The (new) Official PC building thread!

LP,

a sig change should take effect imediately.

Russ,

Same memory I am using. running at 1068mhz. absolutely no complaints.

abuzar,

my E3110 has a multiplier of 9x and I'm running DDR2 1066 memory. why don't you need it? for no more than it costs to go with 1066 over 800, why not go with the faster memory? it also boils down to where your mobo will allow it to run. with the 4 different strap choices in my rampage formula bios, I have 11 different choices for memory speed at any given cpu frequency.

personally, I would go with the 9450 over the Q6600 even if I had to save a while or make payments. newer technology and a lot more umph. I would have gone with a 9450 over my 3110 but they weren't available at the time. I decided to go ahead and get my feet wet with a 3110 being it is 45nm. I eventually intend on upgrading to a 9450.

 

Mort, finances are the same reason it boils down to doesn't it? You can have your Rampage formula and a Q9450. Some of us can't afford it and it helps us stay in budget. Plus The money saved by getting a Q6600 can be better spend on a a different parts.

See, this is the same reason why everyone disagreed on the Asus thing. Not everyone can afford high end motherboards, or is willing to make payments on it. So would you agree that the Q6600 is an excellent CPU for half the price?

 

LP,

thanks for the kind words and for the chuckle. good to have you back amongst us.

abuzar,

yes I would.

 

BTW, if my tone came off as hostile, it wasn't meant that way. I was just trying to get a point across.

 

NP, did you see my edit?

 

@mort

I would lean more towards a patched version of the bios...I just can't believe that the stock factory bios could be used between the 2 different models...

I would recommend spending the extra $55...and just getting the actual Rampage Board...

How do you like your 45nm chip vs your 65nm chip?..

I have not got to play with any of the 45nm chips yet..

@mrk44
I don't think you could go wrong with a Q6600...a E3110...or a E8400...I would get the board you want and if you have to upgrade a component make it the processor that you upgrade...for a extra $100 you can have the Rampage & the 9450...
Got any Wiggle Room?..

 

sorry to get of topic but I just rescently bought a set of klipsch promedia 5.1's and I like them so much that I now have just got to have a set of their top of the line promedia ultra 5.1's. then I'll sell these on ebay.

I was bidding on a set of brand new ultras still in the box today but quit bidding at $500. they went for $560. they don't make em anymore but when they did they went for $399. must be quite a demand for new ones.

I'm still gonna try to get a set of used ones. they usually go for around $350.

 

Yeah but that P5E was REALLY WORTH IT when it was going for a 100 dollars.

 

OH that just hurts!! I missed it too.... money wasn't very fluid when that deal was running.... OUCH!!! boozer shaddup! hehehe.

....gm

 

@boozer
A new premium X38 board was going for $100...Now this wasn't one of your import things was it?..

 

abuzar1,

The Q9450 has an 8x multiplier, just so's you know. See here:
http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAWR

mrk44,
If you are worrying about future proofing why not get the Q9300. It's about $45 or so more expensive than the Q6600 and has 50% more L2 cache and they overclock fairly well. I plan on going with a Quad, but I'm going to wait till the third quarter and see what happens to the prices. If I was going to get one right now it would be the Q9300. I'm hoping that the price comes down on the Q9450, mainly because it has twice the L2 Cache (12MB) of the Q9300 (6MB). The only real up side to the Q6600 is it does have a 9x CPU multiplier, so it's a bit easier to OC. I'm in no rush as my E6750 @3.55GHz with 1066 memory does me just fine for now! I plan on putting a Quad in my GigaByte GA-P35-DS3R Rev. 2.0 motherboard. The current model GA-EP35-DS3R is only $120 and is compatible with the 45nm Quads and unless you are looking for a higher end OC, will do just fine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128086

Best Regards,
Russ

 

Lp,

hard to tell. everything else is new/better too. I do like it tho. it is fast. I don't want to upset anybody or get into another mobo debate, but I absolutely luv my rampage formula.

 

mrk44,
I thought that I would add a few choices for mobos.

P35 mobos

X38/X48 mobos

Sorry if this confuses you but if you need SLi or CF some of these mobos might meet your needs and the DFI's are growing on me.

