1200 gaming build

[havefun79]

I will be ordering this build in the next 2 weeks. Please let me know about any potential problems or suggest changes. Okay edited list after some more research.

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail 139.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129021

GIGABY TE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail 139.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128050

EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail 389.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130071

OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply - Retail 129.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817341001
or
OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply - Retail 104.99 w/rebates
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817341002

Int el Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model after drop 266.00
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115017
or
Inte l Core 2 E6850 expected price $266

OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P800R22GK - Retail 125.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820227139
or
SUPE R TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model T800UX2GC4 - Retail 103.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820609026

Sony NEC Optiarc 18X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model AD-7170S-0B - OEM 33.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827152079

ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T OEM - OEM 17.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827135151

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM 5.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835100007

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail 34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

I already have this hard drive thinking of adding a second in raid
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

I already have a monitor keyboard and mouse that I may use from my last build. My budget is $1400 with tax and shipping.

Questions.
1. Quad or dual for gaming?

2. To many ram choices. I might try to overclock but still want a fast system even if I dont. Please help.

Also psu choice is whichever one is cheaper at buy time. Dont think I really need 7ooW for a non-sli mobo.

 

[grieve]

looks good.
maybe faster ram for OC, but thats a solid build there

 

[rabidbunny]

Sweet! Looks great. One thing about the DS3 is that when you go to boot up, you're most likely going to need to up the voltage on the ram to 2.0-2.1v in the bios before you get to install windows.
When i went to install window$ i had to up the voltage otherwise my computer would freeze upon install.

Otherwise, it looks like it's gonna be a sick rig! good luck and have fun building it!

 

[bruce555]

Could you wait a couple weeks and pick up a Q6600 for about the same price, just a tiny bit more?

 

[havefun79]

I was planning to wait for the price drops, but is it really worth it to get the quad. I have heard that their are no games even on the design table that use the extra cores.

 

[PCKid777]

Actually, I heard that Crysis and/or Supreme Commander will utilize all the cores. According to what I heard on this forum, the game bogged down to a crawl on 2 cores and when all 4 were engaged (they disabled the cores on a quad core), the game really flew. Please, someone else on this forum know where that information is????!!!!????!!!!

EDIT: Found a related thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/243332-28-programs-cores-quad-core-chip

 

[chedrz]

I'm surprised nobody else mentioned this...I'd get a P35 chipset motherboard instead of the P965. Better performance, better upgradability, better overclocking...better overall. Plus, Gigabyte's P35-DS3R is only $10 more than the 965P-DS3.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128050

 

[zenmaster]

The RAM in the current setup is definately adequate for a heavy OC.

If you setup the RAM to run at a 1:1 performance it will push the CPU to 3.6 Ghz, which is likely faster than this RAM can run.

If he chose something like an E6300, it may not be fast enough since the result would only be about 2.8Ghz.

What you should be considering, however is a P35 Mobo, A 1333 FSB Intel CPU and DDR2 1066 RAM.

Why?

The new 1333 FSB chips will be using Intels new stepping which based on rumors will allow OCs reaching close to 3.8 on stock coolers! Higher when using advanced air coolers.

To reach such high OCs, you will need very fast RAM such as the 1066 as well as a mobo that can handle the fast FSB. The P35 mobos are good bets to run at such speeds.

 

[havefun79]

Okay swithed to this mobo.
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128050
If the ram that i have shosen is inadaquate any suggestions for better ram

 

[andybird123]

The RAM in the current setup is definately adequate for a heavy OC.

If you setup the RAM to run at a 1:1 performance it will push the CPU to 3.6 Ghz, which is likely faster than this RAM can run.

If he chose something like an E6300, it may not be fast enough since the result would only be about 2.8Ghz.

What you should be considering, however is a P35 Mobo, A 1333 FSB Intel CPU and DDR2 1066 RAM.

Why?

The new 1333 FSB chips will be using Intels new stepping which based on rumors will allow OCs reaching close to 3.8 on stock coolers! Higher when using advanced air coolers.

To reach such high OCs, you will need very fast RAM such as the 1066 as well as a mobo that can handle the fast FSB. The P35 mobos are good bets to run at such speeds.

I've used generic ddr2-800 on 3 systems with E63xx processors and have them all running at 500fsb 3.5ghz just by setting the memory timing to 5-5-5-12 and the multiplier to 2, this far exceeds the CPU performance level required to run any game currently released, or to come for quite some time

graphics card will be the bottleneck long long before processor

 

[emp]

It looks very good, get the quad if you can if not you're still good. IF and only IF you have wiggle room try to get a GTX if not, you're still good.

 

[havefun79]

Just saw the new cpu charts and considering changing to the new E6850. It roughly the same price ans seems at or near the top on all gaming benchmarks.

 

[rahvyn]

You will be happy with that motherboard. Its a sweet overclocker, just got myself one couple weeks ago. BIOS is easy to work with, my e6600 is at 3.2 and I havent even started pushing it hard yet. Also have the eVGA 640 GTS, also a great overclocker. Have it running at like 600 on the core and 1800 on mem, dont have exact number here. Temps sit around 50 idle and 70 or so with load. CPU temps are very nice, 34 idle and around 46 load. Supreme Commander rocks maxed out.

 

[bballsk8er333]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817341002

This PSU looks better...for the future (5 eggs too!)

and cheaper, look

139.99-35 MIR - (EMC713DOCZ7) COUPON CODE for 20$

NOTE:for the coupon you must list up for newegg promotional ****..heres the explination //You must be subscribed to their newsletter to use the code. If you are a new subscriber, it can take up to a day to process.

 

[havefun79]

probably go with that psu if it is still cheaper next week. edit** will try to buy if coupon code will work.