New machine, need recommendations

A

Ahriman4891

Gawd
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
534
Hi all,

my current machine (in sig) really starts showing its age, and I decided that it's time for an upgrade at last. The problem is, while I still keep the "big picture" in mind when it comes to HW scene, I am really not on top of newest products, minute differences, etc. and I really need some advice here.

The computer will be used for coding, internet, games, etc. I don't plan to overclock, nor do I need TEH OMG ULTIMATE R0x0rZ m4ch1n3--just something respectably fast, stable, that will last me 1.5 yrs or so (until I get out of grad school, get a job and build TEH OMG ULTI... u get the idea :D) I game in 1680x1050, but I'm fine with 2xAA+8xAF@60 fps, so I don't need anything record-breaking there either.

I decided to go with Conroe (after being an AMD user for 7 years). This is how my build looks so far, please critique:

$316/$220 Conroe E6600/E6400

$117 Gigabyte GA-965P-S3

2GB DDR2 --not sure whether I should go with ddr2-800 or -667, and what brand

$95 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB

$245 EVGA 7900GTO 512 MB --is it too loud?

$30 a DVD burner, probably LG

the "base" (mobo, hd, optical, video) comes to $487.
with e6400--$707, with e6600--$803. I would REALLY like to keep the final price below $1100 or so, and the less the better.

I need to decide on a CPU and RAM. The 6400/ddr2-667 combo is not THAT much worse than 6600/ddr2-800, right?

Also, my power supply is a 350W enermax, which probably won't cut it any longer. So I need a PSU recommendation as well.

Thanks!
 
With Core2Duo, the performance improvement from DDR2-667 to DDR2-800 isnt much, see here. Here are some RAM recommendations from anandtech. Though there isnt much improvement from DDR2-533 to DDR2-667, you might as well get the DDR2-667 since DDR2-533 prices are just as high (The A-Data Vitesta DDR2-533 used to be $150 a week ago without rebates, but is now $210). I'd go for this:

$210 - $40MIR - pqi TURBO 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-667 PQI25400-2GDB

Anandtech got those sticks stable at these settings:
Patriot - DDR2-667 - 2x1GB Model # PDC22G5300LLK
CPU Ratio // Memory Speed // Best Memory Timings // Voltage
4:3 // DDR2-400 // 3-2-2-5 // 1.9V
1:1 // DDR2-533 // 3-2-3-7 // 1.9V
4:5 // DDR2-667 // 3-3-3-8 // 2.1V
2:3 // DDR2-800 // 4-3-3-8 // 2.1V
Source

As for the CPU, here's another anandtech review, lol. I'd go for the E6300 instead of the E6400. I don't think its worth it to go for the E6600 or E6400 since you'll be upgrading in 1.5yrs. Though you don't want to OC, I'd reconsider, since these chips OC so nicely and easily that it would be such a waste not to OC them. With stock cooling, they were able to push the E6300 to 2.5Ghz, STABLE. If I just wanted a performance boost after a year or so, I'd push it from 7x266 to 7x333, yielding 2.3Ghz, ~470Mhz up from 1.86Ghz. Though, you'd need the GA-965P-DS3 motherboard instead of the GA-965-S3. Which is worth the extra cash: $40 extra for the E6400 CPU, or $30 extra for the board (E6300 + GA-965P-DS3 vs E6400 + GA-965P-S3)? I think the board is more worth the extra cash, since it has more potential when paired with any CPU.

Also, I'd recommend the tried-and-true, NEC ND-3550A for the DVD burner instead of the LG. The Lite-On SHM-165H6S is also good if you want lightscribe.

