Building a rig for my friend.

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Building a rig for my friend.

2008-01-28 20:57:16

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6982|Florida, United States

Aight, so my friend has had the same computer for almost 6 years now (P4, 6600, 1.5GB) and he's looking for a brand now rig. I've helped him compile a list of computer parts and I'd like to get some second opinions on whether or not the parts are worth getting and compatible with each other. So far we have..

Case: Antec Nine Hundred
Mobo: ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35
CPU: Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro
GFX Card: EVGA GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB
Power: SILVERSTONE ST75F ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V 750W
RAM: 2x Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
HD 1: Western Digital 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA
HD 2: Western Digital 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA
Monitor: SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1(DC 3000:1)
Optical Drive 1: LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe
Optical Drive 2: LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM SATA Combo
Operating System: Vista Home Premium 64-Bit

Total price so far: $1,988.36. He doesn't have a set price limit, but he doesn't want to go much higher than that.

Some things to consider:
~The CPU is a temporary fix until Penryn Yorkfield releases (He's been waiting since November and won't wait anymore ) and it's probably the best cost/performance ratio on the market right now.
~The GFX is also temporary but perhaps for a longer duration depending on the performance of the 9800GTX or whatever the next line of Nvidia GFX cards are.
~Sound card and speakers are future purchases, and he already has a mouse and keyboard.

One of my concerns is the mobo. He wants one that supports Penryn, and I don't know a good one to get. He says the 780i is too expensive, so SLI is out of the question. What is a good mobo for a rig like this, because I'm almost certain the one we picked out sucks.

Thanks in advance, and karma will be awarded for helpful posts.

Last edited by Havok (2008-01-30 21:09:22)

2008-01-28 21:16:31

Private_Adam: Medic since 1942; +245|6958|United States

I would change three things, if I were you. It would be the CPU Cooler, CPU, and the motherboard. I'm also going to post the motherboard, but since he doesn't want that motherboard then it's his choice.

CPU Cooler : ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

CPU : Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - OEM

Motherboard EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

2008-01-28 21:20:12

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6982|Florida, United States

Private_Adam wrote:
I would change three things, if I were you. It would be the CPU Cooler, CPU, and the motherboard. I'm also going to post the motherboard, but since he doesn't want that motherboard then it's his choice.

CPU Cooler : ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

CPU : Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - OEM

Motherboard EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

I've heard good and bad things about that cooler, so I'll wait for more opinions. We decided to go Wolfdale because he's going to be getting a Penryn in March when they come out, and it's cheaper than the Q6600 with little noticeable difference. And I already mentioned that the 780i is too expensive for him. Surely there is a better mobo than the one we selected for much less than the cost of the 780i. Thanks for the input.

2008-01-28 21:21:49

CommieChipmunk: Member; +488|6877|Portland, OR, USA

Either cooler's fine and I'd go with the 780i anyways if he wants sli in the future, and by looking at the price tag, he may.

2008-01-29 07:37:28

xGj: Official lame Crysis fanboy.; +84|6678|Netherlands tbh

Yea.. Definitely go with a 780i, and if I were your friend I'd either get an 8800GTX (instead of the GTS G92) which is better in this resolution (more mem bandwith and amount) or wait for the new line of cards. Im sure that GTS can handle 1650x1080 fine tho, but as I said I'd personally wait for the next card. CPU seems alright, pretty fast, although you could also wait for the new Quads (Q9300/Q9450 are a good choice I suppose), depends on what he wants to use the CPU for. Quad core for more multi tasking, dual core for lower price and (atm) faster gaming.
Also I wouldn't "buy" the OS... That's all I say
Oh and congrats on the harddrives they look like a good choice.

2008-01-29 12:18:52

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6982|Florida, United States

xGj wrote:
Yea.. Definitely go with a 780i, and if I were your friend I'd either get an 8800GTX (instead of the GTS G92) which is better in this resolution (more mem bandwith and amount) or wait for the new line of cards. Im sure that GTS can handle 1650x1080 fine tho, but as I said I'd personally wait for the next card. CPU seems alright, pretty fast, although you could also wait for the new Quads (Q9300/Q9450 are a good choice I suppose), depends on what he wants to use the CPU for. Quad core for more multi tasking, dual core for lower price and (atm) faster gaming.
Also I wouldn't "buy" the OS... That's all I say
Oh and congrats on the harddrives they look like a good choice.

I've been telling him to wait because I know you're right, but he's been waiting since November and I don't know how much more I can make him wait. I'll see if I can convince him to get the 780i if it is truly that much better.

2008-01-29 12:26:54

kylef: Gone; +1,352|6800|N. Ireland

If you stretch a little bit further or reduce something elsewhere, I'd recommend the 226CW over the 226BW. Also, no sound card?

2008-01-29 16:30:31

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6982|Florida, United States

kylef wrote:
If you stretch a little bit further or reduce something elsewhere, I'd recommend the 226CW over the 226BW. Also, no sound card?

