Core i7

[Phizz]

New on Intel's new family of processors. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7571600.stm)

[To0]

Ok, these are now available for preorder on OCuk and I was VERY close to putting my order in. The only thing that stopped me in fact is that the release date is after my next pay day so I will choose later what I'm getting. First to note is that the MOBOs that go with the i7 are not cheap: £250-300. Fortunately they are completely kickass (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-289-AS) so make up for it. Also note that the memory is now 3 channel meaning I'll need to buy 2 4Gb packs and have 1 2gb stick as a "spare" As the triple packs on offer are not worth (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-005-CK&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=557&name=Cellshock%203GB%20PC3-15000C8%20Blue%20Edition%201866C8%20(3x1GB)%20Trip le%20Channel%20DDR3) it (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-004-CK&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=557&name=Cellshock%206GB%20PC3-15000C8%20Blue%20Edition%201866C8%20(6x1GB)%20Trip le%20Channel%20DDR3). The cost of the processor is pretty good (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=6&subid=1272) £260 for the entry level 2.66Ghz. One thing that should be noted is that clock for clock these are technically slower than existing quad cores in existing games. However, anything that does take 2+ cores into account for optimisation are faster on this than anything else thanks to 4 physical and 8 logical cores, L3 cache and native quad.

Final thing to note is that, like AMD, Intel have finally shifted the memory controller onto the CPU die, this means that overvolting your Memory is a no no so buying the uber fancy overclock memory that runs poorly or not at all at standard voltages is out.

I'll let you know closer to the time what my build will be but I'm pretty set on:
MOBO (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-289-AS)
PSU (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-039-EN)
CPU (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-252-IN)
Mem (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-125-OC)
GPX (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-165-AS)
HDD (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-053-SA)
BD (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CD-074-LG)

EDIT:
Anyone want to buy a mATX C2D, 4Gb, HD3870, 1Tb? £300 ono

[YcMing]

:O £1264.22 bargain!

[DAve]

Anyone want to buy a mATX C2D, 4Gb, HD3870, 1Tb? £300 ono

I was about to say two things:
1) the price for the old CPUs are going to go down.
2) what are you doing with your old computer :D

What's the model of the CPU/mobo? I'm quite interested.

[To0]

E2160
clocked (right now) to 2.88
£350 for Vista Ultimate preinstalled (I think I need to buy vista again not sure how draconian M$ are going to be)
this mobo (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-098-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=326&name=Gigabyte%20GA-73PVM-S2H%20GeForce%207100%20Micro-ATX%20(Socket%20775)%20PCI-Express%20DDR2%20Motherboard)

[neogramps]

I think I need to buy vista again not sure how draconian M$ are going to be

The activation phone line is now just a recorded voice thing, it doesn't actually ask you if you are installing windows on a different PC until after you enter your details. And when it does it claims to be "a customer survey". If it came down to it, you old PSU blew up and fried your old rig ;) - no way should you pay for Vista twice!

Mine asked me to reactivate after I removed a DVD drive, which I thought was a fairly minor change.

[To0]

My understanding is the EULA stipulates that if the processor/motherboard/hard drive changes (it might need to be 2 of the three) then it is a 'new' computer and therefore your old license is invalid.

You didn't think that spending £100 meant you owned the software did you?

[neogramps]

No, but paying for Vista once is a bit shit, let alone every time you change kit - for a gradual upgrader like me, it'd mean buying Windows every 6 months.

Microsoft would be uber-trillionaires if everyone actually rebought Windows whenever it told them too - mine once made me phone up to reactivate when I just formatted and reinstalled on the same machine (having only registered once before on that machine).

Once they have re-activated your machine, you're good, they won't revoke it later, and don't have the time to actually check up on it. Hell they don't even make you lie to a suicidal call-centre guy in India anymore, it's as easy as pressing 1 or 2.

[To0]

yes but reactivation is different, the licence and registration is tied to a unique hash of your hardware. When you next install in a new machine (in theory) M$ check it against the existing hash and if it is different then they shut that license down. False positives are the reason they don't but technically they could.

[neogramps]

M$ check it against the existing hash and if it is different then they shut that license down

They don't shut the licence down - they just don't let you automatically activate it, and force you call them up and then lie to them to get it fixed.

[To0]

But they could, and it is in the EULA that they will. There were scare stories of Vista not being reactivated after 3 installs and all sorts of issues with Windows Genuine Advantage. I figured that offering fully working, complete, LAN machine was probably more desirable anyway.

[Sideshow]

OT pedanticness: it's not a hash. If it was a hash then you'd have MS on your ass everytime you plugged in new ram / added an hdd / changed gfx card / added nic etc

[To0]

Have you tried vista? you do need to re-register anytime any of those components are changed. Mine even spotted when I swaped MOBO (identical model just for one that worked) Didn't spot the ram change I think, pretty sure it ignore NICs/Wireless cards.

