Critique my <= $850 Build

olgranddad

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Apr 14, 2010
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After many suggestions a few weeks ago I am at the purchase time. Some of the deals that were proposed are gone.

I am looking for a system with a good foundation under $850. Small items of $50 or less will be purchased later (if possible) so they won’t come out of the budget. I am willing to sacrifice performance now for a better foundation, knowing that I am able to upgrade later.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: After 7 days, but no longer than 14 days

BUDGET RANGE: $850 after rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Video Rendering, Photoshop, Gaming, Matlab/SystemBuild/Simulink, Viso, TV/Movie, MS Office, Surfing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse…Speakers, Video Card, Sound Card, are all to be upgraded either through $50 a month, Birthday or Christmas.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, TigerDirect, Microcenter (In store), eWiz (or whatever is reputable and cheap)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Yes…in the future

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes…in the future

MONITOR RESOLUTION: $250 separate budget. None of the $250 can be used for the computer, but left over computer money can be added to the $250.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I am looking at the following. Please let me know if I can do better in quality or price

Case: Cooler Master 690 II Advanced – Microcenter $95.40
PSU: Antec Truepower 750W Blue – eWiz $103
CPU: Intel i7-930 – Microcenter $199
Mobo: P7P55D-E Pro – Newegg $190
Cooler - Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus - Newegg $35
RAM: G. Skill Ripsaw 4GB DDR3 (PC3 12800) – Newegg $120
Hard Drive: I have WD Black 500GB can upgrade later
Optical Drive: Cheap or Combo - $25 Someplace
Video Card: To be upgrade at birthday or Christmas. Will be about $200 budget at Birthday or $300 at Christmas
Sound Card: To be upgraded later
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit – Pricewatch Vendor $72 full install

Total = $839.40
 

olgranddad

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Thanks for the help MA. Can you explain a little bit more about your mobo comment. I understand the first part...not compatable. I don't understand what you are saying the second part. The new mobo will work with the i7-930, but if I change to the i7-860 or i5-750 it would be even better? Why? Could you explain a little?

Thank you for your help
 

olgranddad

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Time ran out before I could make my purchase. I went to newegg.com and the two deals for the CM 690 and CM 212 are over. Also, they no longer are selling the ripjaws.

I did pick up my i7-930 for $196 at Microcenter.

So it looks like I need help with a new build. The criteria are the same except the I don't need a CPU. The CPU could be returned as I have not opened the box.

Any ideas?
 

fastx21

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Feb 15, 2010
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No don't return the 930. You realize you saved about $100 bucks right there.

You can always get a different ram set or case. Or other sites, newegg isn't the end of all ends.
 

Reyesx

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Ya fastx is right, you got a good deal. Go with the gigabyte ex58 ud3r IMO, micro-c has it for $210 I believe. You can find 4gb of ram for that price with other brands as well.
 
You'll need 6 GB of RAM for the i7-930. Check out G.Skill's Pi Series sticks. They're basically the same as the Ripjaws, just in a triple channel kit. You really can get any 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 sticks and they'll be the same. I'd avoid OCZ though, as they have some compatibility issues, especially with Intel.
 

olgranddad

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Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R

It doesn't look like this mobo has on board video. That means I have to get a GPU. This is killing my budget if I keep the i7-930. I had to upgrade the mobo, which forced the upgrade of RAM, and now no on board video. Is there a solution? I don't want to return the i7 because I know I got a good deal on it. But, if I can't get the budget under control I'm going to have to.

The current build is...

Case: Antec Three Hundred
PSU: Antec Truepower 750W Blue
CPU: Intel i7-930
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
Cooler - Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus
RAM: G. Skill PI 6GB
Hard Drive: I have WD Black 500GB can upgrade later
Optical Drive: I have an old HP 9500
Video Card: I have an old Radeon 9000 Pro 128mb, but its AGP. To be upgrade at birthday or Christmas. Will be about $200 budget at Birthday or $300 at Christmas
Sound Card: To be upgraded later
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
 

olgranddad

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Ok...need a compatability check. I need to make sure that everything will play together and Im not missing something else

Case: Antec Three Hundred $50
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 750W $95
CPU: Intel i7-930 $196
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R $200
Cooler: CM Hyper 212+ $20
RAM: G.Skull PI 6GB $190
Hard Drive: I have WD Black 500GB can upgrade later
Optical Drive: HP 9500
Video Card: Gigabyte HD 4350 $25 To be upgraded at a later date
Sound Card: To be upgraded later (Looks like mobo has on board sound)
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit $75

Total $851 + a few buck in tax and a few bucks I should get back in rebate

Thank you for all your help