I7

[halcyon]

I can vouch for the Thermaltake PSUs...I've had 3 in 3 different rigs...2 of them modular...they just work without incident...like a PSU should.

 

[xthekidx]

This is the best deal on a GTX 260 right now on newegg, its an overclocked GTX 260 core 216 (655mhz vs 576 standard) with 55nm process at $155 after rebate. It will be much better than either of those GPU's Why_Me listed and only a couple bucks more expensive than the GTS 250.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127409

 

[drakleon84]

I think if the OP's original goal is to be, as quoted 'economical yet crysis playable' on the budget he's on, he should go Phenom 2 X4 BE.

It would free up a few hundred dollars to put into a better GPU (or SLI'd 250/260's). I would say that system would run Crysis better than a sub-$1k i7 system.

 

[xthekidx]

In the USA, Using Beta 7 64 bit, gaming and 3d rendering (3ds max) as for money, working with about 1100, less interested in gaming, play about 2 hours a week depending on work, mainly rendering

The i7 is better for his uses than the Phenom II

 

[drakleon84]

Ah, k. I read that first sentance and went from there 😉

 

[Why_Me]

I think if the OP's original goal is to be, as quoted 'economical yet crysis playable' on the budget he's on, he should go Phenom 2 X4 BE.

It would free up a few hundred dollars to put into a better GPU (or SLI'd 250/260's). I would say that system would run Crysis better than a sub-$1k i7 system.

Were building a nice i7 rig on this thread using top notch parts, and you dare mention some ghetto AMD on an i7 thread?

Not here m8. The best application for your AMD is called "the ocean" and it's when you toss it in there.

 

[drakleon84]

^^ lol. Intel fanboi!

 

[arogot]

hahahaha, i hear you about the amd, but i wana keep i7 so i can keep it upgradable, but what about going for the evga mother board, is the gigabite that much better a deal? for 30 more i can go evga

 

[drakleon84]

I personally don't really like Gigabyte from the one mobo I've had from them (I am an ASUS fanboy ,and like EVGA too), but I'm taking the leap and ordering an X58 Gigabyte mobo myself in next few days as I hear they really are nipping at ASUS's heels performance wise.

The reason I'm going GB is because I'm getting like $90 off in rebate on new egg as they have a combo deal for the mobo and the GPU I want (the Gigabyte GTS 285)

 

[arogot]

is evga lacking quality or would it be a good purchase, other then price because iv been hearing alot of positive from the evga board

 

[drakleon84]

I think Tom's new X58 mobo review mentions the EVGA, check it out, was just posted today. I glossed over it pretty much since I'm locked into the Gigabyte with my deal barring any horrible reviews

 

[arogot]

does anyone think i should be using a static wrist strap with my build on a wood table?

 

[Why_Me]

is evga lacking quality or would it be a good purchase, other then price because iv been hearing alot of positive from the evga board

EVGA makes a nice board, it's the price is what does it in a lot of times. When your on a budget, and you spend a lot of money on your mobo, it means your going to have to sacrifice somewhere else. I see people on here order expensive cases with flashy lights and $250+ mobo's and then finish off their build with crap hardware because they blew their budget.

 

[waynec121]

EVGA makes a nice board, it's the price is what does it in a lot of times. When your on a budget, and you spend a lot of money on your mobo, it means your going to have to sacrifice somewhere else. I see people on here order expensive cases with flashy lights and $250+ mobo's and then finish off their build with crap hardware because they blew their budget.

Agreed on that! CPU, PSU, MOBO, and GPU should all be focused on before anything else IMO. Everything else can come after.

 

[drakleon84]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna scrap my CM690 case and just stick the mobo into a milk carton and zip tie my HDD and PSU to the sides of it.

Then I can afford a Killer NIC card! woot!

 

[Why_Me]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna scrap my CM690 case and just stick the mobo into a milk carton and zip tie my HDD and PSU to the sides of it.

Then I can afford a Killer NIC card! woot!

LOL

I have to be honest, when those Killer NIC cards came out and kids started buying them left and right, I LMAO!

 

[BinaryN3wZ]

I just built a new i7 system and fired it up for the first time this evening... here
are the specs:

-MSI X58 Platinum SLI
-Intel i7 960 3.20GHz EE
-Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme-1366
-Corsair Dominator - 6GB (3x2GB) @ 1600MHz
-Sapphire Radeon 4870 X2
-Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB (x2)

My monitor is the Viewsonic VX2433wm.

OK... to make a long story short. I bought most of this as a "barebones"
system because the price was the best I could find. Even better than
putting together individual components (which was driving me quite mad,
btw), so I went for it. The company I purchased the system from would
seem to be fairly disreputable, according to the BBB and a number of
enraged individuals scattered about various message boards and blogs.

The company is: pcusa.com

Well, I got the system but noticed immediately the power supply I ordered
(Antec Quattro 850) had been replaced by a Zumax X850, and the 1TB
Western Digital 1TB hard drive replaced with a 1TB Seagate Barracuda.
They did offer to refund the difference in price on the power supply (the
Antec was $40 more than the Zumax), and said "If you can not live with
the Seagate, send it back and we'll refund your $99. Personally, I can
live with it.

