Making new PC and oc it...

[smashedixnay2k3]

Okay, so I'm gonna make a PC and and I'm going overclock it. My question is, what should I get to build it? I was planning on getting the Intel 3.2EE, but I read a thread and they said it wasn't that good and very overpriced... Could anyone recommend what to buy because I'm trying to build the best pc I know of... I have 3grand to spend... I really don't care for the price, but I was told to get this video card so far:

Asus 9800 XT (think that's it)

 

[TTZX]

What WUSY posted sounds good except if you're gonna overclock you're better off with a 2.6C because you can crank the FSB up more comapred to the 2.8C.

One more thing, the only difference between the Audigy2 ZS Platinum and the Audigy2 ZS basic is the break-out box that comes with the platinum. The cards that come with both are the exact same so if you don't need the break-out box then get the regular Audigy2 ZS instead.

 

[ChipDeath]

I would agree with getting a 2.6C, or if you intend using Watercooling (or something similarly extreme) then maybe even the 2.4C..

the only other thing I'd add is that the 9800XT is just a slightly overclocked 9800Pro, so you may as well save a bit of cash and buy a Pro and overclock it yourself.

Another thing on the 9800 - some of the cheaper manufacturers [AFAIK] use cheaper RAM which won't overclock very far, so you may be better off spending the extra $20 [or whatever] for a good brand name - make a post asking in the gfx card forum and someone should be able to tell you which manufacturers are better.

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<font color=red>The preceding text is assembled from information stored in an unreliable organic storage medium. As such it may be innacurate, incomplete, or completely wrong</font color=red>

 

[shadus]

Motherboard - Abit IC7-MAX3 202.00
Processor - Intel Pentium 4 2.6c HT 800FSB 172.00
Ram - Corsair TWINX1024-4000PRO 340.00
Hard Disk - WD CavSE SATA WD250JD 250GB 8MB 7200RPM 242.00
Video Card - ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 256mb 317.00
Sound Card - Creative Audigy2 ZS 97.00
CD-RW - Lite On 52x24x52x CD-RW 40.00
DVD-RW - Sony DRU-510A 227.00
Speakers - Klipsch ProMedia GMX D-5.1 240.00
Floppy - Teac 1.44 Floppy Drive 12.00
Case - Xaser III V2000A Case 156.00
Power Supply - Antec TRUE550 Power Supply 103.00
Monitor - NEC FP2141SB-BK (22"*UBER* For Gfx/Gaming)614.00
Mouse - Logitech MX500 42.00
Keyboard - Logitech Elite Black Keyboard 30.00
OS - Windows XP Professional 165.00
Total - $2999.00 (Includes S&H!)

Shadus<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by shadus on 11/10/03 08:13 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Drexel]

Total - $2999.00 (Includes S&H!)

HAHA, thats nice, very nice, and it can be 12 lower if he has a floppy!
Good job Shadus.

 

[pIII_Man]

so your gonna still recomend the maxIII after the heat abit has been taking about unstability past 255mhz fsb?

I would look into offerings from asus and gigabyte. I think it is safe to say that asus's 865/875 boards are the overclocking kings.


If it isn't a P6 then it isn't a procesor
110% BX fanboy

 

[HardWareBoss]

He can save more money with 2000Pro.

 

[pIII_Man]

not if he wants to take advantage of HT.


If it isn't a P6 then it isn't a procesor
110% BX fanboy

 

[Crashman]

The 2.6C will always be a better choice than the 2.4C because:
1.) It's cheaper
2.) Both should do 3200-3400MHz, but the 2.6C does so at a 1:1 ratio with today's fastest RAM.

If he was using water cooling a 2.8C would be a better choice, because he could try cranking the crap out of voltage and bus speed and might hit 3500@250, or more!

The 2.4C was only a good choice formerly because other speeds were comparitavely overpriced at that time, this is no longer valid.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

I believe the top board right now is the Asus P4C800-E. Look at Anandtech for more information.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[TTZX]

Klipsch ProMedia GMX D-5.1 are not that great, they are not like the more expensive ProMedias. They have a clanky control pod and don't sound that great with weak bass response. For a bit more ($284) you can get the Logitech Z680 or for $200 you can get the Z5300 which are better than the GMX.
GMX.

 

[Crashman]

My main sources for reviews are THG and Anandtech. Anandtech has a very complete review of the P4P800-E. I had to use other sites to compare it to an IC7-Max3.

The P4P800-E is the newer version of the deluxe, it adds CSA (instead of the cheaper gigabit controller) and ICH5R RAID (in addition to a Promise RAID controller. It also seems to add more voltage options IIRC, and overclocks better than the Deluxe.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[TTZX]

Yes, the Z680's are amazing. I got mines for $265 shipped from Dell, best $265 I ever spent. Playing Call of Duty with the volume turned half way, it feels like I'm in a real war zone. I also have it hooked up to my stand alone DVD player with the optical connection and movies and concert DVD sound awesome.

 

[shadus]

Dude 13*255 is 3315mhz, if he gets that far with air off a 2.6c I'd be shocked. If he was going for a vapochill or highend watercooler I'd recommend an asus board probally.

Shadus

 

[shadus]

If he has a monitor he could swap in a Cambridge Soundworks Gigaworks 7.1 It's a meer 500+$ *grins*

Shadus

 

[HardWareBoss]

Thanks forgot about that.

 

[pIII_Man]

dude 13*255 is 3315mhz, if he gets that far with air off a 2.6c I'd be shocked.

Why? The average overclock for a 2.6c on good cooling is right around 3.3 to 3.4ghz. Also some people were recomending the 2.4c which would require a lot higher fsbs to reach good overclocks. I just seems stupid IMO to spend the extra money on the MAX III when it does not overclock all that well.


If it isn't a P6 then it isn't a procesor
110% BX fanboy

 

[HardWareBoss]

4500 will be out by end of year. Crash may be testing PC5000.

 

[smashedixnay2k3]

Thanks guys. I'll let y'allk now what I get in the upcoming days.