Critique My Build!

[CharMz]

~ New Build ~

Processor/CPU:
Intel i7 920 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202 - 300 USD

Memory/RAM:
Corsair Dominator DDR3 1600 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224 - 240 USD

Harddrive:
300GB VelociRaptor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136260 - 200 USD
+
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288 - 65 USD

Power Supply:
Corsair 1000HX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007 - 240 USD

Video Card/GPU:
GeForce 9800 GTX+ - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130376 - 165 USD

CD Drive:
Samsung - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173 - 29 USD

Motherboard:
Evga - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039 - 300 USD

Case:
Lian Li v2000B Plus II - 200 USD

Monitor:
Dell Ultrasharp 24' - BOUGHT

Speakers:
Logitech Z-5500 505-Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System -230 USD

OS:
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit - Free :D

~Don't worry about the price when suggesting parts or changes.
~Computer will be used for games, movies, ect.
~I may watercool in future.

Questions:
1. Do I need to buy a Audio/Sound Card, if so what do you recommend?
2. Which wireless internet card do you recommend?
3. Can you point me in the direction of a Intel CPU roadmap of 2009 and beyond?
4. My GPU will prob be upgraded once Evga releases new cards, is PCI Ex 2.0 still going to be main stream for awhile?
5. Can u estimate how long Intel will use LGA 1366?
6. There isn't much choice in motherboards for LGZ 1366, when will this change?

Please change any items that you see fit, I am trying to make this as FUTURE PROOF as possible. I will prob buy this by the end of December.

Thank You

CharMz

[B.E.E.F.]

Your GPU is weak. Overkill on the PSU, unless you plan to go multi-gpu its not worth it.

No one can estimate how long LGA 1366 is going to be out. Ask Intel.
LGA 1366 Motherboard choices will increase, when people buy more, which happens when price falls and the cheaper P55 chipset is out.

You do not need a soundcard unless you are an Audiophile or you work with Audio as a living.

Wireless Ethernet/Network Cards, it really depends on the router. What are you running it with and does it have any special stuff like speed boost or something.


Case looks nice. I like it.

[zanzabar]

i would get the bloodrage or dfi x58, other than that i would not get a seagate drive and definatly not the 500GB from them get a WD or samsung 640GB or a samsung f1 500GB. and if u like movies go with an ati card

[CharMz]

@ PSU overkill, i may be going SLI so thats why im buying the 1000w, the GPU suits my needs for now, later I will be may upgrade

@zanzabar, ill look into the other HD's, they are better because of their 320 gig platters?...and why do you say go ATI if i like movies?

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Ati video playback is better especially at 1080p

I would say you gpu is also way under what your gonna want. Only $165 after a big rebate for this Gigabyte 4870 reference card
(just like any other brand and will be good for you) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125225

[DistortioniZm]

I'd change the motherboard to the DFI x58 also, and get this hd 4870 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

[DistortioniZm]

Oh, don't forget a good cpu cooler like a Xigmatek or Noctua.

[Elementnz]

I haven't read up much on the new 10K rpm drives but the old Raptors lacked any real world kick last i read.

swap that 9800 for a GTX 260+ or even a 4870 if costs can be saved.

Seconded a nice cooler. Either formentioned is fine.

620HX prob good enuf. But 750TX if you dont mind cables.

Rams fine just costly.

Case is a good investment make sure u like it as a Lian Li lasts very well.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

if the case is of any question, I would consider the A70B instead of the older v2000.

its actually a bit cheaper: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=204&products_id=22332

Cable management is guaranteed to be easier ans it still has tons of space for watercooling. also the v2000 can have trouble with mounting some aircoolers due to the socket on some motherboards being too close to the divider. Lastly this case will give you very good GPU cooling with the 2x120mm fans right next to the GPU's feed lots of fresh air.

[Chruschef]

I'd pick a Foxconn bloodrage over the EVGA anyday. This EVGA's very first intel motherboard, I for one wouldn't want to be apart of the screw ups. Their next board should be amazing though.

heres a relatively good roadmap: http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2007/1109/kaigai399_08l.gif

I'm not sure if this is still true, but I read a very long time ago, that mainstream processors would use a different socket. LGA1336 would be considered the "high-end" series, because of the amount of bandwith due to the built in memory controller. the mainstream socket would have the memory controller on the motherboard. keep in mind, i read this very long ago.

