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2k system build, please critique

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Well I was waiting for Nehalem but I decided to just buy now… I don’t want to wait and prices are good.

I recently sold my water cooled Rig to build this new one. The main thing on this machine is quite, maintenance free… im going to pad the case with noise reduction material, I am not going to overclock or watercool this machine…I have simply past those days, I just want to hit power and play/work.

Please critique, I feel confident this machine is pretty good. I am willing to upgrade, I have more money.

Everything is coming from Memory Express, I can drive to pick it up, Canadian prices.
www.memoryexpress.com

Sub total - $1840.45
With tax total - $1932.47

After mail in - $1882.47

$344.95 --> non negotiable.
Intel Core™2 Quad Processor Q9550 2.83GHz w/ 12MB Cache
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 4(ME).aspx
-------------------------

$199.95
Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 Silent Full Tower
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 4(ME).aspx
----------------------------

$209.95
Asus P5Q Deluxe w/ DualDDR2 1200, 7.1 Audio, Dual GB Lan, 1394, PCI-E x16 CrossFireX
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 2(ME).aspx
-----------------------

89.95
Mushkin EM2-6400 Enhanced DDR2 SDRAM, 4GB Dual Pack (2 x 2GB)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 4(ME).aspx
-------------------------

$32.95 - $65.90
TWO -->Liteon LH-20A1S 20x20 DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive, SATA (Retail)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 7(ME).aspx
-DVD RW, I know this brand will burn everything.
-----------------------

$79.95
Western Digital 640GB Caviar SE16 7200rpm SATA II w/ 16MB Cache
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 7(ME).aspx
-I use a lot of External storage; this is all I really “need” Open for suggestions on a faster drive, not veloci raptor.
-----------------------

$94.95
Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer, Retail
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 2(ME).aspx
----------------------

$34.95
Scythe YD-8V08 Floppy + 18-in1 Card Reader Combo Drive, Black
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 3(ME).aspx
-Its just easier to have a built in floppy for flashes and Ghost.
----------------------

$139.95 --> $119.95 after mail in
PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750 Quad Power Supply, Crossfire Edition
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 5(ME).aspx
------------------------

$579.95
VisionTek Radeon HD4870 X2 2GB GDDR5 PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, HDTV-Out HDMI
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 0(ME).aspx

Thank you all for your assistance.

Message edited by grieve on 09-09-2008 at 01:00:07 AM

Add a reply

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 5(ME).aspx

I prefer large single rail PSUs, it's simpler to connect everything, and you don't need to worry about needed 12v current being "locked up" by your CPU or fans or something while your GPUs desperately need more.

I wouldn't bother with a sound card unless you want a quality improvement over your onboard sound. If you have a PC speaker kit, don't bother at all, they can't show the difference anyway (a chain is only as good as it's weakest link)

The hard drive is good. You won't get a whole lot faster unless you go SCSI or Velociraptor, and you mentioned not wanting to pay for that.

Memory with a fan? Wut? While I'm sure that's nice memory, it's not really needed. DDR2 800 is fine. Get something like this: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 1(ME).aspx

If you need some noise insulation: http://www.secondskinaudio.com

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to the_mystery_gamer

the_mystery_gamer wrote :

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 5(ME).aspx

I prefer large single rail PSUs, it's simpler to connect everything, and you don't need to worry about needed 12v current being "locked up" by your CPU or fans or something while your GPUs desperately need more.
Yah PC Power and cooling silencer 750 is/was the other PSU i was considering, 750 doesnt leave any room for upgrade.
I wouldn't bother with a sound card unless you want a quality improvement over your onboard sound. If you have a PC speaker kit, don't bother at all, they can't show the difference anyway (a chain is only as good as it's weakest link)
Agreed, i am going to run this machine to my Stereo and ill prolly add a TV Tuner card as well... but not right now.

Memory with a fan? Wut? While I'm sure that's nice memory, it's not really needed. DDR2 800 is fine. Get something like this: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 1(ME).aspx
lol yah the fan is dumb.... but there werent a lot of options for pc8500 and i do want quality memory.

If you need some noise insulation: http://www.secondskinaudio.com

Reply to grieve

+1 for the Silencer 750W. If you're going to have a lot of hard disks and TV tuners then maybe 850W make sense. You can save $100 with the Antec 850W.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 3(ME).aspx

$80 buys you a WD 640GB. It's just a tiny bit faster than the Seagate 500Gb 7200.11 (as in 90 MB/s vs 89 MB/s, nothing you'd notice), and a few cents cheaper per GB at memoryexpress. Both are good disks. With your DS4 you won' thave a lot of SATA ports so it's best to get bigger disks IMO.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 7(ME).aspx

Get DDR2-800 if you don't overclock.

