Upgrade time.

[bpgt64]

I know I have mentioned possibly upgrading within the next year, but fortune smiled upon me today financially in one way or the other lets just say. And so I am pushing my plans forward a bit because my wifes computer is on the verge of death. So she gets..my old rig and I get to upgrade sooner than I thought.

So here's the plan;

Current rig;
Intel E8400
8 gigs of G.Skill DDR1066
320GB Seagate Drive
500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.11
1TB Phantom Data External
2x G.Skill 64gb SSDs
Corsair P128 SSD(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233087)
Arriving tomorrow
Sapphire HD 4870 X2
P5Q SE/R
Xigmatec 750W Modular PSU
Lite-on generic DVD Drive

Wifes old rig:
Gateway POS(Circa 3 years ago for 300 bucks), which I intend to steal the HD and DVD Drive from.

My New Rig;
UD4P X58 Gigabyte mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128374

Crucial DDR3 1066 3x2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148246

HAF 932, N-ster has convinced me to give it a shot.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

i7 920 From Micro Center
http://microcenter.com/single_produ...dium=leader_bnr&utm_campaign=hmpg_intel_i7920

Scythe Mugen-2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093

XFX GTX 275(Single for now, will probobly go SLI in a month or so)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168141503870

Corsair 850W PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009


Corsair P128 SSD Drive
Lite-on DVD Drive
1TB Phantom Data External
500GB Seagate Barricuda 7200.11

Wifes new rig;
Intel E8400
8 gigs of G.Skill DDR1066
320 GB Seagate Drive
P5Q SE/R
Old Antec 300
Old DVD Drive from Original PC
HD 4870 X2
Xigmatec 750W


Plus 3 Pre-orders for Windows 7, and 2 Pre-orders for Starcraft 2. That's right, she plays Starcraft. She actually sometimes comes close to beating me too with a solid zerg rush in the beginning..but beside the point. My plan is to leave my current rig intact minus the PSU, GPU, HDs, and DVD Drive. That is leave the mobo/cpu/ram mounted, and uplug the power to all of it and move everything into a new case. And then put the replacement parts into my old rig. I have also already taken the liberty of installing the 2 G.Skill SSDs into my laptop.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

I suggest a lower latency ram at a slightly higher voltage ($5 difference). But read the owner's manual on your motherboard to make sure that 1.6V-1.65V isn't a problem on default settings. You should be able to download load it before buying it from their website.

 

[LittleLizard]

Its all fine but IMO you should do the effort and buy this MSI X58 Pro E. Its better than the one u choose and also can do raid.

 

[mlee49]

New parts look nice man! Only suggestion I would say is to address your cooler. The Zalman is marginal and with the heat that your i7 will bring you need a better cooler. Id say to go with the Megahalem:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/prmeforinso7.html

Of course you will need a good fan like a Sycthe S-flex 1900 rpm.

Also I like the Nocta:
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/nonhsecpucof.html

 

[n-ster]

S1283V or Scythe Mugen 2 as HSF... This RAM is a great OCer and much cheaper.. perhaps not as godly as before, but still pretty darn good

Make sure you have room for the HSF you choose! also, don't forget a good TIM!

 

[bpgt64]

I really can't wait for the Corsair P128 to arrive tomorrow, Even with the shitty J-Micron Controller stutter the SSD Drives were great in Window's 7...and the P128's controller is supposed to be pretty rockin'.

I rolled back my laptop and desktop to Vista the other day and about threw up even after applying SP1 and 2...and I am back on 7 on my laptop, and will be on my desktop tomorrow.

I like the ram suggestion, think it will be worth it in the long run, also liked the motherboard change, initially I just searched for the cheapest one, with decent reviews, but I use you guys for a sounding board for suggestions untill I finalize everything.

 

[n-ster]

perhaps a gigabyte ud3/ud4 ? GREAT Board and GODLY BIOS

 

[freaksavior]

get the crucial value ram, no need to spend the money on the 1600 mhz shit. the crucial clocks to over 2ghz.

Also, i had that ram, couldn't get it past 1750.

 

[bpgt64]

Decided I am going to get this Motherboard, has the best reviews on a few sites for the price...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359R

And after reading a few of the newegg reviews about the Scythe Mugen-2, thinking price/performance should go with;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093

Anyone think getting an open box item would be bad? It should work just fine right?

Trying to figure out the best GPU for the money right now also, I am thinking an HD 4870 1gb should do the trick, and is priced nicely, however I am wary of the whole HDCP Compliance schlog, Does her moniter need to have it? because it doesn't. But I wasn't sure if it required it or not.

Any suggestions on thermal compound? And or a better CPU Heatsink and fan other than the Scythe Mungen-2?

 

[n-ster]

I don't like that mobo to be honest... The gigabyte mobos are much better and their BIOS is realllllllly good. Like This board You can also check the FS section here or in other Forums... You may find this board used Another good board would be the ECS X58... Or if you don't mind having problems sometimes (meaning RMA etc), DFI DK is a great board. Just please don't get the P6T

The Scythe is a great cooler indeed... As for Thermal compound, The Shin Etsu is awesome and cheap!

Take a look at The 80-Way TIM shootout

 

[bpgt64]

Yea I am thinking some of that MX-2 will do just fine with the Mungen 2. Plenty of good reviews of it used on the i7 platform to convince me. And the price is right , not really willing to pay double the cost for 2C difference.

