PC re-build help

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wxkid23

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 17, 2006
Messages
131
Im currently running a FX-60 2.6ghz with 2 GB of ram and two 150gb HDD's along with a 7900GTX. I had a friend build my current rig for me but he is no longer an option to help me with this.

I have moderate PC experience but have never really messed with computer parts before outside of installing video cards and such.

Main complaint with the current rig is fiance complaining of stuttering/slowness when multi-tasking (do a lot of that) and the graphics card is a bit weak for the newest games.

Im looking at doing this:

Swap out FX-60 for Q6600
New MB (please give a recommendation) would prefer DDR3 and 8gb support
4GB ram (please give recommendation)
Cooling solution (recommendation please)

I prefer the cheapest parts for the latter two that would do the job. I have no experience with installing a new motherboard or processor but I take it it's as easy as taking out the old and putting in the new? Also, is getting in the bios and setting up my two HDD's in raid-0 going to be difficult?

Im interested in overclocking the Q6600 to around 3.0ghz. I have never overclocked before but after reading up some it doesn't look all that difficult (is that correct) im not looking to do anything major but I would like to add a little boost. Overclocking to 3.0ghz I take it I will need a cooler.

I'll also be looking at getting one of the new video cards (the new NVIDIA cards) in a few months.

Any input here is welcome and do you think this all looks good or needs changes? I would like this rig to last me until sometime later next year when the new chips are here and affordable.
 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R or MSI P35 Neo2-FR
RAM: About any DDR2 800mhz sticks will do, go with AData or GSkill (2 x 2GB)
Cooling Solution: Xigmatek HDT-S1283

None of those motherboards that I recommended have support for DDR3, but it's kinda of pointless to get DDR3 - it's way too expensive for the performance gain... DDR3 won't be cheap and worth it until Intel's new architecture comes out (Nehalem).

Though some questions should be asked:

What parts are you reusing?
What resolution are you gaming at?
What is your budget?
 
OK... DDR3 is out.

1. Im going to be reusing basically everything. The case (it has quite a few vents), videocard (7900gtx until the new cards come out) 2x150gb HDD's, and I have I think a Silvestone fan but does that get replaced by the new cooling solution you gave me? Is that thing hard to install?

.... actually after reading some up on the Newegg it sounds like that cooling solution is fairly difficult to install and very large. Anything you recommend that would do the job and is a bit easier?

2. Im gaming right now at everything. My fiance plays Sims2 at 1280x1024 I think (or maybe 1024x768) I play counterstrike at 1920x1080... im looking at getting back into gaming though soon and that would include stuff like TF2, Crysis, any of the new stuff. Would a Q6600 if it's overclocked to 3.0ghz bottleneck the new NVIDIA cards that bad? Im guessing off the bat with the 7900gtx and the Q i'll see little if any improvement in gaming but more in multi-tasking.

3. Budget is really right around $500. It looks like I can do the MB, processor, memory, cooling for a bit below that and start saving for a whole new rig later next year.

Like I said, I hope im not over my head here. I have fairly decent PC know-how but not much in the build area... hopefully swapping this stuff out isn't too hard. I realize also the Q6600 will not be much of an upgrade over the FX-60 without overclocking and I have little experience there also so hopefully that isn't too hard.
 
There are guides available in the Gen[H]ard FAQ WLWC that can help you with building the computer.

Which case do you have? The HDT-S1263 may be too large for a few cases, but if you install the mounting bracket (at least) before placing the motherboard inside the case, then you shouldn't have many problems afterwards. (There is also a Socket/LGA775 Bolt-Thru kit available that makes mounting larger CPU coolers easier.) If you really want a smaller HSF capable of overclocking a Q6600, consider the Thermalright Ultima 90 heatsink with the Panaflo 92mm M1A-Z fan.

The Q6600, due to its multiple cores and the fact that it's newer technology, is actually better than the FX-60 at both stock speeds and overclocked. There is a guide here on overclocking Core 2 Duo/Quad processors.

For gaming at a 1920x1200 resolution, the (G92/512MB) 8800GTS is the minimum you should be looking for. But in your case, it's best to wait and see what the new cards from NVIDIA and AMD/ATI will offer.
 
Just thought I'd inject my $0.02 here since I recently switched up from an FX-60 to a Q6600. The difference was pretty much night and day even with the q6600 at stock. My FX-60 was definitely bottlenecking my 8800GTS 512 in TF2, now it runs smooth as butter at the same settings (1680x1050, max everything except AA which is at like 4 or 8x I forget). I used to get dips in performance in high player servers that are now nonexistent. I overclocked the Q6600 to 3.0GHz initially just to start out with a softball (all I did was bump the FSB) and its been running like a champ since(I'll probably go back and push it harder).

Previous System:
FX-60
EVGA NF-41 SLI Mobo
3GB Corsair DDR 400

Upgraded System:
Q6600 @ 3.0GHz
EVGA 750i FTW
4GB Corsair DDR 800 (2x2GB)

Video was the same for both: EVGA 8800GTS (G92) 512MB
 
If I decide to wait a while on overclocking (Im totally new to it and may wait) and just run the Q6600 at stock speed (2.4ghz) will I still see an improvement for multi-tasking/gaming over the FX-60 even though it has a lower clock (2.6ghz vs 2.4ghz)? It still seems like a good buy ~$200 even at stock speed. If I pair it with one of the new NVIDIA cards coming should it be okay even if I keep it at stock or does it suck at 2.4ghz?
 
wxkid23 said:
If I decide to wait a while on overclocking (Im totally new to it and may wait) and just run the Q6600 at stock speed (2.4ghz) will I still see an improvement for multi-tasking/gaming over the FX-60 even though it has a lower clock (2.6ghz vs 2.4ghz)? It still seems like a good buy ~$200 even at stock speed. If I pair it with one of the new NVIDIA cards coming should it be okay even if I keep it at stock or does it suck at 2.4ghz?
Click to expand...

Yes I noticed improvements over the FX-60 even with the q6600 at stock. Remember though your changing other things too. Faster RAM, Faster Mobo come into the equation as well. You should see a nice bump in performance.
 
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