Building a budget used rig for a friend 1366 or 1156

[Eight08]

Hi guys this is my first post - I've been a bit of a lurker on here for a while - but I'd like some advice... I'm going to build a rig for a good friend and I've got a few parts here that I can throw towards it - and will have to acquire some - I'm trying to keep the cost down - so here's the parts I have - and Ill tell you what my thoughts were as to a system - he will use it for FPS gaming etc.

The parts I have that I'm prepared to give to his build are the following

360 Radiator / Pump / Res / Block / Case / Fans

Have either a set of X58 DDR3 that will hit 2000 mhz with a tickle of the volts ( 6gb ) or a set of ddr3 dual channel 1866 mhz (8gb)

a Gigabyte GA-EX58-U3DR 1366 board. ( No CPU at present for it will have to acquire so the cost will come into it )

GTX 480 + koolance block.

In my mind I thought that giving him a X58 setup set on 200 x 20 i.e a 920 heavily o/c will get me the best bang for buck. I.e I've only got to buy a CPU to throw at it... but in all realities is a 1366 @ 4ghz going to cut the mustard for someone for 2 years? Also I don't want to invest too much but I do kind of want to make the guys day as he can't afford a weapon system - and has drooled over my watercooled rigs for many years...

Would the investment in a sandy and board really reap rewards? or would the gain be minimal for a gaming rig?

 

[hmmblah]

I'd go the 1366 route. X58 is still a viable platform, even for the next two years. If you had no parts I'd say go 1155, but if all you will need is a 920 it's a no-brainer IMO.

 

[Matthias2437]

Yeah 1366, still a very capable platform.

 

[Eight08]

Hrrm well 2 replies is enough to me - I much prefer working with X58 anyways - I mean whats the point of an OC if it's only on the boost side!

Time to find myself a 920 and push some volts through it..

 

[SkinToxicated]

I have a 920 @4Gz and it stable as a rock. makes sense if you have 1366 components lying around already as youll be able to build a very capabale rig for very lil money. dunno if you can get a new 920 as i think they have stop making them but the ones up from that are still cheap

Welcome to the forums

 

[Eight08]

I have a 920 @4Gz and it stable as a rock. makes sense if you have 1366 components lying around already as youll be able to build a very capabale rig for very lil money. dunno if you can get a new 920 as i think they have stop making them but the ones up from that are still cheap

Welcome to the forums

Thanks for the welcome

Umm ill just grab a used D0 from Ebay - seems to be plenty popping up on there for a reasonable price with overnight shipping...

I had a 930 o/c to 4.0 before my 970 - and it was great - infact - my 970 is @ 4.0 and it's very rare that I feel the difference - I think my games are slightly smoother given the spare cores for running things that usually would encroach on my 4/8 cores... but I just wondered about these sandy things - I've built 2 rigs for people but have not tried to o/c yet... I like my big x58 base clocks... it's nice to have a constant o/c.