ASUS X79 System Design Contest

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Cool Runnings
Processor: Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz (Combo with motherboard)
Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth X79 Motherboard Price w/CPU: $894.98
RAM: 2x CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Price: $39.98 ($19.99 each)
Graphics Card: ASUS EAH6870 DC/2DI2S/1GD5 Radeon HD 6870 1GB Price: $189.99
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM Price: $149.99
Case: NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Steel / Plastic Enthusiast ATX Full Tower Computer Case Price: $109.99
Power Supply: XIGMATEK NRP-PC702 700W Price: $59.95
Cooling: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO Price: $34.99
DVD Burner: LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer Price: $18.99

Total Price: $1,498.86 (before shipping, and without mail in rebates)

Extra Mail in Rebates and Coupon Codes:
Case: $10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$10 off w/ promo code EMCJJHJ36, ends 11/23
Graphics Card: $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
---
Extra $40 off with MIR and coupon


I feel like any high end machine has to have a DVD Burner and at least 1 TB of HDD storage. I went with 4 sticks of RAM to utilize the quad channel support and a full tower to help with cooling and assembly.
 
Knightmare's Rig...


1. Processor: Intel Core i7-3930K 3.2 GHz Six-Core – Bundled w/ Motherboard
2. Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth X79 TUF Edition Motherboard – $894.98
3. RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600MHz - $79.99 After $10 promo code EMCJJJC22
4. Graphics Card: ASUS Radeon HD 6850 - $159.99 w/ Free Dirt 3 Game
5. Hard Drive: Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F120GB3A-BK 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - 169.99
6. Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $69.99
7. Power Supply: Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - $54.99
8. Cooling: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO, $34.99 plus bracket $4.99
9. DVD Burner: ASUS 24x DVD Burner – $19.99


TOTAL - $1489.90


I've used the case a million times, it's worth every cent, for the price it CAN NOT be beat. Everyone has the same CPU and MB. The rest is basically the RAM, Graphics, and SSD. (not including an SSD is simply dumb at this point) Gotta have the 16GB kit, it's the best bang for your buck. Same with the graphics, and it can be flashed to be a 6870 with no added cost. I consider thermal paste to be a no cost option, as you most likely already have it or know someone who does, you don't use the entire tube of paste on one build, so you can't include that in this limited spending build.
 
"The Winner"

Motherboard & CPU: Asus Sabertooth X79 and Intel 3930K Combo Price $894.98
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 1600 Quad Channel Memory Kit $89.99
Graphics Card: Asus Geforce GTX 560Ti DCII 1GB $244.99 w/Free Batman Arkham City 😀
Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 $79.99
HDD: Hitachi 500GB 7200RPM $99.99
DVD Burner: Sony Optiarc 24X SATA DVD Burner $ Free with HDD
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer Series 620W 80 Plus Bronze PSU $ 64.99
CPU Cooling: Xigmatek Gaia 120MM CPU Cooler $24.99


Total $1499.92
 



too bad your PSU would die if you overclocked at all
 
1. juxtaposer's Chill Challenge
2. Processor: Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 2011 130W Six-Core Desktop Processor BX80619i73930K for $599.99
3. Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth X79 LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard for $339.99
4. RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9B for $89.99 {Quad Channel Kit, Blue}
5. Graphics Card: ASUS ENGTX550 TI DC/DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card for $129.99
6. Hard Drive: Corsair Force Series 3 CSSD-F60GB3-BK 2.5 60GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) for $109.99 {SATAIII is twice as fast as SATA II}
7. Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan for $49.99
8. Power Supply: SILVERSTONE Strider Essential series ST70F-ES 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply for $84.99 {Active PFC, combined +12V has 552W (46A) (reference)}
9. Cooling: CORSAIR H80 (CWCH80) High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler for $93.99 {Thermal compound pre-applied}
10. DVD Burner: {no DVD burner}

Total $1498.92
Prices include instant savings of $10 on the case, $5 on the RAM, $25 on the SSD, and $21 on the cooler.
Other promotions not included in the total: $20 Mail-In Rebate (MIR) until 11/30 on the graphics card, a $10 MIR until 11/27 on the Corsair H80 cooler and a T-shirt offer with this ASUS card at Newegg. Also, there is a $10 discount code for the RAM, but it expires today, 11/22--I didn't want to risk the total cost increasing during the contest.

The series Picking The Right Power Supply: What You Should Know was helpful. Also, to check power requirements and expandability, I used the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite. I added to this build a regular SATA hard disk, a second GeForce GTX550Ti in SLI configuration, and checked with a total of 8 sticks DDR3 RAM: minimum 459W and recommended 509W.

It has a lot of fans: case: 3, cooler: 2, graphics card(s): 1(2), power supply: 1, and space for another on the case side.
At first I chose a fanless graphics card. Then I got to thinking that a fan on the graphics card would help keep the GPU temperature down better than just a (big) radiator, but I guess both are designed to keep the GPU temperature down in the same range. A fan does reduce space needed for a radiator.
 
