Judge my system

[cloudzero]

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz
DFI LP LT X48-T2R
2x Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB (2 x 2GB)
4x Raid0 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB
MSI R4850-512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express
NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series
SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-550HT 550W
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
^ARCTIC COOLING AF12025 PWM 120mm (as fan replacement)


Priorities Descending Importance
1) Quiet - I'm a bit iffy about the case on this issue
2) Fast
3) Cool

I would welcome all suggestions on how to make the system more satisfy these priorities a little bit better.

 

[johnyeah]

Save some money and get a P45 chipset instead? I'm pretty sure most can handle 4x Raid0.

 

[SirCrono]

The 4850 is kinda lame compared with the rest of the setup, and since you didn't mention cheap in your priorities:
get one or two of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131117

or these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121276

They'll do wonders in the second priority.

Also consider a WD6400AAKS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218&Tpk=WD6400AAKS
for storage, if your raid goes ballistic all your data will go down the drain.
I use raid and I have a separate 250 Gb drive for pictures and irrecuperable data (mostly work, pics and videos, you know, things that aren't on bit torrent).

PS: get this PSU, it's quiet and you'll need the jucie for that rig, now or in the near future.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703019

 

[cloudzero]

doesn't the x48 overclock much better?

 

[megamanx00]

Nice config. That Xigmatek rifle cooler will help you overclock your CPU nicely. If you're worried about the quality of the case then go with an Antec 900, a Cooler master Cosmos 1000, or on the low end of things a RAIDMAX SMILODON. You can put some dampener material in your case to quiet it down, but it also acts as insulation making it a little warmer . You really should run in RAID 5 rather than RAID 0 for reliability purposes. I say you go with two or three drives for now so you can get a 4870 and get the other drives latter.

 

[johnyeah]

"Slight" overclock capabilities for an extra $100? Not worth it. You might as well get a better graphics card like the HD 4870 that'll boost more performance in games as well.

 

[cloudzero]

If you're worried about the quality of the case then go with an Antec 900, a Cooler master Cosmos 1000, or on the low end of things a RAIDMAX SMILODON.

Tempest wins the noise battle against the cosmos on tgh. also, there is no review on the antec900's noise level. unless you have a link for me

PS: get this PSU, it's quiet and you'll need the jucie for that rig, now or in the near future.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703019

thanks for the advice. im just worried that the pc&c psu has a smaller fan and that leads to noise?

 

[johnyeah]

Why not CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=corsair%20750

Even better C/P and it's pretty quiet (my roommate has it) and there's combo deals with the P45 motherboard making it quite a steal.

 

[Zorg]

You forgot the XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket. Don't make the mistake of using the push pin mounting system or you will be sorry.

 

[cloudzero]

You forgot the XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket. Don't make the mistake of using the push pin mounting system or you will be sorry.

yea i have it, but im more worried about the noise.
ARCTIC COOLING AF12025 PWM 120mm (as fan replacement)

that is a little gamble, as i dont know how much noise thats going to make

 

[Zorg]

In my opinion it's not as noisy as people say, but I'm not that sensitive to noise.

 

[cloudzero]

music sounds very different when theres a hissing and humming in the room

 

[johnyeah]

It does, but the CPU fan is pretty darn quiet. If anything, you'll hear your case fans or your GPU fan before you hear the CPU fan.

 

[cloudzero]

I chose the msi 4850 because of this noise chart.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/HD_4850/22.html

is there a noise benchmark on the different brands of 4870s?

 

[adreen]

the corsair tx750 is WHISPER QUIET...saw a demo of it today...didn't even notice it when i had my ear right up against the fan.
i agree with the better gpu>x48 mobo.
unless you're planning to cf later, x48 isn't worth the extra $100.
or go in the middle with a x38, very nice still and go with 2x4850, or one 4870 and upgrade to another later.really depends on what u need from this rig.

 

[cloudzero]

the corsair tx750 is WHISPER QUIET...saw a demo of it today...didn't even notice it when i had my ear right up against the fan.
i agree with the better gpu>x48 mobo.
unless you're planning to cf later, x48 isn't worth the extra $100.
or go in the middle with a x38, very nice still and go with 2x4850, or one 4870 and upgrade to another later.really depends on what u need from this rig.

i dont see that psu on newegg