Shopping List: $720 To $1,224 For A 4 GHz System
To simplify the selection of system components for our readers, we provide two separate, yet viable configurations from which they can choose. The first configuration is geared for users who really want the best possible price/performance ratio, and whose budgets are tight.
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| Shopping List - Budget Version | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Designation | Price | Remarks |
| Processor | Intel Pentium D 805 2.66 GHz (Dual-Core) | $122.00 | Remains stable even at 4 GHz |
| Motherboard (7.1 Audio etc,) | Asrock 775Twins-HDTV (Socket 775) | $82.90* | Affordable dual-core motherboard |
| RAM | 2 x 512 MB DDR2-667 Adata Vitesta PC2 5300 | $78.55 | Also runs at 333 MHz (667) |
| Hard disk drives | 2 x 160 GB Samsung HD160JJ (7200 rpm) | $132.98 | RAID 0 configuration |
| Water cooler | Thermaltake Bigwater SE Cooling Kit | $129.99 | Simple water cooler |
| DVD burner | LG GSA-H10A 16X DVD+/-R 8X DVD+R DL 4X DVD-R DL 8X DVD+RW 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RA | $37.00 | Comes in black and beige |
| Case with built-in PSU | Broadway.com 500W Mid Tower ATX w/OKIA 550 ATX P4 & AMD ready PSU | $67.49 | Mid-price PSU option |
| Graphics card | Asus Radeon X1300 Extreme 128 MB, PCI-e | $66.00- | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
| Total | 4 GHz DIY-PC (Budget-VERSION) | $716.42 | See Asrock note below |
| * ASROCK mobo | Not yet available in North America | Row 10 - Cell 2 | Price converted from Euros to dollars |
| Shopping List - Top-flight Configuration | |||
| Components | Designation | Price | Remarks |
| Processor | Intel Pentium D 805 2.66 GHz (Dual-Core) | $122.00 | Remains stable even at 4 GHz |
| Motherboard (7.1 Audio, RAID, Gb LAN etc.) | Gigabyte G1975X (Socket 775) | $246.20 | Top-Board for Socket 775 |
| RAM | 2 x 512 MB DDR2-667 Adata Vitesta PC2 5300 | $78.55 | Also runs at 333 MHz (667) |
| Hard disks | 2 x 160 GB Samsung HD160JJ (7200 U/min) | $132.98 | 320 GB in a RAID 0 array |
| Water cooling | Koolance Exos AL | $278.98 | Very good extreme water-cooling rig |
| DVD-burner | LG GSA-H10A 16X DVD+/-R 8X DVD+R DL 4X DVD-R DL 8X DVD+RW 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RA | $37.00 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
| Case with PSU | Broadway.com 500W Mid Tower ATX w/OKIA 550 ATX P4 & AMD ready PSU | $67.49 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
| Graphics card | Asus EN7600 GT, 256 MB, 350 MHz | $229.99 | Fast, affordable graphics card |
| Total | 4 GHz DIY-PC (Top-Flight version) | $1223.16 |
The second configuration comprises the test system we built for this project. The Koolance cooling rig offers outstanding cooling, which indicates that clock rates above 4 GHz should be possible for such a system (in earlier testing, we achieved stable operation at 4.1 GHz using a different water-cooled system).