Hammer's "What do you mean by coolest? Also, impractical" build

1. Processor/Motherboard combo: ASUS Sabertooth X79 Motherboard + Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E 3.2GHz = $894.98
2. RAM: 2X PNY XLR8 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 = $57.98
3. Graphics Card: ASUS EAH6770 Radeon HD 6770 Video Card = $124.99
4. Hard Drive: Kingston SSDNow V100 SV100S2/32G 2.5" 32GB SATA II SSD = $69.99
5. Case: SILVERSTONE Fortress Series FT02B Black Case = $249.99
6. Power Supply: Rosewill Green Series RG630-S12 630W 80 PLUS = $59.99
7. Cooling: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO and bracket = $39.98

Total: $1497.90

Eh, didn't say optical drive is required, so no optical 😛
It'll run pretty fast if you can actually fit anything on that 32 gig SSD (or have a way to install it).

Looks cool, runs cool.
Ok, so not exactly the most practical build, but who said cool has to be practical?
 


Wow..I really thought they'd be compatible. I should've know Intel would force ANOTHER socket...lol

Thanks for the heads up.
 


I'm not the only one who makes mistakes...

U gotta use an Asus video card hommie..
 
Stop correcting people.... you make my chances of winning slimmer every time you help someone...

maybe next time they read through the contest rules....
 
Michael Ninja's Super Cool Build
Processor (per spec): Intel Core i7-3930K $599.99
Motherboard (per spec): ASUS Sabertooth X79 $339.99
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 8GB (4x2) $59.99
Graphics Card (ASUS): ASUS ENGT440 $99.99
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3EG $99.99
Case: Cooler Master Storm Sniper $129.99
Power Supply: Thortech Thunderbolt 650W 80 Plus Gold $109.99
Cooling CPU Fan: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO $34.99
Cooling CPU Adapter: Cooler Master LGA2011 Adapter
Cooling Bottom Case Fan: Evercool F-EC1238A1HBT-7 $19.99

As of now (11/22/11) instant savings apply:
Case $30
PSU $30
Memory $20

Giving this build a total cost of: $1,499.90

The power supply and video card will generate minimal heat.
The Case has excellent bottom-up air flow, heat out the top.
I would mount the CPU cooler to blow the hot air up and out of the chassis.
The Case also has an optional mounting on the bottom for extra fresh airflow into the chassis... that's where the extra fan goes.
By managing the heat production and maximizing air flow... this build should stay very cool. Coolest? YOU decide. :)
 
Stall3's need for speed
1. Processor: i7-3930K proc + ASUS X79 mobo combo: $894.98
2. Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth X79 Motherboard combo included above
3. RAM: 16GB G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series (4x4GB): $83.96
4. Graphics Card: Asus HD6770 Graphics Card with Super Alloy Power and DX11 Support Video Card (EAH6770/DI/1GD5): $124.99
5. Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green 750 GB SATA III Intellipower 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive Desktop Hard Drive - WD7500AARX $104.99
6. X79 SSD Cache drive: Kingston Digital, Inc. 16 GB SSDNow S100 SATA 2 2.5-Inch SS100S2/16G $59.99
7. Case: Antec Lanboy air Red Black / Red Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Modular Case: $129.99
8. Power Supply: XIGMATEK NRP-PC702 700W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply: $59.95
9. CD/DVD Burner: SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model SH-222AB - OEM: $15.99
10. Cooler: XIGMATEK LOKI XIGMATEK LOKI SD963 92mm HYPRO Bearing CPU Cooler bracket included I7 i5 775 1155 AMD and dual fan push pull compatible: $24.99

I thought it would be fun to try the X79's SSD cache feature. Looks pretty easy to use. The Lanboy air case is rockin, the price is only good while supplies last, otherwise it costs $169. Some SATA III HD action. Plus a dual 12v rail power supply. Pretty good 6770 vid card. Crank it up.

btw, the vid card has a $20 MIR and Free Dirt3 game coupon which I did not include in the total. The cooler has a $20MIR too.

TOTAL: $1499.83
 
Mathdaddy's Build
Processor: i7 3930k
Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth X79
RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
Graphics Card: ASUS ENGTX560 DCII
Hard Drive: OCZ Vertex Plus OCZSSD2-1VTXPL60G
Case: Antec Twelve Hundred V3
 
Guavas hot sauce
Processor: i7 3930k + x79 Sabertooth = $894.98
RAM: Corsair 8gb XMS3 kit = $71.99
Graphics Card: ASUS ENGTX570 DCII= $349.99
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 160gb = $84.99
Case: Gigabyte GZ-FK03B mid tower = $19.00
Power Supply: Xigmatek 700w = $59.99

total=1481.93

the idea here is to get some awsome hardware for the main components, a hard drive big enough for me (i dont need much space at all for windows + a couple games), and enough power for the set up. heres the kickers:

-i passed on an ssd cause im not a big fan of their price and fail rates. maybe in a few more seasons though. ill just have to wait 10 sec longer.
-cooling will be supplied by myself in the form of custom water cooling that i already have.
-there is no real need for a dvd drive, especially since i have a usb one for when i need it.
-the case is a cheapy, and thats because i would cut it, rip it, and turn it inside out and make a tech bench style, open air case out of it.
 
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