[neogramps]

you do need to re-register anytime any of those components are changed

Well you did pay for the software - therefore you must be treated as a thief and subjected to annoying procedures - haven't you heard of DRM?

Those with a dodgy copy of Vista are never prompted in such horrible ways.

[neogramps]

"Overclockers looking to bolster their new Nehalem CPUs with overclocked memory may be disappointed. Intel is telling motherboard manufacturers not to encourage people to push the voltage of their DIMMs beyond 1.65V, as anything higher could damage the CPU. This will come as a blow to owners of enthusiast memory, such as Corsair's 2.133MHz DDR3 Dominator RAM, which needs 2V to run at its full speed with 9-9-9-24 timings."

:(

[To0]

Final thing to note is that, like AMD, Intel have finally shifted the memory controller onto the CPU die, this means that overvolting your Memory is a no no so buying the uber fancy overclock memory that runs poorly or not at all at standard voltages is out.


AHEM

[Wonderdog]

People still BUY microsoft OS's retail/OEM? Really?

MS Action pack = 240 quid with 10 fully legit (and perpetual) Vista licences (amongst a buttload of other stuff).

Better yet, MSDN sub is about 320 quid for 2 years, and you can have as many copies of anything you want...

I havent bothered phoning Microsoft to re-activate something in yeeeeeaaaars.

#Wonderdog

[Sideshow]

My googling is lame - all I find for MS Action pack is a £200 yearly subscription. Linky for £240 10 license forever?

[Sid]

I have a free MDSN account through my university, which gets me a free copy of Vista Business, but I've never bothered to use it because:

a. I don't want Vista.
b. Legit software is usually a hassle.

Those who are using/want Vista, why is that? What are the advantages?

[Wonderdog]

Thats the actionpack - the licences are perpetual (i.e. they dont expire if you dont renew your actionpack sub).

Add Vat = about £240 (last time I checked).

They send you it in a stylish zip up disk folder type thing too - and update it 4 times a year (when new OS's and apps are released etc).

[neogramps]

I'm using Vista 64, cos I wanted DX10 (not that it's actually any good yet :(), plus i'm adding more ram in a few months and I wanted to make sure everything I needed ran ok on a 64bit system. Which it does.

Honestly, the advantages are minimal, but the disadvantages of Vista are much fewer than I had perceived them to be, I only rarely boot my XP install anymore for stufff that Vista is bad at (i.e. EA Download Manager doesn't work with 2142)

[Wonderdog]

Vista 64 bit is great. Vista 32bit is.... problematic.

[To0]

really? I've had a few issues with 64bit too, wireless cards not having support, programs not running. What issues are there with 32bit?

[To0]

In order for the Action pack to be a legit purchase most single users would have to lie, therefore if you are trying to be moral about making a purchase then that doesn't work. If however you are registered as self employed with a business primarily involved in Access and VBA development then it is entirely legitimate to sign up for this. So, I'll have a few spare licences kicking about for 'employee testing' soon.

[Wonderdog]

Not at all - you just need to be a registered microsoft associate with a vested interest in promoting Microsoft products at some stage. Theres a good chance that many of the tech goons will end up in some form of technical role at some stage, working with (and thus promoting) Microsoft products - so its legit.

Besides, its cerainly prefereably to using a shady corporate iso off of the interweb ;)

[Sideshow]

That's not what it says here (http://www.petri.co.il/ms_action_pack_subscription.htm)

[To0]

Hrm, OCuk have pulled all info on the i7 and X58 mobos. Methinks they might have lost thier exclusivity either that or they have sold out.

[Wonderdog]

That's not what it says here (http://www.petri.co.il/ms_action_pack_subscription.htm)


erm... thats exactly what it says there :D

[To0]

have a look at the picture, not only is this awesome but on the left hand side you can clearly see DDR_Normal DDR_High and DDR_Crazy as options. :)

http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/471-16-nehalem-x58-motherboard.html

EDIT:

http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/471-24-nehalem-x58-motherboard.html

Who can see the problem with an external and accessible clear cmos button?

[Bluepixie]

Ultimate LAN prank? :p

[Sideshow]

You'd have to hope that the reset button only works if you hold it down while turning the PC on, or some other vulcan-nerve-pinch like technique to stop it going off every time you fumble around trying to plug your PSP in.

[GigaFuzz]

Those motherboards are ridiculous!

I know I'd never use most of those features, but I want them all the same.

[GigaFuzz]

http://fugger.netfirms.com/nhm/9.JPG

[DAve]

core speed 5.3gigaherz?!?!?!?! wow.

[Wonderdog]

Its a monster.

#Wonderdog