Intel Core 2 Quad system with SLI Gaming Machine

[sakkdaddy]

I am living in Norway for a few years, but visiting the US soon, and planning to build a nice computer in preparation for Age of Conan mostly, but also other games. I occasionally like to plug into my 42" television, and will run high resolution on my monitor otherwise, so really wanted to try out an SLI system that would last for a few years and be able to play new games at max settings and high resolution without problems. I will be using Windows Vista 64bit to take advantage of the DX10+ technology.

My last computer build was alright, but is very loud, so this time I am trying to pay much more attention to sound. I don't care how pretty or elegant the system is, but just want a very powerful machine that doesn't sound like a lawn mower.

So far, this is what I've come up with. I gave links to the seller in Norway that I will probably use, as well as Newegg.com links and prices. Not including mouse, keyboard, and monitor, the system comes out to be roughly $1500 assuming all parts are purchased in the U.S.


Asus Striker Extreme, nForce-680i SLI, Socket-775, 2xGbLAN, DDR2, 2xPCI-Ex16
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=327953
1.849 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131074
$299.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz Socket LGA775, 8MB, BOXED m/vifte
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=330169
1.750 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018
$239.99

Asus GeForce 9600GT 512MB GDDR3, PCI-Express 2.0, 2xDVI-I/HDCP/HDMI (x2)
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=346595
2.858 (1429 x2) nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121229
$359.98 ($179.99 x2)

Corsair XMS2 6400 DDR2, 2048MB PC6400 CAS 5-5-5-18, 800MHz, 240pin (x4)
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=347823
1.560 (390 x4) nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194
$278.00

Antec Performance P182 Miditower, Gun Metal Black Aluminum (Without PSU)
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=341841
1.395 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025
$139.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB, SATA-300, 32MB, 7200RPM
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=344091
795 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288
$119.99

Samsung DVD-brenner SH-S202J IDE Black OEM
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=343260
299 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151161
$24.99

Zalman CNPS9700LED Ultra Quiet CPU Kjøler, Socket 775/754/939/940/AM2
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=327440
498nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019&Tpk=Zalman%2bCNPS9700LED
$53.99

Total:
11.004 nok
$1,549.64 (includes $32.72 shipping)


komplett.no - $2,157.00/11.004,00 nok
newegg.com - $1,549.64/7.903,16 nok


I would really appreciate any feedback you could give. If I can save some money without taking any significant performance hits, or replace some components with similar quiet components, it would be really nice.

Thanks!

 

[amd_fanboi]

for those resolutions, you're way off on the gfx... You need 512mb 8800GTS cards or better...

and change the motherboard; it's expensive for nothing

 

[sakkdaddy]

What motherboard would you recommend as an alternative?

Realistically, 1600x1200 would be a good target resolution for me to base it on. I would just like to have the option to step this up to 1920x1440 or so without coming to a grinding halt.

 

[Waspy]

I'd say you should pick up 8800 GTS G92 512MB video cards there...or better!

 

[sakkdaddy]

Are you serious? I was basing my decision on the http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/03/05/the_best_gaming_graphics/page5.html#best_pcie_card_for_360_tie article, and actually thought that dual 9600 GT's would be overkill for 1600x1200 resolution.

 

[jeremyrailton]

the 9600's will play pretty much anything NOW, but you said you want something that will last a few years. I have to agree that the 8800GTS's is the best choice. If you look hard, there are a couple of places that are offering them for the mid to low $200 range.

I also second the motherboard-changing call. If you're going high-end SLI, you'll want to look at the newer 780i or 790i boards. They aren't going to be a whole lot cheaper, but they'll be the newest and henceforth most future-proof.

However, since I've proposed an increased VGA cost, I'd look into getting a less expensive 680i board. They're perfectly capable, but much less costly without hurting performance.

Final suggestions, replace the Zalman cooler with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
similar performance, lower price. Then, you can go for a 750 gig hard drive instead of 500.

Now you're ready.

 

[Shadow of Dawn]

What power supply are you going to use?

 

[Waspy]

However, since I've proposed an increased VGA cost, I'd look into getting a less expensive 680i board.

Do not get a 680i motherboard. These boards do not officially support 45nm quad cores...and if you are a quad core kind of guy, this could easily be your next CPU. Unless you are sure you want to stay 65nm on this mobo, get a 780i board.

 

[sakkdaddy]

Alright, well that brings me to this setup then. Thanks for your input. komplett.no doesn't have the cooler that you recommended, and shipping back from the US really will end up costing more than just paying a bit more here probably.