Video cards... DX10 cards are due out in November. So, I'd suggest either waiting for them or goin with a 7600GS for now, then upgrading in about 6 months. There's a 6mo refresh for the high end cards, so when that next refresh comes out (7 months from now), it would be a good time to get a GeForce 8900GTS (guessing on the name here, lol, based on the previous releases). Here are some links for nvidias new dx10 cards:
http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4450
http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4441
http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4442

Regarding power, go for either of these:
$70 - Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Modular PSU (w/ SmartFans)
$50 - FSP Group AX450-PN 450W PSU
$37 - FSP Group ATX400-PA 400W PSU
The recommended minimum PSU for a single GeForce 8800GTS is 400W. So if you plan to upgrade to a high-end DX10 card, any of the above PSU's will do. If you want extreme single card performance, you'd probably be better off with the 500W PSU. If you want SLI, you'll need at least 800W like the article said, lol.
 
I was gonna edit the above post, but it was already long, lol. Here's the list:

$180 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz
$150 - GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express
$210 - pqi TURBO 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-667 PQI25400-2GDB ($40MIR)
$135 - eVGA 256-P2-N615 Geforce 7600GT 256MB ($20MIR)
$95 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB 7200RPM SATA3G
$50 - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver w/ Side Window
$50 - FSP Group AX450-PN 450W PSU
$30 NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A
=============
$900 + tax and shipping (~$100) - $20MIR - $40MIR = $940

I'd stick with the above and upgrade the vidcard sometime around May'07. Here are some upgrade choices:
$940 + $50 for an E6400 = $990
$940 + $120 for a 7900GTO = $1060
$940 + $165 for a 7950GT = $1105
$940 + $170 for an E6400 AND 7900GTO = $1110
$950 + $215 for an E6400 AND 7950GT = $1155

$940 + $160 for an E6600 = $1100

And if you ever feel your core2duo is too slow, you can upgrade to a quad-core CPU, Core2Quad :D (the P965 Express is compatible with Kentsfield)
Kentsfield info
 
Wow, thanks everyone!

gwarren007, that's a very helpful link. Stupid me didn't think of it myself
redface.gif


Rockstar_Gamer said:
Spend a few more dollars and get the 7950 GT
Click to expand...
is there any specific reason to? I found only 2 tests online to directly compare these cards, and in most cases 7900GTO wins by a small margin. Both tests are in French, but the graphs speak for themselves:

http://www.presence-pc.com/tests/nVidia-GeForce-7950-GT-479/3/

http://www.hardware.fr/articles/639-3/comparatif-gpu-dx9-200-350.html

Any specific reason I should choose 7950GT? E.g. much quieter, better OC, cooler?


enginurd,

Thanks for such detailed reply. I sat down and re-thought everything. I think I'll go with E6300 (it's plenty fast even if I don't OC), a better mobo (DS-3) but still keep the GF 79** card--I really want a considerable jump from my 6600GT :D. I don't need a case, btw, I'll just use my old Lian-Li.

I'll order later today. I may invest in a better PSU, though--just to feel safer :D I never heard of FSP to be honest.

BTW, should I be wary of the 2.0V default voltage of PQI ram?

Thanks again everyone!
 
I just upgraded from an XP as well, I went the X2 route since I could use my old ram (Ram prices are rape right now) and since alot of the FX series and such are super low. (ex. opteron 165 is $159) to me this is perfect.

I had priced out an conroe rig, and I was using Corsair XMS DDR2 800, its suppose to be good.
 
2 skeeder:
I thought about going 939, but I only have ddr-333 ram. I want to cut some corners, but not that many :D plus there are people who are waiting to take my old mobo, cpu and ram :D so I decided I'll just go Conroe and get new ram. I know that corsair is good (that's what I have currently), but it's pretty expensive :(

What do you guys think about this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817256001

Silverstone, 500W, active PFC, $87.

or this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194010

Enermax 535W, active PFC, $100
eek.gif


The folks in the PSU subforum seem to think of these 2 highly.
 
