First Build Needing help

[xh4n]

hello first time building a system.. please critize and tell me whatever u think its bad!

NEXA BLACKLINE ATX MID CASE

Q6600 CORE 2 QUAD 2.4GHz G0

CORSAIR 520W v2.2

ABIT IP35 PRO LGA 775 INTEL P35 ATX

nVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT 255MB 128-BIT PCI

CORSAIR 4GB (2X2GB) 240 PIN DDR2 SDRAM

CREATIVE SOUND BLASTER AUDITY SE 7.1

WINDOWS VISTA HOME PREMIUM 64BIT


SOME Q`S
1. What do you guys think about the graphic card?
2. Will my system be able to run VISTA? sure i am but just want to make sure.
3. Should i go with the 32 or 64bit for vista?
4. Do you thinks think i should get a CPU coolin or would the one it comes with be alright?
5. How much OC would i be able to reach?

Thanks!

 

[shadowduck]

1. Not very good, 8800GT
2. Yes of course
3. 64-bit is required if you want to use 4GB of RAM
4. Stock cooler is terrible look at Arctic Freezer or something like it
5. Depends, on too many factors. Average is around 3.0-3.2 for Q6600.

 

[xh4n]

any suggestion for a 8800GT?
thinkin about the MSI but not sure. heard XFX`s run too hot.

 

[lcaley]

I've always used EVGA for my video cards. Never had a problem, and the step-up program is great.

I agree with shadowduck completely. Also for your video card, check out the 8800 GTS 512 MB (not the 320 MB or 640 MB versions). It's basically an 8800GT with everything unlocked and a dual slot cooler for just a bit more. I love mine.

As far as an OC, my E6600 (Q6600 is just 2 E6600's stuck together) easily went to 3.4 GHz, but ran too warm for peace of mind, so I backed it back off to 3.2 GHz. With my Zalman cooler it never goes above 65*C even with full load for 12+ hours.

edit: My system is in my sig, if it helps any. Good luck!

 

[xh4n]

Yeah im hoping to run a 3.8GHz if possible prolly not hopefully get a 3.6GHz
thinkin about getting a artic freezer 7PRO too.
about the 8800GTS should i go with a EVGA or a MSI?
EVGAs run a little more expensive and i can get the overclocked one for 259.99
and a MSI for 209.99, so not sure what to go with

 

[lcaley]

I wouldn't set your hopes too high for 3.8GHz on air. Even 3.6 on air would be extremely sexy. Unfortunately, I couldn't make mine do it. Ended up underclocking my ram to keep the 1:1, but thats cool.

I've got the EVGA, it's a champ. Never gave me a bit of trouble (except in Linux, but that's not the card's fault lol) Paying for an OC is kind of useless though. They don't do anything that you can't do in 30 seconds in RivaTuner, and they charge you $$ for it.

 

[xh4n]

yeah I dont really want a OCd one. but the prices all vary from 200+ cheapest being the MSI that runs it OC to 781Mhz or so. 209.99.
and for the EVGA they all go from 259.99+ with 700Mhz.
so im not sure which one to go with. any suggestions?

 

[orangegator]

Yeah im hoping to run a 3.8GHz if possible prolly not hopefully get a 3.6GHz
thinkin about getting a artic freezer 7PRO too.
about the 8800GTS should i go with a EVGA or a MSI?
EVGAs run a little more expensive and i can get the overclocked one for 259.99
and a MSI for 209.99, so not sure what to go with

If you want to even have a chance at getting 3.6Ghz or higher with air cooling on the Q6600, then get the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme heatsink and a 120mm fan. An ACF7P or similar will only likely get to 3.0 to 3.2Ghz without running too hot.

 

[lcaley]

Really, if the card doesn't have any kind of modifications that they definitely will tell you about (extra ram, better cooler, etc) then they're all based off the reference model, which means that they're all exactly the same. The only real difference between brands is the customer support, the game they put with it (if any), and the warranty. The thing I love about EVGA though is the step-up. Nobody else does that.

 

[xh4n]

Really, if the card doesn't have any kind of modifications that they definitely will tell you about (extra ram, better cooler, etc) then they're all based off the reference model, which means that they're all exactly the same. The only real difference between brands is the customer support, the game they put with it (if any), and the warranty. The thing I love about EVGA though is the step-up. Nobody else does that.

Yeah. the only 8800GTS 512Mb GPU's from EVGA all come overclocked at 670mhz+ and are all 250+ .
any other suggestion for cheaper ones ? especially because i dont really need a SLI card. but seems like most 8800gts all come wid it.

 

[xh4n]

If you want to even have a chance at getting 3.6Ghz or higher with air cooling on the Q6600, then get the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme heatsink and a 120mm fan. An ACF7P or similar will only likely get to 3.0 to 3.2Ghz without running too hot.

yeah i was thinking about water cooling but i think its too much of a hassle. plus i couldnt find any water cooling systems that would fix my box. i did hear about some small ones but ppl did say they didnt work that well... ill take your word with the thermalright ULTRA 120 heatsink. i already own a 120mm fan so thats good too. and about the extreme one. i couldnt find anything extreme named one. i did find the ultra 120 one if thats what ur referreing to . i also did some research and seems like thermalright is the best CPU Coolers out there =D

 

[lcaley]

Pretty much all cards now-a-days are SLI'able, but it doesn't mean that you have to actually do it.

If your sure you won't want to step up in the next 30 days, I'd just go with the cheapest 8800GTS 512 from a good brand and OC it yourself.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325

I'd do that one.

 

[xh4n]

Yeah i know that but i thought SLIs would run a little more expensive. i guess i was wrong.

i was thinking about getting the MSI one too . isnt that one OC though?
is there much of a difference running a 8800GTS or running a 9600GT?

