Q9550 Build

[Matthew]

I decided to stay with q9550 over phenom 2 and was wondering if you can check my build before i buy it please

I will be hoping to play games like Mafia 2, Empire Total War, Left 4 Dead, Far Cry 2, Dawn of War 2 at 1900x1200 with Very High to High settings.

I hope to be able to overclock to around 3.8-4ghz

Trying to keep to my £800 ($1200) budget if possible

CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 LGA775 'Yorkfield' 2.83GHz 12MB-cache (1333FSB) Processor - OEM
MBGigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P Intel P45 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
GPUPoint of View GeForce GTX 280 1024MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (RVGA150910FBIA)
RAMOCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz Dual Channel Platinum Series DDR2 (OCZ2P10664GK)
HDWestern Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (WD1001FALS)
CPU COOLERTuniq Core Contact Freezer CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/LGA775)
CASECoolermaster CM-690 Dominator Case - Black (No PSU)
PSUCorsair TX 650W ATX2.2 SLi Compliant PSU

I got a dvd drive and os.


What do you think?

Thanks Matthew

 

[swifty_morgan]

I hope the UPS driver makes a mistake and drops that stuff off at my house......WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOoooooo

 

[Matthew]

I hope the UPS driver makes a mistake and drops that stuff off at my house......WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOoooooo

lol

 

[mexpedip]

Well done. The only recommendations I would make would be because of personal preference.

what size monitor are you using?

 

[Matthew]

Well done. The only recommendations I would make would be because of personal preference.

what size monitor are you using?

24"

 

[mexpedip]

just checking because if it is smaller then 1900x1200 the GTX280 would be overkill.

 

[Akebono 98]

Might also want to look at the 55nm GTX 260 Core 216 for better value (and overclock), or perhaps the new GTX 285 (coming Jan 15).

If you're not going to Crossfire, then use the UD3R mobo instead (cheaper).

 

[alcattle]

Can't crossfire with a Nvidia card anyway.

 

[Matthew]

hmm, maybe ill wait on the gfx card as my gtx 280 deal is gone now lol.

Just worried the 55nm GTX 260 Core 216 is too weak to keep up decent fps at 1900x1200 on high-v high settings. (maybe if the price is decent i might go for it)

Hopefully gtx 285 wont cost alot like 295 =[

I dont plan on going crossfire ever really, too much heat and power and cost lol.

@ Akebono, apart from it being cheaper, does the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R Intel P45 have any other advantages to it over the GA-EP45-UD3P?

 

[Akebono 98]

Can't crossfire with a Nvidia card anyway.

Yes, I suggested the non-Crossfire UD3R because the OP's UD3P would have been a waste of money when paired with the GTX 280.

 

[Akebono 98]

The only other differences are that the UD3R has one extra legacy PCI slot in place of that second PCIe x8 slot on the UD3P. Would be relevant if you have a lot of old expansion cards.

Also, that substituted PCI slot is actually in an ideal location because it provides separation from a dual slot graphics card (heat dissipation), and provides more clearance to the mobo's bottom edge connectors (if you're really finicky).

The UD3R also has single LAN vs. the UD3P's dual LAN, though I doubt that would matter to you.

 

[Akebono 98]

Given that they are trying to clear out "old" stock of GTX 280s with the upcoming release of the 285, I'm sure that you will be able to find a good deal somewhere.

GTX 285 is slated to be released at $400 USD.

As for 55nm Core 216, you would OC it so that its performance would be comparable to the GTX 280.

 

[Matthew]

hmm i think if i can find a good deal on the gtx 280 ill stick with it. otherwise oc-ing a 55nm 260 might be a good idea.

gtx doesnt seem incredibly worth it for a 10% performance boost :/