Anyway, I really wanted an MSI Eclipse, but they do not offer that board,
(which is ridiculous), but it doesn't matter because I can get an excellent
deal on the Eclipse elsewhere. I will be upgrading that over the next two
weeks or so. The X58 is doing just fine for now.

The barebones was ordered with 3GB of Corsair XMS3 (3x1GB), but I
have 6GB of Corsair Dominator @1600MHz ready to put in. Why have
I not put it in?

This system is currently installed, as shipped, in a flimsy iMicro case
that I utterly despise. I have an Antec Performance PlusView SOHO
tower that I have been meaning to mod, so now is the time! The
Antec is currently being totally overhauled, and should be quite
nice when it's finished. I will present it here for inspection, of course.
Since I hope to sell the X58 mobo and XMS3 memory I'm taking it
easy on them. When the Antec case is ready, it's all out war! LOL.

I would like double the RAM, and add two more western digi's on
top of the mobo upgrade.

Here is a lame look at the current setup:

Some add-ons:

I'll be posting more as it evolves.

Oh yeah.. nice to meet you all, this is my first post here...
very cool site. 🙂

 

[Why_Me]

I just built a new i7 system and fired it up for the first time this evening... here
are the specs:

-MSI X58 Platinum SLI
-Intel i7 960 3.20GHz EE
-Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme-1366
-Corsair Dominator - 6GB (3x2GB) @ 1600MHz
-Sapphire Radeon 4870 X2
-Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB (x2)

My monitor is the Viewsonic VX2433wm.

OK... to make a long story short. I bought most of this as a "barebones"
system because the price was the best I could find. Even better than
putting together individual components (which was driving me quite mad,
btw), so I went for it. The company I purchased the system from would
seem to be fairly disreputable, according to the BBB and a number of
enraged individuals scattered about various message boards and blogs.

The company is: pcusa.com

Well, I got the system but noticed immediately the power supply I ordered
(Antec Quattro 850) had been replaced by a Zumax X850, and the 1TB
Western Digital 1TB hard drive replaced with a 1TB Seagate Barracuda.
They did offer to refund the difference in price on the power supply (the
Antec was $40 more than the Zumax), and said "If you can not live with
the Seagate, send it back and we'll refund your $99. Personally, I can
live with it.

Anyway, I really wanted an MSI Eclipse, but they do not offer that board,
(which is ridiculous), but it doesn't matter because I can get an excellent
deal on the Eclipse elsewhere. I will be upgrading that over the next two
weeks or so. The X58 is doing just fine for now.

The barebones was ordered with 3GB of Corsair XMS3 (3x1GB), but I
have 6GB of Corsair Dominator @1600MHz ready to put in. Why have
I not put it in?

This system is currently installed, as shipped, in a flimsy iMicro case
that I utterly despise. I have an Antec Performance PlusView SOHO
tower that I have been meaning to mod, so now is the time! The
Antec is currently being totally overhauled, and should be quite
nice when it's finished. I will present it here for inspection, of course.
Since I hope to sell the X58 mobo and XMS3 memory I'm taking it
easy on them. When the Antec case is ready, it's all out war! LOL.

I would like double the RAM, and add two more western digi's on
top of the mobo upgrade.

I'll be posting more as it evolves.

Oh yeah.. nice to meet you all, this is my first post here...
very cool site. 🙂

Just curious binary, but what did they charge you for that rig?

 

[BinaryN3wZ]

Just curious binary, but what did they charge you for that rig?

$2200, shipped... it also came with a LiteOn DVD, multi-card reader, and
a big box full of manuals, cables, etc.

They do have some good deals, but they can be difficult to deal with.
they have quite a few options for i7 systems, and they do have much
nicer cases than the one I got, but I got the cheapest one they had
because I wanted to use my Antec.

 

[Why_Me]

Just curious binary, but what did they charge you for that rig?

$2200, shipped... it also came with a LiteOn DVD, multi-card reader, and
a big box full of manuals, cables, etc.

They do have some good deals, but they can be difficult to deal with.
they have quite a few options for i7 systems, and they do have much
nicer cases than the one I got, but I got the cheapest one they had
because I wanted to use my Antec.

We could have beat that price. Is it too late to send it back or they going to replace the components they shorted you on?

 

[JaredAudiophileGamer]

Hmm we deffinately could've gotten you a nicer deal, and nice to meet you good fellow.

 

[BinaryN3wZ]

I guess I know where I'll be shopping from now on... lol, very cool.
@Jared... nice to meet you, and all the rest as well! I look forward
to getting involved here... there are some mindblowing mods,
beefy systems, and cool people.... what more could a power-mad
geek want? (except MORE hardware, of course!)

 

[Crashman]

Going for an i7 too,
here is my build, trying to be economical yet crysis able too

i7 920
evga 512 geforce gts 250 (no gtx but saves $$$)
evga 1366 sli
ocz gold (3x2) 6 gig ddr 3 at 1600
xigmatek 750 modular
WD 620 green
antec ninehundred

open for idea's but trying to keep price down

I'd go with Mushkin RAM. Take a look at a few THG RAM reviews instead of just picking based on peer pressure.

 

[xthekidx]

I'd go with Mushkin RAM. Take a look at a few THG RAM reviews instead of just picking based on peer pressure.

Care to share why you would pick mushkin as opposed to the other suggestions here?

 

[Crashman]

Because it's better? Did you take a look at any recent THG RAM reviews?