Advice needed on new multi-purpose main rig

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mosmef06

n00b
Joined
Apr 17, 2007
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I know you guys never get tired of helping people out with their upcoming rigs, and I’m ordering my parts on Tuesday, so here’s what I’m looking at so far. Feel free to comment on anything and everything here, including anything you think may be missing.

For your reference I use my computer for the following: Games, Web Browsing, Movies/TV Shows, Image Editing, Programming/Development. I don’t play a ton of games at this point but am interested in getting into TF2, Crysis, etc., etc. Given my mixture of activities, I don’t see a significant need for a Q6600 G0, although by getting the 6750 I'm positioning myself to be able to upgrade later on when a large share of applications that I regularly use fully utilize the extra cores.

I tend to think that the extra $100 I save from the quad core is going to the case, which is a more long term investment since my upgrade cycle for the proc/mobo/video cards will likely be much shorter and I’ll want a quality case to continue to house the main rig.

The main decision points that I’m faced with at this point are:
Motherboard, 680i LT vs. P35 – which in turn affects
Video Card, 1 or 2x 8800GT

Total Cost (before shipping):

~$1850 for 680i LT + 2x8800GT
~$1585 for P35 + 1x8800GT

Processor:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 G0 Stepping - $194.00
http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1938254

Motherboard:

eVGA122-CK-NF67-T1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i LT SLI ATX Intel Motherboard – Retail - $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188015

or

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS4 Rev. 2.0 LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard – Retail - $178
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128064

Case:

COOLER MASTER Stacker RC-832-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case – Retail - $240
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119121

Power Supply:

CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply 100 – Retail $170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002&Tpk=corsair+620hx

Memory:

2 x Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory – Retail - $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

HSF:

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler – Retail - $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

HDDs:

2x SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive – OEM - $220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152052

Video Card:

1 or 2x BFG - NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT OC Graphics Card - $280 or $560
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8594381&type=product&id=1190678470708

Optical:

SAMSUNG Black 20X SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner – OEM - $34
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153

Thermal Grease:

Artic Silver 5 Thermal Compound – OEM - $6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

Case Fans:

2x ZALMAN ZM - F3 120mm Case Fan – Retail - $18
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118008


Thanks for your help ahead of time. Let me know if you see anything missing or think that some of this stuff could be improved.
 
Here are some questions that I've been chewing on:

Are there any significant downfalls to using the 680i LT vs. the 680i?

Are there any significant downfalls to using the 680i LT vs. the P35?

What are the benefits I will see out of 2x8800GT vs. 1x8800GT? (Using 1920x1200 monitor)

What will the benefits be of using 4GB vs. 2GB, is this a wise choice? (Will use vista 64 bit if I go the 4GB route)

Thanks.
 
mosmef06 said:
Here are some questions that I've been chewing on:

Are there any significant downfalls to using the 680i LT vs. the 680i?

Are there any significant downfalls to using the 680i LT vs. the P35?

What are the benefits I will see out of 2x8800GT vs. 1x8800GT? (Using 1920x1200 monitor)

What will the benefits be of using 4GB vs. 2GB, is this a wise choice? (Will use vista 64 bit if I go the 4GB route)

Thanks.
Click to expand...

On the memory, if your spending that much money, you might as well get the 4gb. It better to have more then not enough, and memory is cheap right now.
 
ditch everything that's zalman, don't let their look fool you, they are overrated brand. If you want quiet and performance cooling, go with Thermalright heatsink and Scythe Fan.
 
Interesting, what about the tuniq tower, that was my original choice on the HS...
 
The Tuniq Tower does do a better job of cooling than the Zalman. It's cheaper too if you shop around a bit.

Anyway I'll try to answer your questions in a while from now.
 
:confused:

I just checked the NewEgg page, and the 2GB Ballistix kit was $90. As for the 2GB vs. 4GB debate, 4GB is useless unless you're using a 64-bit version of Vista. The added memory will help if you use Photoshop or video-editing software... though you may or may not see much impact with games. If you do decide to go 4GB, get the 4GB G.Skill kit. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I've heard that Gigabyte still has problems, on occasion, addressing four RAM slots being used at the same time....)

As for graphics quality, you may be better off with an 8800GTX/Ultra instead of a second 8800GT. What specific monitor(s) do you have? Any monitor over 24" would justify SLI if you want excellent frame rates with everything on.

And save your money on the case fans -- Xoxide has Yate Loon 120mm fans for $4 each (plus shipping).
 
Why go with 2x2GB over 4x1GB with lower cas latency? Is it because of the problems that you mentioned with gigabyte boards addressing all four slots?

Do you think the 680i LT is stable enough to go for it over the P35 board? I would like to run games at or near top settings, although I understand that won't happen with games like crysis, which will require an upgrade when the next refresh/chipset comes out.

I'll take the advice above and go with the Tuniq and the case fans from xoxide.

Thanks and keep the advice rolling.
 
mosmef06 said:
1) Are there any significant downfalls to using the 680i LT vs. the 680i?

2) Are there any significant downfalls to using the 680i LT vs. the P35?