You're proposing to spend $650 on GA-X48-DS4 and two HD 4850 cards. That will be a very fast combination, but with a lot of heat in the case, and the P182 is not ideal for this sort of thing.
This combination Visiontek HD 4870X2 $600 + P5Q Pro $157 will be faster, and doesn't have the heat problem (the X2 has a vent and the heated air can get out). Plus you get 8 SATA ports instead of 6.
http://www.ncix.com/products/index [...] =VISIONTEK
http://www.ncix.com/products/index [...] cture=ASUS

Mind you, the P182 is not going to like the 4870X2 much either. You may have to remove a hard drive cage to make room for the video card. You could save $100 and solve the space issue with this RC-690 case:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] ase=RC-690

Reply to aevm

Oops, I forgot. If you take my advice and go for RC-690/P5Q Pro/HD 4870X2, here's a coupon for $17 off the P5Q Pro:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index [...] omoid=1043

The price is now the same as P182 SE+GA-X48-DS4+2 HD 4850

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to aevm

Upgrades for what? You planning to use this with a dual CPU rig sometime? Look at the +12v total ratings. You can't sum the rails. There is only an 8A difference in total current, and when you factor in that your CPU will lock-out 17A of that due to the multiple rails, you actually have LESS power for GPUs. Only 51A can be devoted to the GPUs, unlike the Silencer's 60A. Now granted, they will have to share that 60A with the CPU, but 9A is a fairly high current draw for a 45nm CPU, even if it is a high-clocked quad core. And that isn't factoring your drives and fans into this (who knows which line they are on).

Reply to the_mystery_gamer

aevm wrote :

haha awesome.

Updated main list..
4870x2, p5q delux, different HDD and PC Power cooling Silencer.

***Need options on Case, im looking for quiet, I just cant go with the RC-690 case

Message edited by grieve on 09-08-2008 at 09:54:36 PM

Reply to grieve

skip the DDR2 1066 and get some DDR2 800. it's just as good. cost doesn't seem to be a big deal for you, but with the money you save you could buy a game or some extra fans or something.

Reply to Nik_I

Wow, that HD 4870 X2 is cheaper at memoryexpress. Nice.

All right, if you want a high-end case (and prefer silver color), see if you like any of these:

Cooler Master CM Stacker 830 Aluminum, $240
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 3(ME).aspx

Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 Silent Full Tower, $200
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 4(ME).aspx

Lian-Li PC-V1000 Plus II Aluminum Mid Tower, Silver, $260
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 7(ME).aspx

Silverstone TJ09B Aluminum Tower w/ Window, Silver, $290
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 6(ME).aspx

Reply to aevm

Changed the Ram

$109.95 20 mail in $89.95
Corsair 4GB XMS2-6400 DMX TWIN2X Dual Channel DDR2 Kit (2 x 2GB)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 7(ME).aspx
CL5

or

$89.95
Mushkin EM2-6400 Enhanced DDR2 SDRAM, 4GB Dual Pack (2 x 2GB)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 4(ME).aspx
CL5

or

$91 25 mail in $69.95
OCZ 4GB PC2-6400 Vista Performance Gold Dual Channel DDR2 Kit (2 x 2GB)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 0(ME).aspx
CL5

or

$112 10mail in $102
Patriot Extreme Performance Viper Series DDR2 4GB (2 x 2GB) PC2-6400 Low Latency Dual Channel Kit, SLI-Ready
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 5(ME).aspx
-CL4 i dont think sli realy means anything on ram.

Will possibly order away for the ram, CL4 would be nice.

Message edited by grieve on 09-08-2008 at 10:42:52 PM

Reply to grieve

Aevm Almost everything is cheaper at memory express.. I priced the whole system to be 200 bucks more at ncix.

lol new case...

Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 Silent Full Tower
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Produ [...] 4(ME).aspx

Message edited by grieve on 09-08-2008 at 10:27:04 PM

Reply to grieve

looking like a great build. came on to this late so you alread have a bunch of great advice. p45 and 4870x2 was a great change.

noticed the frowny face by cl5. all of the cl4 you see is just cl5 ram where they upped the voltage to drop the clock. not better ram. better to get standard voltage ram and if you decide at some point to oc then fine.

i would try onboard sound before getting the sound card. may end up getting it anyhow but worth testing.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to bdollar

Off topic, I'm glad I'm not the only one far to eager to wait for Nehalem. And for comfort, if you're after gaming, it won't matter anyway, since it's all about the l2 which the i7 isn't exactly stuffed with. (http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=2434)

edit: ur system looks really neat, I've chosen to go with an almost identical.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by pumparen on 09-08-2008 at 11:46:21 PM

Reply to pumparen

bdollar wrote :

Yes, i usually tell everyone to try the onboard first also I don't want to drive back, ill spend the $100 bucks.

Reply to grieve

pumparen wrote :

Yah, I sold my water rig to get Nehalem, im using my laptop which is pretty decent but I have an itch to buy something and I cant get rid off it…

After pricing out the components of this build I have a hard time turning away… Nehalem is sure to run me another 300-500 because ill surely purchase the $600 processor, the triple channel DDR3 wont be $100 for certain.. and im pretty sure the MB will be $300-$350.

At the end of the day, this machine is pretty killer, under 2k and I can get it now(or at least when the parts are in stock)… God knows when Nehalem will come out. If Intel had a hard date, like Nov 5 and I new %100 I could get my hands on the processor before stalk vanishes I would wait…But that’s just not the case.

Thanks everyone for your assistance.

Reply to grieve

Yeah, I'm in the exact same boat. Anyway, good luck with your project mate may all your fps be high!

Reply to pumparen

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