Graduation Present: $600 Budget Computer Build

[athlonfx]

Just got $600 to spend on a computer as a graduation present since I got into GT. Before this, I have never spent more than $300 on a computer, so $600 is a LOT to work with.

I want the computer to the be the fastest possible for the money. I am going to be overclocking. I also want the computer to be future proof/upgradeable. I am planning to buy a dual core now (Core 2 Duo) and then upgrade to a quad core (QX6600 or higher) as prices come down. Once DDR3 comes out, I plan to change motherboards and use the same memory that I plan to purchase now.

Here is what I've thought of with a budget of $600 (including taxes and shipping):
Green = Already have / Already purchased
Blue = Current selection
Red = Need help / I am clueless

Processor:
Main questions here are:

1. Will performance differ between the E4300 and E6300 if they have the same clocks?
2. Will the differences in FSB between the E4300 and E6300 (800 vs. 1066) affect how much I can overclock?

E4300 $114.50 Link
E6320 $165.50Link

Motherboard:
I'm looking for a motherboard that supports 1333 FSB (supports the quad core processors) and has a lot of overclocking options. Here are a few choices I was considering, but I'm open to suggestions.

Main questions here are:

1. Does it justify the extra money to go buy a retail motherboard instead of open box motherboard?
2. What's the difference between the Gigabyte motherboards listed below?

MSI P6N SLI-FI 650i $110 Link
Asus P5N-E SLI $141 Link / Open Box $88 Link
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 (Rev 1.3) $100 Link
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 (Rev 3.3) $122 Link


Memory:
I am looking for DDR2800 (or higher) memory that is overclockable. Here are a few choices I was considering, but I'm open to suggestions.

Main questions here are:

1. Does it justify the extra money to go buy higher rated memory (ex. DDR21066 instead of DDR2800)?
2. What is the performance difference between CL4 and CL5? Is going to CL4 worth the extra $7?
3. The reviews for the OCZ ram listed below say that compatibility is limited to a few motherboards. What are the motherboards that are compatibility with this memory?

Corsair XMS2 2 GB DDR2 PC2800 CL4 $96 AR $30 Link
Corsair XMS2 2 GB DDR2 PC2800 CL5 $89 AR $30 Link
Corsair XMS2 2 GB DDR2 PC21066 CL5 $119 AR $50 Link
OCZ OCZ2G8002GK 2 GB DDR2 PC2800 CL5 $74 AR $35 Link
G.Skill F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ $83 Link

Graphics Card:
6600 GT (Already have)

Hard Drive:
Maxtor DiamondMax 21 STM3320820AS 320 GB SATA $70 Link

Optical Drive:
Sony NEC Optiarc 18xDVD+/-RW SATA $34 Link

Case:
NZXT Apollo Black $61 AR $25 (Already purchased) Link

Power Supply:
Ultra X-Finity 600w PSU $4.55 AR $65 (Already purchased)

Heatsink:
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro $29.13 from eWiz Link

Additional Cooling:
I will replace the 120mm fans inside the NZXT Apollo case with the following below:
Thermaltake A2029 120mm $17 x 2 Link
Yate Loon All D12SL-12 120mm $12.98 for 3 Link

Monitor:
Samsung T215W (Already have)

Card Reader:
Vantec UGT-CR900 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader $10.29 Link

Amount Spent: $65.55 AR $90
Current Selection: $483.29
Amount Left: $51.16
Total with Current Selection: $548.84

 

[engiNURD]

Processor:
Main questions here are:

1. Will performance differ between the E4300 and E6300 if they have the same clocks?
2. Will the differences in FSB between the E4300 and E6300 (800 vs. 1066) affect how much I can overclock?

Not by much. http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=2795&p=4

No, the core affects it. Allendales (2MB L2) can reach around 3.2Ghz, and Conroes (4MB L2) can reach around 3.6Ghz. Just look at the OC database in the Intel subforum to get an idea of how they OC.
http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=2903

Motherboard:
I'm looking for a motherboard that supports 1333 FSB (supports the quad core processors) and has a lot of overclocking options. Here are a few choices I was considering, but I'm open to suggestions.

Main questions here are:

1. Does it justify the extra money to go buy a retail motherboard instead of open box motherboard?
2. What's the difference between the Gigabyte motherboards listed below?

That depends on how many spare parts you have. Some open box items are jus the board. It could be missing the IO shield, cables, etc. Most of the time, they're still included, but newegg has no obligation to include them.

