Core i7 based system build

john10001

john10001

john10001

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22 May 2009
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I'm just wondering what the lowest cost price is that I could pay to get a core i7 based system using the Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66Ghz running Windows XP Pro 32 bit?

I really need a new system now. I've put together my last two systems. The present one is an AMD Barton 2500 (1.8ghz) that I've had for 6 years now so a bit long in the tooth.

My new system is mainly going to be used for music production, running packages like Cakewalk Sonar. Speaking to people at Cakewalk and other similar companies they have said to me that it would be better to have a system based on a core i7 quad core than a dual core with higher clock rate as their software will make better use of 4 cores and perform better.

Some of the ready built core i7 systems on Ocuk are a tad too pricey for me. I quite like the budles though e.g: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-003-OB

How much more would I be looking at for other components to put the system together?

If you were to not go the bundle roote but to just select all the individual components for a core i7 build yourself what components would you choose if you wish to overclock to 4.0ghz and have a stable high compatibility system? What cooler and memory would you use etc?

Thanks very much for your advice,

John
 
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+ graphics card of your choice
 
Drake22 said:
no gaming at all?
Click to expand...

Nope no gaming though I will use it for flight sim now and again (but that's of course not a game) ;)

Not been a gamer for quite a number of years now. I think if I was putting a gaming system together I'd go for a system based around the wolfdale dual core 3.33ghz.

Mostly audio work multi tracks in Sonar etc but some video stuff as well.

John
 
That list looks pretty good and the price is good too!

Would the antec 300 case be big enough to accommodate cooler? How much could I OC the cpu too with these components?

Cheers,
John
 
You will still need a graphics card though as x58 Boards though as they don't have onboard. Do you have an gamer friends that might be able to give you an old hand-me-down? if not just pick up an ATI 3650 - cheapest is about £35. It won't really handle the latest games but then you aren;t looking for that.

Also bear in mind that the Gigabyte board above only has 4 RAM slots which limits your ability in the future to upgrade.

The ASUS P6T SE has 6 RAM slots but you loose SLI capability. Again if this is not going to be used as gaming machine this is not really a loss.

Shame you have to buy now as you would probably be an ideal candidate for the new P55 and i5 boards coming out soon.
 
Namak said:
Shame you have to buy now as you would probably be an ideal candidate for the new P55 and i5 boards coming out soon.
Click to expand...

I second that. If you want to save some money, and if you can wait a few more weeks (what's a few weeks after six years, right? ;)), then wait for Core i5.
 
core i5 is only about the same as i7 in gaming, but it loses quite a bit in applications, rendering etc, due to lack of hyperthreading.

Don't get the i5, because 1366 socket is the future, + you will be able to upgrade to six core later on, which should really benefit from tri channel.

As for overclocking, you will just have to go to bios, and set the base clock to 191 (for 4011 ghz) and then find the lowest voltage that it will be running without failing, by using system stability tests, such as prime95 or linx.

It's easy, you will have no prob.

As for graphics card, get something cheap to fill the slot. (maybe hd4770) or go for gtx 260 to be on the same level with the rest of the spec.

as for motherboard, if you want 6 slots, you can consider Biostar mobo for about the same price
 
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