I built a Core i7 machine a few months ago on an Asus P6T Delux board with 6 GB of ram. I also have a stable overclock, with the CPU running at 3.6Ghz, and the memory at 1440Mhz. I've run every kind of overclock stability test I can find on it to make sure there are no data errors.

Most of my CEP results complete in 6 to 6.5 hours, and because of hyperthreading, 8 tasks run at once. On the old Intel P4 single core, no hyperthreading machine I used to have, tasks only ran one at a time, and CEP took between 12 and 13 hours per task. That means I'm producing 16 times more work in a given time span now!!!

I now have a very powerful PC and it's nice to know that someone is benefiting from the money I spent to build it when I'm not using 100% of it's capacity. It's rare that I use all of it's CPU time for something I'm doing. Though I must point out that its only powered on while I'm actively using it. At around 320 watts, having it on 24/7 would cost about $30 more on my monthly electric bill, and that's too much. But in the hours that it is on each day, I'm producing 16 times more work than my old machine was, so that's cool.

Remember, if you're using your machine for other things at the same time, like recording tv and such, you can set your preferences to not use all the cores. For example, I didn't like it ragging all 8 of my cores at a full 100% all the time. So, I dropped the number of usable cpu's in my preferences to 7. You would think that would mean 7 are running full tilt, and 1 core sits idle. However, I've noticed that Vista does a good job of automatically spreading the work load over all 8 cores somewhat evenly, but now you're only running 7 tasks at once, and the overall load on the system is about 87% which is indeed about 7/8 of the full load. I find this to work better than the other setting where you put in a setting for a percentage of processor time where it just pauses at regular intervals. This way, the tasks that are running keep running constantly, you just don't work your processor as hard and it helps keep it cool.

One other thing to watch is make sure you have a very good cooling solution for your cpu. That will do more than anything for system stability when working hard, and also for longevity. I personally prefer the V8 or V10 coolers from Cooler Master. They keep my Core i7's cooler under load than the stock coolers kept them at idle. I can have my system running full tilt on wu's and still have a cpu temp of about 52c. Only thing is, those are huge coolers, so be sure they'll fit in whatever case you have. I have an Antec 1200 case which is not small at all, and with a V8, still only have about 3mm of space to spare. And put them on with Arctic Silver thermal paste. Oh, and remember to blow the dust out every now and then.

You also mentioned power. Look at the efficiency of your power supply. There are some very good quality power supplies made today that can achieve better than 94% effeciency, most are no where near that. Most also run more efficiently at about half to two thirds of thier rated power, so get one larger than what you think you'll need. It'll only use as many watts as the system needs at the time, but if it's not maxed out, will deliver it more efficiently and help keep your power bill down. There are other specs to look at, but these will help.

Enjoy and good luck!

I downloaded Everest and while I was running WCG at 100% with 8 cores my CPU temp was getting upwards of 76C. The second I paused WCG it would drop down to about 52C. This is a HP Pavilion Elite m9600t. It actually only has one fan which is a case fan and a freakin' HUGE heat sink on the proc. I might look into upgrading that to a cpu fan.

I found out that my computer will still record TV even while in sleep mode...so I'm not sure if this will be a 24/7 cruncher or even a cruncher at all. I'd hate to not donate the power of my i7 but it really just comes down to longevity of the machine and the price of power. I have my server (which is a P4 HT) on 24/7 and crunching at 100% for the past couple of years.

i7s run hot. That's it. Period. Nothing special. Nothing wrong. It is just the way they are. The CPU is rated to handle up to 100C so while it can be difficult to manage the heat in the room itself that has a 24/7 i7 cruncher it will not hurt the CPU. Also, most bios's have a setting that will automatically throttle the CPU down when you get up into the upper 80s so you really don't need to worry about damaging the CPU at all. As for us overclockers ... yup we all know that aftermarket cooling is a must, in fact it is usually the CPU temps that is limiting the GHz achievable for people who are aircooling :-)

To switch to an i7 with my current PC (actually two of them) I have been thinking about getting a new mother board to do this. Has anyone had any experience in the area? Where can I find a good source for the motherboard if I can update my HPs to handle the heat as well by adding more power and fans.