Rev1.3 ships with an older BIOS and has some kinks to it (just search for DS3 issues from last year). The more expensive one is either rev2.0 or rev3.3. Rev3.3 officially supports 1333Mhz FSB... but then again, they all can reach much higher than that. Other good options are the Abit QuadGT, the MSI P6N SLI-FI, and the eVGA 650i Ultra.

Memory:
I am looking for DDR2800 (or higher) memory that is overclockable. Here are a few choices I was considering, but I'm open to suggestions.

Main questions here are:

1. Does it justify the extra money to go buy higher rated memory (ex. DDR21066 instead of DDR2800)?
2. What is the performance difference between CL4 and CL5? Is going to CL4 worth the extra $7?
3. The reviews for the OCZ ram listed below say that compatibility is limited to a few motherboards. What are the motherboards that are compatibility with this memory?

It depends on your CPU's multiplier. If you have a low multiplier, u want higher rated ram, or overclockable ram, because you'll need to use a high base FSB. If you have a high multiplier, then theres no need for expensive ram.

E6300: 7 * 266 = 1.8Ghz, DDR2-533 << stock
E6300: 7 * 400 = 2.8Ghz, DDR2-800 << OC

E4300: 9 * 200 = 1.8Ghz, DDR2-400 << stock
E4300: 9 * 333 = 3.0Ghz, DDR2-667 << OC


$7? sure, thats not much. Anything higher? not really. The performance difference is negligible. You won't even notice it in every day usage.

Check with OCZ.

Heatsink:
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro $29.13 from eWiz Link

Additional Cooling:
I will replace the 120mm fans inside the NZXT Apollo case with the following below:

Thermaltake A2029 120mm $17 x 2 Link

Card Reader:
Vantec UGT-CR900 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader $15.28 Link

I wouldnt bother with Corsair's rebates. I'd just go for the G.Skill 2GBNQ. I've used them in over half a dozen builds, and they're great. The AC F7Pro is $22 at ewiz, not $29. If you're on a budget, the Yate Loon Sleeve bearing fans would be better than those thermaltakes, since they're only ~$4 each (check nexfan, jab-tech, coolerguys, or wherever). Thats one expensive cardreader, lol.

 

[Kassem]

this thread is amazing.

 

[Dangman]

Once DDR3 comes out, I plan to change motherboards and use the same memory that I plan to purchase now.

Wait, then why change motherboards if you're planning to get a mobo that supports 1333FSB and using the same set of DDR2 Ram? FYI, DDR3 really won't be worth it until late this year, most likely next year.

Motherboard:
I'm looking for a motherboard that supports 1333 FSB (supports the quad core processors) and has a lot of overclocking options. Here are a few choices I was considering, but I'm open to suggestions.

MSI P6N SLI-FI 650i $110 Link
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $130 Link

I've heard good things about the P6N. However, I've used the DS3 in a few builds and it's one of the best overclocking mobo out there. I haven't had a single issue with the board yet. But there have been a few people who are complaining of problems with their DS3 like a cold boot issue or something. Something to look into if you're planning to buy the DS3. I recommend either board.

Oh and you can get the DS3 for cheaper here:
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Intel P965 Express Motherboard - $116

Oh and right now at nexfan.com, there's a buy two Yate Loon D12SL-12 fans and get one free deal going on.

Thats one expensive cardreader, lol

I think he added shipping to that cardreader's price. That's why it's so expensive. LOL!

 

[engiNURD]

I think he added shipping to that cardreader's price. That's why it's so expensive. LOL!

Mine was $7 shipped.

Yah, I don't get the whole "Once DDR3 comes out, I plan to change motherboards and use the same memory that I plan to purchase now." thing at all. Are you hoping for a board that will support both DDR2 and DDR3? If so, when you switch the board but maintain the DDR2, there will be little performance advantage to that, as seen in current tests:
http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2993

FYI, newegg's shipping prices displayed on individual items are for shipping that item alone. When you order mutliple things, the shipping doesn't accumulate per item's individual shipping cost... it increases by the overall size/weight and their current pricing for shipping for your entire order.

 

[athlonfx]

Not by much. No, the core affects it. Allendales (2MB L2) can reach around 3.2Ghz, and Conroes (4MB L2) can reach around 3.6Ghz. Just look at the OC database in the Intel subforum to get an idea of how they OC.
http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=2903

First off, thanks for your reply.
I'm still stuck on which processor to choose. It's between the E4300 or E6320. I don't know if the E6320 is worth the extra $48.50.

