I'm looking at building an all-around PC, for gaming, music creation, movie watching, Photoshop/Illustrator usage. Would like opinions on MoBo and Power Supply, and comments on anything else that looks out of whack. I'm trying to stay close to $1500 - not going over $2000.
Here's the list of what I'm thinking:
CPU Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz $250@MicroCenter
Memory CORSAIR Dominator 2GB DDR2 1066 $45@MC after rebate
Case Nine Hundred ATX $95@MC
PS Something in the 750w range
CD-ROM LG blu-hd-dvd read/cd&dvd write $179@newegg
HD SATA 500gb X 2 $200
MoBo nForce 780i SLI $260@MC Graphics 8800 GT X2 $360 already purchased OS XP Media Edition $120@newegg
Cooling fans - Recommendations?
Using my existing Sound Card and monitor
For memory, I'd put in 4 Gb, but I'm wondering if XP ME comes in a 64bit flavor - anyone know?
If you plan to overclock the q6600 or q6700 will yeild you much eaisier OC.
Might as well get Vista home premium with built in Media Center. Sp1 has been out for a while and all the components you picked will run on vista no problem.
The only time vista is a problem is when some noob tries it on some 3+ year old hardware and their aint drivers for it.
XP MCE does not come in the 64bit flavor - if you get MCE be sure its the 2005 Edition (Symphony) The 64bit version of Vista Home Premium has the Media Center functions
A 750W PSU is about right if you're thinking about future upgrades. Look for at least 2 PCI-e 6+2 connectors and 4 PCI-e connectors total. Corsair 750TX What are your exisiting sound card and monitor? If there aren't 64 bit drivers for the sound card you might get by with the onboard 7+1 audio.
The link for the SLI Power Supplies definitely helps - THX! I'm thinking 750W should be enough.
I do plan to OC, but not excessively (maybe up to 3.0) - but I thought the Q9300 had a larger FSB than the Q6600. I wasn't set on that processor - it just looked like the latest at the right price point. I didn't research that as much, comparing the Q9300 with the Q6600/6700 - I'll have to compare them. THX!
As for why I'm not going with Vista, some of my music creation software has problems with it - it's my understanding I'd have to upgrade some software and some of what I have simply doesn't work in Vista because of some changes made to the way that OS deals with sound. I'd rather stick with XP for the time - it's enough of a headache building a new PC and moving all of my programs/files over without also having to worry about Vista driver issues and programs not working. When I went from W98 to XP I had the same problem with older software not working - I adapted then and will probably have to adapt again, but I'm putting it off as long as possible. :-)
Yeah - SLI all the way.
My existing Sound Card is an older Sound Blaster with the external hub - I think it's called an Audigy Pro. Not sure on 64bit drivers for it - would have to research - but since there's no 64-bit XP MCE, I guess I don't have to research. :-) Monitor I just got for Christmas - Gateway 24in - can't remember the model number, but I think it's fairly new. THX!
IF you get the stuff in my sig rig you will have a sweet running puter. The FSB of the Q9300 is 1333Mhz, and if OCed to 1600Mhz she will purrr at 3.0Ghz not 2.5Ghz.
