Full rebuild, no upgrade. Feedback requested

[spwango]

My current box is waaaaay long in the tooth. It's a socket 754 AMD athlon 64 3000+, 2GB PC2400. About two years ago, I slapped an AGP GeForce 6800GT instead of doing a full upgrade and going to PCIE. This box is ancient by my typical standards, and with SATA and PCIE, I think it makes the most sense to do a full rebuild. I will be trying to sell the 6800GT, putting a Radeon 9800NP in it and making it a mid-range 3d ubuntu box to sit along side the new monster...

As for the new monster, here is my current thinking...prices just from the 'egg cause I'm lazy. This is going to be a do it all box (with a gaming focus) that I intend to last me a minimum of two years, perhaps as many as four. Probably will run Vista, but I haven't decided for certain.

(grand total: ~$1216, or $1416 with extra HD, RAM)

CASE: Antec P180B $130
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-520HX $125
CPU: Q6600 Retail $290
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R 130
RAM: OCZ Platinum Revision 2, (2x1GB) 240Pin DDR2 800.(get 2 sets?) $100
HD: WD Caviar SE16 500GB 7200 RB 16MB cache SATA (perhaps 2) $110
Video: EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB $300
DVD: LiteOn 20X DVD burner $31

Any general feedback is GREATLY appreciated. I've been out of the hardware market forever...I only have a clue from about a week's worth of research.

Specific questions:
1) Mobo brand is arbitrary--sounds like p35 is the way to go...other suggestions?
2) Case is totally arbitrary--other suggestions?
3) Any reason to consider the 8800s with 640 for $100 more?
5) Any reason to consider an audio board?
6) OCing even worth considering w/ retail? (I generally don't OC)

MANY thanks!

 

[spwango]

Bump...I'm thinking coolermaster Centurion 5 might be a better case for me and a better value...noise is of some concern though. It is a box built with gaming in mind, but not necessarily a gaming box. At some point, it will likely become a development box also.

Oh, I also forgot to mention, my current LCD is the Hyundai image quest L90D+ at 1280x1024.

 

[MarcVenice]

Looks like a pretty perfect build to me. I would go with the p180b, for 90$ it's a pretty good deal if you ask me, pretty quiet, good looking and should last a long time . Perhaps buy the q6600 at clubit or some other place though, so you are gauranteed of a g0 stepping. And swap the WD caviar for a samsung t166 spinpoint 500gb, less noisy and less warm then the WD

 

[xitshsif]

1) P35 is the way to go. Nothing wrong with that board.
2) I think either of those 2 would be fine. Whatever you like best really.
3) Looks pretty good. There's no need to consider the 8800GTS 640 if you're running at 1280x1024. The extra memory is most useful for AA/AF at higher resolutions.
5) Try onboard sound, if that's not up to your standards, consider a sound card.
6) I've never bothered with OCing. If my system starts to struggle with newer games, then I might. But since it runs fine stock, I choose not to OC.

 

[drakore]

Yea that is a great build...

I do a lot of system recommendations and that is similar...

just a couple of things...

Burner get the Pioneer DVR-212D it is much better

I would change that ram... for that price it is a little expensive... look at the crucial ballistix DDR2-800, it is better and cheaper...

If you want to save some money on the board, check out the Abit IP35-E... it is quite reasonably priced. Although I do love the DS3R.

The onboard sound is very good on the DS3R i can speak from experience...

You could get a good cooler... the TR Ultima 90 or TR Extreme 120 would be considered sufficient for a quad.

 

[spwango]

Thanks for the advice, all....actually, the crucial is more expensive, at least from the egg...other options I should look at? Patriot perhaps?

 

[JHallas]

Seems you're pretty much in the same situation as me, check out my post here.

The crucial is cheaper if you take MIR into account. The 520hx is also significantly cheaper from clubit.com.

EDIT: Well, scratch that, the OCZ is cheaper after rebate, but I won't go OCZ as I've seen too many incompatibilities with them.

 

[spwango]

Actually, I think I may add the Antec 900 to the list of possible cases....

 

[tjaisv]

Here's the system i am planning on building. Compare to yours for reference. Prices are quoted from zipzoomfly and newegg, except for the HSF which is from jab-tech.com.


CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad-Core Processor 2.4GHz, 1066FSB, LGA775, 8MB cache Retail ($275.90)

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R Intel Core 2 Duo (Desktop) Socket 775 1333MHz FSB DDR3 1066MHz ATX Motherboard Retail ($165.99)

HSF: Thermalright Ultima-90 heatsink ($46) and Scythe S-Flex SFF21F 120mm fan ($14) and Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM ($6)

MEM: 2x Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA804 - Retail ($110 each)

VID: EVGA 640P2N825AR e-GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card Retail ($399.99)

HDD: 2x Hitachi Deskstar T7K500 500GB 7200RPM Serial ATA II Hard Drive w/16MB Buffer ($104.99 each)

SOUND: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Xtreme Gamer Sound Card Retail ($92.98)

PSU: Corsair HX Series CMPSU-620HX 620W Power Supply Retail ($146.90)

CASE: ANTEC Performance One P182 SE Mid Tower Case Retail ($189.99)

DVD: SAMSUNG SH-S183L/BEBM 18X SATA DVD Burner Black DVD±RW Bulk ($37.59)

FLOPPY: SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM ($7)

TV TUNER: ATI 100-715331 TV Wonder 650 High Definition Personal Video Recorder Retail ($119.99)

TV TUNER REMOTE: Microsoft Remote Control and Receiver for Windows XP Media Center, Single-Pack OEM ($30.49)

KEYBOARD: Microsoft A13-00002S White USB + PS/2 Ergonomics Natural Keyboard Elite - OEM ($27)

MOUSE: Logitech G3 Laser Gaming Mouse Retail ($46.99)

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Single-Pack DVD OEM ($109)

SPEAKERS: Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Computer Speaker System ($305)

MINI DRIVE: CORSAIR Flash Voyager GT 2GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) 256bit AES Encryption Model CMFUSB2.0-2GBGT - Retail ($34)

DISPLAY: Dell 3007WFP-HC 30" Widescreen LCD ($1274)

 

[xitshsif]

Originally posted by: tjaisv
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad-Core Processor 2.4GHz, 1066FSB, LGA775, 8MB cache Retail ($275.90)

VID: EVGA 640P2N825AR e-GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card Retail ($399.99)

DISPLAY: Dell 3007WFP-HC 30" Widescreen LCD ($1274)

Do you really think this is a good combo? I'd be a bit concerned with a 8800 GTS 640 driving the 30" at 2560x1600.

 

[tjaisv]

Originally posted by: xitshsif

Originally posted by: tjaisv
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad-Core Processor 2.4GHz, 1066FSB, LGA775, 8MB cache Retail ($275.90)

VID: EVGA 640P2N825AR e-GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card Retail ($399.99)

DISPLAY: Dell 3007WFP-HC 30" Widescreen LCD ($1274)

Do you really think this is a good combo? I'd be a bit concerned with a 8800 GTS 640 driving the 30" at 2560x1600.

Should be fine, at least judging from the reviews of those who have comparable setups. What's your concern?

 

[xitshsif]

Especially with newer games, you'll want the GTX if you want eye candy. That kind of resolution is where the top end video cards really are necessary. I figure if you've got the money to drop on a 30" LCD, paying a bit extra to get a video card that'll drive it well is a good idea. Anandtech Link

 

[w00t]

I like most of it

I'd would change the memory and possible the motherboard but memory for sure.

 

[killb0x]

To OP

#6) Intel's Line of new C2D and C2Q's up to a point pretty much OC themselves and past that point you it takes very little effort...
Majority of OC'ers run Q6600 above 3ghz with their eyes closed

 

[spwango]

Cool, thanks all for the input! I think I'm going to order tonight!

 

[spwango]

Originally posted by: spwango
Cool, thanks all for the input! I think I'm going to order tonight!

Well, I got busy and still haven't gotten it ordered totally. I did get the Antec 900 and I think I'm going to get crucial instead of OCZ:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146565

 

[vasdrakken]

well if you still have not pulled the trigger, aren't Intel's new cpu's coming out in september? WHich would drop the price on the 6600 or get you a Q6700?

 

[JHallas]

Are they? Anyone know when in September? I'm in the market for a Q6600 and would be very much interested about market pressures.

 

[spwango]

Ram prices are expected to increase soon, are they not? Any gain in the CPU price you could loose in ram price.

 

[JHallas]

Buy ram now, cpu later?

 

[spwango]

Originally posted by: JHallas
Are they? Anyone know when in September? I'm in the market for a Q6600 and would be very much interested about market pressures.

This article says Q1 2008 for the mainstream...http://www.anandtech.com/cpuch...howdoc.aspx?i=3069&p=7

 

[chiew]

Originally posted by: xitshsif

Originally posted by: tjaisv
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad-Core Processor 2.4GHz, 1066FSB, LGA775, 8MB cache Retail ($275.90)

VID: EVGA 640P2N825AR e-GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card Retail ($399.99)

DISPLAY: Dell 3007WFP-HC 30" Widescreen LCD ($1274)

Do you really think this is a good combo? I'd be a bit concerned with a 8800 GTS 640 driving the 30" at 2560x1600.

I'm getting a 8800GTS 640mb to drive my 3007WFP-HC. I'm planning on playing games with a program that makes the display downsize to like 1920 x 1200 or 1680 x 1050, so I think I should manage with the 8800GTS. Why get a bigscreen if I'm going to downsize? The bigscreen is for DVDs and editing pics