Getting back into the game - Building a new i7 920 rig

[trakslacker]

I've been out of the game for while now (life can eat up a couple years real quickly ;)), but am picking up a i7 920 D0 proc and am starting to build a system around it. Been lurking heavily the past few weeks for a crash course in current hardware/OCing, etc. Looking for a few recommendations if anyone would mind dropping their .02.

Decided components are a Core i7 920, ATI HD4890, and Corsair HX850 PSU. Need to pick a mobo and RAM, still.

Mobo: Need to stay in the ballpark of $200 if possible, so looking for a good 'budget' board by X58 standards. Am currently considering either a DFI DK (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136065) or Asus P6T (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359) (non-deluxe). If there are other really strong contenders in this area I'm overlooking, lemme know. Stability and OC capability are the two primary concerns. I'm going aircooled for now, where the extra few Mhz I could gain by a $300+ board would be limited by cooling anyways. I'd go 2x CF at the most, never 3x CF or higher, so number of PCI-x slots isn't a concern. Opinions?

RAM: Am considering either OCZ Platinum (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381) 7-7-7 kit or the G. Skill 6-7-6 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231272) kit. Want something that will overclock well on air, and without cranking vdimm up to 2.0v+. Price range needs to be $150 or less. Other good kits that I'm missing?

Thanks for the opinions to get me back on my feet, so to speak. Good to be back around!

T

[LiberalElephant]

That OCZ Platinum RAM is probably the best bang/buck RAM out there. Remember with i7 you don't want to go over 1.65v on the memory or you'll risk harming your processor. As far as motherboards are concerned, those are good choices. A couple other budget boards that are pretty good are EVGA SLI LE and the Gigabyte EX58-UD4P. You can find both of those boards for around $220 after rebates or bing cashback and they are great boards.

[Flasker]

Any of those mobos would be a good choice.

I'm rather partial to this ram :)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226050

or for a little less $

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226030

[ReverendMaynard]

The DFI DK is a nice little board, and even the Flaming Blade http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186171 is pretty sick for the price.

[Darkboss]

I'm in the same boat as OP. I'm looking for a board around the same price range and I want to keep a nice OC on the 920 i got but am going air cooling too. There are so many boards out there now for this price range and I'm having a hard time finding reviews for all of them in a comparison situation. I want nice stable OC and reliability. But what to choose? I'm leaning towards DFI since it has had some good reviews but then I see a lot of people are mentioning they are DOA out of the box.

I'm still trying to find some good reviews but if anyone has some good links, please post them. I haven't upgraded my system in about 5 years or so and I'm looking forward to doing 920 now!

[TheCarLessDriven]

That OCZ Platinum RAM is probably the best bang/buck RAM out there. Remember with i7 you don't want to go over 1.65v on the memory or you'll risk harming your processor. As far as motherboards are concerned, those are good choices. A couple other budget boards that are pretty good are EVGA SLI LE and the Gigabyte EX58-UD4P. You can find both of those boards for around $220 after rebates or bing cashback and they are great boards.

Since when are budget boards $220? Just because Asus and evga have $400-$500 marketing tools that are gimmicky as hell with red and black color schemes, does not make them "high end". $220-$300 range is still the normal high end range.

[LiberalElephant]

Since when are budget boards $220? Just because Asus and evga have $400-$500 marketing tools that are gimmicky as hell with red and black color schemes, does not make them "high end". $220-$300 range is still the normal high end range.

So are you high or have you just not seen the price of X58 boards? Don't do drugs kids.

[burningrave101]

Since when are budget boards $220? Just because Asus and evga have $400-$500 marketing tools that are gimmicky as hell with red and black color schemes, does not make them "high end". $220-$300 range is still the normal high end range.

The entire X58 chipset lineup for motherboards is considered to be high-end and that's why prices are so high. The i7 is not Intel's budget CPU line. The upcoming i5 along side the P55 chipset is the mainstream line that will offer the budget boards. So considering that all of the X58 chipset boards are high-end $220-$300 is where the more "budget" i7 boards fall in pricing.

[TheCarLessDriven]

The entire X58 chipset lineup for motherboards is considered to be high-end and that's why prices are so high. The i7 is not Intel's budget CPU line. The upcoming i5 along side the P55 chipset is the mainstream line that will offer the budget boards. So considering that all of the X58 chipset boards are high-end $220-$300 is where the more "budget" i7 boards fall in pricing.

well yeah when you say it that way. But the other guy said it like they are the 'cheap' kind at the lower price points for the x58.