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Building.. Need your help :)

S

Skilletsquirrel

n00b
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
5
Ok I am about to buy parts to build my next system and I have some simple but extremely important questions.
I am gonna list what im gonna get so far and then ask some questions, I know everyone has different opinions, so if you can gimme ideas that seem practical and will give me the best results i would love that.
ok heres what i got so far

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
CORSAIR Dominator 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) x2
EVGA 768-P2-N835-A3 GeForce 8800GTX Superclocked 768MB
Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
Vista Ultimate 64bit

Now where i need help is, what power supply?, what case? ( do i need a larger one or special one to fit that card im not worried about looks really)
Do I get two of those hard drives and Raid them? ( is it worth it?)
I would really like to overclock that processor as i hear it is easy to get to 3.0 ( if so does the ram need to be anything special? I heard something like that)
ANY Thing i missed? maybe that a little faster processor is a good deal? or faster ram?

All i really do is play Wow, and EVE online.
I will be using the new Samsung 305t i think its called, the 30ich monitor
i want to be prepared for the near future and be able to play newer games coming out at full settings.

thanks guys
 
You flat out do not need PC8500 memory for a Q6600. It is a complete waste of money. Futher more you'd probably be better off going with a 2x2 setup to make your life OC'ing easier.

I suggest these g.skill's. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

As far as powersupplies go read these 4 four threads to make your decision. These's plenty of information in there to make the right choice for yourself.
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.co...&postcount=193
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1460
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103
PSU FAQ: http://www.jonnyguru.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1036

I won't even attempt to recomment cases since they are really a matter personal taste. If you listened to me you'd be spending $200 on a Lian-Li.
 
Some good and fairly recommended power supplies you'll get in your expected power usage range is probably the Corsair 520HX/Corsair 550VX. The 520HX is a modular power supply of excellent quality, good voltage regulation and efficiency and is remarkably quiet. The 550VX is completely non modular, but is of the same excellent quality, has slightly more amps on the 12V line (41A vs 40A), even better voltage regulation, and is just slightly less quiet. [H] recently did a review of the two together comparing them, and they both came out as excellent units so depending on what you want I'd probably recommend one of the two of them:

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTQyMCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

You can get the 520HX for about 109 (99 AR) + shipping from ZipZoomFly right now. You can also get the 550VX for 98 (88 AR) + shipping from ZipZoomFly.

Cases are a subjective thing and you really need to pick that one out yourself. We can make recommendations though if you list out what you want in a case. Are you looking for excellent cooling, low noise profile, lightweight, size, looks, etc. We'll try to mention cases where the 8800GTX might have issues with space, but there shouldn't be many. Speaking of the 8800GTX, are you completely dead set on it? Paying 500 for it right now is a pretty pricey investment. It IS better performance wise than the 8800GT, but not by that much, and when you consider the 200 dollar price difference it is a bit hard to recommend the 8800GTX (and that's with the price gouging for the 8800GT, it is *supposed* to be even cheaper than that compared to the GTX). Then again, with a 30" monitor you may just need all that power.

Raptors as a whole aren't cost efficient, let alone raiding them. You will get improved seek times and they are faster than 7200rpm drives, however there is such a higher price premium and for the most part their performance won't be that noticed imo. You'd probably get better use out of getting say 500GB HDD's from either Western Digital or Seagate or Samsung and setting them to RAID 0 or RAID 5 and getting better performance for CHEAPER than each individual raptor.

As for overclocking, you don't really need special ram to overclock a Q6600. For instance, if you get up to the lofy overclock of 3.6 ghz, that would mean you have a 9x400 (9 multiplier, 400 FSB) setting. That 400 FSB corresponds to an 800 mhz for your Ram, and DDR2-800 is exactly specced for that. You can overclock your ram I suppose, having your ram run faster than your FSB, but the gains on doing that on the Intel platform aren't very large. The dominator's you chose I see at 154 each (114AR) for each 2x1GB kit, and that's just a huge amount of money to be spending on ram these days that isn't really needed. If you aren't overclocking the ram (which you don't really need on a Q6600) then it seems crazy to get dominator's, when you could easily say get a 2x2GB kit from G.skill and still have 2 slots left over, and save money and not have to deal with a rebate.

No need to get a faster processor if you are overclocking (and even if you weren't, the Q6700 is a few hundred more than then Q6600 for 266 mhz and that just isn't wortht he money). Same for faster ram. I'd recommend you look at getting a nice aftermarket heatsink if you are going to overclock. The Thermalright Ultima-90 with a good 92 or 120mm fan has excellent performance (it is only clearly bested in the air cooling department by the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme which is a beast of a cooler), and the small size makes it easier to install and use and is less likely to have any issues in clearance comapred to the massive heatpipe towers like the Ultra 120 or the Tuniq Tower.
 
I agree with everything CrashTheNet and Anchen said. Very good advice indeed.

Mark.
 