Motherboard variety should improve with time, like usual.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I'd pick a Foxconn bloodrage over the EVGA anyday. This EVGA's very first intel motherboard, I for one wouldn't want to be apart of the screw ups. Their next board should be amazing though.

heres a relatively good roadmap: http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2007/1109/kaigai399_08l.gif

I'm not sure if this is still true, but I read a very long time ago, that mainstream processors would use a different socket. LGA1336 would be considered the "high-end" series, because of the amount of bandwith due to the built in memory controller. the mainstream socket would have the memory controller on the motherboard. keep in mind, i read this very long ago.

Motherboard variety should improve with time, like usual.


you are correct cruschef, as of now x58 is the only sckt 1366 chipset and the P series board will be on the i5 platform with socket 1160 with less PCI-E slots and smaller caches.

[B.E.E.F.]

@ PSU overkill, i may be going SLI so thats why im buying the 1000w, the GPU suits my needs for now, later I will be may upgrade

@zanzabar, ill look into the other HD's, they are better because of their 320 gig platters?...and why do you say go ATI if i like movies?

ATi has the settings for videos set to more natural colors and deeper blacks. With a nVidia card this requires tweaking to get it to look right.

Look at the power requirements before buying a PSU. 2xHD4870X2 on a Core2Duo Quad will suck down ~750W. What do you plan on putting in that PC that will suck down 1KW?

PSU's have certain efficiency ranges. A 1KW PSU will have the range higher up than say, a 500W PSU. If you can do with a lesser PSU, then get it. Your PSU will suck down less watts, put out less heat, and will be cheaper.



Look into the Thermalright CPU coolers. Forget about Noctua, more expensive worse performance. Heard good things about Ximatech. Cheap, powerful but noisy.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

beef watch what you recommend here, I blew out a TX750 with an overclocked quad and 2 x Voltmodded 4870's . I wouldn't recommend anything under 850 to someone who thinks they may go multicard.

that said I am always an advocate of buying the PSU you think you will need 1 year from your build because buying a new PSU when you need to upgrade in 6-8 months just sucks

[B.E.E.F.]

beef watch what you reccomend here, I blew out a TX750 with an overclocked quad and 2 x Voltmodded 4870's . I wouldn't recommend anything under 850 to someone who thinks they may go multicard.

that said I am always an advocate of buying the PSU you think you will need 1 year from your build because buying a new PSU when you need to upgrade in 6-8 months just sucks

Ok. My bad.

Correction:

750W PSU running near peak with 2xHD4870x2 and a Core2Duo Quad stock.

[R0bert]

Questions:
1. Do I need to buy a Audio/Sound Card, if so what do you recommend?
If you've got some good speakers IMO buy card like Asus Xonar DX, or if you are gonna hook up PC to some home theatre system buy even Xonar HDAV with HDMI.


6. There isn't much choice in motherboards for LGZ 1366, when will this change?
Most? of the manufacturers released their motherboards, I don't there is gonna be much more of them.

FUTURE PROOF as possible.
There is no such thing as futureproof :)

[M31]

Overkill on the PSU, unless you plan to go multi-gpu its not worth it.



I do not agree on that, one of the hearts of a PC that can last many builds apart from a case is a PSU.

Good solid PSU, stay with it.

[CharMz]

i may get this video card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433, if the 90 day step up program works even though its not a 280(their newest)?

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

what would you want to step up to though?

[zanzabar]

@ PSU overkill, i may be going SLI so thats why im buying the 1000w, the GPU suits my needs for now, later I will be may upgrade

@zanzabar, ill look into the other HD's, they are better because of their 320 gig platters?...and why do you say go ATI if i like movies?

those drives are faster becouse of the 320GB platters and the 500GB samsung blows away every other 500GB drive, and i wouldnt buy seagate becouse they make the slowest most noisy drives and i dont like their customer service they denied my RMA becouse the non raid class drives were in raid. also samsung only makes enterprise drives and they are the only ones that u will see in servers for DB archiving

as for video 3 things 1) with NV u have to tune the card and the monitor were ati has the bass profile tuned prity well and if u have a monitor thats tuned or close it has awesome colors, 2) AVIVO sets black and null to black NV only sets black to black so depending on the studio a movie can look retarded and u have high brightness dark pixels (cpu based codecs do it too most of the time), and 3) AVIVO has a cleaner look than PURE u can find reviews but PURE just dosnt look like a dvd player

[Nasgul]

I'd go with a higher quality memory kit, like G.Skill: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231236

Change the MoBo to an ASUS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131346

PC Power & Cooling 1000W for $199.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703003

Forget the Velociraptor, get two 320GB Seagate drives for $65e. and for $130 you'll have 4x the storage space and same or higher speed.

