New Computer

[Fenris]

I was hoping to get some input before I order the parts for my new computer. Its going to be used for gaming and as my main computer for just about everything else.

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics
Newegg.com - Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
Newegg.com - Thermaltake Toughpower W0132RU ATX12V / EPS12V 1000W Power Supply 115/ 230 V CE, CB, TUV, FCC, UL, CUL, and BSMI certified - Power Supplies

 

[Petros]

I can vouch for the motherboard...got two of them (one in my system, one in my brother's). I recommend the overclocked MSI 8800GT. You could get a power supply that does what you want for about $70 or less and put the rest of that money into a 9800GTX instead.

 

[LordOfLA]

don't use the Pseries boards with anythinf greater than a E6600 You'll slow down the processor!

 

[kcnychief]

I would agree with Lord - especially if you are going to game and you are going to have a quad core CPU, don't cheap out on the motherboard. Not that you need to, but if you can swing it I would go with the x48 chipset from Intel -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=x48

That's really one of the bottlenecks you can put yourself in if you get a lower grade mobo compared to what you can get.

 

[Sazar]

I was hoping to get some input before I order the parts for my new computer. Its going to be used for gaming and as my main computer for just about everything else.

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics
Newegg.com - Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
Newegg.com - Thermaltake Toughpower W0132RU ATX12V / EPS12V 1000W Power Supply 115/ 230 V CE, CB, TUV, FCC, UL, CUL, and BSMI certified - Power Supplies

First, Derek and Lord, where are you getting this information about the processor being slowed down? Sure, maybe there won't be all the features but I've been scouring benchmarks for this board and similar and while it's not exactly the most overclockable or feature-rich board in the world, it doesn't affect stock performance.

But, if additional features are needed, a better board is the way to go.

Fenris, if there is a Fry's near you, consider checking out processors there. Quad 6600's are $189.

 

[Petros]

don't use the Pseries boards with anythinf greater than a E6600 You'll slow down the processor!

wut

 

[LordOfLA]

First, Derek and Lord, where are you getting this information about the processor being slowed down? Sure, maybe there won't be all the features but I've been scouring benchmarks for this board and similar and while it's not exactly the most overclockable or feature-rich board in the world, it doesn't affect stock performance.

When intel first released the p35 they said that processors from E6600 and up should stick to i975x until the x38/x48 was available as the p35 would limit memory performance with them.

So for E6600 and higher you want the following chipsets:

i975x, ix38, ix48, nforce 680i, nforce 780i.

 

[fitz]

Just out of curiosity Fenris, how much is that all going to run you?

 

[kcnychief]

Just out of curiosity Fenris, how much is that all going to run you?

=sum of all parts found by clicking on links provided

 

[fitz]

that would require me to do math.. this is a forum.. I want instant gratification with little work.

edit: that power supply looks sexy

 

[Sazar]

When intel first released the p35 they said that processors from E6600 and up should stick to i975x until the x38/x48 was available as the p35 would limit memory performance with them.

So for E6600 and higher you want the following chipsets:

i975x, ix38, ix48, nforce 680i, nforce 780i.

The 680i is the most bug-plagued platform in history. You are asking him to avoid the p35 and then invest in the 680i?

I am not sure that is wise

Also, I have personally never heard of any memory performance issues. As I mentioned, all benchmarks I have seen of the lower/mid/high-end p35 boards show consistent performance in all scenarios. The lower end items may not OC as high but I have not seen anything backing up what you are saying Lord.

Please provide links with concrete proof.

-edit-

An article discussing the memory performance of the p35 chipset.

http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2991

 

[Fenris]

Not sure what the price is I haven't bothered to add it up. I'll look at other motherboards and read some more tests I always have a hard time picking out motherboards since I don't like them to be too feature heavy which a lot of the nforce ones are. The only reason I went with the quad core instead of the E6600 was because it was $20 cheaper for some reason and had better bench marks by a few FPS on all the tests i saw. I also do a lot of multi tasking when i play MMOs so figured quad might come in handy. Sadly I wont have a fry's near me again until early September which is to far away to wait for a new computer. I have to get back to work now, I'll add everything up when I get home tonight fitz.

 

[Fenris]

I'm having a hard time finding an SLI motherboard that supports the memory i am going to use. most of them seem to be crossfire. I am reading up on the p35 board that I was looking at in the first place to see if I can find anything out suggesting I don't use it. So far I have found this one to use instead of the p35 board, however it isn't an SLI which for the money I would rather it was. I am tempted to upgrade to the DDR3 memory since i saw some motherboards that support that type that did SLI as well. The DDR3 is still quite expensive and not too many options though.
Newegg.com - ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Well I just checked the first motherboards memory support page and it doesnt have the G.skill listed as supported so I'm guessing that board is out anyway.

 

[Sazar]

Do you HAVE to SLi?

Regarding the memory, as long as it follows JEDEC specs, you should, technically, be fine.

I would contact the manufacturer if in doubt, I called CORSAIR about my memory because I wanted to ensure it would work at the latencies I wanted it to.

 

[Fenris]

I don't really need SLI since at the moment I am only getting one card, but if in the future I decide to throw another in there it would be nice to have it since it has two pci16 slots its just for crossfire sadly. Theres some people in the reviews section that said G.skill works just fine with it, thats what they put in so i guess i am still alright.

 

[Fenris]

Well I ended up going with this MB Newegg.com - ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

and I am going with this Monitor Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 2253BW Black 22" 2ms(GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support 300 cd/m2 DC 8000:1 - LCD Monitors

going to order everything tonight hopefully get it in around a month. Shipping to an APO so it takes a while.

 

[dubstar]

These prices are wayyyy too high. Why do you need to Overclock a C2Q?!

www.fatwallet.com find the forums and visit "hot deals"... Dells usually top out at $500 for a C2Q, 3gigs, 500g sata, on-board video w/open PCI-E16

 

[dubstar]

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/823357/

much better deal, IMHO

 

[LordOfLA]

My pc is humming along nicely on a 680i SLI.

That link is 965/p35. The 965 is slower than the p35.

I'll dig up links for 975 vs p35 later, I'm heading out shortly.

 

[Steevo]

Why overclock a C2D? Are you serious?


My E6400 is running 3.2Ghz with just .2 more voltage and the memory is pumping out a whole set lower of timings with the same .2 increase. Take a $110 chip and make it run like a $210 chip for free. It is almost physically the same chip but with a different multiplier and voltage and 4Mb less l2 that doesn't do much in real life performance against higher clock speeds. I have hit 3.8 with another two tenths voltage and a minimal increase in temps. I don't do much to benefit from the extra speed though and I hate the minor amount of noise that comes with it when running F@H.



Really the question is why buy a top notch chip when a lower priced one will perform as well or better with a minor understanding of how everything works.