The Official Intel Core i7 thread

[DesmoLocke]

*THREAD FOR i7 QUESTIONS/ DISCUSSION*

My updated rig!








Next thing is to update the graphics cards to either 1 or 2 GTX 285s or wait for the new ones coming out soon. And SSD prices are coming down fast. Cant forget a better CPU cooler if I want to take it beyond 3.2 GHz...



Old on the left. New on the right.





My only bottleneck now is my old 8800GT..... I have to update that next month.

[Brummy]

You've put this in 3 threads..

[LithiumFox]

how much that cost?

[DesmoLocke]

You've put this in 3 threads..

Yeah. Sorry. I was trying to revive an old thread but it quickly got buried again. So I decided this thread could be for those looking to upgrade to the i7 and wanted to ask some questions to those on the forum who already have an i7 system. Plus Im really really excited with the sheer power of this set up.

[Cptkanito]

Maybe a new CPU wouldn't go a miss?

[Bamboo]

You really should read this article since you are running that ram and see if you can get a boost:

Exclusive: Retail Core i7 CPUs More Powerful than Originally Reported




.

[Outlawz7]

Maybe a new CPU wouldn't go a miss?

Why would he want a new CPU when he just got one of the latest ones on the market?

[RedAlertSF]

With Q9300 and 8800GTS G92, I get 15690 marks.

i7 isn't for gaming anyway and older quads are cheaper too.

[Deadfast]

3D Mark is nothing but ego-meter IMO.

The important thing is how the HW performs in the real-deal apps

[Cptkanito]

Why would he want a new CPU when he just got one of the latest ones on the market?

alright what about a new CPU cooler?

[Robbi]

ok, bump for this as i'm looking at going down the i7 route very soon and want some good/bad feedback

[Lexus@[gp]]

I've just built my new dream system with an i7 chip.
Specs are:
i7 3.20 ghz extreme.
Asus rampage ii extreme motherboard.
2 x bfg nvidia 295 gtx graphics cards (quad sli)
xfi sound card.
12 gb 1800mhz memory (which I can only get to run at 1600mhz hopefully asus will upgrade firmware to sort this)
1 128 gb ssd hdrive
1 320 gb western veliraptor 10,000rpm hdrive
1 1.5 tb 7200 rpm hdrive
1500 w xclio psu
xclio 1000 case.

Running like a dream and scoring 31,000 in 3d mark.
Shame it will be out of date in a month!

[biggles99]

*THREAD FOR i7 QUESTIONS/ DISCUSSION*

My updated rig!








Next thing is to update the graphics cards to either 1 or 2 GTX 285s or wait for the new ones coming out soon. And SSD prices are coming down fast. Cant forget a better CPU cooler if I want to take it beyond 3.2 GHz...



Old on the left. New on the right.





My only bottleneck now is my old 8800GT..... I have to update that next month.

Can I ask which 3DMark Program you are using?

[NYgurkha]

My EVGA x58 mobo came with the E-Leet utility that seems to have the ability to over clock stuff with in a simple manner.

Is it good enough to use to over clock a i7 920 up to 320 ghz? or do i need to go through with other steps you think?

[DesmoLocke]

Wow... I didn't even notice this got sticky treatment.

Update --> It has been a few months and the system is going strong on the 3.2 GHz clock with the stock cooler. I am still in the market for a better CPU cooler but cash flow has been very tight as of late and I have been saving a closed water cooling solution.

My best 3dMark06 score to date. I haven't bothered getting 3dMark Vantage as my graphics subsystem is quite dated. I did try the trial version however. I am still drooling at the chance of getting the GTX 300 series when it is released. The Core i5 release should be great for those looking for excellent bang for the buck. Keep the questions coming...

[VoXiNaTiOn]

Very nice. But expect the GTX300 series to cost £lol when they first come out.


Might as well add that a friend found out the hard way that an i7 920 idles at 75C and loads at 100C+ when it is run passive on the stock heatsink . A cable tie got caught in the fan lol.

[wookimonsta]

heh, my i7 actually idled at 100 degrees once, which freaked me out, turns out that during transport the fan had come loose.

[Drunkenup]

Whats the bare minimum voltage for PSUs that support i7. I have a OCZ StealthXStream 500W PSU, I already have a 9600 running, may SLI. Hoping to get a i7 920 and EVGA X58 Micro. So what PSUs are you guys running? I don't wanna upgrade since I just got the PSU.