I wouldnt bother with Corsair's rebates. I'd just go for the G.Skill 2GBNQ. I've used them in over half a dozen builds, and they're great. The AC F7Pro is $22 at ewiz, not $29. If you're on a budget, the Yate Loon Sleeve bearing fans would be better than those thermaltakes, since they're only ~$4 each (check nexfan, jab-tech, coolerguys, or wherever). Thats one expensive cardreader, lol.

I'll go with the G.Skill 2GBNQ. The AC F7 Pro is $19.50 + $9.63 (shipping) = $29.13. I saw it a few weeks ago for $22 shipped but by the time I decided to get it, the deal was gone. I'll go with the Yate Loon fans too. They seem good for the price.

Wait, then why change motherboards if you're planning to get a mobo that supports 1333FSB and using the same set of DDR2 Ram? FYI, DDR3 really won't be worth it until late this year, most likely next year.

Well, I was considering getting the DDR2/DDR3 motherboards ...

I've heard good things about the P6N. However, I've used the DS3 in a few builds and it's one of the best overclocking mobo out there. I haven't had a single issue with the board yet. But there have been a few people who are complaining of problems with their DS3 like a cold boot issue or something. Something to look into if you're planning to buy the DS3. I recommend either board.

Are these problems present on the Rev 3.3 boards?

Oh and you can get the DS3 for cheaper here:
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Intel P965 Express Motherboard - $116
Oh and right now at nexfan.com, there's a buy two Yate Loon D12SL-12 fans and get one free deal going on.

Thanks. I'll be getting both of those

Yah, I don't get the whole "Once DDR3 comes out, I plan to change motherboards and use the same memory that I plan to purchase now." thing at all. Are you hoping for a board that will support both DDR2 and DDR3? If so, when you switch the board but maintain the DDR2, there will be little performance advantage to that, as seen in current tests:
http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2993

Yea I meant to say a board that supports DDR2/DDR3. After looking at the Anandtech article, I'll just upgrade once DDR3 is noticeably faster than DDR2 and is actually affordable.

FYI, newegg's shipping prices displayed on individual items are for shipping that item alone. When you order mutliple things, the shipping doesn't accumulate per item's individual shipping cost... it increases by the overall size/weight and their current pricing for shipping for your entire order.

I've bougth stuff at Newegg for the past 3 years and I didn't know that ... lol. Hence why I was including shipping for every item.

 

[engiNURD]

First off, thanks for your reply.
I'm still stuck on which processor to choose. It's between the E4300 or E6320. I don't know if the E6320 is worth the extra $48.50.

So the extra 2MB cache gives about, on avg, a 5% performance increase. Its also a Conroe core, so it can OC a bit higher, supposedly; but due to its low multiplier, you'll spend a fortune on ram to OC the CPU to its full potential. The only other difference is Virtualization, which is useless to most people right now anyhow. However, the E4300 performs similarly at the same clock speeds, but is easier to overclock because of its higher multiplier.

E6300: 7 * 266 = 1.8Ghz, DDR2-533 << stock
E6300: 7 * 400 = 2.8Ghz, DDR2-800 << OC

E4300: 9 * 200 = 1.8Ghz, DDR2-400 << stock
E4300: 9 * 333 = 3.0Ghz, DDR2-667 << OC

IMO, the E4300 is a much better deal. Your next step up is the E6420. Is that upgrade worth the price difference? Only if you intend on OC'ing past 3.2Ghz.

 

[Dangman]

Are these problems present on the Rev 3.3 boards?

I think the problems are mostly with the Rev 3.3 boards. But that cold boot problem occurs in other revisions of the board but not as often as with the Rev 3.3 from what I can tell. Search the Intel subforum of the Motherboard forum for more info about the DS3's cold boot issue.

I still recommend the DS3 because it's still one of the best overclocking mobos out there. However, AFTER you research the DS3's cold boot issues and you're uneasy about it, go for the P6N then.

Oh and I concur with enginurd, get the E4300.

 

[athlonfx]

How will this (PQI MAD42GUOE-X2 2 GB DDR2800 PC6400 CL5) RAM work with the E4300?

Will I be able to get the processor to around 3 GHz?

 

[Dangman]

You should be able to reach 3GHz with the E4300 with ANY DDR2 800 RAM. So go for it. Since all you really need is DDR2 667 for a 3Ghz OC, then DDR2 800 will be more than enough to reach that OC. Read enginurd's last post again.