New Core i7 build, need suggestions

memory

memory

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I am looking into building a new Core i7 system. I have decided to go with the LGA1366 socket instead of the 1156 socket just so it will last longer and costs about the same as a 1156 build. I have most of the parts picked out, I just need you guys to see if anything should be changed. I will be using the machine for gaming and multitasking. I would like to keep it under $1500, the cheaper the better but don't want to lose performance.

CASE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
Thought about getting the 930 since it is only 9 bucks more.

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641
I would like to have one with the ROG OC tool but most of them are too expensive.

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145222

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150487
Thought about getting a GTX480 but don't like what I have read about them using more power and more heat. I went with XFX because of the warranty.

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320
I am kind of reluctant to get this because I am using the same drive right now and it may be causing me problems, not to sure.

What about a cpu cooler? Would the stock cooler be good enough? I plan on overclocking but nothing extreme. Which one would you suggest?

I am going to use the PSU and dvd drive from my current build. The PSU is a Corsair 850HX.

Anything that can be changed to lower the cost without losing performance or can I get better performance without raising the costs?
 
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When looking at this I almost get the feeling you've been looking at my build but I suppose I just a good taste :D nah but I'm gonna try n help as much as I can with the knowledge I have and tbh I'm a bit of a nab but I know some basics...

There are cheaper models of that graphic card with just a very minor performance loss (if any) and the i7 930 is probably a better choice since it's at roughly the same price but with a higher clock.

That's about what I can contribute with :P
 
Yeah, when I seen your thread, which was on a different forum than this one, I thought the same thing.

I will have to do some more searching. Thank you for you help.
 
great choice on the mobo. I use that and it is SOOO awesome. great oc'er and really high quality! too bad on the cpu cooler. you could have gotten a corsair h50 for 10 dollars less that provides better cooling then almost every air cooler.
 
I had a few other people recommend that cooler as well. I also heard it isn't that great either. Honestly I just didn't want to get into watercooling right now. I have no clue about watercooling, don't know if it is any harder so I just stayed away for now.

I just hope with the cooler I chose I do not run into trouble with it getting in the way of the memory or fitting in the case.

EDIT: You say almost every air cooler. Which air cooler performs better?
 
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memory said:
I had a few other people recommend that cooler as well. I also heard it isn't that great either. Honestly I just didn't want to get into watercooling right now. I have no clue about watercooling, don't know if it is any harder so I just stayed away for now.

I just hope with the cooler I chose I do not run into trouble with it getting in the way of the memory or fitting in the case.

EDIT: You say almost every air cooler. Which air cooler performs better?
Click to expand...

the prolimatech megashadow with 4 fans if I am not mistaken. it has a dual heat pipe to fan grill design that allows for 4 fans in push pull push pull config. the h50 actually is the best cpu cooler on the market for the price. idk who said it wasnt good but they are stupid. I get 35 idle and 55 max load with my i7 920 at 4ghz. ITS A BEAST. and it is a self sealed cpu loop only so installation is no harder then an air cooler. furthermore it never has to be refilled
 
I finally got my new build up and running. I can't say that I am all that impressed by the speed. For example, when I open something that I have to give permission to open, when I double click on the program, the screen will turn black for a few seconds before the message comes up.

It does do pretty good in BFBC2. I played at 1400x900 with everything on high except vsync which I turned off and I was getting any where between 90 and 150 fps. With vsync turned on, it stayed at exactly 60, did not go below or above 60. I am guessing that has to do with the monitor refresh rate.

I wish I bought a different mobo. This was my fault but it only has 1 pci slot and I have 3 pci cards that I could install. I just read the specs wrong. I am using the 1 pci slot for the network adapter so now I am stuck using onboard sound which I do not care for. For some reason, I can not get all of the speakers to work. I have thought about buying a pci-e sound card but it doesn't look like I would have room to install one of them either. I have a usb network adapter so I may try to use that and install the sound card.

One thing I can't believe is how quiet it is. With all the case fans on high and the video card fan on low, I can hardly tell it is running except for the blue lights. I was also able to fit the side cover on without it hitting the cpu cooler without having to remove the side fan mount. So eventually I am going to add a fan there to improve air flow. How much of a difference would the side fan make?

There is one thing that I would like to change. On the cpu cooler, the fans only go up to 1200 rpm's. I would like to add some different fans that have a higher rpm. The question is can I replace the middle one since it is a different shape? Is it possible to just replace the outside one? Would having 2 fans with different rpm's cause a problem? I have also thought about buying a fan controller as well.

Right now the cpu temps are around the upper 30's at idle at 3.0ghz While running OCCT, it is around the low to mid 50's. The gpu temp is at 28 degrees with the fan speed around 85 to 90%.

I will post some pics soon. I will tell you one thing I am getting fed up with how UPS handles there packages. The box that had all the parts was banged up pretty good in one corner. Luckily everything seems to be working fine. If the parts were packed in there tight, there probably would have been some damage.






You probably can't tell from the pic but I installed an additional fan on the bottom hard drive cage.


In that pic, I was not done tying the wires up yet. I bought some zip tie mounts and it is a little better now. I tried to use electrical tape but that did not hold to well.




So far I am not to happy with the cpu cooler. I have started to overclock and I am up to about 3.1ghz and the temps are already starting to reach the low 60's. It is fairly cool temp in my room too. I am seriously thinking about adding different fans to this but I am unsure about the middle on since it is round and most of the ones I see on newegg are square shaped. Can I stick a square shaped fan in there?
 
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