Yet another build - Core i7 920 - No gaming

[follick]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Internet, Office, video transcoding, the usual stuff. There will be NO gaming at all on this computer. It will be used to satisfy my irrational desire to have browser windows that open really fast.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Around $1500

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

USA, I prefer Newegg or Amazon

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.

Falling in love with a company is like falling in love with a prostitute. Both will be happy to take your money, but they will never ever love you back.

This build is for a system built around an Intel Core i7 920

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

I have 2 different new 1TB drives that I will be using and a 4670 that I am considering using. I have a monitor and keyboards, mice, speakers.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yes

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Most likely default speeds. Perhaps a mild overclock. System stability is more important to me that squeezing out the last bit of performance.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

No gaming.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Mid-August

---------------

I'm looking at the following parts:
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
EVGA 121-BL-E756-TR LGA 1366 Intel X58 Micro ATX SLI Micro Intel Motherboard - Retail
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail
LIAN LI Lancool PC-K7B Black Aluminum/ SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
SeaSonic M12II SS-500GM 500W ATX12V 2.2 /EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power ... - Retail
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223B - OEM
Intel 34nm SSD as a boot drive

My questions:
Any problems or critiques of this build?
Will the stock cooler be sufficient for the processor or should I get something else?
Will the 4670 video card I already own be enough not to slow this system down in non-gaming applications or should I invest in a faster video card?

 

[Operandi]

Looks good, here are my thoughts.

-Seasonic is great but 750 watts is insane. That system would draw ~250watts from the wall max. Get a 350-400 watt Seasonic.

-Go for a full AL Lian Li. The A05N is great case and a great deal, I've put a bunch of systems in that case.

-Even 4670 is overkill, I would get the cheapest passively cooled AMD 4xxx series card.

-For the Motherboard I would recommend Gigabyte.

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

I think I would rather buy from EVGA than Gigabyte right now if they both had the same products. Look for customer service complaints, and check out their forums (if the brand you want has them) before you buy from that company.

I would go Corsair PSU, but Seasonic looks great too. I would also get this gfx card (nvidia has cool drivers + its silent): http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814125282 if you don't care about performance. The fans they put on stock coolers are mostly garbage. I don't like that A05N case.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

yhapm

 

[videogames101]

If your desire is for web browsers to open faster, you'll need an SSD, which will make a difference you'll actually notice.

 

[follick]

Thank you all for your comments.

Originally posted by: videogames101
If your desire is for web browsers to open faster, you'll need an SSD, which will make a difference you'll actually notice.

I was toying with the idea of getting an Intel SSD. I want the performance but I wasn't sure if the price was worth it. Now with Intel's announcement of the new 34nm X25-M, if it's available in Mid-August I will certainly get that. If it's not available then, I will make do with the Seagate 1TB drive I have and upgrade with the new Intel when it does become available.

Originally posted by: Operandi
-Seasonic is great but 750 watts is insane. That system would draw ~250watts from the wall max. Get a 350-400 watt Seasonic.

Hmmm, what about this one?
SeaSonic M12II SS-500GM 500W ATX12V 2.2 /EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power ... - Retail

Originally posted by: Operandi
-Go for a full AL Lian Li. The A05N is great case and a great deal, I've put a bunch of systems in that case.

I've actually used an earlier version of that case in the past, oddly enough. The unusual arrangement gave me some difficulty with cable routing.

Originally posted by: Operandi
-Even 4670 is overkill, I would get the cheapest passively cooled AMD 4xxx series card.

I suppose I should have been clearer. I already own the 4670, and the one I have is passively cooled.

Originally posted by: ChaiBabbaChai
I would also get this gfx card (nvidia has cool drivers + its silent): http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814125282 if you don't care about performance.

That's an interesting looking card. Would it be better than the 4670 I already own?

Originally posted by: ChaiBabbaChaiThe fans they put on stock coolers are mostly garbage.

Which CPU cooler would you recommend?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: follick
Hmmm, what about this one?
SeaSonic M12II SS-500GM 500W ATX12V 2.2 /EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power ... - Retail

That would be fine.

The Corsair recommendation is also a good one, Seasonic builds most of Corsairs units.

Originally posted by: follick
I've actually used an earlier version of that case in the past, oddly enough. The unusual arrangement gave me some difficulty with cable routing.

Thats odd. Everything in that case is closer than in a traditional ATX layout. The ATX power connector is literally inches from the PSU, The HD bays are very close to SATA connectors ( I usually end up getting shorter cables), and the CPU sits in the coolest part of the case. The layout is one of the best in my opinion.

Either way though I would go for a full AL Lian Li.

Originally posted by: follick
I suppose I should have been clearer. I already own the 4670, and the one I have is passively cooled.

In that case you might as well use it.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: videogames101
If your desire is for web browsers to open faster, you'll need an SSD, which will make a difference you'll actually notice.

This.

Also, keep your Windows install clean with minimal background apps.

For video transcoding, see if what you do can be accelerated by CUDA. If so, then an NVIDIA graphics card (GTX 260 or GTX 275) can do wonders to transcoding speed.

If you wait another month or so, Lynnfield (socket 1156?) will be out.

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

Originally posted by: follick
Thank you all for your comments.

Originally posted by: ChaiBabbaChai
I would also get this gfx card (nvidia has cool drivers + its silent): http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814125282 if you don't care about performance.

That's an interesting looking card. Would it be better than the 4670 I already own?

Originally posted by: ChaiBabbaChaiThe fans they put on stock coolers are mostly garbage.

Which CPU cooler would you recommend?

a 9800GT is not as fast as a 4670 - sorry I must have missed that in your post. I like the Scythe Mugen-2 CPU heatisnk based on price/performance + you can switch fans or order extra clips to add another fan.