The DS3 shouldnt have any problems with the PQI Turbo sticks, even at 2.0V. The F5 BIOS fixed most of the RAM issues. If you're still worried about it, here are some other ram choices, but they're not as cheap. They'll all boot at 1.8v:

$215 - CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-667 VS2GBKIT667D2
CPU Ratio // Memory Speed // Best Memory Timings // Voltage
4:3 // DDR2-400 // 3-2-2-5 // 1.9V ..... 1:1 // DDR2-533 // 3-2-2-7 // 2.1V
4:5 // DDR2-667 // 3-3-3-8 // 2.1V ..... 2:3 // DDR2-800 // 4-3-3-8 // 2.2V

$105 - AMPX 1GB DDR2-675
$105 - AMPX 1GB DDR2-675
CPU Ratio // Memory Speed // Best Memory Timings // Voltage
4:3 // DDR2-400 // 3-2-2-5 // 1.8V ..... 1:1 // DDR2-533 // 3-2-2-7 // 1.9V
4:5 // DDR2-667 // 3-3-3-8 // 2.15V ..... 2:3 // DDR2-800 // 4-3-3-9 // 2.2V

$215 - A-DATA Vitesta 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-533 ELJKD1A16K
CPU Ratio // Memory Speed // Best Memory Timings // Voltage
4:3 // DDR2-400 // 3-2-2-5 // 1.8V ..... 1:1 // DDR2-533 // 3-2-2-8 // 1.9V
4:5 // DDR2-667 // 3-3-2-8 // 2.1V ..... 2:3 // DDR2-800 // 4-3-3-8 // 2.1V

g.skill kits also work great and are priced nicely.

Those are two great PSUs. Though, you really dont need PFC if you live in the US. FSP is a great quality PSU brand, and on the recommended list by Dave. Here's a link about PFC by jonny guru: http://www.motherboards.org/articles/guides/1487_9.html. I'd suggest any of the PSU's under Dave or Jonny's lists. Check out jonnyguru.com for more info on PSUs. I, personally, use an Antec SP2.0 500W, and it works great.
 
The AX PSUs from Fortron arn't very good, I wouldn't recommend one unless if it's for a very low-end rig. See the offerings from Seasonic, Corsair, Enermax, Enhance, or Silverstone.
 
enginurd, thanks again!

PQI does indeed seem like the best choice timings-wise, and if DS3 has no problem with it, I'll just get that.

Regarding the PSU, I think I'm just looking for an excuse to buy an expensive Enermax
redface.gif
mine was VERY good to me for over 3 years, and it got my comp. through several bad blackouts in college with absolutely no harm. As for PFC, that article explained a lot, and I bookmarked that website for future reading :) I guess I don't need the PFC, it just seems that PSUs including it are premium in all other regards as well. (having a good psu is my little pet paranoia, apparently). Guess I'll just put an order list together, and depending on how scared of the price I am, I'll go with more/less cheap psu :D
 
You don't need a new PSU right now. When/if you get 2x 8800GTX, then you will.
 
dBTelos said:
You don't need a new PSU right now. When/if you get 2x 8800GTX, then you will.
Click to expand...
I don't think my old one has the required 4-pin power connector. I just opened the computer, and didn't see it. :(
 
just configured everything... without the PSU, it adds up to $909:

$180 E6300
$147 Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3
$210 PQi turbo 2GB ddr2-667 kit
$246 eVGA GeForce 7900GTO
$095 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320 GB SATA 3.0 Gb
$031 Lite-On 16x DVD-burner w/lightscribe (newegg is out of black NECs)
-----
$909


BAH I am going with the enermax I posted above. If that thing misbehaves...
mad.gif
At least I can upgrade to whatever single VC i wish within 1.5 yrs and still have ample PSU headroom.
 
Ahriman4891 said:
I don't think my old one has the required 4-pin power connector. I just opened the computer, and didn't see it. :(
Click to expand...

It should be on the ATX connector already then. Count the pins on it, they should add up to 24. If they only add up to 20 then get a adaptor. No need for a new PSU, right now.
 
I already ordered it. I could modify the order, but the person I'm giving my old hardware to has a shitty old 250W psu. I'll just give my old PSU to him together with mobo, ram, cpu and VC. Thanks though!
 
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