Pure Gaming Build

[1ceHacka]

1. 90% Gaming 10% Photoshop/Video Editing

2. $1400

3. USA

4. Looking at the i7 closely, but my last 3 systems have been AMD. I'm open to suggestions.

5. Will only be reusing a 1TB Sata drive for storage.

6. I have assimilated my proposed build from all the other gaming threads here.

7. Minimal overclocking until I know how the i7 works. Never OC'ed intel.

8. 1680 right now. 1920 in the future.

9. Building it soon.

Proposed build:

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

CPU Cooler: ????

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128423

Memory: G.SKILL 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-3GBNQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231222

Video Card: EVGA 01G-P3-1373-AR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) Superclocked EE 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130568

SSD : OCZ Agility 2 OCZSSD2-2AGTE60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227542

Optical Drive: LG Black 10X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Disc Combo Model CH10LS20K LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136195

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

Case: NZXT TEMPEST EVO Crafted Series TEVO-001BK Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146062

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

Total Cost: $1,454.90

 

[Sp12]

Definitely could be better distributed. How long do you keep a typical system? I would try for the 1920 monitor either with the build or shortly thereafter.

SSD : OCZ Agility 2 OCZSSD2-2AGTE60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227542

Optical Drive: LG Black 10X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Disc Combo Model CH10LS20K LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136195

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

Case: NZXT TEMPEST EVO Crafted Series TEVO-001BK Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146062

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754

Are all good. A P55 mobo with an i5-750 and a higher-end (potentially dual 460s) videocard would be a better pure gaming build, and potentially cheaper still. Do you live by microcenter?

 

[1ceHacka]

Edit: Nearest is actually 2.5 hours...so there is the potential to use it if the deal is good enough.

So is that i7 too much cpu for the rest of the system?

I keep a system about 2 years. The one in my sig was built in the summer of 2008.

 

[DSF]

If it's only 2 years old your current Corsair 650TX would be fine for the new system unless you need it elsewhere. Not much point in spending that much on a CPU and X58 that's going to be replaced in 2 years in my opinion.

 

[1ceHacka]

If it's only 2 years old your current Corsair 650TX would be fine for the new system unless you need it elsewhere. Not much point in spending that much on a CPU and X58 that's going to be replaced in 2 years in my opinion.

I don't replace, I just build a new system. After building a new system soon, I will still be using my current for things...it just won't be the main gaming system anymore.

 

[Sp12]

Intel:

i5-760 210$

MSI P55A-G55 105$ AR / Ga-P55A-Ud3 (no crossfire, but commonly recommended, just had a price hike so probably not) 140$

AMD

x6 1055t/x4 955BE 200/160

Asrock 870/GA-870(no crossfire)/Asrock 890 (open box) 110/107/138$

Either:

G.skill eco/G.skill ripjaws 105/98$ Only difference is the voltage and price.
Any of these vidcards. Depending upon how much you want to spend, if you'll SLI in the future, and whether you buy that monitor or not.

SLI requires modifying the driver a bit to run on P55/AMD platforms.

Edit: Checked up on the SLI editing and it's gotten a lot easier.

 

[1ceHacka]

I guess I still have the question of why move down to the i5 from the i7?

 

[Sp12]

I guess I still have the question of why move down to the i5 from the i7?

I'll give you the reverse -- why the i7 over the i5?

The i5 or AMD build gives you the money to spend on a nicer GPU -- which is a much more significant factor on game performance. In games, the i5 is the same architecture, corecount, and clockspeed as the i7 930, and will perform just like it. It's only in video encoding/3D/image apps that the i7's hyperthreading has an advantage. As it's 90% gaming 10% PS, an i5/AMD and a better vidcard would offer a better experience.

P55 also has a more aggressive turboboost setup.

The AMD processors are close enough in terms of per-clock performance that they deliver comparable game experiences (because you're over 60 frames or GPU limited in most cases). The AMD platform is also more futureproof, in that both 1366 and 1156 are dead next year, while the AM3 socket should be able to accept the first bulldozer offerings next year. The AMD hexacore also has a theoretically better lifespan than the i5 in that games will continue to become more multithreaded.

 

[Axon]

I guess I still have the question of why move down to the i5 from the i7?

As a matter of due diligence, the i5 750 provides comparable (or superior) gaming performance and is substantially less expensive. At $200, the i5 750/760 are the best single GPU option around. This is because of its agressive turbo mode; the chip, essentially, overclocks itself on a single thread (or CPU core). That said, if your intent is to SLI or Crossfire, then the X58 is the better choice.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2832/8

However, since you're also a photoshop guy, I think the i7 930 is the best for you, especially if you have a Microcenter nearby (which sells the 930 for $200). http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/109?vs=47. Note the multi-threaded comparisons where the 920 (even at stock, a significant disadvantage for the chip compared to the i5 750) is superior.

Additionally, overclocking the 930 is easy and effective. Many of us here can give you strong settings for hitting 3.6 or even 4.0. If you're going that high, I'd recommend the Prolimatech Megahelms or the Thermaltake Venomous X as your cooling options.

In sum: the i7 930 is simply the most expensive platform out there and, while it is the best, it's not that much better than other, significantly cheaper, options.

 

[mfenn]

As a matter of due diligence, the i5 750 provides comparable (or superior) gaming performance and is substantially less expensive. At $200, the i5 750/760 are the best single GPU option around. This is because of its agressive turbo mode; the chip, essentially, overclocks itself on a single thread (or CPU core). That said, if your intent is to SLI or Crossfire, then the X58 is the better choice.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2832/8

However, since you're also a photoshop guy, I think the i7 930 is the best for you, especially if you have a Microcenter nearby (which sells the 930 for $200). http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/109?vs=47. Note the multi-threaded comparisons where the 920 (even at stock, a significant disadvantage for the chip compared to the i5 750) is superior.

Additionally, overclocking the 930 is easy and effective. Many of us here can give you strong settings for hitting 3.6 or even 4.0. If you're going that high, I'd recommend the Prolimatech Megahelms or the Thermaltake Venomous X as your cooling options.

In sum: the i7 930 is simply the most expensive platform out there and, while it is the best, it's not that much better than other, significantly cheaper, options.

I don't think "10% Photoshop" warrants making a major compromise on the "90% gaming". The simple fact is that while the 930 is a nice chip, the money would be better spent on a faster GPU.

 

[1ceHacka]

Thanks for all the information. It has been really helpful.

So I switched out the i7 for the i5 760 and then went with the GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 and the G.Skill Eco sticks. Not sure if 4GB will be enough, but I can always order more later. I also upgraded to the GTX470.

Looking at coolers now. I have always used the Zalman CPU coolers and never had an issue. But reading that the Noctua are great too.

 

[mfenn]

The newer Zalmans fall behind a bit in my opinion when compared to something like a Venomous X or Megahalems. The Noctua's are good too.