New 750i/Quad-core System Build - your thoughts?

[agentdcooper]

This is my first post to TomsHardware.com's Forums --- I love the site, and it seems you all got a great forum environment too!

I've built systems in the past, but this is the first Intel box I will be building EVER [well, I think you can classify my 8088 - x286s intel based, but I guess I'm referring to; since it's been AMD and Intel as CPU manufacturers, circa 1998], I been partial to AMD for a long time, so here goes nothing with the Intel box...

$159.99 - ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

$250.00 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0568M - OEM

$11.99 - Open Box: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

$54.00 - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail

$289.99 - EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

$89.99 - hec Zephyr 650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply - Retail

$40.99 - Western Digital Caviar SE WD800AAJS 80GB 7200 RPM SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM

$49.99 - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

$29.99 - SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM

Subtotal: $976.93
Shipping: $34.81
Total: $1,011.74

================================
I'm hoping some forum-goers wouldn't mind weighing in with their thoughts on my order, I went thru newegg, and my budget was $1000.00, but as you can see, it went over with shipping by $11.74

 

[amd_fanboi]

well, that looks pretty... iffy...

if i'm not mistaken you can get a system with very close specs or better for the same price... you have the right idea though

 

[vaker5]

I would reccomend getting an e8400 and an 8800gt, that will save you a hundred or so.

 

[doubled]

I have just built a very similar system for a customer, with the 8800GT(s) X 2 in SLI

I had to tweak NB and HT voltage to get it over 1100FSB, but once I adjusted it, it's rock stable and effortless overclocker.

Here is my second attempt at 3DMark06 with stock clocked cards. The rest of the details are here: http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=5364003
This thing will see 20,000 plus with little to no effort. Core 2 duo at same clock speed is 2000 points less on the very same system.

I can't say what the difference would be for the 8800GTS as a single card, but those parts are an extremely good foundation and for the price; I can't find anything even close.

The Quad is the only way to go. Quads can be had for $210-$220 on ebay and (last week) at microcenter. E8400 will cost you that, and I wouldn't trade any Intel Quad for any dual core.

This is a MUCH better power supply than what you have selected: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703011 I have this PSU on a 3.6GHZ Q6600 and an 8800GT. Runs 100% CPU load 7 days a week for the Tom's hardware folding team.

I wouldn't trust the one you linked any further than i could throw it.

 

[vaker5]

I dont think he wants to scavenge ebay and deal with all of that...... the e8400 is great!!! With the extra money maybe he can spring for a better case.

 

[doubled]

http://www.microcenter.com/

Microcenter in-store, front page: retail Q6600 $199. No screwing around there. E8400 is more expensive anywhere I can find, not to mention dual core is yesterday's (2005 actually), technology. In almost every real word application, the Q6600 will own an E8400 at stocks speeds. With a little (easy) overclocking, the Quad really shines. Dual is old tech, Quad is current, 8 core is tomorrows tech. Overclocking the E8400 might result in a higher FPS in SOME games, but new games will be multi-core enabled. A dual core is a crutch.

Oh, and that case is a 5 Egg because it's a good case. Cooler Master has very good cases for the $. I have $50-$70 Cooler Master cases that are built just as good or better than my $200+ cases.

 

[USS12pak]

I agree with doubled, stick with the q6600 for now. Everybody was tellin me to go with the 8400 also, but I stuck with my guns and got the q6600 and I couldnt be happier. the 8400 will clock higher, but at stock, the q6600 wins. only thing i see i would change is the psu and the cooler. stay with the gts on the card, it runs cooler than the gt, due to the rear exhaust.

 

[vaker5]

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP this is one of the cases I had in mind.......

 

[agentdcooper]

Thanks for everyone's input - especially "doubled", your 3DMark06 scores was hugely helpful, I can't wait to get my score posted up here once everything is said and done =) I will definately let ya'all know.

I agree with most in this post; regarding the Q6600 as opposed to the E8400, but what irk's me a bit is the fact that MICROCENTER has it for $199!! Man, that woulda helped save me some cash, and I coulda went with a different case, or PSU. I had a heck of a time with deciding which case+PSU, the reason I went with the "hec Zephyr 650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply" was it has FOUR +12v rails, this to me was the best deal for the price. I was gonna go for the OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply, but just couldn't afford the extra cash - so I hope this will be good enough [the hec PSU].

USS12pak: regarding the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler, you don't think it'll be enough for a Q6600? I'd like to hear your thoughts, and maybe an alternative option --- I wasn't sold 100% on the cooler I went with, but the rating on newegg plus the price, I just couldn't pass it up ... Do you know what I coulda went with as another option?

Thanks all for everyones suggestions - this has been an eye opener!

 

[doubled]

Thanks for everyone's input - especially "doubled", your 3DMark06 scores was hugely helpful, I can't wait to get my score posted up here once everything is said and done =) I will definately let ya'all know.

I agree with most in this post; regarding the Q6600 as opposed to the E8400, but what irk's me a bit is the fact that MICROCENTER has it for $199!! Man, that woulda helped save me some cash, and I coulda went with a different case, or PSU. I had a heck of a time with deciding which case+PSU, the reason I went with the "hec Zephyr 650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply" was it has FOUR +12v rails, this to me was the best deal for the price. I was gonna go for the OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply, but just couldn't afford the extra cash - so I hope this will be good enough [the hec PSU].

USS12pak: regarding the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler, you don't think it'll be enough for a Q6600? I'd like to hear your thoughts, and maybe an alternative option --- I wasn't sold 100% on the cooler I went with, but the rating on newegg plus the price, I just couldn't pass it up ... Do you know what I coulda went with as another option?

Thanks all for everyones suggestions - this has been an eye opener!

You do not want multiple 12V rails. You want a single 12V rail. The problem with mulitple 12V rails on a smaller PSU is the individual rails dont have enough amperage to properly power your video card. Bad PSUs can take out your mobo, CPU and/or video card. Don't save a buck on a PSU, you will be sorry. I would think long and hard about using that PSU.

 

[uguv]

If you're not planning to run SLI I'd go with a P35 or X38 motherboard over the 750i. Intel's chipset is pretty solid and seems to be the preferred one over nvidia these days (unless you need SLI.)

 

[resonance451]

An 80GB HDD? Get at least a 250, there's no way an 80gb will hold you down.

I wouldn't go with the 750i. If you're into SLI, get the 780i chipset. If you're not interested in SLI, go for a P35. I wouldn't go X38 unless you're an overclocker.

 

[doubled]

Couple tweaks and another run:

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=5437796

Need to tighten my memory timings, work on the video cards and experiment with more FSB and knocking down the multiplier one notch.