 

[orangegator]

yeah i was thinking about water cooling but i think its too much of a hassle. plus i couldnt find any water cooling systems that would fix my box. i did hear about some small ones but ppl did say they didnt work that well... ill take your word with the thermalright ULTRA 120 heatsink. i already own a 120mm fan so thats good too. and about the extreme one. i couldnt find anything extreme named one. i did find the ultra 120 one if thats what ur referreing to . i also did some research and seems like thermalright is the best CPU Coolers out there =D

Definitely make sure you get the Ultra Extreme, not just Ultra. The extreme has two additional heatpipes and does cool better than just the Ultra.

 

[lcaley]

8800GTS is better than the 9600GT by a bit, I think. SLI is just an option that comes on the PCB, you can't really get one that isn't like that. It's kinda like asking for a motherboard with only 3 USB ports, because that's all you'll need.

 

[xh4n]

Definitely make sure you get the Ultra Extreme, not just Ultra. The extreme has two additional heatpipes and does cool better than just the Ultra.

oh yeah. i guess they ran out of it for now. Googled it and found it. i guess ill go with that. since i want my system to stay stable + OC at a good Spped.

 

[xh4n]

8800GTS is better than the 9600GT by a bit, I think. SLI is just an option that comes on the PCB, you can't really get one that isn't like that. It's kinda like asking for a motherboard with only 3 USB ports, because that's all you'll need.

yeah got you right there. one of the main reasons why i dont really want to spend 250+ on a card is because im not really into any PC Games these days. but at the same time i still need a card and dont want a bad card. so do u have any suggestions as for a card that would be around 150-200$? or should i just get a 8800GTS 512M for 250? also can you explain the big differences wit a 512 and a 640. tHAnks ur great help lcaley!

 

[lcaley]

The difference between the 512 and the 640/320 is actually pretty large, and it's nvidia's fault for naming it that. It shouldn't be called the 8800GTS. It's actually based off a new GPU than the 640/320. The 640/320 is based off the older g80 core, which is also used in the 8800GTX and Ultra. The 8800GT and the 8800GTS 512 are based on the new g92 architecture. The 8800GTS is basically a 9800 card with lower clock speeds.

However, if you aren't wanting to game, it's big time overkill. If you're just wanting a card to be a decent card, the 8800GS isn't bad, but really the best thing (I think) that could still handle a few games should you change your mind, but is cheap enough that you really aren't wasting money on a card you won't use is the 8600GT. I've got a buddy who plays Crysis on medium with his 8600GT and it still looks great. They should be sub $100 now but I haven't checked in a LONG time.

edit: I'm just remembering that the 8600GT was your original choice lol

 

[orangegator]

yeah got you right there. one of the main reasons why i dont really want to spend 250+ on a card is because im not really into any PC Games these days. but at the same time i still need a card and dont want a bad card. so do u have any suggestions as for a card that would be around 150-200$? or should i just get a 8800GTS 512M for 250? also can you explain the big differences wit a 512 and a 640. tHAnks ur great help lcaley!

If you're not really much in to gaming, then I'd say get an 8800GS for $90. This card overclocks very well and should be more that you need.

 

[xh4n]

The difference between the 512 and the 640/320 is actually pretty large, and it's nvidia's fault for naming it that. It shouldn't be called the 8800GTS. It's actually based off a new GPU than the 640/320. The 640/320 is based off the older g80 core, which is also used in the 8800GTX and Ultra. The 8800GT and the 8800GTS 512 are based on the new g92 architecture. The 8800GTS is basically a 9800 card with lower clock speeds.

However, if you aren't wanting to game, it's big time overkill. If you're just wanting a card to be a decent card, the 8800GS isn't bad, but really the best thing (I think) that could still handle a few games should you change your mind, but is cheap enough that you really aren't wasting money on a card you won't use is the 8600GT. I've got a buddy who plays Crysis on medium with his 8600GT and it still looks great. They should be sub $100 now but I haven't checked in a LONG time.

edit: I'm just remembering that the 8600GT was your original choice lol

yea and i really dont wanna get into crysis especially since everybody likes it. gotta work and make money =D so im still not sure if i should go wit a 8800GS or a 8600GT Yet. a good 8800GS seems to be 129.99 wid a 8600GT being priced at about 180 which iisnt THAT much. so ill still have to think about that. and are all 512mb g92?

 

[xh4n]

If you're not really much in to gaming, then I'd say get an 8800GS for $90. This card overclocks very well and should be more that you need.

which card are you talking about?

 

[lcaley]

Yeah all the 8800GTS 512's are g92. I honestly think the 8600GT will be enough if you don't plan to do much gaming. It should run almost anything out now, you'll just have to turn down the eye candy a bit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130292

I would do EVGA on this one, because then basically you get 30 days to decide if its powerful enough for you or not, and if not, then just step-up.

 

[lcaley]

Hey bud, I'm headed off to bed. It's almost 1:30 here and I have to work in the morning. But I'll catch up on this thread tomorrow.

Glad I could help. Talk to ya in the morning.

 

[orangegator]

which card are you talking about?

This one

 

[xh4n]

Yeah all the 8800GTS 512's are g92. I honestly think the 8600GT will be enough if you don't plan to do much gaming. It should run almost anything out now, you'll just have to turn down the eye candy a bit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130292

I would do EVGA on this one, because then basically you get 30 days to decide if its powerful enough for you or not, and if not, then just step-up.

your right. no point in paying another 100 for something thats not needed now. my only concert is that i dont get into PC gamings. other then that everythings good i guess.
thanks for the help. and i should go wid the 512mb instead of 256 right?