Here's the new computer I'll be putting together

[JCitron]

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM
Item #: N82E16827118030

COOLMAX CUQ-1350B 1350W ATX 12V V2.2 / EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817159068

OKGEAR 12" ATX 4 Pin Extension Cable Model ATX-4P-EX - Retail
Item #: N82E16812123300

EVGA 160-LF-E659-KR LGA 1156 Intel P55 Classified 200 SLI Extended ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813188058

​

Intel Core i7-870 Lynnfield 2.93GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7870 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115213[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'


EVGA 012-P3-1178-TR GeForce GTX 275 CO-OP PhysX Edition 1280MB 448+192-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130527

Creative PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series Sound Card - Retail

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model F3-16000CL9D-4GBRH - Retail (Purchased 8GB)
Item #: N82E16820231281

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007

OKGEAR 12" ATX 8 Pin Extension Cable Model ATX-8P-EX - Retail
Item #: N82E16812123299

Corsair Obsidian Series 800D CC800DW Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811139001


Parts were purchased at NewEgg. www.newegg.com , and should be here in a day or two.

John

 

[djt]

The Intel Core i7-870 is not a bad CPU but for a little more money you are better off just going with the better X58 chipset and a i7 960.

The socket 1156 i7’s have been referred to as kind of a “neutered” version of the i7.

 

[JCitron]

The Intel Core i7-870 is not a bad CPU but for a little more money you are better off just going with the better X58 chipset and a i7 960.

The socket 1156 i7’s have been referred to as kind of a “neutered” version of the i7.

I realize it's a bit slower, but it's more stable. That's why I went with it. I initially was interested in the X58 chipset and the i7 960 (Bloomfield) chips.

John

 

[djt]

I realize it's a bit slower, but it's more stable. That's why I went with it. I initially was interested in the X58 chipset and the i7 960 (Bloomfield) chips.

John

The P55 chipset is no more stable then the X58 chipset is. With the socket 1156 and it’s on-die PCIe controller it’s actually technically harder to get a “stable” overlock compared to the socket 1366 i7’s.

 

[JCitron]

I don't care too much for overclocking my hardware anyway. As an old-time hardware technician, I remember all the bad things that can happen to the hardware if it's pushed. Perhaps it's a bit easier now, but back a few years ago, that was a big no-no.

John

 

[djt]

I don't care too much for overclocking my hardware anyway. As an old-time hardware technician, I remember all the bad things that can happen to the hardware if it's pushed. Perhaps it's a bit easier now, but back a few years ago, that was a big no-no.

John

Not any more especially with the X58 and the i7, without even a voltage increase I hit a completely stable 4GHz+ with ease.

It sounds like you’ve been out of the loop for a very long time.

 

[JCitron]

Not any more especially with the X58 and the i7, without even a voltage increase I hit a completely stable 4GHz+ with ease.

It sounds like you’ve been out of the loop for a very long time.

Yeah and I admit it, and paranoid too.

I'd rather play it safe with my investemnt.

John

 

[Gandalf0444]

Looks pretty good...what are you doing for hard drives?

 

[djt]

Yeah and I admit it, and paranoid too.

I'd rather play it safe with my investemnt.

John

Lol, I don’t drop $1000.00 on a CPU and then play “unsafe” with it.

It’s just another reason to research components thoroughly before setting up a machine, so there’s no reason to be paranoid.

 

[JCitron]

Looks pretty good...what are you doing for hard drives?

I already have two brand new 1TB Seagates I got about 6 months ago for inside the case.

Thanks,

John

 

[johnwhelan]

Are you going with a pin stripe line on the side of the case?

Cheerio John

 

[Gandalf0444]

I already have two brand new 1TB Seagates I got about 6 months ago for inside the case.

Thanks,

John

Yea I think you will be set for awhile with those:hehe: Are you going to set them up in RAID or as individuals?

 

[saintjimmy]

And what about the video card? If you don't play Phys-X supported games (Trainz not being one of them), then you would be much better off spending that on a ATI 5850 which is far faster for that price.

 

[JCitron]

And what about the video card? If you don't play Phys-X supported games (Trainz not being one of them), then you would be much better off spending that on a ATI 5850 which is far faster for that price.

I do play some physx-based games as well, although not recently since I just reinstalled Windows 7 on my old PC. This is still a better video card than my 8800 GTS, which is getting pretty old and flaky now. I keep getting blocks and stripes on it periodically.

Anyway, if I don't like the 275, I can always return it for something else. I haven't used an ATI card in probably 10 years, or when the last one I used caused me much heart ache due to major driver issues.

John

 

[JCitron]

Are you going with a pin stripe line on the side of the case?

Cheerio John

I did forget, that along with the rhinestones for the LEDS and switches.

I hope your new build is going well too.

John

 

[mawilson]

Speaking as someone who just got done with a build, I hope you have as much fun as I did but, not more.:hehe: After that you can enjoy your new system as much as you want.

 

[JCitron]

Speaking as someone who just got done with a build, I hope you have as much fun as I did but, not more.:hehe: After that you can enjoy your new system as much as you want.

LOL, Mark. Very good.

My system went together quite easy so I hope I had as much fun as you did.

It's up and running now, but I still need to install my programs. This is where the "fun" begins.

The new Corsair case was worth the investment. I didn't slice my finger once, which is usually something that I end up doing with most new system builds. The interior is very smooth, and the space is big enough to climb in and take a nap. (Just kidding). The wire management is awesome. There are grommeted holes along the backplate near the motherboard so all the power wires and data cables get routed out of the way. This definitely helps with the cooling.

The other nice thing is the lack of blinking doodads all over the place. I don't care for blinky lights or glow in the dark monster stickers on my system. Other than a single large clear panel, the case is very plain looking.

John

 

[Paulsw2]

....The socket 1156 i7’s have been referred to as kind of a “neutered” version of the i7.

I got an i7 860 for my new PC in Jan, though I have wondered ifI should have gone with a 920. However, it has worked like a dream so far - everything goes really fast! (Including Trainz, I can't believe the framerates.)

Paul

 

[JCitron]

I got an i7 860 for my new PC in Jan, though I have wondered ifI should have gone with a 920. However, it has worked like a dream so far - everything goes really fast! (Including Trainz, I can't believe the framerates.)

Paul

That's good to hear, Paul. I got "worried" after hearing that myself. It seems plenty fast for me as well.

John

 

[djt]

I got an i7 860 for my new PC in Jan, though I have wondered ifI should have gone with a 920. However, it has worked like a dream so far - everything goes really fast! (Including Trainz, I can't believe the framerates.)

Paul

Paul, I'm wondering what were you using before you built the i7/860 setup, was the previous setup “ working like a dream” also?


Could you post some screen shots to show the performance you're getting?