3) What are the benefits I will see out of 2x8800GT vs. 1x8800GT? (Using 1920x1200 monitor)

4) What will the benefits be of using 4GB vs. 2GB, is this a wise choice? (Will use vista 64 bit if I go the 4GB route)
Click to expand...

1) Not really. There are less voltage options, but some people have just flashed the 680i BIOS from the NF68-A1/T1 onto the NF67-A1/T1 without any problems. This opens up more voltage options, IIRC.

2) Stability and overclock ability. The P35 boards are a bit more stable and can OC better.

3) You'll get better framerates and can turn the detail up more -- more GPU power. For a 2MP screen, gaming at native resolution should be done with at least a single GTX/Ultra. A cheaper alternative to those cards would be the GT's in SLI. I'd go for this option if I were an avid gamer and had such a large LCD.

4) The benefit would be faster overall computing, since you'll have to page less. You'll need a 64-bit OS to take full advantage of all 4GB, though.

mosmef06 said:
5) Why go with 2x2GB over 4x1GB with lower cas latency? Is it because of the problems that you mentioned with gigabyte boards addressing all four slots?

6) Do you think the 680i LT is stable enough to go for it over the P35 board? I would like to run games at or near top settings, although I understand that won't happen with games like crysis, which will require an upgrade when the next refresh/chipset comes out.

A) I'll take the advice above and go with the Tuniq and the case fans from xoxide.
Click to expand...

5) Running 4 sticks on any board gets tricky, especially if you're OC'ing. While the problems seems more prevalent in nForce chipsets, there still are some intel chipset based boards experiencing the same problems. Most of the problems are with the memory controller not delivering enough power to the 4 slot, from what I've seen. The safer choice would be 2x2GB, but if you really want 4x1GB, then go for it. You won't notice the difference between CL4 and CL5, so don't pay a huge price premium for lower latency. You'll only notice the difference in benchmarks, and even then, the difference is negligible.

6) The 680i LT SLI seems to be more stable than the 680i SLI. I'd only choose it over the P35 chipset boards if I needed SLI.

A) The Ultima90 + Panaflo fan would be a better solution IMO since it performs similarly with the Tuniq. It's also lighter, smaller, and easier to install.

$46 - Thermalright Ultima 90 CPU HS + Panaflo Hydrowave Fan, FBA09A12M - Z ($3)
 
Thanks for that incredibly helpful response. Now a quick follow up..

What's the impact to future upgrades in terms of 680i LT vs. P35. It would seem that the 680i will allow me to upgrade video cards fairly easily, but what about procs? Is it drop-in compatible with penryn or does that require the p35/x38? How about the FSB difference between the P35 and 680i, what impact will that have on current and future cpus?
 
What makes you think that 680i LT makes its fairly easy to upgrade video cards over the P35?

As for Penryn support, yes the 680i chipset will support Penryn CPUs at least from what I've read so far.
 
I was thinking specifically of the ability to run SLI video cards, for example the G92 or others at a later date. This is based on the assumption that nvidia will not license the SLI capability to intel for use on the x38, etc. boards. The p35 will limit me to one 16x PCI-e video card vs. 2, that's all. Anyone have information counter to that thought?
 
from what i've read the 4x1GB is a less stable OC than 2x2GB, and anyway.

the case might be were you save money also, because if you wanted to yo ucould probably spend about $170 on a antec 900, which would limit cable management and overall look, but has excellent airflow and is a fair bit smaller than the stacker. (sorry guys, i just love that case...)

also i would expect that a single GTX/ULTRA would mostly outperform 2 GT's, and it also means you can save money on a mobo, meaning the possibility of a higher OC and then you could jsut buy yourself an aftermarket cooler for the video card and maybe an XFi audio card to boot.
 
I thought two 8800GT's would outperform a GTX/Ultra? Sorry, I, too, am too lazy to look it up myself, lol.
 
What do you all think of getting an X38 board given the recent news regarding the R670 ATI RV3870 Chipsets coming in significantly cheaper than the 8800GTs. This would allow me to do Crossfire 2x RV3870's for under $500. Thoughts?
 
Well, there hasn't been any concrete review of that card yet. So wait until some benchmarks and reviews of the new ATI cards come out before buying. Also, Crossfire isn't as mature and well-performing as SLI, well in the past anyway. Dunno if these new ATI cards will do better with Crossfire.

So basically, wait until some hard numbers and reviews for the new ATI cards to come out before deciding between X38 and 680i.

Personally I really do hope that new ATI cards do perform better than their Nvidia counterparts at a lower cost. After all, competition drives prices down and innovation up. Also, this is ATI's chance to make up for the piss-poor 2900/2600/2400 series cards.
 
Danny, I went with your earlier opinion and have just ordered a single 8800GT at this point along with the other hardware (can't wait for ATI reviews in the unlikely event that they're good, given that I've been without a main computer for 5 days). I'll update the thread when I've got all the hardware in a day or two and let you guys know how it turns out.
 
LOL!

All right, man, have fun with the build! Post some pics of it if you can!
 
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