Here's some 1066 RAM to look at as well. I wouldn't be afraid to run any of this in my machine. OF course you will want to make sure of compatibility. Most OCZ stuff is compatible and so is Kingston. I like Mushkin, OCZ, and Corsair.... but you make the choice...

I have the blue Mushkins and some Crucial Tracers (1066) and they both perform well. But for the price of some of the OCZ stuff I'd consider it.

I also own a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P and it's great... it OC's well and runs like a dream with the Intel E6850 and Mushkins...

GOOD LUCK with your choices and ask all the questions you want to here.... these guys will definitely help a person out!

....gm

 

@Russ,
The Q9300 was my original recommendation...and it all fit in his budget...looks like I wasn't to far off in my original recommendation to him...

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail $269.99 Free 3 Business Day Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115043

GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $234.99 3 Business Day Shipping $8.55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336

ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $289.99 3 Business Day Shipping $9.01
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131284

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $119 Free 3 Business Day Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-L0A-_-22148298

CORSAIR Dominator 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $104.00 ($64.00 after $40.00 Mail in Rebate) Free 3 Business Day Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145043

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail Memorial Weekend special, ends 5/26 $109.99 ($89.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

SAPPHIRE Toxic 100225TXSR Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Toxic Edition with Vapour Chamber Technology (VCT) $179.99($159.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) 3 Business Day Shipping $7.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102732

I still think a Duo core is plenty for him...I don't think he really needs the 4Gb of memory...or the quad for games...

He is at about a $1,000 with the rampage...he is close to fitting the 9450 and still be below the $1,200 budget...the case is $40 and he still needs a CPU Cooler...

Isn't the X3350 Xeon...basically...a binned Q9450?..

 

here's a cooler for not much money and it works well. Maybe not exactly what you're looking for but it's well liked and does an adequate job. linky to ACF 7

...gm

 

@Greenie
That will work...it fits the budget...and should clear the P/S...I 'm not sure if the cooler that boozer recommended would clear the P/S...It might...but it would be tight...

 

Lp531
The Chakra case is a lifesaver. I will save so much money going with that. I guess everyone is recommending I get 2GB of RAM, including you, so I guess I'll get the Corsair Dominator, and add two more sticks later....unless the case saved me so much money I can get the 4GB.

To be honest, I really don't think I need the Rampage. I think the Asus P5E X38 is enough for me. Either that or the GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3R LGA 775. Tough decision.....

For the cooler, I have had this
on my list for a while because it's so damn quiet. The only downside is that it's REALLY hard to install. If anyone can recommended a better quiet cooler, much appreciated.

I'm gonna go with the Q9450. It's just the better CPU.
Plus, I'm looking to save some money by going the eBay way. Some of the stuff on my list I can get brand new on ebay for 10 or 20 bucks cheaper. For example, there's a $200 w/ shipping buy it now BRAND NEW P5E X38 that i found, $25 cheaper than newegg....and the corsair dominator RAM is dirt cheap on eBay.

 

Beware of E-bay...It can work...but it can backfire on you...Go with a reputable dealer...and spend the extra cash for peace of mind...also most stuff from E-bay...does not have factory warranties...because they were not purchased from one of there approved dealers...I would not buy anything from E-bay...I have been down that road and learned my lesson about E-bay...
I would go with a the Arctic 7 pro or look at the one boozer recommended...or a thermalright CPU Cooler...if it will fit...

 

LP: I am very experienced on eBay. I have been using it for almost 6 years now. My feedback is high when it comes to buying. But for peace of mind, buy.com is pretty good too for cheaper things.

As for the cooler. Will Arctic 7 Pro be enough for the Q9450? And you're talking about the Xigmatek that he recommended right? I hear it's loud and gigantic. I wanted the scythe because pretty much all of scythe's coolers are extremely quiet. Have you ever heard of frostytech.com? They have reviews on a lot of really good coolers.

And, as a final answer on this, what do you think about the two motherboards in my previous post? Which one do you think I will need for not-so-hardcore OCing, but still being a good investment for later?

 

Of the 2 you listed...I would go with the X38 board...If you could swing the Rampage I would...The Motherboard is the Heart of the computer...also look at the DFI X48 boards...they would fit in your budget...I just prefer Binned products...that way you know you have...the best of the best...