System Specs (Round 2) - Input?

O

OBSESSION

Weaksauce
Joined
Jun 10, 2004
Messages
78
So I'm starting to home in on my $1000 (give or take) upgrade budget. Components compiled from lots of forum and tech website searching (and not getting much work done.) Any and all feedback is welcome.

Version 1 - Preferred System
$217 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 cpu
$135 - Gigabyte GA-965G-DS3 mobo
$275 - ??? mem (see notes below)
$440 - EVGA GeForce 8800GTS gpu
$120 - Corsair HX520w psu
$95 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB hd
========
$1282 +/- after shipping, rebates, etc.

Version 2 - Compromise for Cost
$181 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 cpu
$100 - Foxconn P9657AA-8KS2H mobo
$200 - ??? mem (see notes below)
$440 - EVGA GeForce 8800GTS gpu
$70 - Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 psu
$80 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB hd
========
$1071 +/- after shipping, rebates, etc.

Version 2 hits closer to my budget mark, but that's not saying Version 1 is out the door. Plus there's the option of mixing and matching components between the two setups for a nice blend somewhere inbetween.

I'm still trying to pick out memory... the thing I hate doing most. There's just too much to look at, and I don't know what brands are good and what are not. Plus, if the specs are wrong... hello instability. Anyway, in my other thread, I had some recommendations for G.skill memory. I've never heard of that brand before. And it's not on the mobo's qualified vendor list. So... any help memory-wise is appreciated!

Existing Components
Case - Antec P160 with front 120mm fan
Optical - Lite-On DVD+/-RW
Optical - Lite-On CR RW
Drive - WD Raptor 36GB (will use as internal backup drive, or game drive)
Sound - Creative Labs X-Fi Platinum
FD/Card - Mitsumi Floppy/Card Reader combo
 
Since you seem to want good stability and aren't going to be OC'ing much, I'll put the the Corsair VS sticks in the mix. They can OC, too. They'll boot up at 1.8v, so no worries there.

$208 - 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

Other brands to consider:
Crucial Ballistix, Buffalo Firestix, OCZ vanilla or Platinum, Patriot, Mushkin... etc.
 
This is why I hate choosing memory so much. I just don't understand it enough to be comfortable with what to pick out. Wouldn't the DDR2-800 be better memory due to the higher clock speed than the DDR2-667? Or is that difference mitigated by the different CAS and latency numbers? Blargh! I don't get memory.

What concerns me is the "approved" lists that each mobo gives. Perhaps I'm taking them too seriously, thinking I need to stick with what's on the list. But then, as I admitted, I don't know enough so I just pick one out that's on the list figuring it's sure to work.

I've been scouring the forums here, and sites such as Anandtech, Toms, and others. And the more info I find, the more confused I get. However, I was leery with the G.SKILL brand, but it seems I'm one of the few who doesn't know about them. They seem pretty well recommended.

Just before you replied to this, I was tempted to say screw it and put the G.SKILL on my list. But now you've given me another option to obsess over! lol. Anyway, you mention the Corsair VS booting at 1.8v, which is what I think the mobo defaults to. Will the G.SKILL boot okay? I'm thinking the 800 is better than the 667 given they are practically identical in price.
 
Yes, the G.Skill should boot fine, since they are rated 1.8v - 2.0v.
 
If you have a choice, #1. Keep the Corsair in that list. if you are stuck with #2, drop the extra dough and pick up said corsair hx 520. Smartpower's are really inadequite, in both output and quality.
 
Woots! Checking the status of my Newegg order, and tracking says it's "Out for Delivery". Yay, I'll have my new compy parts today. Now... to put it all together in time for tomorrow evening...

In the end, about the only parts from my existing rig that will be reused are the case and soundcard. When my wife said "just go for it", I went for it! My $1000 budget turned into $1500 and I up-spec'd several parts. So, my Christmas came a week and a half early.

Here's what I wound up with, in case you're curious:

GPU - eVGA GeForce 8800GTX
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4Ghz
Mobo - MSI P965 Platinum
RAM - G.Skill 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 800
DVD - Lite-On SH-16A7S-05 (SATA baby, yeah!)
HD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB
CR - Super Talent USB Card Reader
PSU - Corsair HX Series CMPSU-520HX 520W
UPS - APC Back-UPS XS 1500va

Case - Antec Performance 1 P160 (reused)
Sound - Soundblaster X-Fi Platinum (reused)

I decided to ditch my existing CD-RW and DVD-ROM, as well as my Floppy/Card Reader combo so that I'm only running SATA. No more ribbon cables and legacy formats.
 
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