Compatible components for new internet & photo editing computer.

[systemlord]

Hello everyone,

I am not new to Tom's Forums, however I have been out of touch for the last seven months of newer technology and which components will work nicely together. This system build would be for my big brother that only uses his PC for internet (e-Bay) and photo editing. Two GB's of RAM is a must for this build, overall system performance (very responsive and fast) is what my brother is after. My brother is very performance oriented, he just spent $13,800 on e-Bay for a 2006 Harley V-ROD VRSCA VRSCAW 260 Wide tire kit. He has already spent $3000 in aftermarket parts and he hasen't even received it yet, so thats who I am building this for just so you know. I already has a case for this build. If you think a quad core system would be best, just explain why you think so and thank you for your very helpful recommendations!

 

[badge]

Hello everyone,

I am not new to Tom's Forums, however I have been out of touch for the last seven months of newer technology and which components will work nicely together. This system build would be for my big brother that only uses his PC for internet (e-Bay) and photo editing. Two GB's of RAM is a must for this build, overall system performance (very responsive and fast) is what my brother is after. My brother is very performance oriented, he just spent $13,800 on e-Bay for a 2006 Harley V-ROD VRSCA VRSCAW 260 Wide tire kit. He has already spent $3000 in aftermarket parts and he hasen't even received it yet, so thats who I am building this for just so you know. I already has a case for this build. If you think a quad core system would be best, just explain why you think so and thank you for your very helpful recommendations!

I'd suggest this setup.

And for a new system, something like this:

Core i7 920

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0300438

ASUS P6T Deluxe x58

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0301081

Newegg has core i7 components available too, but for a higher price than MC.

http://promotions.newegg.com/Intel/corei7/index.html?cm_sp=HomepageLB-_-Intelcorei7-_-http%3a%2f%2fpromotions.newegg.com%2fIntel%2fcorei7%2f620x130.jpg

 

[systemlord]

My brother wants to stay with a LGA 775 processor, he now wants the Q6600 for sure. As for the girl standing next to the bike, he already has a nice looking babe.

 

[kurtyboh]

If overall system performance is a must why not the i7??? Any current build >4g/ram not a performance machine for sure. Vista's min. requirements are 2 gigs, while it runs smooth at that 4 makes it run like a dream. Photo/movie editing is usually quite ram intensive I would suggest 4 be your min. on this build.

 

[systemlord]

If overall system performance is a must why not the i7???

Because my brother has made a decision to go with an Q6600.

 

[bobbknight]

Rams is good for both babes and photo work.

 

[badge]

Q6600 is great for multitasking. Expect average OC to be 2.8-3.0GHz. 3.2-3.4 GHz is excellent. You will need water cooling and a lot of voltage for higher.

Any P35/P45/X38/x48 MB will do fine.
2 x 2GB PC26400 or PC28500 if OCing
Radeon 4850 or 2 x 4850 for high performance gaming
Vista 64 is a must. If you are building an XP system, your Brother will lose his GF to a midget.

My Q6600 looks like this:

ASUS P5B 965
6 GB PC26400
9800GT
Zalman 9500
Antec 900
600 watt PSU

It's a hero system my son uses for gaming.

 

[systemlord]

I want an Asus mobo that will run the Q6600 without any hick-ups right out of the box, I'm thinking Crucial DDR2 800MHz RAM. I totally forgot about the graphics card, he has NEVER been a gamer in his life. He says games take him away from the real world, he doesn't know what he is missing!

 

[badge]

ASUS Intel P45 should be a very fast, dependable chipset. Will do Crossfire 8 x 2 with say dual radeon 4850's. The Intel X38/48 will do 16 x 2 Crossfire. The P35 is a very fast chipset, but is PCIE 1.0 16x1, not 2.0 like P45/x48/x38. The new X58 (Core i7) does both Crossfire and SLI!

The Radeon 4850 is just over $100 now. High performance ofr small dollars. And He can add a second 4850 later in Crossfire and have a real power house, graphically enhanced machine. If you like Nvidia, the 9800 series is good for the price right now. A 9800GT is $100 or less.

 

[systemlord]

ASUS Intel P45 should be a very fast, dependable chipset. Will do Crossfire 8 x 2 with say dual radeon 4850's. The Intel X38/48 will do 16 x 2 Crossfire. The P35 is a very fast chipset, but is PCIE 1.0 16x1, not 2.0 like P45/x48/x38. The new X58 (Core i7) does both Crossfire and SLI!

The Radeon 4850 is just over $100 now. High performance ofr small dollars. And He can add a second 4850 later in Crossfire and have a real power house, graphically enhanced machine. If you like Nvidia, the 9800 series is good for the price right now. A 9800GT is $100 or less.

