Laptop Screen Dead - Help me Build Desktop

**Raush** · 12-15-09, 04:13 PM

Yeah that's fine that it's pickup only, I live in DC so this place is like 15 minutes away

Another question I forgot to ask, would i be better off just going with the new heatsink from Xigmatek or should I get the old one and the converter socket?

Here's a link to the new one that is compatible with the i7 processor and my motherboard - I think
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-029-_-Product

And here's the old heatsink and the bracket I would need to buy to have it fit on the i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233038

I plan on overclocking the processor, so how important is thermal paste? Do I need to buy extra? This stuff has great reviews and is probably what I would get
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...hermal%20Paste

Thanks again computer experts of TTP

**Raptor** · 12-16-09, 12:17 AM

Pretty much every 3-4 years the socket changes enough that if you want to change CPU's you have to get a new one and on top of that they usually get better too.But as far as I know if your getting a new fan for your cpu it should have a mounting system coming with it. Unless the companies have gotten cheap since I built my comp 3 years ago.

Get your hand on a good tube of arctic sliver 5. Thats what I use as well as well pretty much anyone i know at the college whom does custom jobs. Pretty much nothing beats it especially after 300 hours of use when its fully bonded.

Well I won't call myself an expert I just have a passion for custom comp builds and I'm studying the tech and other peoples opinions for when I do my build in 4-5 months. That should last me till I finish up my B.Sc and can start to think about earing money again.

**Raush** · 12-16-09, 12:24 AM

Thanks Raptor, the main reason I'm looking at the after-market CPU heatsink is because I want to overclock the processor -- alot. I'm hoping to take it up to the 3.8-4.0 range and keep things cool, so that requires a good heatsink and thermal compound. I looked at the arctic silver 5 and just decided on this one from OCZ. Both compounds have great reviews so I don't think it should make a huge difference, people actually say the the stuff from OCZ works better

**laggyNgroovy** · 12-16-09, 12:29 AM

Raush.... just out of curiousity, what make/model of laptop did you kill?

**Raush** · 12-16-09, 12:38 AM

I have an HP Pavilion dv 9000 series. It treated me really well for 4+ years, used it all through college carrying it to class every day without a problem. I have also used it for all my gaming needs since the day I bought it up until it broke.

Many people have problems with this model overheating. I solved that by proping the back of my laptop up on a 1/2" notebook so the fan could get air away from the system. Only had to open it and clean it one time in all the years I owned it. She will be missed, but I'm looking forward to this rockin new system

**Veovis** · 12-16-09, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by vectus

Processor - $288.99 Intel Core i7 920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115202

The i7 920 has been available for over 6 months for $200 from Microcenter. I got mine back in April for that price. I can't believe most places are still selling them for $290 now, especially with the i5's doing so well and being so much cheaper.

If you don't have a Microcenter near you, find somebody who does and get them to ship it to you.

Also, RAM prices fluctuate a lot... I have that exact same RAM kit ("platinum" rather than gold which actually has slightly better timings) and I got it for $80 after MIR 6 months ago. Search for a slickdeal and you can probably do the same, unless RAM prices are stuck UP right now.

Those two things I listed would save you $160 total for the same hardware. All the other prices quoted are fair.

**laggyNgroovy** · 12-16-09, 12:42 AM

let me check with a friend, I think she may have the same model, but different issues. Would you be willing to part it out cheap?

**Raush** · 12-16-09, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by laggyNgroovy

let me check with a friend, I think she may have the same model, but different issues. Would you be willing to part it out cheap?

I did purchase the inverter for my laptop (which people say is the problem). So i'm going to attempt to fix it - If it does start working again i'll probably keep it. But If that fails I would gladly sell any parts of it that she needs for cheap. I certainly wouldn't need them anymore.

**laggyNgroovy** · 12-16-09, 12:48 AM

I am fairly sure her issue was the motherboard, it has been a few weeks since I last saw it. I'll have to give her a call tomorrow. Starving college student and all that jazz. I don't mind doing the work, but I generally don't buy parts unless I'm feeling VERY munificient.

**vectus** · 12-16-09, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by Veovis

The i7 920 has been available for over 6 months for $200 from Microcenter. I got mine back in April for that price. I can't believe most places are still selling them for $290 now, especially with the i5's doing so well and being so much cheaper.

The i5 is a mainstream chip. It does not compare to an i7 in performance. The 1366 socket is aimed for top performance where as the 1156 socket is for mainstream (cost/performance). The i5 also does not offer multithreading.

I purchased my i7 from Microcenter. I was not sure where you lived, Raush, so I did not recommend it at first. If you can get it for the $200 then by all means do. It comes with the stock processor. I also recommend picking up some decent thermal paste. I have dropped 10 C just by adding Arctic Silver (and making sure I apply it correctly).

I do not have any personal experience with the Dark Knight from Xigmatek, but I would bet a few coins on the company for putting out a decent heatsink.