I7 system - first time building a PC

[naveedy]

I am going to start building my first computer ever. I have upgraded computers before, but I have never started from scratch and built a whole brand new PC. So I have a ton a questions and I am basically a n00bie.

The main goal and uses of this computer will be for gaming, and to have a long life, and be able to upgrade it in the future. I want to be able to play all the current newest games on medium to high settings and play games in the next 4 to 5 years on decent settings as well. I am trying to keep it under $1000


My main question is that I am not sure about the ram. Is my RAM compatible? Do I have the right kind of memory? What Kind should I get?

Here is my system:

$215 MSI X58 Platinum LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

$300 Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920

$55 SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

$150 BFG Tech BFGE98512GTXOCE GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

$23 Lite On DVD burner

$37 RAIDMAX Tornado ATX-238WU Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

$50 LOGISYS Computer PS650U12 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply

$74 Crucial 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail


Total Price: $904

What would you change about this system, but still keep it in the same price range?

 

[robert27]

If you want to build a decent i7 system, you need to increase your price tolerance. $1600 is about right for a decent i7 rig.

 

[dirtmountain]

I would not use a logisys power supply in anything, ever, absolutely ever. Take a look at the $1,250 system builder marathon build (i7/x58) for other ideas.

 

[sharken]

You can build an entire core i7 system for 1250 or under, easily, i would upgrade the ram and GPU though, Go with at least a gtx 260 or 4870 1gb card, would up the ram to 1333mhz or 1600mhz, is alot faster....

 

[V3NOM]

look. i'm really getting sick of saying this, but seriously. if you are building for gaming, save money on the i7/x58/DDR3 and spend it on BETTER GRAPHICS. a core 2+ better graphics will own that system. unless you have an extreme graphics setup (two 4870X2's or 2/3 GTX 280's) do not get i7 for gaming! if its not broke don't try and fix it! core 2's do not bottleneck most graphics setups except as i said the extreme ones!

 

[gkay09]

U would have to give a serious reconsideration of the parts that u are putting into the system...Its jus a waste of money and time as u could say nearly half of te componets are of low quality or nt suitable for a $1000 rig...

 

[sharken]

spending that much i wouldnt waste time on a 9800gtx, the core i7 is different though, once you use one of these beasts, you'll be glad you didnt get a core 2 LOL promise

 

[naveedy]

I have another question should I get vista 32bit or 64bit?

 

[rousegk7]

64, because you will want to add 3 more gb of memory.... I agree with everyone else... spend your money on a solid c2d build and a 4870 or 260/280.

I deal with i7's at work quite a bit now, but they are not worth it unless you are running ultra graphics and alot of memory.

 

[naveedy]

The reason I picked an i7 build, was because I wanted it to be upgradeable alot in the future. For right now I would only be using this system for like Source Games like Left 4 Dead...

The only really powerfull games I would be playing would be like Total War: Empire or Company of Heroes. Other than that I will just be using it for college, homework and stuff.

Would my System be sufficient for that?

 

[Liderc]

Go with the I7 you won't regret it later when you can just upgrade to sli/xfire and add more memory. I would suggest a better motherboard though, I'm using EVGA's x58 and I got my 920 at 4.0 easily on air.

Edit: Noticed the power supply too, I'd definitely go with a Corsair or PCPower&Cooling power supply.

Corsair-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 $79 after rebate

PC Power&Cooling Silencer-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703015 $69

 

[naveedy]

What do you suggest about the case? I want to get something cheap, and that has a window. Is my mother board sli compatible and crossfire compat?

 

[joelg88]

If you want to build a decent i7 system, you need to increase your price tolerance. $1600 is about right for a decent i7 rig.

Why. With a $1600 budget for Core Components you can get a To of the Line Rig. Obviously he's not trying to do that. He can go with $1000 to $1200 build now and add another GPU in the Future, more RAM, and Upgrade the CPU as well.

 

[naveedy]

Why. With a $1600 budget for Core Components you can get a To of the Line Rig. Obviously he's not trying to do that. He can go with $1000 to $1200 build now and add another GPU in the Future, more RAM, and Upgrade the CPU as well.

I agree!!!

 

[robert27]

Why. With a $1600 budget for Core Components you can get a To of the Line Rig. Obviously he's not trying to do that. He can go with $1000 to $1200 build now and add another GPU in the Future, more RAM, and Upgrade the CPU as well.

Take a look at the $1250 PC and the $2500 PC on the front page. The $1250 one is missing quite a few things to make it decent, it needs 6GB of RAM and a PSU Heatsink at the very least. The $2500 rig is overkill. $1600, give or take, is a sweetspot for i7 rigs.

Most of the components in the original post are ones that I wouldn't even recommend for a p45 gaming system. Why build a rig with so many components that will need to be replaced to make it a good system come upgrade time? My recommendation was to increase the price tolerance so he doesn't have to spend a lot more money down the road when it's time to upgrade.

 

[knightmirror]

OK... you need to start over. Just erase everthing on your list. Forget about the I7 if you intend on only 1k for budget. Regardless of that, a Q6600, Q9550 or 9650 will more than suffice for your intentions of future upgrade. With the games you mention, it would be pointless to spend an enormous amount of money on I7 CPU and MB when you need to focus on CPU and GPU with a mid-range MB. Looking at your list, you are spending more on MB than GPU. Plus, for the games you mention why DDR3? You need to either expand your budget or think smaller.

 

[knightmirror]

Cpu:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041
$320

MB:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131276
$315

RAM: http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=P5E3%20Premium/WiFi-AP%20@n
$140

GPU:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121294
$510

Tower: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160
$160

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341023
$140

That is a nice system. $1585

 

[naveedy]

Do i need to go expensive on the tower?

 

[naveedy]

is my motherboard i chose only crossfire and no sli? I didnt know that a motherboard could be one and not both.

 

[joelg88]

is my motherboard i chose only crossfire and no sli? I didnt know that a motherboard could be one and not both.

X58 boards support both Nvidia SLI and ATI Crossfire.

 

[naveedy]

I do not agree witht hat statement. i think that is false. SOmeone correct me?

 

[naveedy]

X58 boards support both Nvidia SLI and ATI Crossfire.

I believe this is incorrect? Can someone tell me if I am correct or not?

 

[V3NOM]

not ALL X58's do. the manufacturer can pay an extra $10 or so to get nvidia certification...

 

[naveedy]

SO is mine sli or crossfire? i cant tell!

 

[joelg88]

SO is mine sli or crossfire? i cant tell!

Yours only supports CrossFire. If you want a good Mobo for SLI consider this one EVGA X58. It has great reviews and it does SLI and Crossfire. But since your planning on getting a 9800GTX I think you should get a 4850 instead. 4850's cost the same but give better performance in gaming.