i7 920 Build for gaming use.

1426 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Pr0sp3cT, Mar 12, 2009

Syrani

Discussion Starter · Mar 11, 2009

So, this is really my first build for myself. I am dealing with a budget but i'm open for any recommendations, feedback and such. I have purchased a few parts already.

I'll list what I have already.

i7 920
Windows Ultimate 64 bit.
EVGA GTX 260 - 216
Samsung 22x dvdrw

Now the things that I have been looking at.

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 Full Tower Case ( This case I want )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...119160&Tpk=haf

Power Supply - I was thinking of the CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W. But I noticed that it's fan is facing downwards and the HAF PSU mount is on the bottom though it does have a top also.. I am not for sure if it's going to make that supply run harder if I install it upside down. Any opinions for a better supply under $200 or if this will work would be helpful.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139009

Motherboard - ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...%20deluxe%20v2

RAM - I'm open for any opinions.. not trying to go above $150 though.

Hard Drive - Black Caviar 500GB ( on a budget.. looking for something fast but cheap )

Thermal Compound - ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound or Artic Silver 5.. no idea which is better honestly.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186020

As for an air cooler I was either thinking of the v8 or v10.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103055
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103056

But yeah.. pretty much just gaming.. surfing and such.

I do need advice and opinions on parts. I love feedback. Tell me what's what. Not just about the parts the entire build together and help me figure this out.

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Juggalo23451

· #2 · Mar 11, 2009

CPU Cooler go for a
Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 120mm SSO CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Noctua+NH-U12P
$84.99
or
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Coole
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233029
39.99
or
Thermalright TRUE Black 120 CPU Cooler
http://www.crazypc.com/products/true-black-50984.html
67.99

you want just want to air cool
get a antec 1200
http://www.provantage.com/antec-twel...d~7ANTG051.htm

or get the case you want for water cooling
haf cheaper here
http://www.provantage.com/cooler-mas...p~7COOL04R.htm
$131.17

for thermal paste
ocz freeze
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...odlist=froogle

or

IC Diamond thermal paste
http://www.petrastechshop.com/icdi7cathco.html

Power Supply you want but cheaper
http://www.provantage.com/corsair-me...x~7CSM900N.htm
$124.16(20.00 mail in rebate)

ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227381
$119.99($109.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)

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spaceballsrules

· #3 · Mar 11, 2009

The PSU will work fine if you turn it upside down.
Get the WD Caviar Balck 640GB instead. The platters are different, and improve greatly on speed and noise.
Get the AC MX-2 or OCZ Freeze. Either will work very well.
Get a TRUE, Noctua, or a Xiggy 1283 instead of the CM V8.

Reactions: 1

proTip

· #4 · Mar 11, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaceballsrules

View Post

The PSU will work fine if you turn it upside down.
Get the WD Caviar Balck 640GB instead. The platters are different, and improve greatly on speed and noise.
Get the AC MX-2 or OCZ Freeze. Either will work very well.
Get a TRUE, Noctua, or a Xiggy 1283 instead of the CM V8.

Great suggestions. If you can't afford the 640gb hard drive, got with the 320gb one.

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kazakia

· #5 · Mar 11, 2009

The TRUE is still a superior CPU cooler. Just get a LGA 1366 bracket.

Rest looks good. But a 750TX is more than enough even for SLi. the 750TX will handle the OCed 920, SLi GTX260, sound card, WC loop, maxed out fans, 5 HDDs etc.

Syrani

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 11, 2009

Alright, checked through some of those. I think I am staying with the CM HAF case. Also, if I do get the Asus P6T Dexluxe v2 from Newegg I can get
CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145222
Bundled with the Mobo for the same price as the OCZ, any thoughts? I personally wanted Mushkin but seems like it's around $200 RAM.

Also, any thoughts about my Mobo pick? I personally am not going past 4ghz on OC so.

Any other power supply brands or models besides the one I picked any good around or under the $160 range?
Thanks much for all the input.

