Building an X2 rig...

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LstBrunnenG

Supreme [H]ardness
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Jun 3, 2003
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Memory: OCZ 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820227204

Case: Antec P180 (on the way...)

Infamous enough that I'm not posting a link ;) It's not at Newegg yet anyway

Hard Drives: The Deathstars in my sig, maybe some 'cudas later

Motherboard: DFI NF4 SLI-DR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136157

PSU: Antec NeoPower 480W Power Supply - Retail (on the way...)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103924

CPU: AMD Athlon X2 4400+

Where to get it? Your guess is as good as mine.

HSF: Zalman CPNS9500

Should be out soon, until then read about it here. If it's not out I'll get this.

GPU: eVGA 256-P2-N528-AX Geforce 7800GTX 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130234

Fallback GPU in case of budget shortfall: ASUS EAX800XL/2DTV/256 Radeon X800XL 256MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121530

GPU HSF (either card): ZALMAN VF700-CU 2 Ball VGA COOLER - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118117

Thoughts? My goal with this system is to hit 2.8 GHz. I don't want to have to upgrade it for at least two years, unless I have to get the XL in which case I'll upgrade the GPU sooner probably.
 
Only thing I'd change is the video card. I'd get the BFG 7800GTX. Comes clocked higher, and has a lifetime warranty. I just bought one from ZipZoomFly for $619. About $20 more than the Evga.
 
I've heard that since they're clocked higher out of the box their OC performance actually tends to be mediocre. Trust me, though, if I end up being able to afford a $600 video card, which of several manufacturers won't matter all that much to me. I'm more worried about my CPU, RAM, and MB and how they'll work together to get me to 2.8.
 
LstOfTheBrunnenG said:
I've heard that since they're clocked higher out of the box their OC performance actually tends to be mediocre.
Click to expand...
That's crazy talk. That just means you won't even have to overclock them to beat all the other 7800GTX's. Plus, they'll overclock even farther.
 
Your list is out of order (imo) and a bit confusing, but here's how I'd break it down if I were you.

4400+ AMD Retail (try Tiger Direct or Monarch)
DFI NF4 SLI-DR
BFG 7800GTX (memory comes 1300MHz, as well as the core 460MHz, so you're guarenteed that much...that's a pretty decent overclock too)
1GB of something that does 2-2-2 at whatever speed you plan to run at. TwinMOS SP is a stellar piece of ram, but they disappeared? :confused: Overclocked nicely for cheap.

As far as cooling, that's all your own call...I like my XP-120, but I'd like to try something copper at some point, and possibly water cooling...but meh, that's my two cents. Have fun.
 
The only TwinMOS I see doesn't look very overclock friendly. CAS 2.5 and requires 2.6V out of the box. I would think that lower voltage would be better so that when you do start pumping 2.8 or 2.9 volts through that sucker you get greater returns.
 
the HSF looks amazing, but Im kind of weary since they state that it is better than certain types of watercooling...possibly zalman watercooling, but nonetheless, I'd wait for reviews...
 
Bump for the RAM question, or if anyone wants to suggest good overclocking RAM for 1 GB under $150, be my guest :)
 
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