Help me build a new machine for my brother

[Tuck]

But won't the Sandy Bridge processors and mobos come at a premium when they are released? Could that wreck my budget?

[Qicmee]

SB will have a slightly higher price, but it's not a premium-priced enthusiast product. Reports say the new technology adds $15 - $20 to the motherboard price.

[Zantheus]

Tuck I have that Antec case that was in your orig post. Been using it for a couple of years. It's a good case the only problem was cable routing is not as nice as others...or maybe I was lazy when I put it together and now I can look into the case and see the mess.

+1 I have the same case...it is a great case aside from keeping your cables tidy

[Rand{CLR}]

Haven't you guys been reading the other Sandy Bridge threads?

a) They're out now. Have been since last month.
b) They're under recall. Should be fixed relatively soon thought.
c) You DO need a graphics card if you want to play something modern, especially if you want to play something like BF3. The build-in graphics ability is impressive, but it's not gamer quality for modern titles.
d) They are surprisingly inexpensive. Don't get the 2600K, get the 2500K. The "K" models are unlocked so you can overclock them, they are reported to overclock beyond 4GHz on stock coolers, and the 2500K is downright cheap. The Mobos are at least $100 less than Core i7 boards.

-Rand

[pigworthy]

I only recommeded it because his friend is not a gamer, thats why I recommended no GPU. If he decided to become one he can add one at that time.

No, get the 2600k! lol. The 2500k is a better deal, but the 2600k comes the 2mb for cache and a better onboard gpu if you decide to go that route.

And in case somebody doesn't know, when we are talking about a Sandy Bridge recall, it's not on the processors, its on the motherboard chipsets. Processors are fine.

[Devilguns]

Well there could be two possible scenarios once Sandy Bridge comes back on the market. They will come out of the gate discounted to get people over the fact there was a snaffu. Or they will be at a higher price point to recoup the billion dollar + loss. Rand is correct about still needing a dedicated graphics card. The video on the chip is equal to about a $60 or $70 video card. Expect about 30 fps at low resolution.

Just for giggles, here is some DX10 comparisons between my build and a SB build just using the onchip video of the SB.

http://3dmark.com/compare/3dm06/15282742/3dm06/15256607

And here is a SB with the same cards as mine, just awesome:

http://3dmark.com/compare/3dm06/15256607/3dm06/15369918

On average a 40 to 50 fps increase with a lower clock, insane. In real world optimized games, like BF2BC, I would expect it to be even higher.

I just wonder how long the recall will last. The big companies are supposed to get their revisions in march and products start shipping in April. Maybe the new revisions will trickle out and supply and demand will drive the prices up. Who knows.

[Duke{CLR}]

I just hope the recall doesn't hold up the production of Sandy bride laptops too much because mine will be three years old in November so it will be time for a new one. I also hope to build a HTPC in July so any bubble caused ny the recall should be dissipated.

[BadHabitz]

I just hope the recall doesn't hold up the production of Sandy bride laptops too much because mine will be three years old in November so it will be time for a new one. I also hope to build a HTPC in July so any bubble caused ny the recall should be dissipated.

I work at an Intel 'fab' that's producing the SB chipsets. I'd be shocked if this 'bubble' lasted months instead of weeks.

And my disclaimer is I just work there, I'm not an expert.

[Duke{CLR}]

I'm sure they want to move things along as fast as possible and they are wiling to fork out the $$ to make it happen.

[Duke{CLR}]

LOl here is something that address the laptop issue.

http://www.google.com/reader/view/fe....com%2Frss.xml

[BadHabitz]

I'm sure they want to move things along as fast as possible and they are wiling to fork out the $$ to make it happen.

It's a matter of shifting priorities. I wish I could say more, but I don't know exactly where the line not to cross is hiding. I'm not sure if I know anything that's a company secret, but I do know I like having my job.

[Duke{CLR}]

It's a matter of shifting priorities. I wish I could say more, but I don't know exactly where the line not to cross is hiding. I'm not sure if I know anything that's a company secret, but I do know I like having my job.

That's why I don't get in discussion about aviation security too much, you never know what could be interpreted sensitive information.

[Tuck]

Since he doesn't plan to do any intense PC gaming, I think we're gonna go ahead and move forward with the build. While it's tempting to wait a couple months, he just got broadband for the first time, and I hate to make him wait a couple more months for a machine that's decent. He's currently using a 6- or 7-year-old Dell. Yes, it's that old.

But I plan to replace my machine, probably after tax time next year. By then, this new technology will be cheaper and debugged.

[Qicmee]

By then, this new technology will be cheaper and debugged.

I'm sure he'll be unbelievably pleased with the performance of his new system. If he doesn't have an external backup drive yet, I like Seagate's goflex drives.

As for your own build next year, if you're buying near the leading edge of new technology, forget about "zero defect".

Intel can't stand still. I read that the standard chipset later this year will be Ivy Bridge (size-reduced Sandy Bridge). Intel says that Ivy Bridge will give a 20 percent CPU performance advantage over Sandy Bridge, plus support for DirectX 11. For gamers it won't matter, but it should have 30% faster graphics.

[Devilguns]

Since he doesn't plan to do any intense PC gaming, I think we're gonna go ahead and move forward with the build. While it's tempting to wait a couple months, he just got broadband for the first time, and I hate to make him wait a couple more months for a machine that's decent. He's currently using a 6- or 7-year-old Dell. Yes, it's that old.

But I plan to replace my machine, probably after tax time next year. By then, this new technology will be cheaper and debugged.

Oh yeah if he's coming from a machine like that he'll be more than pleased with the performance of the machine you spec'd out. When I built my machine in Nov, I was well aware of SB, but the upgrade junkie in me couldn't wait and I don't regret it.