i7 new build opinions

[tahiblue]

My last new desktop was a PII 350mhz :oops: lol. More than few laptops since then but i'm wanting to go back to the desktop. So this is a completely new build with the main uses of photoshop, dreamweaver, vb and 3dsmax (usually all open at once). Quite a bit of gaming as well bf2 mainly. Kind of wanting to future-proof it a little

The budget is around £950 (exc mouse keyboard and HD monitor)


Intel Core i7 920 2.66Ghz (Nehalem) (Socket LGA1366) - Retail
Gigabyte EX58-DS4 Intel X58 (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard
Corsair XMS3 3GB (3x1GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Triple Channel Kit
Corsair Memory 650W TX SERIES ATX
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD4870 1GB GDDR5 TV-Out/Dual DVI HDMI PCI-Express - Retail
Maxtor DiamondMax 22 SATAII 500GB 32Mb Cache Hard Drive <8.5ms 7200rpm - OEM
Samsung S223F - 22x DVD+/-/RW - 8x Dual Layer - Sata - Black - Retail
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Socket 775 CPU Cooler
Antec Three Hundred Case - Black - No Psu
Scythe Kaze Maru 120mm - 140mm Cooling Fan (Fits 120mm Mounting)

Opinions?

[Brad]

Seems very decent but wouldnt u be better with 6Gb of Ram running applications like that?

[Chewie]

Seems very decent but wouldnt u be better with 6Gb of Ram running applications like that?

obvious thing that springs to mind is in his comment.

"Gaming" and "BF2"

Probably still running on XP ;-)

[Craig_T]

obvious thing that springs to mind is in his comment.

"Gaming" and "BF2"

Probably still running on XP ;-)

He's also getting a new hard drive so might be insalling something new ;)

[tahiblue]

obvious thing that springs to mind is in his comment.

"Gaming" and "BF2"

Probably still running on XP ;-)

lol, yes was on xp but will be going to vista on this one. I like to stick with old games for clan stuff (still have sofII going :shock: lol) but also want to be able to play newer single players on good/max settings with no hastle.

I have a few network hdds for storing all my endless amounts of **** (imaging video etc)

Maybe I would need to go for this with vista rather than the 3gb then?
Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Triple Channel Kit

Its my first full build also so could someone let me know if something seems stupidly incompatiable that I have missed :idea:.

[Jasonkruys]

6GB will make an absolute world of difference on that system, I would not consider anything less TBH

[Saftlad]

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Socket 775 CPU Cooler

Won't fit on your motherboard, as that's 1366, not S775.

I would recommend this though - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOC-NHU12P

It is a bit expensive, but worth every penny. These i7s run incredibly hot even at standard (you're looking at 50'-55' at idle and up to 75' under load). Only problem might be fitting into that case, as the I suspect if you fitted a side fan then might interfere with any aftermarket cooler. You'd be ok with the standard HSF though, as long as you didn't want to overclock it at all

Not convinced by the Scythe Fan either. I would expect it to be a bit on the noisy side (27dB), something that usually bugs the **** out of me. For a couple of quid extra, I'd get the Noctua NF-P12 (same as comes with the HSF above - max 19dB) and settle for slightly lower pressure (Scythe 61cfm, Noctua 54cfm)

All depends on how your budget's looking, but the HSF is a definite no-no

If you could stretch an extra £5, go for the WD Green HDD http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?WD-500AACS instead of the Maxtor. Just from a reliability perspective, I've found the WD drives to be stable. If needed, their RMA process is simple and based in the UK.

I'd definitely go for the 6Gb of ram though

[Baggpuss]

remember if you actually want to use 6gig of ram you will need vista 64

[tahiblue]

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Socket 775 CPU Cooler

Won't fit on your motherboard, as that's 1366, not S775.

I would recommend this though - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOC-NHU12P

It is a bit expensive, but worth every penny. These i7s run incredibly hot even at standard (you're looking at 50'-55' at idle and up to 75' under load). Only problem might be fitting into that case, as the I suspect if you fitted a side fan then might interfere with any aftermarket cooler. You'd be ok with the standard HSF though, as long as you didn't want to overclock it at all

Not convinced by the Scythe Fan either. I would expect it to be a bit on the noisy side (27dB), something that usually bugs the **** out of me. For a couple of quid extra, I'd get the Noctua NF-P12 (same as comes with the HSF above - max 19dB) and settle for slightly lower pressure (Scythe 61cfm, Noctua 54cfm)

All depends on how your budget's looking, but the HSF is a definite no-no

If you could stretch an extra £5, go for the WD Green HDD http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?WD-500AACS instead of the Maxtor. Just from a reliability perspective, I've found the WD drives to be stable. If needed, their RMA process is simple and based in the UK.

I'd definitely go for the 6Gb of ram though

Invaluable info! Thanks. Will have to take another look at cases, coolers and fans then.