EVGA nForce 780i SLI, nForce-780i SLI, Socket-775,DDR2,2xGbLAN, 3xPCI-Ex(2.0)16
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=344350
1895 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024&Tpk=EVGA%2bnForce%

2b780i
$259.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz Socket LGA775, 8MB, BOXED m/vifte
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=330169
1.750 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018
$239.99

XFX GeForce 8800GTS 650M 512MB GDDR3, PCI-Express 2.0, 2xDVI/HDTV/HDCP,650Mhz
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=343750
4.798 nok (2.399 x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150261
$539.98 ($269.99 x2)

Corsair XMS2 6400 DDR2, 2048MB PC6400 CAS 5-5-5-18, 800MHz, 240pin (x4)
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=347823
1.560 (390 x4) nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194
$278.00

Antec Performance P182 Miditower, Gun Metal Black Aluminum (Without PSU)
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=341841
1.395 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025
$139.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB, SATA-300, 32MB, 7200RPM
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=344091
795 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288
$119.99

Samsung DVD-brenner SH-S202J IDE Black OEM
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=343260
299 nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151161
$24.99

Zalman CNPS9700LED Ultra Quiet CPU Kjøler, Socket 775/754/939/940/AM2
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=327440
498nok
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019&Tpk=Zalman%

2bCNPS9700LED
$53.99

Total:
12,990 nok
$1,686.92 (including $30 shipping)


komplett.no - $2,547.06/12.990,00 nok
newegg.com - $1,686.92/8.603,29 nok

 

[sakkdaddy]

Oh, and I really don't need more than 300gb realistically on a hard drive. 500gb is more than enough to suit me. I used a 30gb hard drive until a year ago and never had a problem.

 

[sakkdaddy]

Any last warnings/suggestions? I will probably go ahead and order parts within the week.

 

[jeremyrailton]

looks like you're set, happy computing and good luck with the build

 

[njdrew]

What power supply are you going to use?

Shadow of Dawn has a good point.... You dont have a PSU listed and the case doesn't come with one.

 

[sakkdaddy]

Shadow of Dawn has a good point.... You dont have a PSU listed and the case doesn't come with one.

Hm, I haven't really put a lot of thought into it, though I understand that it is a bit important. I was thinking that any mid-grade PSU with 500-550W would be good enough.

What do you think about
SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-550HT ATX12V / EPS12V 550W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC
http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=337163
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151027


Should I look more specifically at every single component in the build to determine what wattage I need?

 

[oushi]

Since you're looking to SLI (especially with 2x 8800GTS), I don't think 550W is going to be sufficient. I would say to go for a stronger PSU just to be safe. I would recommend PC Power & Cooling S75QB EPS12V 750W. However, after looking around komplett, it doesn't look like they carry PCP&C products. From what I can find browsing around without knowing the language, I would pick one of these for their price/performance: Corsair TX750W or Thermaltake Toughpower 750W. If you can spend a little more money, the Seasonic M12 700W is a good PSU that will help keep your case tidy with modular cabling.

 

[ZOldDude]

Since you're looking to SLI (especially with 2x 8800GTS), I don't think 550W is going to be sufficient. I would say to go for a stronger PSU just to be safe. I would recommend PC Power & Cooling S75QB EPS12V 750W. However, after looking around komplett, it doesn't look like they carry PCP&C products. From what I can find browsing around without knowing the language, I would pick one of these for their price/performance: Corsair TX750W or Thermaltake Toughpower 750W. If you can spend a little more money, the Seasonic M12 700W is a good PSU that will help keep your case tidy with modular cabling.

You can order dirrect from PC Power & Cooling...a 610 is 49AMP -constant- on the 12Volt line and is $119 dirrect price.

 

[oushi]

^ Apparently he's right. You can order the PSU directly from them. After converting to your currency, it's still cheaper and better quality than the PSU's listed at komplett. Here's a link to their shop:
https://shop.pcpower.com/products/power_supplies/ultra-quiet/

The 610W might work. I went with the 750W because it's certified for 2x 8800GTS in SLI, while the 610 isn't (source: http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html ). It's also better safeguarding for future upgrades...

 

[sakkdaddy]

Great thanks everyone. I'll go with the silencer 750W Quad (S75QB) then.

https://shop.pcpower.com/power-supply/silencer-750-quad-black.html

Thanks again.

 

[sakkdaddy]

Ah just one final question...are power supplies designed to automatically detect whether the input line is 120/240V? The standard in Europe is 240, and I'd rather not ship over a $200 power supply and then fry my computer.

 

[jitpublisher]

They have a switch on the back of them to set for 120/240.

 

[sakkdaddy]

I used the http://educations.newegg.com/tool/psucalc/index.html calculator and it recommends 741W, so big thanks for the tip on getting a bigger PSU.

 

[sakkdaddy]

Sorry, one last thing. I can either ship over a PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 from the US, which will probably take a while to ship...or buy a Corsair TX750W locally, which is a lot more convenient. Do you think that it's worth the wait to ship over the PCP&C PSU? The pricing including shipping in the end is roughly identical.

 

[Waspy]

Do you think that it's worth the wait to ship over the PCP&C PSU?

Yes. This PSU is excellent, and has done very well.

On a larger-scale note, check out Maximum PC's 2007 Dream Machine...with all the crazy-ass PSUs out there, this is the one they chose!

On a personal note, many people at my work use these and they are excellent PSUs. I'm getting one myself for my next build.

 

[oushi]

If the pricing comes out to be the same, I would say to get the PC P&C. If waiting is a problem, the Corsair will work as well. It's pretty good although not the best. In the end, it's your build and your decision.

 

[geofelt]

I would suggest the Samsung 203 burner. It is the sata version of the one you selected. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153

---good luck---