My Build

[KoLAddict]

This is my build. The aim is solely gaming. I'm now confused as to the best processor for gaming. I thought it would be the QuadCore, but it appears I am wrong. If so, what processor would you all recommend?

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Ultra / X3 / 1000-Watt http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2700093&CatId=106

Intel Core 2 Extreme 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115011

EVGA NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188013

Kingston HyperX 2 1GB RAM sticks http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134430

Western Digital Caviar 750GB 7200RPM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136131

MSI GeForce8800 Ultra http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127288

SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151141

Any suggestions/modifications greatly appreciated

 

[KoLAddict]

Sorry, meant for this to go to Homebuilt Systems. Must have screwed something up (I was in Homebuild Systems looking for my thread, lol).

Please move when capable

 

[emp]

For immediate gaming, the upcoming E6850, for future proofing probably the upcoming Q6600 or Q6700 (not QX6700).

I don't see any reason to recommend the Ultra, you could get this

EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130072

For nearly $100 less and you could do the OC yourself (In case you don't know, 8800 Ultra is just a fancy name for slightly OC'd 8800GTX)

And before someone tries to be smart and say that the Ultra has OC'd shaders, well... you can OC the GTX shaders too, just needs a different approach (a slightly risky one) with NiBiTor. But OCing Memory and Core is a piece of cake (shaders don't affect all that much performance, at least not yet anyway).

Basically what I'm trying to say is, Get a normal GTX and OC yourself (probably beyond Ultra speeds if you want).

EDIT: that ram is overkill, just get these, you can OC just fine with them.

Crucial Ballistix 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=N82E16820146565

As for CPUs, if you plan on upgrading soon (within a year or a year and a half) then go for the E6850, if not (2+ years) then go for the Q6600 or Q6700. (Will be released on July 22)

 

[KoLAddict]

Is this processor:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115001

compatible with the motherboard I'm planning to use:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188013

I think it is, just want to double check.

I'll most likely switch to the cheaper GTX, several people have mentioned it being cheaper and easily overclocked to the Ultra levels.

 

[The_Prophecy]

Stop trying to get one of the extreme edition chips. They are completely pointless. There's not extra cache in them or anything, they are simply clocked higher and the multiplier in them is not locked. You're only throwing money away by buying one of them, unless your intention is to use the multiplier to overclock the chip (or both the multiplier and the FSB frequency). These are the only 2 chips you should bother considering for this new system:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017 - Core 2 Quad Q6600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003 - Core 2 Duo E6600

 

[emp]

if he's really in the need for X6800 speeds without OC'ing and he doesn't care about burning money (One would think so seeing him only going for extreme edition overpriced stuff), I think in this case the E6850 would be an option worth considering.

X6800 - 2.93Ghz, 4MB Cache, 1066FSB, Unlocked multi - $950-$1000
E6850 - 2.93Ghz, 4MB Cache, 1333FSB, Locked Multi - $270

Both chips will most likely perform the same, and the E6850 will be released on July 22 as I tried telling you on my previous message.

 

[KoLAddict]

Not a huge tech person. I'm unsure as to what "Locked/Unlocked multi" means. I'm assuming that means it can't be overclocked?

 

[emp]

It can be overclocked just less options to it.

You see all core 2 duo chips work with the motherboard's quad pumped FSB (set at 266*4 = 1066 or 333*4 = 1333 depending on the chip). This FSB is multiplied with the processor's own multiplier to get the clock speed (E6600: 266 (FSB) * 9 (Multiplier) = 2400Mhz). Most chips have a locked multiplier so you can't change it, and the only way to overclock is to either raise FSB or raise voltage, However intel's "Extreme Edition" chips come with an unlocked multiplier to give the user more overclocking options at the cost of insane prices of course.

It's really not worth it unless you are crapping so much money that you don't know what to do with it.