Markyip1 said:
I agree with everything CrashTheNet and Anchen said. Very good advice indeed.
Click to expand...

me too. You do know that new Quadcores are coming out next month, right? Anyhow, here are some numbers to back up some of their points...

/*------------- <cut n paste> -------------*/
Formulas for Intel platform @ 1:1 settings: (base FSB speed is SDR, or single data rate)
c × [Base FSB speed] = CPU Clock speed (c = CPU Multiplier)
2 × [Base FSB speed] = RAM speed (DDR: double data rate)
4 × [Base FSB speed] = Effective FSB speed (QDR: quad data rate)

On Intel platforms, running the RAM higher than a 1:1 ratio with the CPU is, for the most part, useless, so don't bother trying to do so. If the BIOS does it for you, just let it. All you need is a 1:1 config, though. Here's some possible clock speeds (as always with OC'ing, your results will vary):

Q6600: 9 × 266 = 2.4Ghz, DDR2-533 << STOCK speeds
Q6600: 9 × 333 = 3.0Ghz, DDR2-667 << Nice OC
Q6600: 9 × 378 = 3.4Ghz, DDR2-756 << Good OC, near max for B3 stepping
Q6600: 9 × 400 = 3.6Ghz, DDR2-800 << Great OC, near max for G0 stepping

You won't notice a difference between CL4 and CL5, unless you're running benchmarks (and even then, the difference is negligible), so don't pay a huge price premium for lower latency.

Avg Transfer Rate, Access Time: HDD info, Price
78MB/s, 08.2ms: WD Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB, $160AR
72MB/s, 15.4ms: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB, $65
65MB/s, 13.7ms: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB, $80
65MB/s, 13.2ms: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3300620AS 300GB, $60
63MB/s, 12.9ms: WD Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB, $90
52MB/s, 14.0ms: WD Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB, $70
112MB/s, 13.2ms: RAID0 'cuda's, 600GB total, $120 (ICH9R on P35-DS3R)

As you can see, the 'cuda is twice the size and half the cost, for nearly the same performance. Stick them in RAID0, and you've got an even more cost effective solution. Though, the seek time of the Raptor can't be beat. If you have cash to burn, do so on a Raptor if you really want it. Otherwise, there are better cost effective solutions depending on your needs.
/*------------- </cut n paste> -------------*/
 
OK i took into account everything you guys had said, and came up with a new build using your recommendations
This is what im workin on now.
Im not totally sure about the Motherboard, so tell me its cool and whats with the WIFI part of it? does it have WIFI built in???
This fits my budget weighing in at just around $3000 so budget aside is this good?
(As before will be OCing only the processor to 3.0 or 3.2 whatever is safe)


Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

ASUS P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard

Corsair HX Series CMPSU-520HX 520W Power Supply

EVGA 768-P2-N835-A3 GeForce 8800GTX Superclocked 768MB

NZXT HUSH Black SECC Steel/ Aluminum/ Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM x2 RAID

Samsung 305t 30" 6ms

ZALMAN CNPS 9700 NT 110mm 2 Ball Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler

Rosewill RFX-100B 90mm PCI Slot Case Cooler

APEVIA CF12SL-UBL 120mm Blue LED Case Fan - x2 (to replace the supplied fans)

Thanks for all the help

SS
 
I have those CF12SL-UBL case fans. They're a mixed bag really, they're molex only and some people find them loud. Thus if you find them too loud for you keep in mind most fan controllers I've seen are 3 pin so you'll need an adapter.

I personally think they sound about as loud as a 80mm fan.
Some people also complain they move about as much air as an 80mm, thus why my friend gave me 8 of em.
Again, I don't have an air flow meter but I think they're normal for their price.
 
That Asus mobo has a built-in wifi card. Hence the wifi in its name.

Anyway, ditch that mobo. It's an old chipset and does not have official support for Intel's new Penryn CPUs. I recommend any of these mobos instead:

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 Motherboard - $86
Abit IP35-E Intel P35 Motherboard - $90
Abit IP35 Intel P35 Motherboard - $120
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R Intel P35 Motherboard - $130
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P Intel P35 Motherboard - $145
Abit IP35 Pro Intel P35 Motherboard - $168
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 Intel P35 Motherboard - $175

Just to help you out: If you don't need RAID, more than 4 SATA ports or legacy ports, then the IP35-E is a good choice. If you need legacy ports, than the DS3L. If you need firewire and RAID, than the IP35. If you don't need firewire but want 8 SATA ports, RAID, and legacy ports, than the DS3R is a good choice. If you want the DS3R but need Firewire, then go for the DS3P. If you want something that can overclock high, than the IP35 Pro.

Also, ditch the HSF as well. There are much better HSF for that price. I recommend any of these instead:
Tuniq Tower 120 HSF - $45
Thermalright Ultima-90 HSF - $46 & Panaflo FBA09A12M 92mm Fan - $3
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme HSF - $57 & Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 120MM Case Fan - $14

Also, I'd get these quiet Yate Loon fans instead:
120mm Yate Loon D12SL-12 Case Fan - $3.50
 
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