Final Words
The Intel Core i7 processor currently owns the high end of the market, which is the reason the CPU prices remain high relative to Intel Core 2 Quad and the AMD Phenom II. The cheapest Core i7 920 CPU is around $300, with two more models going for $600 and $1000. In addition, the Core i7 uses a new socket 1366 and supports the first triple-channel DDR3 memory configuration. That means new Core i7 buyers will be shopping for a number of new and unique components as they move to Core i7.
Despite the high cost of the CPU and the uniqueness of some components, we have shown that it is possible to build a complete high performance Core i7 system for as little as $1450. That price is for a system with 1TB hard drive, Blu-ray player/DVD burner, a Radeon HD 4870 1GB video card, 1920x1080 monitor, keyboard/mouse, and even Windows Vista Home Premium. If you have some components that are compatible with a Core i7 build, you can reduce the cost even further. Just be sure you will not be leaving performance behind with the components you are considering moving over to a new Core i7 build.
We also showed an extremely flexible Core i7 overclocking system build with components selected to support overclocks to 4.0GHz with the Core i7 920 processor. While the cost was just a bit over $2000 for the complete system, the overclocking i7 system should carry you considerably higher than the current top-line Core i7 965 which runs at 3.2GHz. The OC system was pushed toward value overclocking but the $1010 965 CPU is unlocked and it could be the basis of a "highest performance at any cost" Core i7 overclocking system.
Finally, our Core i7 Dream system used all the best performing parts we could assemble in a $5000 "performance king" system built around a 30" S-IPS panel LCD driven by an NVIDIA GTX 295 dual GPU video card. The Dream Core i7 includes the superb Silverstone "positive pressure" aluminum case and the similarly excellent Corsair 1000HX modular power supply driving a $1010 Core i7 965 and 6GB of fast Mushkin DDR3-1600 triple channel memory. We could have carried the "dream" even further with items like RAID 5 storage, a boot SSD RAID, quad SLI with two GTX 295, or a GTX 285 triple SLI setup - supported by the ASUS motherboard used in the dream system. We went as far as $5000 would take us and paused, but there could definitely be more.
The point of all this is that while the Core i7 CPU is the most expensive processor family in today's CPU market, there are still many options. You can build a complete i7 system for less than $1500, use the Core i7 as the heart of an overclocking computer for around $2000 that has incredible performance potential, or use the top $1000 Core i7 965 as the basis for a luxury system with extreme performance for gaming, photo editing, or graphics. The Core i7 is that flexible and is at home in a wide variety of computer configurations. Of course, if all you do is surf the Internet, write email, and work in Microsoft Office, you should save your money and get a more reasonable system - there are plenty of people that simply have no need for eight logical processing cores.
We hope these three systems with widely different goals and prices have given some ideas of where you might like to take a Core i7 build. Wherever you take it, you will be extremely pleased with the Core i7 performance. Core i7 owns the top of the current CPU market because it delivers the best performance in the market today. There is definitely a price premium but you get the best performance you can buy in today's desktop market with an Intel Core i7 system.
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Wesley Fink - Thursday, February 5, 2009 - link
We consider the Seagate and Western Digital equivalent choices, as long as the Seagate is the latest 1TB with the latest model number as detailed in the OC system. We have tested both and both perform very well. We have not tested the Samsung selected, but we have tested a similar drive. The Samsungs are generally reliable and selecting it for value at $95 was easy in the Entry i7 system where every dollar counts..For the Dream System we wanted to use a 2TB drive with an SSD boot RAID, but it is a few more days until they hit the market so we didn't believe we should recommend something you can't buy quite yet. The higher the density on drives the more data that can theoretically be written or retrieved in the same rotational space. Since the 2TB drives will have even denser platters than the 1TB, they should be even faster in a system - all else being equal.
goinginstyle - Thursday, February 5, 2009 - link
If you are trying to save every penny in the entry level system then why not drop down to the WD 640GB caviar black drive at $70. That is close to 1TB in storage at just about the same performance. The $25 could have been spent on a better case like the lian li pc7b or antec solo or a better audio setup.sinnerman13 - Thursday, February 5, 2009 - link
I am certainly nitpicking here, but I would never buy a Logitech Speaker System for my dream system. I could just as well hook the soundcard to the pc speaker... I would choose something more like the Motiv 5 from Teufel (http://www.teufel.eu/PC-Multimedia/Motiv-5.cfm)">http://www.teufel.eu/PC-Multimedia/Motiv-5.cfm). So much better...chrnochime - Thursday, February 5, 2009 - link
For that amount of money I'd go buy studio monitors and build myself a 5.1 system that'll outperform 5.1 in a box.strikeback03 - Thursday, February 5, 2009 - link
Not that I have ever heard of that system or company, but for $650 you could also start thinking about jumping up to real home theater components.PrinceGaz - Thursday, February 5, 2009 - link
Exactly, rather than buying "computer" speakers, pop down to your local hi-fi store and buy a quality surround-sound system. It is likely to be at least as cheap and sound better than "quality computer speakers". They might not come with all the cables you need to hook it up straight out the box, but a few high-quality Monster Cable leads later, you'll be up and running, and it will sound perfect, thanks to the combination of high-quality speakers and amplifier, and the best quality Monster Cable leads to connect them.Actually you might want to skip the Monster Cable and just buy ordinary leads unless you want to waste money on something worthless. But Monster Cables do come in nice packaging, so don't be put off by the over-inflated price-tag.
Tacoeater - Tuesday, March 3, 2009 - link
Why would you waste your money on Monster cable? Can you show that they are better than a pair of radio shack audio cables?I had an acquaintance that was a speaker manufacturer in Colorado Springs, Colorado( he died a few years back). He, arguably, manufactured the best speakers in the market with a very flat frequency response. He tested monster cable versus radio shack and found that radio shack cables were fine. Maybe the price tag on Monster makes it legit, but from what I understand, you are paying for branding. It really is amazing that alchemy is alive and well today and thriving in the audio industry. People with too much money gobbling up marketing.
sinnerman13 - Friday, February 6, 2009 - link
If you would configure a HTPC for a home theater, you might be right. But for a "gaming/office dream machine" a PC 5.1 system is just perfect because you don't need to buy an AV receiver, so you save space, cables etc. and your workplace looks more organized (something I always prefer ; )). Also I wouldn't underestimate the system I recommended,the sound is really great and the boxes have an applelike look and feel.And although we are disussing a "dream machine" the price point is always important to me, and buying a AV 5.1 system with a receiver and cables would be a lot pricier, for almost no gain.
And btw I would never throw my money away for monster cables its really not worth it, at least for me.
Jaramin - Thursday, February 5, 2009 - link
Having separate Core i7 and Phenom II guides is good idea, much more interesting in this situation than a pointless head to head for products that don't really compete each other in pricing. Well done! Waiting impatiently for Feb 8th now!BSMonitor - Thursday, February 5, 2009 - link
Ummm actually the entry system does compete in price against a Phenom II.CPU - 295 vs 230
RAM - 70 vs 50
MB - 185 vs 100
~ $150-175 difference?? I love how AMD fans tout the price difference.. But uhh, not really.
And the i920 Nehalem will crush that $150 price difference...