My new i7 machine..... any recommendations

[zakdoc89]

I'm in the process of building an i7 machine, I have rounded up some components that I think may be the right ones to choose, for most of the stuff I have tried to look up reviews, and find the best value for money, so far this is what I have come up with.

Here is the list of items:

Corsair TR3X6G1333C9 3 x 2 GB kit (12GB's RAM)

ASUS Rampage 2 Gene, Asus P6T, or MSI platinum

Intel i7/Nehalem 920

Vantec ioN2 van-600N (must have 1x 6pin & 1 x 8 pin PCIE connector) Is this enough?

DVD writer

500 GB, S-ata2 HD

Samsung 2333SW monitor

Razer Arctosa Silver Keyboard

Microsoft Sidewinder X3 laser gaming mouse

Microsoft windows Vista Ultimate 64bit/business or XP

Cooler Master CM690 or HAF922

GeForce GTX260 CORE216 or 9800GX2

This PC will be used for Architectural Design as well as gaming. Programs used will be Autodesk Revit 2010 and AutoCAD 2010. Games used are crysis, burnout, Farcry, CNC3 etc.

Can anyone recommend anything better for less?
I've e-mailed antowan for a quote, as well as prophecy and sybaritic. I've looked for some quotes on the web and found Rebeltech to be the cheapest so far. Still waiting for other quotes to arrive, probably get them by monday.
Who else should I speak to?

 

[ponder]

Who else should I speak to?

PostmanPot comes to mind.

 

[zakdoc89]

PostmanPot comes to mind.

I'm in JHB i believe he is in CT? don't wanna waste his time.

 

[killadoob]

You should put in some extra cash and get a 4890, does not look like money is that much of an issue.

 

[ponder]

Microsoft windows Vista Ultimate 64bit/business or XP

Just use the Win7 RC for now until you can buy it.

 

[TowerGuru]

Revit Architecture 2010 will kick ass on that machine! 2010 eats ram for breakfast you will definately have enough there! Rendering with an i7 will go much quicker too i imagine!

 

[ponder]

Rendering with an i7 will go much quicker too i imagine!

For those that want to dream how about rendering with two i7 cpu's?
http://www.tyan.com/product_board_list.aspx?cpuid=1&socketid=20&chipsetid=49

 

[zakdoc89]

You should put in some extra cash and get a 4890, does not look like money is that much of an issue.

What happens if I manage to secure the 9800GX2 from esuire for R2300, should I still go for the 4890?
How much better is the 4890 than the GTX 260 or 9800GX2? any reviews?
:erm:Money is an issue, I want to build a good system but I need to look for products with the best bang for buck. The more I can save the better. I don't want to spend 50% more for a 5-10% performance improvement.

 

[Necuno]

You should put in some extra cash and get a 4890, does not look like money is that much of an issue.

aaa ati fanatics strike at no4,

reading the op i wondered when one of the religious followers would quickly mention the red god over green hehehe.

zakdoc89, why not go with 275 ? , definitly i7 is my next buy to upgrade my rendering box

I don't want to spend 50% more for a 5-10% performance improvement.

or; [ati] with or 50% more hot fixes/driver issues, or change for bios mishaps

 

[zakdoc89]

Just use the Win7 RC for now until you can buy it.

Ok then, I'll save about 2k, but can I then upgrade it without formatting the entire system? ie: no fresh install?

 

[Necuno]

For those that want to dream how about rendering with two i7 cpu's?
http://www.tyan.com/product_board_list.aspx?cpuid=1&socketid=20&chipsetid=49

nice, now lets go rob a bank or something. 144gigs ram + 2x i7 ==

 

[zakdoc89]

50% more hot fixes/driver issues, or change for bios mishaps

What do you mean by that? is the nvidia 200 series buggy? or is the 9800GX@ buggy?
BTW for +/- 1700 more would I get a better performance?

 

[Necuno]

Ok then, I'll save about 2k, but can I then upgrade it without formatting the entire system? ie: no fresh install?

fresh install is always better between beta / rc / final. but you might be able to do the cversion.ini thing and upgrade.

What do you mean by that? is the nvidia 200 series buggy? or is the 9800GX@ buggy?
BTW for +/- 1700 more would I get a better performance?

i was speaking of the 4th series of amd's pnp choice gpu ranges. Curious Q, since some of the 4850's cards needs an aftermath cooler does the 4890 as well ?

 

[zakdoc89]

fresh install is always better between beta / rc / final. but you might be able to do the cversion.ini thing and upgrade.

OK, I think I'm making an issue for nothing.
The Tyan mobos aren't that expensive the latest, and greatest i7 mobos are far more expensive. http://www.avadirect.com/product_details_parts.asp?PRID=12904
Also would it be hard to find this mobo in SA?

 

[Necuno]

http://www.redlinx.co.za might sell.

http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardw...x-64Gb-Ddr3-Ceb-Vga-Gbe-Sata-Raid__B0021Z12X6

 

[ponder]

Also would it be hard to find this mobo in SA?

Try Redlinx else import your own.
Tyan really does make great workstation/server boards.

 

[zakdoc89]

OK I think I'm sticking to what I had initially decided on, The tyan mobos are a dream, right now I need some advice on the components I selected. For starters which motherboard would you guys/girls recommend? I'm leaning towards the ASUS mobos, Since I've had a bad experience with MSi A couple a years ago. The intel range is out of the question since it only has four slots for RAM. I'm looking for good performance, quality and price. I don't want to overspend too.

 

[psc]

The Tyan "server" boards take the Nehalem Xeon processors which are somewhat pricey

 

[Thestealth]

Can anyone recommend anything better for less?

Yes. Buy AMD

 

[zakdoc89]

Yes. Buy AMD

OK, so which AMD processors should i look at? The phenom II AM3? I'm looking for something that will do well with design, 3D rendering and gaming as well. From what I have read, the AMD processors tend to Lag behind with CPU intensive tasks, Autodesk products are CPU intensive, hence the decision to go with intel's i7,