revised build... any suggestions?

[jonesing]

Thanks to replies from some of you i have revised my newest build list. Please let me know what you think. I have never used G.Skill memory, any opinions?

CASE: SILVERSTONE KUBLAI Series KL03S
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-EX38-DQ6
PROCESSOR: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
PROCESSOR FAN: Thermalright ultra 120 (or extreme)
VIDEO GPU: MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
MEMORY: G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
EXTRA FANS: 3 Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E 120mm
DVD RW: SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner
HARD DRIVE: 2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB

I am currently running Vista Home Pro 32b but am considering Ultimate 64b dual boot with Loepard. I know some of this maybe overkill but i am thinking of the future.

 

[aevm]

It looks great.

Compare GA-EX38-DQ6 with GA-P35-DS3R. You may be able to save $100 there if the DS3R already has all the features you need. For example the DQ6 adds PCI-E 2.0 and Crossfire and a second video card slot but you're not taking advantage of any of this. Do you need eSATA or Firewire?

 

[zenmaster]

Why Buy a High-End CrossFire Board and then an NVIDIA GPU?

Either Get an ATI GPU or a P35 w/ NVIDIA GPU.

 

[Shadow703793]

^Agreed. Overall should be a good build .

 

[jonesing]

I will eventually go with a ATI crossfire setup, but for now i figure a single 8800 would do better than any single ATI card (for the money), then the 8800 will go into one of my other computers. I do need firewire and like the 2 PCI-E 2.0 slots and both at x16 that the x38 offers.

I don't do a lot of PC gaming right now since i have a 2yr old (no free time), but i desperately need to replace my wifes PC. Soooo i will give her my current PC and build a "higher end" core system for myself that i can upgrade in a year or so.
Does this make sense?

 

[jonesing]

Will the CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX be enough to power the "future" crossfire setup and 3 Hard drives (i already have 1), 5 120mm fans and the usual array of peripherals or should i step up to 750w or so? I don't want to have to change the PSU in the future and i like to erroe on the side of excess .

 

[aevm]

OK, the DQ6 makes sense then. Very nice build.

A 620HX can handle two 8800GTX cards, for example. I can't really say what future ATI cards will need, so I can't say if the 620HX will be able to handle two of them. Technically, video cards of the next few years will be limited at 450W each because that's all you can get from a PCI-E 2.0 slot and two 8-pin connectors. (If I got this number wrong somebody please correct me, I'm only 90% sure it's right )

Does that mean you need 900W just for the video cards, to be sure? Not really - even the 3870X2 consumes less than 200W and that's the biggest power hog I know of. Anyway, if you want to err on the side of excess look at these models:

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W Crossfire Edition (Make sure it's the Crossfire Edition, not the other 750W Silencer, because it has adaptable 6/8 pin connectors and you need that for high-end ATI cards).
Enermax Galaxy 850W
Antec Quattro 850W
Thermaltake ToughPower 850W

 

[chuckm]

What about this Gigabyte X38 board? $50 cheaper;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128089

 

[jonesing]

there was some reason i chose the DQ6 over the DS4 but right now i have no idea what that was. Ive been researching so much stuff . Now if I could just find a E8400 or E8500 i would be happy. Thanks for all the info. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[aevm]

The DQ6 has 8 SATA ports, while the DS4 has 6. Apart from that, the differences are negligible AFAIK (cooling, cables, 2 eSATA adapters instead of 1).