I would go with the q6600 since it will cost a little bit less and since you are buying a zalman 9700 you are probably overclocking anyways. :-)
Do a quick google search for "asus striker II formula motherboard qvl". Hopefully you will find a pdf detailing all of the recommended RAM for your motherboard. I only recommend that you doublcheck since RAM at 1066 speeds has been known to be buggy with various motherboards.
Other than that all looks good.
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| Q6600 @ 3.2 GHz | Maximus Extreme @ 400 MHz | 2GB OCZ Platiunum DDR3 @ 1600 MHz | Sapphire HD3870 @ stock| Creative Fatal1ty Professional Series | Diamond ATI Theater 650 PCI-E | 500GB Samsung SpinPoint T Series | ABS Tagan BZ 1100W | Thermaltake Armor
Nice system, but I'd probably do a couple of things different for different reasons.
* The CPU you have is a good selection. It has a 10x multiplier and will OC easier than the q6600, which is a good CPU too.
* I'd consider the Xigmatek s1283 CPU HSF, if you can get your hands on it. It cools better than the Zalman 9700 and costs less too!!
Frosty's review of the Xigmatek s1283 * 9800gtx is a nice GPU, but the 8800gts (g92) 512mb GPU is 95% of the 9800gtx speed. You could OC the 8800gts to almost equivalent 9800gtx speeds and save the $ for other things.
* The mobo you selected is a good one, but overpriced if you ask me. I'd rather stick with a cheaper and just about as capable p35 based mobo. The Gigabyte DS3R/Abit IP35 pro/Asus p5k series of mobo's is what I'd get. I think SLI/Xfire is over-rated, unless your above 16x12 resolutions.
* The PSU you selected is nice, but might be a bit overkill. Now that isn't a bad thing, but you could save some $ on the PSU, depending on which way you go. If you stick with a single GPU solution than you can get a good 500w-650w PSU and have plenty left over for upgrades. If you stick with SLI/Xfire, I'd suggest getting the Corsair tx750w PSU, since it has 4x6+2pin PCI-e power connectors (needed for those power hungry GPU's). This means that you could power up 2 GPU's that need 2x8 pin PCI-e power connectors. Don't know of any that need 2x8pin PCI-e power connectors yet, but you know that might be coming soon. Now I think the PSU that you selected only supports 4x6pin PCI-e power connectors, so that may/may not be an issue for you. Just thought I'd throw that out there for you to consider.
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail Ebuyer link of the Corsair 750tx
Your parts that you have selected are of pretty good quality, so I'm just suggesting a few things to consider and just nit picking a bit, so don't be offended by my comments.
Thanks you guys this is just the sort of feedback that I need!
The Corsairs 1066MHZ's are alright on the QVL I assume that the Dominators should be alright too ?
Also is it better to go with 2x 2 gigs rather than 4x 1 gig? I think I read something about it somewhere...
I'm investigating the suggested opportunities for cost savings, but I'm wary about overclocking brand new equipment so if I achieve the same performance at a slightly higher cost without overclocking then I'm still a happy bunny
Thanks you guys this is just the sort of feedback that I need!
The Corsairs 1066MHZ's are alright on the QVL I assume that the Dominators should be alright too ?
Also is it better to go with 2x 2 gigs rather than 4x 1 gig? I think I read something about it somewhere...
I'm investigating the suggested opportunities for cost savings, but I'm wary about overclocking brand new equipment so if I achieve the same performance at a slightly higher cost without overclocking then I'm still a happy bunny
2x2 sticks leave you room for possible future upgrade, which is always better.
The 780i motherboard oc reliably up to 1600mhz, which is 3.6ghz for q6600.
Thanks you guys this is just the sort of feedback that I need!
The Corsairs 1066MHZ's are alright on the QVL I assume that the Dominators should be alright too ?
Also is it better to go with 2x 2 gigs rather than 4x 1 gig? I think I read something about it somewhere...
I'm investigating the suggested opportunities for cost savings, but I'm wary about overclocking brand new equipment so if I achieve the same performance at a slightly higher cost without overclocking then I'm still a happy bunny
I believe that the 2x2 gb configuration is the best right now. It leaves room for upgrades and is pretty cheap right now.
It really doesn't matter which mobo you get, if your running at stock speeds. The only difference that you'll have is the options that come with a particular mobo over another. It's only when you start to OC, will you see some differences. Generally the more expensive mobo's will usually OC a bit more than most, but this isn't always the case. So if your not going to OC, than don't waste your $ on an expensive enthusiast mobo. I suggested the p35 mobo's because they are fairly cheap and can OC with some of the best out there. This is a win, win for you. You spend less on the mobo, but still have plenty of OC'ing room, if you decide to do that later. The x38's will OC more, but most people won't want to push the limits of the mobo's, so why spend the more $ on it? It's up to you, but at stock speeds your not going to see any difference between a $50 mobo and a $350 mobo.
I have 2GB of Crucial Ballistix DDR2-1066 on my Abit IP35 Pro, and I think I'm having some issues with it. Memtest is not consistent. Anyway, I just ordered 2x2GB of Mushkin DDR2-800 to put on it. This is the kind of issue njalterio was describing.
