Need Advice Completing a Build

[coffeejunkee]

jchu14, yes the $220 is also from microcenter. I guess then the 4 vs 6gb ram cost is moot because I can run 4 on the 1366. Good point about efficiency. Anyone know how efficiency compares when both chips are OC to 4ish?

If you plan on overclocking to 4GHz and staying there you might as well get an i5 750 since you'll probably have to turn off hyperthreading and turbo for sure. I guess the i7 860 need a little less voltage though.
I'm curious about efficiency figures myself as well.

The P55A-G55 is a good mobo for Socket 1156.

It's cheap, but is it really good? Seems a bit low on phases/cooling for 4GHz overclocking to me. I would go with the GA-P55-USB3 or higher.

 

[mfenn]

It's cheap, but is it really good? Seems a bit low on phases/cooling for 4GHz overclocking to me. I would go with the GA-P55-USB3 or higher.

Hey, I said it was good, not really good. :awe:

The OP said the he was going to overclock "slightly". 4GHz on a 2.66GHz chip is a little more than a "slight" overclock in my book. The G55 has a ton of features for the price, and will handle a "slight" overclock no problem.

 

[TygGer]

I did originally say slightly, but I already got the itch so I'm going to push it to 4ghz.

Thanks for the info about the PSU. Guess the 650w should do it.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Ok, i agree fine board for running stock or slight oc. It's interesting to see btw that they actually removed a phase and a cap from this usb3/sata3 version when compared to the normal G55 (without sataIII/usb3).

Main extra for the G55 is sata III but personally I wouldn't worry about that. Marvell controller is probably gonna be slower than the ICH10, even with a sata III hdd.

About efficiency, my guess is that the 930 will come out slightly on top since it will probably need a little less vcore than the 860 (assuming we have 2 good chips). But the X58 mobo will probably nullify that gain and total power needed would still be higher than P55.

 

[mfenn]

Ok, i agree fine board for running stock or slight oc. It's interesting to see btw that they actually removed a phase and a cap from this usb3/sata3 version when compared to the normal G55 (without sataIII/usb3).

Main extra for the G55 is sata III but personally I wouldn't worry about that. Marvell controller is probably gonna be slower than the ICH10, even with a sata III hdd.

About efficiency, my guess is that the 930 will come out slightly on top since it will probably need a little less vcore than the 860 (assuming we have 2 good chips). But the X58 mobo will probably nullify that gain and total power needed would still be higher than P55.

IMHO, the main extras over the P55-GD55 are USB 3.0 and x8/x8 Crossfire/SLI.

 

[TygGer]

Ok. I just ordered the rest of the stuff. Does my list sound ok?

1. Gigabyte X58A-UDR3
2. i7-930
3. Galaxy GTX 470
4. G.Skill 6GB
5. CORSAIR CMPSU 650W

 

[mfenn]

Why do people always ask after the have bought the stuff?

 

[RaistlinZ]

Welcome to i7-930 country, my brutha.

 

[Sp12]

About efficiency, my guess is that the 930 will come out slightly on top since it will probably need a little less vcore than the 860 (assuming we have 2 good chips). But the X58 mobo will probably nullify that gain and total power needed would still be higher than P55.

Actually, the 930 is a good deal less efficient -- 50% so it turns out!

 

[TygGer]

I still appreciate everyone's advice. I stated in the first post that I already had the processor and still went with the suggestions on the other parts.

 

[mfenn]

I still appreciate everyone's advice. I stated in the first post that I already had the processor and still went with the suggestions on the other parts.

OK, I just hope you learned your lesson!

 

[TygGer]

I guess I could've saved about $100 for about the same performance... is my list not good?

 

[mfenn]

I guess I could've saved about $100 for about the same performance... is my list not good?

It is find when viewed from a 1366 perspective, but when compared to 1156, it is kinda meh on price/performance.

 

[coffeejunkee]

IMHO, the main extras over the P55-GD55 are USB 3.0 and x8/x8 Crossfire/SLI.

Oh that slipped under my radar, assumed lane-configuration was the same as GD55. But surely interesting, I suppose that makes it the cheapest P55 board to offer x8/x8. Apparently you have to give up 1 cap and 1 phase to make it financially viable. (ga-p55-usb3 has usb3 obviously, so I didn't mention that). Anyways, this is all moot now.

Actually, the 930 is a good deal less efficient -- 50% so it turns out!

Even when both are overclocked to say 4GHz? 50% doesnt surprise me for stock but it was under the impression that Bloomfield generally needs a little less juice when overclocking. Any link to numbers?