My Conroe E6600 Build

[kansaslawguy]

These are the components for my Conroe build. All items have been shipped and will arrive Thursday. I did a ton of checking to ensure compatibility, so I'm hoping there are no issues with the build. However, if some of you could take a look through and see if you spot any issues, I'd be greatly appreciative. Thanks!

The Components:

RAM: Corsair 2GB DDR2 800 - $243 ($202 after Mail-in Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

POWER SUPPLY: Thermaltake ToughPower 550 Watt (Ati Xfire, $129)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153032

CASE: CoolerMaster Centurion $49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068

HARD DRIVE: WD Raptor, 74 GB - $170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136033

DVD BURNER: Black Lite-On - $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106014

CHIP FAN: Thermaltake Typhoon - $46
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185125

MOTHERBOARD: Asus P5W-DH - $299
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025

PROCESSOR: INTEL Core Duo 2 6600 - $360
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103544

VIDEO CARD: MSI RX1900XT XFire - $474 ($374 after Mail-in Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127208

VIDEO CARD: MSI RX1900XT - $374 ($274 after Mail-in Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127206

SOUND CARD: SB X-FI Extreme - $112 ($72 after Mail-in Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102188

Total: $2287 before rebates
Total: $2007 after rebates

Thanks!

 

[n7]

I can't say i recommend the TT PSU.
Somehow it got CF certified, but the specs barely make the certification.

I'd look into the OCZ GameXStream 600W. Should be about same price or less, & its 12V rails are laid out much more efficiently for CF/SLI.

I also might suggest waiting a tad on the video cards if you can, since with the X1950s right around the corner, you'll likely see price reductions on the cards you've selected, or perhaps better for the same price.

On that note, what monitor do you have that you need CF to power it?

And if you don't need CF, the P5B Deluxe + E6400 will OC higher likely, though no CF capability unfortunately.

 

[kansaslawguy]

I know the wattage on the PS is low, but I think 550 ought to be sufficient for minimal overclocks?

 

[Pabster]

I think it all looks good...except that PSU. Get something else.

Seasonic, Fortron, or PC P&C. I don't trust anything with an OCZ label.

 

[bamacre]

I would replace that case with the Cavalier 3...

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=141774

But I would replace the side duct with an 80mm fan. Very easy to do with just a screw driver. I've used both cases, and the Cav 3 is much better, very solid, well built case.

I'd also dump the Raptor, I think it's the most overhyped POS you can put in a gaming rig.

 

[drakore]

Yea I agree with the others, change that powersupply. Thermaltake stuff is pretty garbage. Also change the chip fan while your at it. Personally I am a big fan of the Scythe Ninja or anything Zalman. I guess it depends if you plan on overclocking or not, but looking at your build it looks like you are going to. Also I prefer NEC burners because of the 3rd party firmware support, but that's not really a big deal. For the PSU I think you should go for the OCZ 700W GameXtream

 

[Howard]

The Freezer 64 Pro doesn't work with LGA775. It's the Freezer 7 Pro you want, unless you want to OC like a madman.

If you buy everything from newegg, you'll be wasting money.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Howard
If you buy everything from newegg, you'll be wasting money.

:thumbsup:

 

[xitshsif]

Scrap the TT.

Enhance ENS-0560G 600W

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-EN0560G

 

[Baked]

The CM case's gonna be a bitch to clean with all those small holes letting all the dust in. For the same price, I would get the Antec SLK3000B with better cooling.

And for the CPU and Mobo combo, I would get the E6400 and ASUS P5B or Gigabyte DS3.

 

[FreedomGUNDAM]

I personally love my CM case. The holes don't bother me, I use my vaccum to suck the face clean every week when I vaccum the room

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Pabster
I think it all looks good...except that PSU. Get something else.

Seasonic, Fortron, or PC P&C. I don't trust anything with an OCZ label.

Too bad for you.

I hate to point this out here, but it seems it's rare that you make an objective post.
Instead, it seems everything you recommend or bash is driven by bias, which isn't very healthy in most cases, unless it's based on actual factual evidence.
BTW, the OCZ i recommended is made by FSP, who ironically enough, is on your good list

Originally posted by: kansaslawguy
I know the wattage on the PS is low, but I think 550 ought to be sufficient for minimal overclocks?

That's not why i didn't recommend the TT.
Its 12V rail is total is barely adequate for SLI/CF, if it is at all.

Originally posted by: xitshsif
Scrap the TT.

Enhance ENS-0560G 600W

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-EN0560G

Another superb alternative, considered even better than teh OCZ i mentioned.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: n7
I hate to point this out here, but it seems it's rare that you make an objective post.

And you are being subjective as to my objectiveness?

Instead, it seems everything you recommend or bash is driven by bias, which isn't very healthy in most cases, unless it's based on actual factual evidence.
BTW, the OCZ i recommended is made by FSP, who ironically enough, is on your good list

I didn't know I had a "good" list, ROFL

Sometimes it is the lesser of two evils.

As for FSP, there is some debate as to whether they've gone cheap as well. Haven't seen any recent models personally so I'll reserve judgement and continue to suggest it over other junk (Antec, Rosewill, et al.)

 

[n7]

OCZ GameXstream 700W = FSP FX700-GLN
OCZ GameXstream 600W = FSP FX600-GLN

The reviews speak for themselves on those models.

OCZ prices theirs a lot lower than FSP does, so it's easier to recommend them

The Enhance xitshsif mentioned is better quality (though maybe not in total power/amperes output) than teh OCZ/FSP though.

 

[Dragoon42]

you could also save some money on shipping buy not buying from newegg. Checkout zipzoomfly and other places. ZZF has your memory for $2 cheaper, free shipping. Mobo has free shipping. Anyways, i'm sure those shipping charges all add up in newegg.

 

[xanis]

Scrap the TT power supply and get something decent, and change the CPU cooling to a Scythe Ninja or something. Otherwise, looks pretty good.

 

[jcgrcm]

Newegg has fixed much of their shipping price stacking issues. I just build an e6600 system and ordered everything except for the case.

MB + RAM +HD + Power Supply + Video Card + DVD + software = $15.00 ups/3day

 

[Henny]

You're leaving money on the table. Use Froogle to get the best deals. Newegg is uncompetitive on a lot of items.

Why waist money on a sound card for P5W DH???

 

[Skott]

Originally posted by: Henny
You're leaving money on the table. Use Froogle to get the best deals. Newegg is uncompetitive on a lot of items.

Why waist money on a sound card for P5W DH???

Because the P5W DH onboard sound isnt as good as the X-Fi sound card. Its good but no where near as good. Not to mention onboard sound still eats into pcu processing.