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There is ALWAYS a drone. Exactly where, or how many drones you will encounter may vary, but that there will be at least one will not.
I believe that the 2x2 gb configuration is the best right now. It leaves room for upgrades and is pretty cheap right now.
It really doesn't matter which mobo you get, if your running at stock speeds. The only difference that you'll have is the options that come with a particular mobo over another. It's only when you start to OC, will you see some differences. Generally the more expensive mobo's will usually OC a bit more than most, but this isn't always the case. So if your not going to OC, than don't waste your $ on an expensive enthusiast mobo. I suggested the p35 mobo's because they are fairly cheap and can OC with some of the best out there. This is a win, win for you. You spend less on the mobo, but still have plenty of OC'ing room, if you decide to do that later. The x38's will OC more, but most people won't want to push the limits of the mobo's, so why spend the more $ on it? It's up to you, but at stock speeds your not going to see any difference between a $50 mobo and a $350 mobo.
780i cost around $200, the same as x38. He/she probably wanted it for sli. And the cheapest p35 start at $90. Still cheap. Just do not get a $50 motherboard.
Yeah I totally agree on the $50 mobo, just trying to make a point that a $50 mobo and a $350 mobo at stock speeds isn't really going to make any speed difference. With that being said, I'd probably get the Gigabtye DS3R/Abit IP35 pro for around $130, which supports RAID and has more SATA connectors over the $90 bretheren mobo's.
In the other forum someone adviced me not to go for a Q6600 or Q6700 but a Q9450 instead. After browsing the websites that I'm planning to order from I found a nice offer:
Problem is now I need to find a good motherboard that supports it for around 140 pounds to stay on budget. Since the Striker II was overpriced anyway I've got no problem going with something else. I prefer Asus b.t.w
Regarding the PSU. ThermalTake PSU 750W ToughPower Modular PSU W0117RB for 70 pounds seems like a good offer to me. The Corsair one is more expensive and offers 650W.
Okay maybe this will help out.
* The Thermaltake PSU you selected comes with 2x6pin PCI-e power connectors. The Corsair tx 650w PSU has 2x6+2pin PCI-e power connectors, so you'll be able to power up 2x8pin GPU cards, or at least one 6pin/8pin GPU (like the 9800gtx). Don't know if this makes a difference to you or not, but to me it's important to have the right connectors available rather than having to buy adapters for make things work. It may cost you $10 more to get the right adapter, when you could spend $10 more on a PSU that has the right connectors. The Corsair tx750w has 4x6+2pin PCI-e power connectors, so that is why I recommended that one, since it's cheaper here in the US than the TT one that you selected ($110 vs. $180).
Here is an Asus board that I'd start with that is p35 based and fairly inexpensive too.
ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
In the other forum someone adviced me not to go for a Q6600 or Q6700 but a Q9450 instead. After browsing the websites that I'm planning to order from I found a nice offer:
Problem is now I need to find a good motherboard that supports it for around 140 pounds to stay on budget. Since the Striker II was overpriced anyway I've got no problem going with something else. I prefer Asus b.t.w
Regarding the PSU. ThermalTake PSU 750W ToughPower Modular PSU W0117RB for 70 pounds seems like a good offer to me. The Corsair one is more expensive and offers 650W.
Any ideas and suggestions?
q9450 use 8x multiplier, compared to q6600's 9x and q6700's 10x. With the low multiplier, you'll need x38/48 motherboard, otherwise fsb will bottleneck your overclocking.
At 1600mhz fsb, q9450 = 3.2ghz, q6600 = 3.6ghz, q6700 = 4.0ghz. P35 runs at 1333mhz fsb stock, x38/48 runs at 1600mhz fsb stock.
I just built a new system... I don't think the 9800 is atall worth it. I found a good barigin on an 8800 GTX (£165). what resoultion do you game on... the GTX will really show its legs of the GTS and 9800 on the high resolutions. I also got a 9450 and the XIGMATEK S1283 - it runs like a dream!
My choice of processor would be the Intel CPU Core 2 Quad Q6700 Quad Core 2.67GHz 1066FSB at £176,- but I'm not sure if it can go on the motherboard I assume it can?
And memory Corsair Corsair 4GB PC2-6400 C5 DHX (2x2GB) at £61,- (which is compatible with the XFX motherboard).
Would this all be wise? or am I going totally wrong?
Well your 8800gtx's are nice, but are too much $ if you ask me. I believe the best buy right now is having 2 8800gts' in SLI, if you are really going to use a pretty high resolution. If your under 16x12 resolution than a single GPU will do, which the 8800gts (g92) is still the best buy. This might change when the 48xx's come out real soon. If you are sticking with SLI/Xfire than the 8800gts (g92) is the best buy right now. I don't think the 2 8800gtx's (g80) are worth the extra cost. You will also consume alot more power with the 8800gtx's and might in certain situations perform more, but not necessarially. You can decide, but I think the older (g80) GPU's aren't worth the added expenses (including the power consumptions, which is about 15watts more). Just throwing this out there for consideration.