Blameless

· #7 · Mar 11, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaceballsrules

View Post

The PSU will work fine if you turn it upside down.
Get the WD Caviar Balck 640GB instead. The platters are different, and improve greatly on speed and noise.
Get the AC MX-2 or OCZ Freeze. Either will work very well.
Get a TRUE, Noctua, or a Xiggy 1283 instead of the CM V8.

Good points and I mostly agree.

AC MX-2, Tuniq TX-2, OCZ Freeze, Noctua NT-H1, and TIM Consultants TC Grease 00098 all perform within 1C of each other, and any of them would be fine choices. I personally prefer Noctua's paste.

As for air coolers:

- TRUE...nothing performs better under high heat loads, but a good setup will likely be fairly loud, expensive, and labor intensive (lapping).

- Noctua, good performance for the noise, price is slightly better than the TRUE, but will perform worse.

- If you are on a budget, the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 is acceptable. Another option is the AC Freezer Xtreme. I have both of these coolers and the Freezer extreme is better out of the box, but it's much more difficult to add a better fan to. That said, it's damn near silent with the stock fan and still performs pretty well.

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spaceballsrules

· #8 · Mar 11, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syrani

View Post

Alright, checked through some of those. I think I am staying with the CM HAF case. Also, if I do get the Asus P6T Dexluxe v2 from Newegg I can get
CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145222
Bundled with the Mobo for the same price as the OCZ, any thoughts? I personally wanted Mushkin but seems like it's around $200 RAM.

Also, any thoughts about my Mobo pick? I personally am not going past 4ghz on OC so.

Any other power supply brands or models besides the one I picked any good around or under the $160 range?
Thanks much for all the input.

The case, RAM, and mobo are awesome choices.

As for PSU brands, stick with Corsair, Antec, Silverstone, Seasonic, or PC Power and Cooling. Try to get a PSU with a single rail, but dual rail will be OK if the amps on each rail are good enough for the GTX 260.
Any of these will work - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...e=3881%3A37639

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Syrani

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 11, 2009

Well, I was looking through that PSU list and noticed the Silverstone Elements
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256050
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256049

Trying to figure out if I should stick with a single rail or not.. or if those two silverstones are any good? I will eventually add another GTX 260 for sli but sooner or later when 295 prices drop i'll be switching to that model. Just trying to figure out how my juice is going to be.. I don't want a firecracker >_<

Marlaman

· #10 · Mar 11, 2009

I have the red variation on this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703009
It's ultra quiet and can handle everything you have and then some, heaps of cables. also pretty incognito and not flashy

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Syrani

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 11, 2009

What does it mean by NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) ? =/

Any more help on power supply input would be nice.. trying to get the order out today for the PSU and the case.

Livinstrong

· #12 · Mar 11, 2009

Go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227381 (OCZ) for it has much better ram timings.

Syrani

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 11, 2009

Still stuck on picking a PSU. Down to getting a Corsair and flipping it. or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817152036
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256049

Still confused about the PC power and cooling.. saying they only support Dual 8800 GTX and below.

Korben

· #14 · Mar 11, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syrani

View Post

Still stuck on picking a PSU. Down to getting a Corsair and flipping it. or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817152036
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256049

Still confused about the PC power and cooling.. saying they only support Dual 8800 GTX and below.

That is definitely incorrect It should support higher than 8800GTX for sure. If you still don't feel comfortable go with Corsair.

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Syrani

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 12, 2009

Still having trouble picking between getting the PC Power & Cooling 750W's in red or black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703009
Or getting the Corsair 850TX and flipping it upside down in the bottom.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139009
also no one ever mentioned anything about these silverstone elements.. guessing its garbage
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256050

I think I might go with the OCZ plat 1600 6gb kit
I did find this mushkin, not sure about the times though

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226034

I have hard times deciding things by myself sometimes. -_-

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Pr0sp3cT

· #16 · Mar 12, 2009

I would suggest flipping the Corsair. So far I enjoy mine. I just cut a hole in the bottom of my case to seat the PSU upright though. That can potentially be an option depending on your case of choice.

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