need help with system build, opinions?

S

sean2sean

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Sep 14, 2005
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tired of waiting for amd to come out with something better this year (cpu).... and then updating to am+ next year...

so i think intel would be a better choice...

this is what i have come up with so far...

ASUS Striker Extreme LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI

2x OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Micron D7 Chip Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2N1066SR2GK - (4 gig total)

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

BFG Tech BFGE88768UWCE GeForce 8800Ultra 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

BFG Tech BFGRPHYSX128P PhysX Processing Unit 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Physics Card - Retail

Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-05 - OEM

i dont think i need a sound card... since the mb already has a built in one... or would i benefit frome buying a x-fi card?

only problem that i am having is choosing a cpu.

theres the intel:

e6850, q6600, e6600... or anything other one that one could recommend.

i org. was going to go with the amd 6400+... but heard intel would be better for gaming and oc. i will be water cooling the unit and plan on overclocking it. which cpu would over clock with ease and provide excellent numbers?

im upgrading from a amd 4800+ with 7800gtxoc sli.

any inputs would be great... thx.
 
Don't waste your money on a physx card.

As for CPU, look at a Q6600 or one of the newer quads.
 
2x OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Micron D7 Chip Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2N1066SR2GK - (4 gig total)

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

BFG Tech BFGRPHYSX128P PhysX Processing Unit 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Physics Card - Retail



you're pissing all kinds of money away here.
the 1066 is worthless vs. ddr2 800, or even 667 depending on what processor you buy.

vista ultimate is money for nothing. unless you have a specific need for certain features of ultimate, just buy home premium 64

a physx card? hahahaha. people are still buying that crap? and wow, I just checked newegg and thats a $142 waste of money there. If you want to just flush that much cash, paypal it to me.

I'd say get the Q9300 or 9450 when they launch, and 4gig of 667
 
I've read that the Striker is hit or miss when OCing a quad.
 
hence im askin for opinions before i make my purchase.

4 gigs of 667? got a link to that? which brand would you recommend?
 
sean2sean said:
tired of waiting for amd to come out with something better this year (cpu).... and then updating to am+ next year...

so i think intel would be a better choice...

this is what i have come up with so far...

ASUS Striker Extreme LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI

2x OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Micron D7 Chip Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2N1066SR2GK - (4 gig total)

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

BFG Tech BFGE88768UWCE GeForce 8800Ultra 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

BFG Tech BFGRPHYSX128P PhysX Processing Unit 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Physics Card - Retail

Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-05 - OEM

i dont think i need a sound card... since the mb already has a built in one... or would i benefit frome buying a x-fi card?

only problem that i am having is choosing a cpu.

theres the intel:

e6850, q6600, e6600... or anything other one that one could recommend.

i org. was going to go with the amd 6400+... but heard intel would be better for gaming and oc. i will be water cooling the unit and plan on overclocking it. which cpu would over clock with ease and provide excellent numbers?

im upgrading from a amd 4800+ with 7800gtxoc sli.

any inputs would be great... thx.
Click to expand...

****i dont think i need a sound card... since the mb already has a built in one... or would i benefit frome buying a x-fi card?****

I think everyone that is building a gaming rig needs to ditch the onboard sound and get a nice Sound processing unit. An X-Fi is a good choice. Ditch the physics card and get a good sound card.
 
Cmustang87 said:
****i dont think i need a sound card... since the mb already has a built in one... or would i benefit frome buying a x-fi card?****

I think everyone that is building a gaming rig needs to ditch the onboard sound and get a nice Sound processing unit. An X-Fi is a good choice. Ditch the physics card and get a good sound card.
Click to expand...
Agreed. The only time I use onboard audio is when I use the mobo optical audio jack to send music to my HT speakers. And if I had the money i could have bought a card with that...
As is, i got an Xfi extreme gamer.
 
Why the hell are you telling him to get DDR2 667 with the striker extreme? Is there something im not seeing like companies hiding the real memory made for overclocking or something? DDR2 667 -> DDR2 800 -> DDR2 1066.

Its not like Socket AM2 with those retarded memory dividers, like my brothers 5200+ working at DDR2 744 or some random number.

Just get some good DDR2 800 or 1066 and call it a day.
 
Simpson5774 said:
Why the hell are you telling him to get DDR2 667 with the striker extreme? Is there something im not seeing like companies hiding the real memory made for overclocking or something? DDR2 667 -> DDR2 800 -> DDR2 1066.

Its not like Socket AM2 with those retarded memory dividers, like my brothers 5200+ working at DDR2 744 or some random number.

