostly. Not in the bleeding edge sense, but my current computer can't even handle Assassin's Creed or Mass Effect. I'm not looking for top settings on a 30-inch monitor. Just something that will do well with new games as they come out over the next couple years.

2. My current list is around $1730, but I'd push it to $2,000 if there were good reason. (This is no dream build, I do have the money ready). I want quality-consideration over cost-consideration.

3. Buying from Newegg/USA (or where directed, if better)

4. No real brand preference, but I tend to lean toward Intel and nVidia

5. Going to use my old monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers, but nothing else.

7. Going to run at default speeds. Just want the most life out of cpu

8. I want to see this thing booted up and ready to go four weeks from now at the latest

So here's the list:

COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

COOLER MASTER UCP RS700-AAAAA3 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

EVGA 01G-P3-1280-AR GeForce GTX 280 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Crucial 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Triple Channel Kit (I did have listed some OCZ Gold DDR3 1600, but was told that it would be incompatible with a default i7-920. Can someone verify that?)

Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model (No real preference here, def open to suggestions)

Thanks! Hopefully I covered most of the bases.

 

[yhelothar]

What's your old monitor and speakers?
I'd hate to see that system hooked up to any less than a 24" and really nice speakers.
Otherwise it looks great.

 

[yh125d]

Raptors are really not a great way to spend money.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136319 are nearly as fast, with a lot more storage for a lot less. I'd pick up a couple

Also, since there is a bit of room in your budget, I'd recommend getting a blu-ray drive, just so you have that capability. That is, if you don't have a BD player already. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136133 comes with great reviews, I have one coming in the mail

 

[Denithor]

Here's a few better/cheaper parts to consider.

i7 920 + Asus P6T Deluxe combo $550
Vigor Monsoon III $60
SuperTalent 3x2GB DDR3-1333 $110
WD1001FALS 1TB Caviar Black $120
Corsair 650TX $80AR

Nice find on the $305AR GTX 280, I hadn't seen that one.

 

[tehgibson]

Ok, so I decided to go for the WD 7200 hard drive instead, and I'm getting the Corsair 650TX psu instead of my previous choice. Anything else before I pull the trigger?

 

[Denithor]

The SuperTalent DDR3 I listed?

 

[tehgibson]

Well, about that. Some guy told me the i7-920 couldn't handle more than DDR3-1066...?

 

[Denithor]

If you plan to overclock - ever - get the 1333 rated memory. You'll be thankful for the extra headroom. Plus it's probably cheaper than what you picked out ($110 shipped for 6GB).

Here's how it works, at stock speed you have independent CPU and RAM multipliers that set the speed based on the base clock (BCLK).

Stock i7 920
BCLK: 133mhz
CPU: 20 x 133mhz = 2.66GHz
RAM: 6 x 133mhz = 800mhz -or- 8 x 133mhz = 1066mhz (you choose the multiplier)

i7 920 @ 3GHz
BCLK: 150
CPU: 20 x 150mhz = 3GHz
RAM: 6 x 150 = 900mhz or 8 x 150mhz = 1200mhz

i7 920 @ 4GHz
BCLK: 200
CPU: 20 x 200 = 4GHz
RAM 6 x 200 = 1200mhz or 8 x 200mhz = 1600mhz

With DDR3-1066 you won't be able to go past BCLK = 1066/6 = 177mhz so max OC would be 20 x 177 = 3.54GHz. With DDR3-1333 you can get up to BCLK 222 (1333/6) so your max OC would be 4.44GHz.

EDIT: And even if you don't plan to OC at all, ever - the DDR3-1333 memory should allow tighter timings if you run it at 1066 speeds (and tighter timings do appear to improve overall performance a bit with these i7 chips [linky]).

 

[tehgibson]

Wow, thanks for the thorough response. 1333 it is. I'm assuming setting the 1333 to run at 1066 is a fairly easy task?

 

[Denithor]

If you're running stock, set the memory multiplier to 8x (or it may be listed as DDR3-1066) and it will run at that speed. And then you can work on the timings to push them down a little.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

any particular reason you are using an IDE DVD drive?

 

[tehgibson]

I think I'm actually going to go for the LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30 - OEM

I'm assuming OEMs don't have software come with them, do I just download drivers off a website?

 

[Denithor]

No drivers needed for basic DVDRW drives. Windows just detects & uses.

 

[tehgibson]

oh, good deal. Making the order right now. Thanks for all the advice! Hopefully I won't have to post too much here while I'm building the thing...

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Denithor
If you plan to overclock - ever - get the 1333 rated memory. You'll be thankful for the extra headroom. Plus it's probably cheaper than what you picked out ($110 shipped for 6GB).

Here's how it works, at stock speed you have independent CPU and RAM multipliers that set the speed based on the base clock (BCLK).

Stock i7 920
BCLK: 133mhz
CPU: 20 x 133mhz = 2.66GHz
RAM: 6 x 133mhz = 800mhz -or- 8 x 133mhz = 1066mhz (you choose the multiplier)

i7 920 @ 3GHz
BCLK: 150
CPU: 20 x 150mhz = 3GHz
RAM: 6 x 150 = 900mhz or 8 x 150mhz = 1200mhz

i7 920 @ 4GHz
BCLK: 200
CPU: 20 x 200 = 4GHz
RAM 6 x 200 = 1200mhz or 8 x 200mhz = 1600mhz

With DDR3-1066 you won't be able to go past BCLK = 1066/6 = 177mhz so max OC would be 20 x 177 = 3.54GHz. With DDR3-1333 you can get up to BCLK 222 (1333/6) so your max OC would be 4.44GHz.

EDIT: And even if you don't plan to OC at all, ever - the DDR3-1333 memory should allow tighter timings if you run it at 1066 speeds (and tighter timings do appear to improve overall performance a bit with these i7 chips [linky]).

How much of a performance difference would there be between:

1. DDR3-1600 RAM ran at 8 x 200 MHz = 1600 MHz, i7 920 ran at 20 x 200 MHz = 4 GHz
2. DDR3-1333 RAM ran at 6 x 200 MHz = 1200 MHz, i7 920 ran at 20 x 200 MHz = 4 GHz

?

Basically, how much of an impact does the RAM speed have at those levels? Also, it seems that all of the DDR3-1600 modules run at 1.65V, which doesn't give you any headroom to increase the voltage further if necessary.

That said, the DDR3-1600 modules seem to be extremely popular on Newegg.

 

[Denithor]

xbitlabs: DDR3-1200 vs DDR3-1600 in real-life apps

According to the obtained results, it is fairly hard to tell how well expensive DDR3-1600 SDRAM justifies its price. It delivers a relatively insignificant performance advantage over DDR3-1200 of 1-2% on average. Only in a several applications fast memory provides over 5% performance boost.

If there's not much difference in price - go for the DDR3-1600. But you're not gonna see much difference at all unless you like playing benchmarks.

:beer:


EDIT: And note - these benches were done with an i7 920 @ 20x200 just like you're discussing.