EggXpert

I'm hoping to build my first PC. I'm a gamer and I'd like the hardware to keep up w/ me for a few years. I'd like you're input on these pieces, I believe they work together (although, I'm not positive).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Thanks,

Meg

O.K., Meg

First things first. DDR2 Dual-Channel memory won't work with a DDR3 Triple-Channel motherboard.

The Corsair 550 watt power supply is a bit low on power for running everything. Step to the 750TX to make sure you have enough power for the future.

A 9800 GTX+ video card is "old school". If you want to "future proof" the computer step up to the 275 or above. Don't forget about the ATI side of the house as well though. They have some really good video cards for cheaper than the nVidia cards.

B.T.W. It does come in handy to know what parts you plan on re-using in your new computer and what your total budget is for this build.

Thank you for responding so quickly. I believe this would work better, correct?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

I wasnt' really planning on using anything from my old computer. Except maybe the case, but I haven't even gotten to the point of learning about how to make sure a certain case will work. Besides I'm not sure the case has enough ventilation for this sort of thing. One of the RAM modules has gone bad and the only other one is 512MBs and I'm not sure of any of the other details to check it's compatibility. As for budget, right now I'm just trying to get a plan. I'm kind of looking for the middle, nothing that's just come out and is way too expensive but nothing that can't support the games right now and is soon to be discontinued. I didn't consider ATI simply because I have never had a computer w/ it and was sticking to the familiar. However, I will take a look at it especially since i have heard good things about it in the past.

 

You're getting closer!

You're still looking at "dual-channel" memory and the motherboard supports "triple-channel" memory. Triple-Channel memory commonly comes in either 3GB (3x1GB) or 6GB (3x2GB) sets. Like these.

Including a case, for an Intel Core i7 set-up, figure a cost of roughly $1,500.00 for the case and the "guts" inside.

There are 2 other ways to go as well. An Intel Core i5 set-up or an AMD Phenom II set-up. Each will be cheaper than the Intel Core i7 set-up. But the i7 will be the fastest of them all.

If i choose Intel don't I have to go w/ nVidia? And unfortunately, your set-up talk went a little over my head. I'm sorry for so many questions. Maybe there's a website you could point me towards?

Meg,

If you go with Intel's processors, you are not restricted to Nvidia graphics cards.  You can use either ATI or Nvidia based models.

Funnymoods87:

If i choose Intel don't I have to go w/ nVidia? And unfortunately, your set-up talk went a little over my head. I'm sorry for so many questions. Maybe there's a website you could point me towards?

Meg,

Don't worry. You're probably at one of the better websites to answer any question you have about anything dealing with computers. That includes putting one together as well as trouble shooting any problems with it. If one of us can't answer your questions, some one else here at Eggxpert can.

Now, as Tekran has already said, you do not have to go with nVidia just because you want an Intel build.

One of the better motherboards out there for the i7's is the GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 for $268.99 with free shipping (for now). This motherboard can let you run up to 3 video cards in either nVidia's SLI or ATI's CrossFire. But you can't mix them. It's one or the other. Most people choose to run up to 2 video cards since 2 cards can be ran at 16X each (16X, 16X). The third card runs at 8X (16X, 16X, 8X). But most games and programs still can't see that third video card very well. So they run either 1 card at 16X or 2 cards at 16X each. (A $1,500.00 start point will get you a single video card and you can add an identical card later on.)

As the old saying goes, "The only dumb question is the one that never gets asked".

We'll try not to let our explanations go over your head to far, Meg.

Why is two video cards necessary? Can't a game or whatnot only use one?

A second video card will help increase your FPS on high resolutions (Those above 1680x1050). If you are running at 1680x1050 or lower, the benefits are minimal and generally it is most cost effective to buy a higher-end card. Using crossfire can increase the life of a video card if you buy an identical one later on down the road with the expectation that you can buy a second old card for a lot cheaper than a single current card and get similar performance. I'd say it is better to buy a higher-end card initially, I unfortunately made the mistake of getting 2 ATI HD 4850s right off the bat, when I should have gone for the higher end HD4870. Playing Call of Duty 4 I get absolutely 0 FPS increase by enabling the second card. Ah well.

