Intel Build - AAR




Word :   Username :  
 
Bottom
Author
 Thread : Intel Build - AAR
 
Profile: journeyman
More Information

All,

I recently purchased and put together a system with the following components:

Case:
NZXT Tempest
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146047
$120

PSU:
Corsair 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006
$180

MOBO:
Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128331
$290

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115042
$340

CPU Cooler:
Xigmatek 120mm Rifle & Retention bracket:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233019
$44 Total

Memory:
Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145197
$189

Video Card:
EVGA Geforce GTX280 Superclocked edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130367
$660 (yea, a lot of money for a product that reviewed poorly... oh well :) )

HD:
2 x 300GB Velociraptors in Raid 0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136260
2x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 7200RPM 750GB in Raid 1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148298
Total: $860

Audio:
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion 70SB046A00003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829102014
$180

I have a couple of comments.

First, the NZXT case is QUIET with a capital Shhhhh!. Well it is compared to the Gigabyte 3D aurora (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233013) I had prior. Six fans plus the HSF, and I can barely hear it!!!

Second, my CPU/System temps are down by a factor of 2-3!!! My CPU temps of my AMD FX-60 (admittedly a hot CPU) were usually at 65C CONSTANTLY! The room my PC is in is an order of magnitude cooler now that I don't have a convective oven sitting next to my desk! My CPU temps are at 25C and system temps around 38-40C. Now, with my Xigmatec HSF, I'm thinking of OC'ing my CPU to at least 3.0GHZ (anyone tested the Q9450 higher?) so the temps may increase, but it's still alot better than my old system, despite the fact that I'm now on a single GPU vs a SLI setup last time.

Third, an oddity was that my Mobo shipped with the 2x4 power connector half covered. I had to uncover the ports and connect the secondary psu cable to get my system to POST for the first time. A minor inconvenience turned into a hassle due to the size of the HSF.

I am really glad I picked the NZXT case, it is really turning out well so far. I've tested FSX and Oblivion on it and at the same settings as my prior PC, I'm reaching my 30FPS target on FSX instead of 9-12FPS with my old system. With Oblivion, with 4x AA and high quality settings, no problem - 60fps easy!

Cheers

JR

Edit: Fixed links


Message edited by hyperjoe on 06-30-2008 at 07:16:18 PM
Related Product

Register or log in to remove.

Profile: member
More Information

edited(the links work now, must've been my internet :P)


Message edited by efx92 on 06-30-2008 at 07:34:43 PM
Profile: nimble knuckle
More Information

GTX 280 is not worth it in my opinion, good choice on cpu, mobo, psu, ram.

Stop playing with that you will go Blind!
Profile: enthusiast
More Information

I have the X3350 (Q9450 Xeon) at 3.6 (450X8) with 1.3V in Bios. My temps at full load are around 60-64C with a Zalman 9500LED. Your cooler is alot better then mine.

The cover on the 4 pins on the CPU 8 pin is normal. Some PSU only have 4 pins.

1Haplo


Go to:
 

Google Ads
Ad
News

Microsoft ships first post-beta 2 build of Vista

Published on June 27, 2006

Late Friday, Microsoft shipped Windows Vista build 5456, its first post-Beta 2 version of the next major Windows release. Read more

China gives go ahead for Intel chip plant

Published on March 13, 2007

The Chinese government has approved Intel's plan to build a wafer plant in northern China. The $2.5 billion dollar factory will make around 52,000 12" wafers a month using 90-nanometer technology. Intel has not specified when the plant will be built. Read more

Microsoft Releases New Build of Windows Vista

Published on September 25, 2006

Microsoft has released an interim build of Windows Vista to its usual testers as well as to some 100,000 of the participants in its Customer Preview Program. Read more

Intel plans $3 billion wafer plant in Arizona

Published on July 25, 2005

Intel said on Monday it plans to build an advanced, $3 billion semiconductor production plant in Arizona that will begin operation with in two years. Read more

Latest Reviews & Articles

G31 And E7200: The Real Low-Power Story

Published on October 10, 2008

While Intel and VIA are battling for the low-power market, an optimized desktop motherboard and an efficient processor can already take your idle power down to almost 30 W, while still providing solid performance. We put Intel's G31 chipset to the task. Read more

Three High-End Gaming Systems Compared

Published on October 09, 2008

Gaming enthusiasts always look for an edge, but that edge usually comes at a cost--time or money. We compare three systems from HP, Falcon NW, and Vigor aimed at gamers with more money than time. Read more

Shuttle's X27: Can Atom Handle Vista?

Published on October 08, 2008

In the horsepower race between Intel's and AMD’s quad-core chips, the Atom processor is an everyday hybrid. Shuttle took it and created a pint-sized small for factor box. Is it powerful enough to be your daily-use desktop, though? Read more

Do New Drivers Really Boost Performance?

Published on October 07, 2008

How much extra performance can you get from a simple graphics driver update? And what sort of gaming gains can you expect from a high-end graphics card when you overclock your CPU? Read more