New System Build.....

[Cyber]

Well the time has come for me to upgrade. I will be using this computer mostly to play COD4 when kids are in bed and for pure entertainment.

I will be putting all the components in my existing case, which is a CoolerMaster Stacker STC-TO1.

I will be using my 2 x 36.7GB WD Raptors(Raid 0) and Hitachi 160GB 7200RPM SATA 7K250 Hard Drive.

I plan on using my |SB Audigy 2 ZS.

For my watercooling, I plan on using my Vantec 305 Nexus Fan Controller, Alphacool Laing DDC Pump, Black Ice XtremeII equiped w/ DD Stacker Shroud w/2 Sanyo Denki San Ace fans.

Is it worth modding and equipping this motherboard with Danger Den or another manufacturers blocks on the cpu or the n/b.? I am currently running 1/2" and plan on continuing using 1/2".

Motherboard

ASUS MAXIMUS EXTREME LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131235

Processor

ntel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115017

or

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115027

Video Card

EVGA 512-P3-N806-A1 GeForce 8800GT SSC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130302

Memory

CORSAIR Dominator 2GB DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145043

Power Supply

SILVERSTONE DA750 ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817256017

Wish List link:

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/TemporaryWishList.asp

For the Q6600, is it correct to want the GO over the B3 stepping for overclocking?

Does anyone know where to purchase a guaranteed stepping for this processor?

When I hand my Prescott I bought it with a guaranteed stepping and I have forgotten the online store I bought it from.

What is the best memory for this motherboard and processor to accomplish the best overclock? Just want to buy once and be happy with results. I am well aware that there is no guarantee with overclocking, and what one person gets, another may be completely different.

I will be running Windows XP Pro w/ SP2 as the operating system.

For the monitor, I will keep my LG 246WP.

Open to any suggestions due to I have been out of building pcs for 2 years since my daughter and son were born and my new toy is my 2006 Dodge Charger Topbanana addition. I have been modding my car, and I miss doing pcs as well.

So all the help is appreciated.

So, how is the computer looking? Am I forgetting anything?

Please give me some constructive criticism. I have build to many pcs to count, mostly watercooled and some air and I plan on ordering soon.

Thanks.

 

[Hagrid]

164.00 for the memory?! Holy hell.
If you overclock the cpu to 3.6ghz you will need pc6400 ram.
You could get 8gb(4x2gb) sticks for that price.

Well the time has come for me to upgrade. I will be using this computer mostly to play COD4 when kids are in bed and for pure entertainment.

I will be putting all the components in my existing case, which is a CoolerMaster Stacker STC-TO1.

I will be using my 2 x 36.7GB WD Raptors(Raid 0) and Hitachi 160GB 7200RPM SATA 7K250 Hard Drive.

I plan on using my |SB Audigy 2 ZS.

For my watercooling, I plan on using my Vantec 305 Nexus Fan Controller, Alphacool Laing DDC Pump, Black Ice XtremeII equiped w/ DD Stacker Shroud w/2 Sanyo Denki San Ace fans.

Is it worth modding and equipping this motherboard with Danger Den or another manufacturers blocks on the cpu or the n/b.? I am currently running 1/2" and plan on continuing using 1/2".

Motherboard

ASUS MAXIMUS EXTREME LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131235

Processor

ntel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115017

or

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115027

Video Card

EVGA 512-P3-N806-A1 GeForce 8800GT SSC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130302

Memory

CORSAIR Dominator 2GB DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145043

Power Supply

SILVERSTONE DA750 ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817256017

Wish List link:

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/TemporaryWishList.asp

For the Q6600, is it correct to want the GO over the B3 stepping for overclocking?

Does anyone know where to purchase a guaranteed stepping for this processor?

When I hand my Prescott I bought it with a guaranteed stepping and I have forgotten the online store I bought it from.

What is the best memory for this motherboard and processor to accomplish the best overclock? Just want to buy once and be happy with results. I am well aware that there is no guarantee with overclocking, and what one person gets, another may be completely different.

I will be running Windows XP Pro w/ SP2 as the operating system.

For the monitor, I will keep my LG 246WP.

Open to any suggestions due to I have been out of building pcs for 2 years since my daughter and son were born and my new toy is my 2006 Dodge Charger Topbanana addition. I have been modding my car, and I miss doing pcs as well.

So all the help is appreciated.

So, how is the computer looking? Am I forgetting anything?

Please give me some constructive criticism. I have build to many pcs to count, mostly watercooled and some air and I plan on ordering soon.

Thanks.

 

[engiNURD]

Wow, that is one expensive board. Most people are fine with the Abit IP35 Pro (crowd favorite), Asus P5K-E, or Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4. X38 seems like a waste, though, since you won't even be using Crossfire. Current cards won't saturate the PCI-E1.1 bandwidth, so PCI-E2.0 isn't a good enough reason to get X38. But hey, if you're comfortable with it's price and it fits your needs, then go for it.

Q6700? Do you really want to pay ~$265 for 266Mhz? Stick with the Q6600, especially since you have watercooling -- I'm assuming you'll be OC'ing. Yes, get the guaranteed G0 stepping (thats a zero, btw) Q6600 from clubit.com.

The best memory for this setup would be the cheapest brand you're comfortable with at the speed/size you want. Dominators are overpriced, and you don't need DDR2-1066 RAM for a good OC. 3.6Ghz is a great OC on the Q6600, but if you want to go higher, then you'll need something faster than DDR2-800.

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

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

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

Since you have the cooling to push this chip past 3.6Ghz if the chip will let you, then go for this kit instead:
$115 - G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-1000 F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ

I'm not sure about your power requirements due to your WC setup, but that is a nice PSU.