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plinko

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 13, 2001
Messages
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How's this for a "budget" system that should be ok for the next few years? Can always add another video card for *semi-crippled* Crossfire thanks to the P35 chipset. Balls to the wall on a budget??:cool:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 $186.92
Foxconn PG35A Mobo $102.91-$30 MIR=$72.91
Antec Three Hundred ATX Case $69.95
Antec Earthwatts EA500 power supply $59.99
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 $43.99
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket $13 CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S NOT INCLUDED?!?
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $5.99
WD6400AAKS Hard Drive $99.99
G.SKILL 4GB DDR2 1066 RAM $89.99
ASUS Radeon HD 4850 $199.99-$20 coupon-$30 MIR=$150

$863.08 in all from newegg.com and frys.com. Not bad for a solid system and only 2 reputable sources for parts?
 
You've added shipping and taxes to those costs, correct?

And don't bother with Crossfire unless you're playing at 1920x1200.Alsoyoumay want to look at this motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L Intel P43 Motherboard - $96

Also, you don't need AS5. The stock TIM on the Xigmatek is good enough. Other than that, looks good to me.
 
DDR2 1066 RAM is unnecessary unless you expect to reach 4.8ghz with that Q6600...
 
Yep, that's with shipping. Luckily PA residents don't have to pay taxes for online purchases YET. Let's hope our bonehead governor Rendell doesn't hop on that bandwagon! Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I considered that Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L mobo for a while, very solid board. I need 3 good 'ol PCI slots which the Foxconn has (sound card, wifi card, TV card are going in there from my current setup). The Foxconn has all solid caps, overclocks great, and works out to be $73 after MIR.

Oh, the RAM is rated at 1066 MHz, but has tighter 5-5-5-15 timings for the same exact price as DDR2 800. Is this unnecessary for a Q6600? Anyone else have thoughts on the stock TIM? I always understood them to be inferior to good thermal paste. Thanks for the suggestions and taking the time to read my post.
 
plinko said:
Oh, the RAM is rated at 1066 MHz, but has tighter 5-5-5-15 timings for the same exact price as DDR2 800. Is this unnecessary for a Q6600?
Click to expand...
G.Skill has a DDR2-800 kit with 5-5-5-15 timings for $84 which also operate at a lower voltage (less heat, potentially longer life). The DDR2 800 kit for $89 has better timings (4-4-4-12) at a higher voltage. To be honest, the DDR2-800 kit will probably overclock above its rated speed if you give it higher voltage. Most of those G.Skill kits are probably the same memory with different colored heatspreaders and possibly different levels of testing t the factory.
 
I ordered the parts listed in the OP. Ended up going with the DDR2 1066 since many reviewers on newegg said it defaults at 800 speeds anyway on many mobos. Hopefully this will give a bit of "wiggle room" to push the FSB higher and play with the timings. As far as the OS goes, definitely gonna go 64 bit. I'm leaning towards XP 64-bit but am open to Vista 64-bit as well. Any suggestions?
 
DDR2-1066 RAM? Might as well, its only $6 more... thats what? a gallon of gas? :p

I hope you got the free shipping code for the Xigmatek. ;)

XP 64-bit has worse support than Vista 64-bit. Go with Vista if you want 64-bit, just make sure all your peripherals have drivers and don't run any ancient software.
 
Boo-urns, I went over my list with a fine-toothed comb to find all discounts/combo offers/codes and missed that Xigmatek free ship code. Bummer!
 
Did it ship yet? If not, contact Newegg Live Chat and ask them to apply the code. The code is in the Hot Deals subforum, newegg thread. ;) It'll take a few minutes to save $7.
 
Well, it looks like newegg shipped my stuff. I haven't been able reach ANYONE on the phone all day, do they even answer the line? The phone message said they currently don't have a sales department?! WTF is that? The Live Chat isn't loading in my browser either. At least the free shipping would only save me $7. Thanks for the code anyway.
 
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