i7 920 new build for under 1100 bucks

[RealBeast]

Cases -- I really like the big Lian-Li and have a bunch of them, but I also have three Antec 900 cases and those are pretty nice at $80 no shipping until 3/10 with promo code EMCYPYR23. (You should probably subscribe to the Newegg email ads which give discount codes).

I like either Gigabyte or ASUS motherboards and would not worry about USB3/SATA6 yet. You can use an add on PCIe card for USB 3 which I discussed a few weeks ago in the storage forum -- the cards come with the WD 1 Tb ext HDDs.

Video cards -- so many great choices, pretty much any ATI 5XXX based card depending on your budget and performance needs. I like the manufacturers with a three year or lifetime warranty (like XFX).

Memory -- lots of good choices here too. I like the Crucial and G Skill, but there are other good choices.

PSU -- I usually go with pcpowerandcooling kW, but I've done a few builds with modular PSUs and they are nice to reduce clutter.

[Sam888]

I too like the Lian-Li's but they can be a bit hard to get locally, actually what I plan to do is price match with my local PC builder. That's why I need to get something they can order and be able to PM with their other competitors. BTW, I am in Canada so I can easily PM Newegg.ca. It's not worth my while to buy in the US.

And speaking of prices, I just compared the price with the i5 750 and i7 860. The 860 is locally over hundred more than than the 750. In fact, the regular price for the X58 i7 930 is lower than the i7 860!! Go figure. I suppose the triple channel ram, i and the X58 mobo would cost more in the long run compared to the 1156.

[JabberJaw]

If you're absolutely certain that you're never going to have above-average
computing requirements, such as video editing, hardcore gaming, or running
other compute-intensive software, then I agree with others - you'd
do well with a midrange i5 p55 system. If, however, your needs might change
in future, investing a relatively modest extra 5-10% at the outset for an i7 x58
platform would give you the freedom down the road to add lots of memory, a
second video card, or even an i9 6-core processor.

[Nater]

Hardcore gaming? The P55 will let you have two GPUs, that's more than enough for any gaming scenario. Realistically, multiple GPUs are only a benefit for benching. I can't think of a single game out there that would require more than a GTX 285, let along more than an HD 5870.

Video editing? For less money he could just get a 860 and gain a bit of extra performance over the 750 and also have more muscle than an i7 920. intel six-core processors are going to be very expensive pieces. Considering he's building an entire system for $1,100 I doubt he's going to be dropping $600 to $999 on a processor in the near future.

The X58 just isn't worth it unless you already have really high requirements. If he does become a serious Photoshop user a year from now, he could just buy 4GB sticks of DDR3. They're expensive now, but as DRAM manufacturers change over to 2Gb ICs, the price is going to fall.

[JabberJaw]

Nater I agree and your advice is good for the o.p.'s needs

What you said is true for now and the near future; there's also
value in building a platform with plenty of room to upgrade for
many years to come. For some, the extra $100 or so may
be worth that capability if this is to be a long-term investment.

[fluffmonster]

I wonder how many people (like myself) only have an x58 because they went nehalem before the p55 pieces came out. Of course, I was being penny-wise and pound-foolish anyway so maybe nothing would have changed if I did have the choice.

[Sam888]

Actually, the i7 930 (faster processor/replacement for the 920) is $315 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...k=i7%20930

The i5 860 is only $10 less @ $305: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-214-_-Product

The i7 920 is $300. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-202-_-Product

The i5 750 is $210: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...ription=i5+750

As you can see, there's not much difference in CPU price between the three i7 processors.

I know I will do video editing but some people here maintain that the P55 is still the way to go.

[OS-Wiz]

The i5 750 is $210: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...ription=i5+750

As you can see, there's not much difference in CPU price between the three i7 processors.

I know I will do video editing but some people here maintain that the P55 is still the way to go.

Bingo

[kent1146]

Bingo

+1.

Don't try to buy a Ferrari when a Toyota will get the job done. This is especially true when you are on a budget, and want to pay Toyota prices.

Get the P55.

[JabberJaw]

+1.

Don't try to buy a Ferrari when a Toyota will get the job done. This is especially true when you are on a budget, and want to pay Toyota prices.

Get the P55.

-> Absolutely -

Get the P55!

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

(imo a Ferrari's more like a $5K Alienware box, this is 'Lexus vs. Toyota', )

[Sam888]

Alrighty then. Who am I argue with the pros

Just so I'm clear, that would be the i5 750 you guys are all recommending when you're saying P55?

[kent1146]

Yes. Core i5 750, on a P55 motherboard.

[Sam888]

I was yapping the other day about my decision to go with the P55 and I couldnt believe how everyone I talked to told me that's a bad move. In a year or two, I'm gonna regret not paying the extra cash they tell me. afterall, toyota sucks these days and the ferrai is so much faster and nicer to drive. lol.

Still, I think you guys are right about the P55, but all these people are making me wonder if indeed I will regret not dishing out the extra $100+.

[Nater]

Those people probably think they know a lot, but they probably don't. What are the advantages of the X58 platform? Extra memory capacity, extra PCIe bandwidth, and the ability to install Gulftown processors.

Extra memory capacity - Most people, in the next few years, will have little use for more than 8GB of memory. Unless you're a heavy user of professional applications that have a hunger for RAM, don't worry about it.

PCIe bandwidth - The extra PCIe lanes of X58 are very handy if you're building a workstation for engineering applications. You can have a Quadro with multiple Tesla cards. You can have multiple PCIe attached SSDs. You can have multiple storage controllers, be the SATA/SAS for local drivers or a dedicated iSCSI card or fibre channel card for SAN arrays. Obviously, you can do a combination of the above devices. What you'll notice isn't mentioned there are anything most consumers would use. You have enough bandwidth on the P55 for dual graphics cards and you can through a small storage controller in there as well.

Gulftown - If you're the type that drops a thousand dollars on a processor, you're probably not going to be running a P55 anyway. Intel will probably bring cheaper six-core processors to X58 later in the year, but they'll still be quite expensive. Further more, the kinds of apps that can actually use six-cores and twelve threads of x86 processing power are very limited and they usually cost a lot. Unless you're a professional or you're ripping an enormous Blu-Ray collection, a six-core isn't a solid buy.

The last one is future upgradability. I'm pretty certain that Sandy Bridge processors will fit in neither the LGA1156 socket or the LGA1366 socket either. The only sockets I've heard discussed so far is LGA1157 and a 2000 odd pin replacement for LGA1366.

Feel better?

[Sam888]

Nater, nicely put. The next time people question me on going with the P55, I'll remember what you wrote and I'll explain to them why the P55 is the best option for me.