Okay, so this is what I have so far...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225

I'm still I little overwhelmed looking at Video Cards. I would like to go w/ ATI if it's just as good and cheaper...

O.K. Meg,

I switched out a few of the parts for reasons I'll explain. I put as much as I could into combos to save you additional money on each combo.

Everything here has Free Shipping. So there is no shipping charges, at least for now.

Grand Total including the free shipping in the Shopping Cart is $1,253.91.

Qty.	Product Description	Savings	Total Price
1	COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811119197 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$10.00 Instant	$109.98 $99.98
1	Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Item #: N82E16822136319 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		$74.99
1	XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail Item #: N82E16814150447 Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy		$174.99
1	CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail Item #: N82E16817139006 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$70.00 Instant $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card17-139-006	$179.99 $109.99
1	OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail Item #: N82E16820227381 Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM Item #: N82E16832116754 Return Policy: Software Return Policy	-$15.00 Combo $10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card20-227-381	$280.98 $265.98
1	OCZ Diesel 4GB Single Channel Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model OCZUSBDSL4G - Retail Item #: N82E16820227331 Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy	-$13.99 Saving	$13.99 $0.00
1	GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813128362 Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail Item #: N82E16819115202 Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy	-$30.00 Instant -$30.00 Combo	$587.98 $527.98
Subtotal:			$1,253.91
Calculate ShippingZip Code: 55111 FedEx 3Day Express Saver -- $113.07FedEx 2Day -- $170.93FedEx Standard Overnight -- $204.68UPS Guaranteed 3 Day Service -- $0.00UPS 2nd Day -- $97.90UPS Next Day Saver -- $111.24		Shipping:	$0.00
Redeem Gift Certificates Claim Code: Security Code:		Gift Certificates:	$0.00
Apply Promo Code(s):		Promo Code:	$0.00
No Interest for 12 Months on orders over $999 with your Newegg Preferred Account. Subject to credit approval.
Grand Total:			$1,253.91

The first thing I changed out was your EVGA motherboard. With it you were locked into using nVidia video card if you wanted to go with more than 1 since the EVGA motherboard was a SLI only motherboard. The Gigabyte UD5, besides being cheaper (and better actually), will let you go either SLI or CrossFire if you decide to ever get more than 1 video card. I put it in a combo with the Intel Core i7 920 2,66GHz. CPU.

The 6GB of OCZ Platinum memory has good timings of 7-7-7-24 needing 1.65 volts to get them there. This is in a combo with the Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. (Rule of Thumb: The lower the CAS and timings, the faster the memory.)

Both the Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB hard drive and the Corsair 750TX power supply are still there.

The XFX 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB video card is one of the newest ATI video cards. This will handle DirectX 11 when it comes out. The XFX has a Double Lifetime Warranty. If you decide to sell it to upgrade the video card, the warranty will follow to the next person.

 The most common Mid-Tower case to build an Intel Core i7 in is the Cooler Master HAF 922.

How does that look for an Intel Core i7 set-up?

You're asking me? It looks ... good I think. Some of that went over my head but I think w/ just a little googling, I would follow what you said. If I want to go w/ a different case, what exactly should I look for?

Thank you for all the time you put into that. It was extremely helpful!

I'd actually go with a different PSU from what nioxx suggested. Corsair is a great brand, but there is an absolute steal going on for a tier 1 (best) PSU that's more efficient. Check out: Seventeam ST-750PAF 750W ATX 12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

If I were you I wouldn't go with another case. The HAF922 is an extremely nice case. If you're set on a different one, look for a case with good air flow (HAF stands for high air flow), a good amount of fans (or a few large ones) and something that looks half decent if that matters to you. Cooler Master makes great cases as does Antec.

Funnymoods87:

You're asking me? It looks ... good I think. Some of that went over my head but I think w/ just a little googling, I would follow what you said. If I want to go w/ a different case, what exactly should I look for?

Thank you for all the time you put into that. It was extremely helpful!

Well, you'll find that most of us here at Eggxpert when recommending cases for an Intel Core i7 (or Core i5 for that matter) system only recommend 2 cases. The Cooler Master HAF 932 Full-Tower or the Cooler Master HAF 922 Mid-Tower. These are 2 of the best ventilated cases and help get the heat out of the case fairly quickly. (HAF stands for High Air Flow)