first build question, any advice would b appreciated

htbanos

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im looking to build a system that i can use for first time overclocking but mainly for gaming and music collection management, based on 2 words: intel and budget. being computer illiterate...i mainly need help as to which cpu, ram, and mobo to get. i've looked on newegg and the Intel Pentium D 915 Presler def. caught my eye with its price and specs. judging by the reviews other have left it seems like a good cpu for overclocking, any advice on this? as for the ram i think pc2 6400 and 2gb will be good but idk anything about latency and how that affects overclocking ability. for the mobo i have the slightest clue as to which chipset would b good for the budget..but not to cheap since i need 2 PCIe slots just in case. so far this is what i have, i no its not much but i have to start somewhere:

cpu: Intel Pentium D 915 Presler 2.8GHz
ram: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 5-5-5-15
mobo: i have no clue :(

thanks for helping this sad noob.
 

emp

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No Pentium D, its craaap. Here's a build I just posted on two other threads, comes to about $825, great gaming machine.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Windsor 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail (It's at only $170 now!!! Couldn't resist)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103030

ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131022

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590

EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082

SeaSonic M12 SS-500HM ATX12V / EPS12V 500W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151029

Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3120811AS 120GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148161



If you want an intel things get more expensive:

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 (rev. 1.3) LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128042

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115004

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590

EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082

SeaSonic M12 SS-500HM ATX12V / EPS12V 500W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151029

Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3120811AS 120GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148161

Total = ~$897

They are at about the same performance (C2D one is a bit faster), but the intel build is $70 more

IF you feel the need to save more money you can either switch the AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ for this (saves you $80):

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2.0GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103735

or if you're going the intel route, then switch the E6400 for this (saves you $50):

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115013
 

skyguy

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Intel and budget, eh? Get a C2D 4300, some cheap G.Skill 667 or 800 RAM, even keep the stock heatsink, and I can guarantee you'll hit 2.6-2.8ghz without even touching the volts.....just raising the FSB ;)

Don't touch the Pentiums with a 10' pole. C2D all the way. Like comparing apples to watermelons. Don't bother trying to overclock a Pentium when a C2D will absolutely kick it back into the Stone Age without breaking a sweat.

Wait til after April 22 for price drops, then grab a 4300 for CHEAP.

Seriously, you won't be disappointed, and for the price, it can't be beat.
 

htbanos

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thanks for the help, i'll def take the advice and wait till apr 22. in the mean time i'll try learning the how-to's, do's and donts, and the wtf's?!? of overclocking. as for the ram, im guessing that so long as its ddr2 800 it'll b good for oc'ing?
 

skyguy

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Depends how hardcore you want to OC. Most 800 RAM will let you hit 3.0 ghz. If you wanna start pushing higher than that, you should consider some better RAM, especially ones with Micron D9 chips.

So if you want a moderate-to-respectable overclock, then any 800 RAM (except Value RAM) will do. If you want an agressive or hardcore overclock, then spend some money and get the good stuff.
 

wilcoxon

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The RAM you need also depends on the cpu you get (more specifically the multiplier). For example, 800 value RAM is good enough if you get an E6600 (x9) or E6700 (x10) as it's very unlikely you will get past 400MHz FSB (unless you spend lots of money on a nForce 680i mobo where you can overclock the RAM separate from the cpu). I know you will be getting a less expensive cpu (with a lower multiplier) but I don't know the multipliers of the lower chips so I used those for examples.
 

skyguy

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Lower CPUs with lower multipliers (7x on the 6300 for example) generally need higher RAM.......since the FSB and RAM are raised synchronously.....so to hit 450 FSB, your RAM will be doing 900. So 667 RAM at 900 is a stretch. 800 RAM at 900 isn't as much.

Lower multiplier needs higher rated RAM, generally speaking.
 

htbanos

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also, i no this is pushing it, but will an additional cooler be necessary for the cpu? going from 1.8ghz to around 3ghz is a big jump. i just dont know if the e6300 can hold its own with a stock cooler. thanks for the help in advance.
 

GameHunter101

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You might want to take a look at delloutlet.com for good deals.

$469.00 XPS 410 Intel Core 2 Duo - 1860 Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic 80 GB EIDE SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) 1000 DVD-ROM 256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache

$689.00 XPS 210 Intel Core 2 Duo - 2130 Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic 160 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) 1000 DVD/RW 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro

$709.00 XPS 410 Intel Core 2 Duo - 2130 Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 250 GB EIDE SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM) 1000 DVD-ROM;DVD/RW 256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache

BOLD = RAM.

and later on you can change the video card and add more ram..etc.

I'd downgrade them to XP though.
 

skyguy

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I would not count on upgrading any Dell system very much at all. Proprietary products. Not upgradeable by an owner. Period.

Also, I'd get very nervous trying to install an 8900GTX or something similar into a Dell.......who knows what PSU it has. Probably a piece of garbage and take out the system when you run a game for more than 20 minutes.

Dell for cheap systems all the way. But enthuiast? Never.
 

wilcoxon

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I'll partially disagree.

You can definitely upgrade a Dell system within limits. My current computer is a Dell 400SC with upgraded RAM, GPU, HDD, and optical drives. You can not upgrade the mobo or PSU in most Dell systems though (custom mobo, PSU, and case most of the time).

However, the PSU in Dells is decent but do not expect to put a super-high-end GPU in unless you buy a system that has that option to begin with (and not even then unless you verify that the PSU is the same regardless of options chosen).

I wouldn't expect to be able to overclock a Dell much either.

On the other hand, you can get some amazing deals if you watch Dell. I bought a "bare bones" Dell 400SC (case, PSU, mobo, P4 3.2GHz, 40GB HD, misc GPU, floppy, minimal RAM (least I could put in), and XP Home) for less than the cpu was selling for at that point. I then added a Raptor 36GB, 2GB dual channel RAM, and 5600 GPU (which later got upgraded more with an added Raptor 74GB and 6600GT). Runs very quiet and cool but is getting long in the tooth for current games (which is why I'm in the process of building a new system).
 

skyguy

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Ya I guess that's my point Wil, I didn't articulate it well. In a nutshell, Dell is GREAT for lower-end stuff. But for enthusiast (which is most of the people that come to these forums), then don't touch Dell with a 10' pole.

I'd never go with Dell for a decent system, but their monitors are GREAT. I hear they outsource to Samsung.....no wonder, they rock.
 

GameHunter101

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I would not count on upgrading any Dell system very much at all. Proprietary products. Not upgradeable by an owner. Period.

Also, I'd get very nervous trying to install an 8900GTX or something similar into a Dell.......who knows what PSU it has. Probably a piece of garbage and take out the system when you run a game for more than 20 minutes.

Dell for cheap systems all the way. But enthuiast? Never.

750 Watt Power Supply; 1KW Power Supply (Available in Americas only) - SLI, ATX2.0, EPS12V, SSI industry compatibility
 

GameHunter101

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Interesting.........I stand corrected. :oops:

Still wouldn't buy though.....build your own 100% FTW! :)

me either, but if you want a decent gaming PC for relativly cheap. Then it's an okay place to buy. If I had to buy a PC id go with the delloutlet.
 

senor_bob

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Still wouldn't buy though.....build your own 100% FTW! :)

me either, but if you want a decent gaming PC for relativly cheap. Then it's an okay place to buy. If I had to buy a PC id go with the delloutlet.
I got my laptop from the Dell outlet, about half the price it was going for new (and with a beautiful 1920x1200 display :D). But I would definitely build it myself for a desktop.