Just get some good DDR2 800 or 1066 and call it a day.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't DDR2 1066 be a waste on an AMD X2 unless you were gonna overclock the shit out of it? DDR2 800 would be perfect amount of headroom for overclocking either the q6600 or the AMD x2's
 
Ditch the Striker. If you want SLI and Quadcore OC'ing, go with the eVGA 680i SLI board isntead.
$210 - eVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ($20MIR)

What size monitor do you have or plan on getting? Because SLI is only needed for high resolution 3D rendering. So, if you have or plan on getting a 1920x1080 LCD or higher, and want to game on it, then keep SLI as an option. Otherwise, theres no need for it. A single GTX is still fine for a 1920x1080 (or 1920x1200) LCD screen, and more cost effective than an 8800GTS SLI setup. SLI as an upgrade path isn't worth it unless, again, a large LCD is in the future plans. There should always be a better single card solution, and you could sell your old card to help offset the cost.

If you don't need SLI, go with a P35 Express board instead, like the Abit IP35 Pro, Asus P5K-E, or the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R or DS4.

/*-------------------------------*/

You don't need DDR2-1066 with a Q6600:
(CPU Multiplier) x [Base FSB speed] = CPU Clock speed
2 x [Base FSB speed] = RAM speed
4 x [Base FSB speed] = Effective FSB speed

On Intel platforms, running the RAM higher than a 1:1 ratio with the CPU is useless. Keep it linked at 1:1. These are some common possible speeds. Keep in mind that OC'ing is never guaranteed:

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 on good air for B3 stepping
Q6600: 9 × 400 = 3.6Ghz, DDR2-800 << Great OC, near max on good air for G0 stepping

You won't notice the difference between CL4 and CL5, so don't pay a huge price premium for lower latency sticks.

Since you want an nForce board, go with 2x2GB instead. OC'ing with 4 sticks on a 680i could be problematic, as they seem to have trouble powering that last stick/slot.

$175 - G.SKILL 4GB(2x2GB) 5-5-5-15 DDR2-800 F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ

/*-------------------------------*/

Raptors aren't very cost effective. Newer PRT drives have become so fast, that the performance difference between them and the raptor no longer justifies the raptors price premium...

78MB/s: WD Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB, $160AR
65MB/s: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB, $80
65MB/s: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3300620AS 300GB, $60
52MB/s: WD Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB, $70
112MB/s: 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, you can't beat the seek time of the raptor, so if you have money to burn, a raptor isnt a bad place to burn it.

/*-------------------------------*/

X-Fi and Vista don't play well together. Check out the Auzentech cards if you want a good soundcard for Vista.

I doubt the PhysX card is worth buying still.

sean2sean said:
i org. was going to go with the amd 6400+... but heard intel would be better for gaming and oc. i will be water cooling the unit and plan on overclocking it. which cpu would over clock with ease and provide excellent numbers?
Click to expand...

Any current Core2Duo would easily OC well and provide excellent numbers. The Q6600 is only $276 at clubit.com, so get it there, since they guarantee G0 stepping. The E6750/E6850 dual cores can reach around 4Ghz. The Q6600 can reach around 3.6Ghz with the G0 stepping. If you want to wait for the new Penryn CPUs coming out in Jan., I wouldn't bother unless you want the Q9450 ($316 rumored pricepoint). The Q9300 is supposed to be $266, nearly the same price as the Q6600, and will have only slightly better performance, I'm guessing. So, if you build now, the Q6600 is the chip to get.

$276 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 2.40GHz 8MB L2 LGA775 BX80562Q6600 SLACR
 
Ive never touched an intel C2D/Q system, But I do know that especally the quad cores need high bandwidth not low latency. I mean yeah you can overclock with any level of memory and still get that CPU overclock.

I still don't know why you say DDR2 800 is bad or what not. Yeah overclocking the memory may be more of a problem with 2GB sticks but thats a given.

DDR2 800 is better on an AM2 platform than it is on a C2D, because A, unless you got a 6000+ or a 6400+, your not going to have DDR2 800 as a stock speed, its going to be some random odd number between 667 and 800. Where as an intel board, DDR2 800 is the highest base memory frequency you can run at, (correct me if im wrong but cant some 680i boards do 1066?). DDR2 is so cheap however, its nuts.
 
Simpson5774 said:
correct me if im wrong but cant some 680i boards do 1066?
Click to expand...

DDR2-1066? Its harder on 680i SLI boards, because that would mean an SDR FSB of 533Mhz. The typical OC for a 680i SLI board is around 475Mhz. There are, of course, others who have gotten much higher.

However, its easier to reach such speeds with the P35 Express boards. They easily reach 500Mhz+ SDR FSB.

The random numbers with AMD platforms is due to the CPU multipliers. Brisbanes have half step multipliers, too, lol.
 
Simpson5774 said:
Why the hell are you telling him to get DDR2 667 with the striker extreme? Is there something im not seeing like companies hiding the real memory made for overclocking or something? DDR2 667 -> DDR2 800 -> DDR2 1066.

Its not like Socket AM2 with those retarded memory dividers, like my brothers 5200+ working at DDR2 744 or some random number.

Just get some good DDR2 800 or 1066 and call it a day.
Click to expand...

Buying 1066 is for the clueless.
 
You would only wanna buy DDR2 1066 if you planned on overclocking the shit outta your C2D. DDR 667 will be perfect for moderate overclocking.
 
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