And no need to buy the pre-overclocked cards from eVGA, you can do that yourself with RIVATUNER, it's easy and FREE. Yes, the 260GTX 216 is a better card for the price.

[Hot'n'Chilly]

Oh, don't forget a good cpu cooler like a Xigmatek or Noctua.

Good point. I went with a Noctua, and its very quiet and nice so far.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Yes, the 260GTX 216 is a better card for the price. In my personal opinion

Fixed.

please do not deliver an ultimatum on a card battle there is no ultimatum about.

[CharMz]

@ snipe dog i could use the 90 day step up program to get a 295 card :D

how about instead of getting that raptor i buy:

this SSD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231220 - 140 USD
and then recommend a fast 7200 RPM drive for me?

i will use the SSD for the OS and the programs i use daily, 64 GB should be enough, if you dont think then i could always go to http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231221..

recommend any other SSDs?

[zanzabar]

the no studier app dosnt work in x64, and ocz has a new one out soon

[Nasgul]

Fixed. Because I failed to realize.

please do not deliver an ultimatum on a card battle there is no ultimatum about.Fixed.

Perhaps you just don't want to realize that it is........check out the reviews, the 4870 is slower and not only that, but it draws more power than the 216GTX. :yepp:.

And an ultimatum on saving $$$ on electricity/money? Since when people want to waste money on that? Though perhaps you do but some of us know what's best. I don't feel like school people again.

[zanzabar]

i havnt seen the 216 win in everything and it uses less idle by like 3W but like 20W more load, and the 55nm would expand that. but the ati cards do better OGL, then u have better video playback and xfire 4870 beats sli 216 from what ive seen and ati has a new driver for next month with quad support like what the 180 did. so its not like there is a clear winner it depends

and stop egging sniipe on every time he posts some1 goes off on him then he gets a warning point and a locked thread

[CharMz]

yeah please dont fight :D, i accept all of your knowledge

anyway..please look at my post about SSD :D

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Fixed.

Perhaps you just don't want to realize that it is........check out the reviews, the 4870 is slower and not only that, but it draws more power than the 216GTX. :yepp:.

And an ultimatum on saving $$$ on electricity/money? Since when people want to waste money on that? Though perhaps you do but some of us know what's best. I don't feel like school people again.

well the most recent review of the 55nm gtx260 has it tied or losing to the 4870 in 7 games out of 25, now I'm not saying that it doesnt win in the other 17, but 75% is hardly round-able to 100%.

also its power consumtion is higher at load than the 65nm 216 which albeit does perform a 4% less than the 55nm

[XS Janus]

I vote for the cheapest components that will satisfy your need and get the job done.
It's not a competition, at least it shouldn't be...

[CharMz]

I was looking on newegg and it seems the intel ones are faster, gskill ones i linked only go 155mb read and 90 write, while intel go 250 read and only 70 write, i do not understand why the MAJOR price gap (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231220)

I need to be pointed in the direction of a good SSD, and i need more information of the crazy price ranges, and when they plan to come down to a normal persons level

BTW: WHEN are 55nm geforce gtx 260's gunna be able to bought?

[zanzabar]

the price difference is from MLC (cheap) and SLC (expensive), mlc is higher density and slow becouse its stacked memory cell layers that cant use more than one layer at once, were slc is single layer so it can use the whole chip at once. and then there are 2 controllers out right now that u could get a jmicron one thats paired with samsung memory and its common its in the cheap ones and u have to have a raid controller with cashe for it to work properly and its in the, then there is an intel controller with onboard cashe and its paired with micron memory and its used by intel and crucial and they have vary expensive but vary fast drives

i would suggest a pair of veloca raptors or get a blood rage and snag a pair of 15k rpm sas


and SSD drives also degrade so if u dont disable things like defrag or if u copy files alot u can degrade the drive rather quickly over a year or so