Just got the new P128 from corsair installed...and booted up Windows 7...and I am ...speechless...it hauls ass when installing apps.

 

[n-ster]

MX-2 is expensive... The Shin Etsu I recommended is 5$ cheaper and does the job as well if not better than the MX-2... The MX-2 is very popular though

Have you thought about the GB ud3 instead of the p6T?

 

[bpgt64]

I have been, and it's a rough choice, on the one hand the P6T did really well in the benches I saw here;
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/x58-motherboard-i7,2252-21.html

That and I have had 3 Asus mobo's and host of there other products, and have been really happy with dealing with their customer support. I didn't like that it chewed thru so much power however as seen in that article.

 

[phanbuey]

MX-2 is expensive... The Shin Etsu I recommended is 5$ cheaper and does the job as well if not better than the MX-2... The MX-2 is very popular though

Have you thought about the GB ud3 instead of the p6T?

I can vouch for this... I have that shin etsu paste - a bit tougher to spread, but the performance is virtually identical to my MX-2. Although, personally - Tuniq tx-2 (lol mx2 tx2 wtf) is my favorite.

 

[bpgt64]

Moving information to the top of the thread.

 

[LittleLizard]

Looks good for me

Get this instead of that mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157155

Is better in most senses and also can do sli (if the future favors nvidia)

Also it has 6 memory slot

 

[n-ster]

The ud3R does SLI and Xfire too... and 6gb of RAM is much more than enough for a LONGGGG time so 6 slots isn't needed, and anyways filling all slots is never recommend... it is cheaper, and has a better BIOS

Why favor that RAM you ask? Easy, it's cheap as hell and performs marvelously... Many people at TPU are running their crucials value RAM at 2ghz cas 8 or something like that You can probably at least get 1600 cas 8, and even if that would be the max it would give you, after that, you won't see any difference between that and a 2000 cas 6 Hence, save yourself the 30$

 

[bpgt64]

I am just seeing alot of posts on the ud3R reviews talking about compatibility issues with the Crucial ram. I am thinking I am going to go with the Asus P6T board and the crucial ram, which winds up costing the least of any combination....about 160+75 ish. I am not really planning on over clocking the 920 very much past 3.4ghz so being able to push it as far as possible isn't that necessary, something the UD3R got high marks for in the THG reviews...

 

[LittleLizard]

Get the asrock board. You wont regret it

@n-ster, no the thing dont do sli, only crossfire.

 

[chuck216]

One Suggestion: For your wife's Rig, Instead of the Antec PSU get a Corsair TX650W or TX750W. The reason is that I own the 512MB version of the Videocard you plan on getting and it will easily overload the split 12 volt rails of the antec PSU 18A per rail simply isn't enough to power it without tripping the overload protection if you run something like OCCT or furmark etc. Get something with a single 12 volt rail. Preferably at least 60A.

 

[bpgt64]

That was something I was wondering about, I'd like her to have something with some kick, and so was thinking an HD 4870 should have enough kick for Star craft 2. As mentioned I currently have a xigmatec 750W, and if I really need to give both systems something like that it would save me some time in not having to move PSUs. I was thinking of getting an 750W Antec PSU because of the bundled savings...but meh

 

[n-ster]

Yes the Gigabyte boards HAD issues with the crucial RAM BEFORE... Now they don't anymore after the BIOS update a long time ago...

And don't all X58's support xfire AND SLI?

EDIT: Even on Gigabyte's site it says the ud3r supports both

And btw, the EarthWatts from Antec are good PSUs... Just not as good as Corsair or PCP&C or Xigmatek or Seasonic

EDIT2: The gigabyte ud3R is a bit expensive at Newegg... check it out at ewiz : http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-EX58U3R It's less than 165$ after MIR

UD3R at 170$ after MIR free ship saves you like 23$

Antec 300 at 50$

Antec 300 60$ FREE SHIP saves you 5 $ lol

70$ PCP&C 500W PSU it's a better PSU

 

[bpgt64]

On the recommendation of a friend, I am going to try the Antec 900 Case, for the mobo the UD3R0 X58, and a Corsair 850W psu, Corsair 850W PSU(which is going into the 900 case), Scythe Mungen 2 CPU cooler, i7 920, Crucial DDR3 1066, Shin Etsu Thermal Paste, and an XFX HD 4870 1GB for my old rig for my Wife. I am keeping the HD 4870 X2 .

 

[chuck216]

The 900 is a good case, you can't beat it for air cooling efficiency. One suggestion, when you put the system together, put your hard drives in the lower drive cage, leaving the middle cage open for clearance for the videocard and airflow to the videocard it will make a world of difference in temperature. Also a side panel fan is a big plus.

 

[bpgt64]

Thanks for the suggestion about the HDs, makes allot more sense. I am only going to have that small SSD Drive and Seagate Barracuda 500gb inside the case so shouldn't take up that much space. I have got some fans waiting in the wings so to speak for any open spots on the 900. I am a little jealous of one of my buddies though, he wasn't content with just one of those huge top fans, so he drilled a hole for the second closer to the front(outside the case). I'll take some pictures next time I am over there, and of this whole process when I build late next week. Now all I need to do is just survive the week.