proposed i7 build advice

[allyb]

Hi,

I delayed building my system for a while due to time constraints but now im back on track and considering doing it again.

I have decided to go for an i7 build. I do not intend to overclock at all so was looking at the cheapest way of bringing this in without compromising on spec.

I would like esata and as many sata ports as possible. but i do not care about multi gfx ability.

Can anyone offer advice on the best option?

Thanks.

Ally

[Ciber]

This: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...e.html?ASU-P6T
this: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?CRU-3GDDR3
and this: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?IL-I7920

Works for me
Well I added a Noctua cooler, but you said you're not overclocking.

You could use this instead, not sure if it has esata though. http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...html?ASU-P6TSE

[sammorris]

Only 3GB of RAM with an i7? With 6GB so cheap, there's little reason not to.

[Ciber]

If you're using a 32 bit OS there is a reason not to. Also saves £30.

[sammorris]

But why use a 32-bit OS, realistically? i7 systems are for top end work, if you're only doing stuff that requires 3GB of RAM or less, you could probably do as well with a Core 2 Quad...

[McPhee]

When 3GB can be had for £35 spending almost double on 6GB when it isn't needed definitely ISN'T a bargain. The prices will drop and if the OP finds need for 6GB in the future it'll be an easy upgrade. If it was £45+ for the 3GB then obviously 6GB would be a no-brainer.

[sammorris]

True, but 3x2GB is much preferable to 6x1GB in all respects. I try not to rigidly stick to the same price (unless a specific budget is set in stone) when advising people on builds if they feel they'll get the extra benefit. After all, it is ultimately their decision to click buy, not ours.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

If you're using a 32 bit OS there is a reason not to. Also saves £30.

dunno where you got that from but the 6gb is only £10 more mate

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/3GB-(...d-CAS-9-9-9-24

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/6GB-(...d-CAS-9-9-9-24

[sammorris]

That's using proper Corsair memory. The budget stuff posted in this build was genuinely £30 less than the 6GB of Corsair (Of course, you could also argue that you're comapring basic value memory to Corsair XMS3, which isn't strictly accurate either)


I'd go with the Corsair stuff tbh, Crucial RAM has been pretty dire lately.

[Ciber]

But why use a 32-bit OS, realistically? i7 systems are for top end work, if you're only doing stuff that requires 3GB of RAM or less, you could probably do as well with a Core 2 Quad...

Well, personally I'm using XP32 as I'm waiting for windows 7 and not wasting money on vista64 just before that comes out. Stricly speaking, yes we could all do as well with a core 2 quad. In fact I was doing just fine with my Athlon 64 as a CPU lol.

Yes the crucial is not the greatest RAM, but the OP says he won't be overclocking.

[sammorris]

That's really my point. I'm not saying every man needs more than 3GB of RAM, but what I am saying is people who don't need more than 3GB typically don't need an i7 either.

As for Crucial RAM, overclocking is irrelevant, people who overclock don't usually overclock the RAM anyway, Crucial just have a really poor reliability track record lately.

[allyb]

Hi,

Just thought that I would clear up the ram debate going on lol

I do indeed want 6gb ram, i already have 4gb in my laptop so seems daft goin for less!
my key needs are as follows:
Silence! want it so quiet i cant hear it unless i put my ear to the case.
efficient dont want a power hungry beast if i can help it
storage space - need as many sata and esata ports as poss.
i would like to get this hi spec rig built in preferably not a huge case.

was quite keen on the cm cosmos but it is massive so id rather go for a little smaller, silverstone fortress or antec p193 comes to mind.

[sammorris]

The CM Cosmos is about as big as they get, it's vast. You could use something like an NZXT Tempest, they're very well cooled for their size, and the stock fans are reasonable, but your best bet is to replace any of the fans in a case with Scythe S-Flexes or Nexus Realsilents. They are excellent, especially when dropped to a low speed using a fan controller (I think the Sunbeam Rheobus is the best, but the LEDs are crazy bright, so you'll want to either cover them out or unplug them). Cooling an i7 silently isn't an easy task, but buy a TRUE1366 and put one of the same fans on it and you'll do OK, my TRUA handles a heavily overclocked Core 2 Quad, so at a reasonable clock speed an i7 will be OK.
The sticking point for most PCs on noise is the GPU and HDDs. Stick with WD really on this, going for nothing louder than a Caviar Black. As for the graphics card, the best coolers out there are aftermarket ones like the HR-03GT, again, with a modified low noise fan.

[allyb]

thanks sammorris, some very handy tips there!
i already have the hdds, have sammy spinpoint 1tb - 4 of em + 2 x 500gb seagates to mirror for the os. gfx was thinkin something like a passive cooled 4550 perhaps. only reason i was thinkin i7 is the prices r comparable now and it seems daft going for older tech?? thanks again

[sammorris]

If you run Seagates and Samsungs, especially six of them, what you'll find is you'll get a lot of the 120Hz vibration innate to 7200rpm hard drives (7200 per minute = 120 per second), as Samsungs and Seagates vibrate more than other drives. If this proves to be a problem you should consider suspension.

[jim]

To be honest, if we're talking silent, I would've thought the Noctua fans would score pretty highly. They make an excellent LGA1366 cooler with two fans already pre-attached, and their fans are pretty much the best in terms of noise to performance - pricey, but very good quality. If you need to adjust the speed, the CPU fan should hook into the motherboard, and it might be easier/cheaper to use Zalman Fanmates individually on the case fans to drop their speed to silent, rather than hooking them up to an external fan controller.