Very good suggestion badge, getting >>

1. ASUS P5Q Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P45 Intel Motherboard

2. Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

3. G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

4. ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

5. CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

6. EVGA 512-P3-N956-TR GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

7. Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive

8. SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q

Now I need some suggestions for a case that can handle cooling a quad core processor, a nice one with around $150 dollars or lower. Cooling is important and the ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED would need to fit without problem. The reason my brother wants a Raptor HDD is the reliability factor is priceless to my brother.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[badge]

Very nice. Just be aware that the Core i7 entry level 920 will perform on a level with the fastest C2Q 9770 in multithreaded apps. Then, as well as the C2Q 9650 in single threaded. I wasn't supposed to mention that. :lol: Nah, nice choices for your bro's new system.

 

[systemlord]

Any PC case recommendations around the $150 mark?

 

[badge]

Is your Bro in to Ferrari's? I get a lot of wow's with this case. The paint is exceptional, like automotive quality. Don't depend on the rebate. It's different.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108051

If the Ferrari red is not for him, the CM 690 is much more tame and provide a great cooling solution.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=coolermaster+690

 

[badge]

If you want a great case for a great price, the Antec Three hundred is your case. I have three of these. Micro Center has them on sale for $39 at times.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20three%20hundred

 

[systemlord]

If you want a great case for a great price, the Antec Three hundred is your case. I have three of these. Micro Center has them on sale for $39 at times.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20three%20hundred

I really like Antec's Three Hundred, two front 120mm fans along with another 120 at rear and a 140mm at top. I live 15 miles from Micro Center in Tustin CA, I really want to thank you badge for being so helpful! Here's the VROD my brother purchased on eBay >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Cetalv-AM

 

[badge]

That's ****. Here is my '74 Sportster in my Dad's garage when I was about 23 years old. I installed those straight pipes right there . Only picture I have . Pic was taken circa 1978. I live about 10 minutes from MC. Sold mine to a chick.

 

[systemlord]

That's ****. Here is my '74 Sportster in my Dad's garage when I was about 23 years old. I installed those straight pipes right there . Only picture I have . Pic was taken circa 1978. I live about 10 minutes from MC. Sold mine to a chick.
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9210/sportstercopyen0.jpg

Thats a nice classic looking bike! My brother has some older restored Honda Z50's, ones 6" inches longer with a 125cc where there used to be a 50cc, it has a strait through pipe on it. The other restored Z50 is a Highway Patrol theme bike with working lights and horn buzzer.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I would definitely ditch the 74GB Raptor drive. Hard drive technology has advanced quite a bit in the last couple years. The new 7200RPM drives are faster than those old Raptors. The WD6400AAKS is a very fast drive, costs half as much, and has over 8 times the capacity.

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218&Tpk=WD6400AAKS $69.99

 

[badge]

Thats a nice classic looking bike! My brother has some older restored Honda Z50's, ones 6" inches longer with a 125cc where there used to be a 50cc, it has a strait through pipe on it. The other restored Z50 is a Highway Patrol theme bike with working lights and horn buzzer.

Z50? Hehe. I had a Honda 100cc scrambler when I was 15. When I was in my mid 20's my GF was a Hell's Angel groupie. In high school, my GF was the sexiest looking chick in her class. :lol:

 

[badge]

I had a friend in high school, well in grade school too, who took years to build a 750 Triumph. He worked for a motorcycle shop and he and his dad rented the house on the shop's property. I hung out there often and watched him tediously put that bike together. Everything he could afford was sent out to be chromed as soon as he got his pay check. Until every nut and bolt was chromed. Custom Frame and raked, extended front end. Spike chrome wheels. A feul injected carbureation system for temporary looks only. He entered in a huge bike show in a large arena with maybe 100-150 other bikes in the competition. He set it up on a Triumph lettered rug and used cotton to fake smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes. He won first place. A bucket of a hundred silver dollars and a giant trophy. Since, He beat cancer and spends his time screwing around with his vet. Glory days.

 

[systemlord]

I would definitely ditch the 74GB Raptor drive. Hard drive technology has advanced quite a bit in the last couple years. The new 7200RPM drives are faster than those old Raptors. The WD6400AAKS is a very fast drive, costs half as much, and has over 8 times the capacity.

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218&Tpk=WD6400AAKS $69.99

If my brother has to pay just a little more for an enterprise class HDD then so be it, reliability is priceless. My brother has his computer on stand by all the time, his computer that needs replacing is 8 years old and still works. Its just can not have more than 512MB of shared single channel RAM, it even locks up most of the time.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I believe the WD6400AAKS has a 5-year warranty. If you want to be sure, just get the Black Edition. I know for sure it has a 5-year warranty. The original Raptor drives are not the great drives you make them out to be. These new 640GB drives are just as fast.

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $84.99