i7 system vs X4 955 BE system, same budget

[da_park91]

Ok, basically I have a budget of 1500 bucks to spend on a desktop, including a monitor. So I went to build two separate systems, one using intel CPU + NVIDIA card and the other using AMD CPU +ATi video card, and this is what I came up with (AMD system is approximately 50 bucks cheaper):


Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1 SAMSUNG 2243SWX Glossy Black 21.5" 5ms Full HD 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ HDCP

$189.99

1 SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

$84.99

1 Logitech 967740-0403 Black USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard

$9.25

1 CABLES UNLIMITED ACC-1400 Anti Static Wrist Strap With Grounding Wire

$5.99

1 Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920

$279.99

1 COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP Black SECC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

$58.99

1 LG 22X DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH22LS50 LightScribe Support

$27.99

1 OCZ XMP Ready Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3X1600LV6GK

$104.99

1 EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

$329.99

1 EVGA 141-BL-E757-TR LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX X58 SLI LE Intel Motherboard

$234.99

1 CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

$109.99

1 COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler

$59.99

VS
Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price

2 XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

$389.98

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

$109.99

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8 G

$114.99

LG 22X DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH22LS50 LightScribe Support

$27.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

$84.99

COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 RC-590-KKN1-GP Black SECC / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

$58.99

Logitech 967740-0403 Black USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard

$9.25

COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler

$59.99

ASUS M4A79T Deluxe AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard

$189.99

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor

$210.00

SAMSUNG 2243SWX Glossy Black 21.5" 5ms Full HD 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ HDCP

$189.99

CABLES UNLIMITED ACC-1400 Anti Static Wrist Strap With Grounding Wire

$5.99

I'm planning to OC whichever system I buy (thus the cooler). I've talked to a couple of my friends, and they had differing opinions. Some said go with the i7 system because the CPU rocks, and 285 is the best single GPU card out there and this system will pretty much max out most games.

However, some others mentioned how intel will discontinue i7 920, and that I'll be screwed in the future when I have to upgrade or if the 920 breaks, while AM3+ will be fine in the future for upgrade. They also mentioned that since I'm more of a gamer than anything else(I dont do much CPU intensive things like video/music/art type of thing, or computational math things), graphics are more important in a system, and 4890 crossfirex'ed will beat the 285 hands down.

Which one do you think I should buy? And also, ANY suggestions on replacing any part in either systems are welcome (for example, my cooler -- is it an okay one for the price? but please consider my budget) because to be honest, I'm not much of an expert in terms of computer hardware (infact first time building one by myself).

ALSO NOTE, I'll be buying the system NOT NOW, but most likely mid-august or maybe even late august, but I just wanted to get some info asap. And ordering everything from newegg.com

Thanks!

 

[Iontheable]

If you aren't buying till mid August, I wouldn't start pricing things out too specifically, as prices will change by then.

As for i7 being discontinued, you should read up on that..Intel will stop producing the "lower-end" CPU's and focus only on the high end i7's while they work on the release of the i5

The nearly $300 i7 920 is still completely viable.

 

[da_park91]

I see, hopefully prices will drop in a month or so, then I could get a better mother board or a better keyboard as to the discontinuation, I think you're right, I don't really have a strong source for my info...

 

[Iontheable]

**Edit** My advice to you on the GPU, would be to pick up a Core 216 Superclocked GTX 260, with rebates you can grab it at newegg for just under $100(**$200**loltypo) (which destroys any other card in that price range)

The reason I suggest this is that there are some really great cards coming out in the near future..and if you have the money to burn getting just ONE of them will be worth your interest.

Good Luck

I see, hopefully prices will drop in a month or so, then I could get a better mother board or a better keyboard as to the discontinuation, I think you're right, I don't really have a strong source for my info...

Its pretty difficult to get a 'strong source' for info when it comes to this stuff, sometimes.

My best suggestions would be to sit on google and read any article you can find on it..while that doesn't guarantee you perfect knowledge, you'll at least be up to par with the rest of us misfits

 

[da_park91]

**Edit** My advice to you on the GPU, would be to pick up a Core 216 Superclocked GTX 260, with rebates you can grab it at newegg for just under $100 (which destroys any other card in that price range)

The reason I suggest this is that there are some really great cards coming out in the near future..and if you have the money to burn getting just ONE of them will be worth your interest.

I was actually planning to stay with the 285 (if i buy the i7 system) and then in a year or two buy another 285 and SLI them, and if i went to the AMD system I'm not sure what I would do.. but I'll consider your advice thanks a lot

 

[Iontheable]

I was actually planning to stay with the 285 (if i buy the i7 system) and then in a year or two buy another 285 and SLI them, and if i went to the AMD system I'm not sure what I would do.. but I'll consider your advice thanks a lot

I've read the 260 Superclocked is similar in performance to the 280. With that said, its a hell of a lot cheaper at the moment.

Hell even a 9800gt isn't a bad deal these days, buddy of mine just tossed 3 of them into his box, 16x16x4 I believe. He plays that game Prototype like its his graphical b*tch, really great stuff.


And I have to comment about your Monitor, you're looking to get a nearly "top-notch" card, but these cards are designed for higher resolutions, resolutions to which I don't think your 21.5" can support, might I suggest upgrading it? For only $20-30 more you can get a 24" which will support 1920x1080 which will really help your graphics shine.

Just my 2c

 

[da_park91]

The monitor I was planning to buy has 1920 x 1080 resolution I believe, but should I still buy a 24'' one? I mean if the resolution is the same it won't matter much right?

 

[Iontheable]

If that 21.5" monitor displays 1920x1080, then you're just fine as far as your graphics card goes.

If it were mine, I'd pay a few extra bucks for a few extra inches heh, I love the 24'' they look fantastic..and having two? Having two is like a dream come true.

 

[da_park91]

So overall, you think I should take the i7 system?

 

[Iontheable]

I just built a new PC and I struggled over saving a few bucks or going all out with an i7..

I got an i7 myself.