Advice on i7 system build please...

Scorpio1000 · 3 Mar 2009 at 19:35

Hello,

I am going to upgrade my old Pentium 4 pc which was used in a home recording studio primarily with Cubase SX for audio production and other audio applications for audio editing etc.
I do use the odd video editing and the only game that will play on this system is Flight SimX with high settings if possible.
I have decided to go with a Core i7 PC which I will self build. My decision to get an an i7 system is so that I do not need to upgrade for the next few years and whatever I am running now will be quick and smooth.

Here is what I have chosen so far:

Processor: Core i7 - 920 2.66ghz,
Motherboard: Asus P6T Deluxe
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme or Thermalright TRUE Copper 120mm
Storage Drives: 1x WD 1TB Cavier Black for Samples/Audio and 1x Seagate 1.5TB for storage. I will also use my old Seagate 750GB and Maxtor 300GB drives.

I need some advice on the following:

Case: Antec 1200 Case (I like this case because it has good reviews about its cooling but I know it may be noisier as it doesn’t have sound proofing. Cooling is more important.)

Memory: Corsair XMS TR3X3G1333C9 (3GB) (I will be running Windows XP 32bit as it is more compatible with my audio software / drivers etc. I am also waiting for Windows 7 so should I just stick with the 3GB? I do not intend to overclock for now)

Graphics: Geforce GTX 260 (Not sure which is the best brand? Was looking at XFX?) (I do not want to use my old 9800XT!!)

System Drives: Velociraptor 300GB (I have heard that this drive runs hot and can be noisy, is this true? Would I see a greater speed benefit using the Velociraptor? I do have two older 36GB and 74GB WD Raptor drives. Installation of the OS and applications on this drive)

PSU: Corsair HX620 or HX1000 (I intend to have at least 4/5 hard drives + the GTX260, Which will be sufficient??)

Monitors: I would like to run 2 20’/22’ monitors which again will be mainly for use with Cubase Sequencer software and for Flight SimX. Any good recommendations??

Optical Drive: I am out of the loop with DVD burners so please could you advise on which one comes highly recommended for good burns? It will also need to be able to read and write to DVD ram discs.

Operating System: Windows XP Professional 32bit with the possibility of dual booting into Leopard.

Lots of questions so your advice and opinions on this would be great!!

Thank you very much…

Microwave · 3 Mar 2009 at 19:44

Case: if you like the case go for it. I have it's smaller varient, the 900 and it's very popular. The 1200 isn't loud. All the fans have 3 speed settings anyway, so if your computer isn't overclocked and you dont do a lot of gaming you can leave them on low.

GFX: The 260 is a great choice, I would recommend either EVGA or BFG, both have long warranties and great customer service. Whichever you prefer the look of / price.

HDD: The velociraptor doesn't run too hot, especially if you get the version mounted in the heatsink. Along side system fans it isn't noisy. Which newer velociprator are you refering to?

PSU: The 620W should be fine as you've chosen a brilliant brand which make very high quality power supplies. However, if you are later looking at getting a 2nd graphics card (+ your 5 hard drives) I would get the 1000W to be on the save side.

Monitors: One word, Samsung.

Optical drive: Just look at the spec of the ones on OC. Any model which fulfils your requirements will be fine. They are all very similar.

If your audio software has problems with 64bit that does limit you. But if you're only using 3GB of ram you will be fine!

Hope this is helpful!

Scorpio1000 · 3 Mar 2009 at 19:47

Microwave said:
Case: if you like the case go for it. I have it's smaller varient, the 900 and it's very popular. The 1200 isn't loud. All the fans have 3 speed settings anyway, so if your computer isn't overclocked and you dont do a lot of gaming you can leave them on low.

GFX: The 260 is a great choice, I would recommend either EVGA or BFG, both have long warranties and great customer service. Whichever you prefer the look of / price.

HDD: The velociraptor doesn't run too hot, especially if you get the version mounted in the heatsink. Along side system fans it isn't noisy. Which newer velociprator are you refering to?

PSU: The 620W should be fine as you've chosen a brilliant brand which make very high quality power supplies. However, if you are later looking at getting a 2nd graphics card (+ your 5 hard drives) I would get the 1000W to be on the save side.

Monitors: One word, Samsung.

Optical drive: Just look at the spec of the ones on OC. Any model which fulfils your requirements will be fine. They are all very similar.

If your audio software has problems with 64bit that does limit you. But if you're only using 3GB of ram you will be fine!

Hope this is helpful!

Thanks for your first and very helpful reply.
Comment about the newer Velociraptor was a mistake which I have edited.

icey_haj · 3 Mar 2009 at 20:10

Case: 1200 is a good case.

RAM: 3GB is fine for 32bit.

Graphics: Instead of the GTX260, get the ATi 4870 which is a steal at £165. They both perform very similarly, but the ati is considerably cheaper.

PSU: 620W is more than enough for the system.

Monitors: Yeah Samsungs are great (got one myself

), but the Asus 22" ones that are currently out have fantastic specs for the price.

Optical drive: Many people would regard Pioneer as top dog for burners, but Samsung, Optiarc, NEC etc are all very good and do the job. Since you want DVD-RAM capability as well, I would go for this Optiarc.

thevet · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:42

i came from a p4 also...you could get the same rig as me in my sig...but go for a powersupply a little less,i would suggest the corsair 1000w for future proof but its up to you...oh yeah dont buy a rampage 2 board...there overated

Scorpio1000 · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:44

thevet said:
i came from a p4 also...you could get the same rig as me in my sig...but go for a powersupply a little less,i would suggest the corsair 1000w for future proof but its up to you...oh yeah dont buy a rampage 2 board...there overated

I agree, the 1000w maybe be better for when I want to overclock, add a 2nd GPU etc later on down the line.

Does a 1000w draw more power than a 620w? or just draws what it needs??

Thanks

ro55o · 4 Mar 2009 at 09:18

Scorpio1000 said:
I agree, the 1000w maybe be better for when I want to overclock, add a 2nd GPU etc later on down the line.

Does a 1000w draw more power than a 620w? or just draws what it needs??

Thanks

It will only draw what it needs, but you won't need anywhere near that kind of power for SLi, the 1000W corsair PSU is seriously expensive aswell. The following would provide more than enough power for either 2 GTX260's or 4870's.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-147-CM&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1103

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-017-ZA&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1102

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-022-BQ&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1083

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-024-TG&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1100

ekam · 12 Mar 2009 at 17:59

i7 not worth it atm get quad core until i7 price goes down

thevet · 12 Mar 2009 at 20:34

get the 1000w psu for future proofing

Scorpio1000 · 12 Mar 2009 at 21:08

thevet said:
get the 1000w psu for future proofing

I did, thanks!!!