New build based around 4850/4870

[Jutsu]

I am building a system for a friend he wants to spend around $1400.00 to $1500.00 a few weeks ago a priced him out with a nice Intel/Nvidia system but I convinced to hold off until 4000 series came out, seeing the results I've totally changed system around let me know what you think please.

Mobo
ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Processor
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Memory
Undecided probably something OCZ can't decide if I should DDR2 800 or 1200
Video Card
ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported
Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
DVD-ROM
ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T - Retail
Power Supply
OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W ATX12V Power Supply - Retail
Case
Undecided
Monitor
Acer X193W+BD Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Fan/Heat Sink
Thermalright Ultra-120 CPU Cooling Heatsink - Retail

He said hes fine with on board sound so I don't need a sound card. I am going to let him pick his own case, as long as it dimensions are fine for the ThermalRight 120. Seeing that he is only going to be gaming at 1680x1050 the 4850 sound be plenty and if wants over kill he can always throw another one in later for Crossfire. All together everything is around $1200 which leaves $300 for case, memory and additional fans etc or $100 for case $100 for memory and 100 more for 4870 .

Thanks for any input.

 

[dhc014]

DDR2-800 RAM can take a Q6600 all the way up to 3.6ghz without overclocking the memory.

The Ultra-120 is probably excessive and expensive.

 

[AndonSage]

let me know what you think please.

* Mobo: ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48

If you won't be CrossFiring, then you don't really need to spend so much on a motherboard.
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Originally posted by Danny Bui:

Some mobo recommendations:
Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L Intel P43 Motherboard - $96
MSI P45 Neo3-FR Intel P45 Motherboard - $114
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R Intel P45 Motherboard - $146
Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 Motherboard - $150
DFI Lanparty DK X38-T2R Intel X38 Motherboard - $185

Just to help you out: If you don't need RAID, more than 6 SATA ports and only need semi-decent overclocking, check out the DS3L. If you need 8 SATA ports, RAID, 4 PCI slots, and legacy ports, then get the Neo3-Fr. If you don't need more than 6 SATA ports but want RAID, firewire, a second PCI-E x16 port, a second Gigabite port, support for 16GB of RAM, optional eSATA, and high overclocks, then get the DS3R. If you need 8 SATAs and like the DS3R, get the Asus P5Q Pro (eSATA isn't present here, but can be added to this motherboard thanks to the bundled connector - It'll take up an expansion slot). If you want Crossfire with full x16/x16 bandwidth, get the Lanparty DK X38.
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* Memory: Undecided probably something OCZ can't decide if I should DDR2 800 or 1200

DDR2-800MHz will get the Q6600 overclocked up to 3.6GHz. OCZ is fine, but G.Skill is less expensive and just as good.

* DVD-ROM: ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA

The Samsung Super-WriteMaster SH-S203N is a great ODD and very quiet.

* Power Supply: OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W ATX12V Power Supply

I recommend a Corsair PSU, like the Corsair CMPSU-750TX PSU. Actually, you could probably do with a smaller PSU, like the Corsair CMPSU-550VX PSU, since you only have one video card, one hard drive, and one optical drive.

* Case: Undecided

Cases are a personal preference, but you'll want something with all 120mm fans. Personally, I love the Antec Performance One P182.

* Fan/Heat Sink: Thermalright Ultra-120 CPU Cooling Heatsink

The Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle HSF - $37 & Xigmatek ACK-I7751 Rentention Bracket - 7$ is just as good, and less expensive.

 

[engiNURD]

I agree with everything AndonSage mentioned.

The GXS700 is based on the FSP Epsilon which is notorious for out-of-spec ripple on the +12V rails at high loads. Ripple kills your parts over time. While you may never invoke such ripple (you may with crossfire), there are much better choices out there, like the 750W Corsair that AndonSage pointed out.

Get the X38 board for $185. It will give you the same performance as an X48 board but save you money.

RAM speed is usually determined by which CPU you get. This is an easy way to figure out which RAM speed you need...
/*------------- <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 w/ good air cooling
Q6600: 9 × 400 = 3.6Ghz, DDR2-800 << Great OC, near max for G0 stepping w/ good air cooling

Q9450: 8 × 333 = 2.6Ghz, DDR2-667 << STOCK speeds
Q9450: 8 × 400 = 3.2Ghz, DDR2-800 << Good OC
Q9450: 8 × 450 = 3.6Ghz, DDR2-900 << Great OC, near max w/ good air cooling
Q9450: 8 × 500 = 4.0Ghz, DDR2-1000 << Nearly impossible

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.
/*------------- </cut n paste> -------------*/