I couldn't find the 226CW on Newegg. How is it better? And I think he wants to get a sound card later, but if he does get one, it'll probably be the XtremeGamer.

2008-01-29 22:05:37

theknuck: It's pronounced Knuck, like in Knuckle!!; +45|6919|balls

If your going vista 64-bit might as well upgrade to atleast 4gb's of ram. I just heard today that Assasins Creed minimum requirements are at 2gb of ram and they recommend 3gb! Plus ddr2 is dirt cheap anyway. does he need that much hard drive space? Your average gamer will come nowhere near that much needed. give him a 320gb and call it a day. the rest looks fine. he'll just be another number with an antec 900 though, why not try something different, like a cosmos or something, that way plenty of upgrade space when he wants sli and beyond! just my .02

2008-01-29 23:16:58

kylef: Gone; +1,352|6800|N. Ireland

Havok wrote:
kylef wrote:
If you stretch a little bit further or reduce something elsewhere, I'd recommend the 226CW over the 226BW. Also, no sound card?
I couldn't find the 226CW on Newegg. How is it better? And I think he wants to get a sound card later, but if he does get one, it'll probably be the XtremeGamer.

There are many revisions of the 226BW - and the actually screen part has been made quite poorly a lot of the times, causing poor colour distortion. The CW has fixed all these problems for the most part. This is not to say you won't get lucky and get a good 226BW though!

On a rig that size, it's a real shame that'll he will wait to buy a soundcard!

2008-01-30 15:41:29

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6982|Florida, United States

theknuck wrote:
If your going vista 64-bit might as well upgrade to atleast 4gb's of ram. I just heard today that Assasins Creed minimum requirements are at 2gb of ram and they recommend 3gb! Plus ddr2 is dirt cheap anyway. does he need that much hard drive space? Your average gamer will come nowhere near that much needed. give him a 320gb and call it a day. the rest looks fine. he'll just be another number with an antec 900 though, why not try something different, like a cosmos or something, that way plenty of upgrade space when he wants sli and beyond! just my .02

We already picked out 4 GB RAM (see the "2x" in front of the RAM selection?) because I have Vista 64 and it helps a lot. He's a pirate when it comes to movies, so he wants the extra space. Besides, it's not much price variation between the 320 and 500.

And kyle, I'll try to talk him into it. Is the XtremeGamer good enough?

2008-01-30 15:44:53

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,061|7079|PNW

I might be having a complete brainfart but...

The Penryn is the 45nm laptop chip.
The Wolfdale is the 45nm desktop chip.

Why would you wait to put a laptop CPU in a desktop?

===

X38 Mobos go for as low as $200, and 780i's for as low as $250, but overall the cost is the same. I'd spend the extra $50/$100 for PCIe 2.0 over the P35.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2008-01-30 15:52:00)

2008-01-30 21:08:10

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6982|Florida, United States

unnamednewbie13 wrote:
I might be having a complete brainfart but...

The Penryn is the 45nm laptop chip.
The Wolfdale is the 45nm desktop chip.

Why would you wait to put a laptop CPU in a desktop?

===

X38 Mobos go for as low as $200, and 780i's for as low as $250, but overall the cost is the same. I'd spend the extra $50/$100 for PCIe 2.0 over the P35.

My bad, I mean the Yorkfield chips. I've called them Penryn for so long that I've just gotten used to it.

2008-02-02 14:41:09

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6982|Florida, United States

My apologies for a double post, but I've almost convinced my friend to get a 780i; however, he has a concern that I don't think matters. The memory standard for the 780i says DDR2 1200, and the RAM we have selected is DDR2 1066. He doesn't think it will work, but I'm pretty sure that just means the maximum supported memory speed is 1200 MHz. So, just for clarification, the DDR2 1066 RAM will work with the 780i, correct?

2008-02-02 14:46:22

Microwave: _; +515|6962|Loughborough Uni / Leeds, UK

Private_Adam wrote:
CPU Cooler : ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

Get that cooler it's amazing, but if he doesn't want to overclock it's pointless.

Keep the mobo - I've got the same one basically, it's really good. Stays v. cool too.

2008-02-02 15:34:27

Dragonclaw: Member; +186|6612|Florida

Havok wrote:
My apologies for a double post, but I've almost convinced my friend to get a 780i; however, he has a concern that I don't think matters. The memory standard for the 780i says DDR2 1200, and the RAM we have selected is DDR2 1066. He doesn't think it will work, but I'm pretty sure that just means the maximum supported memory speed is 1200 MHz. So, just for clarification, the DDR2 1066 RAM will work with the 780i, correct?

Hes not very smart is he.

DDR2 1200 is the max it will support. It will support DDR2 800 and DDR2 1066 and anything else you put on it.

2008-02-02 15:41:50

Lieutenant_Jensen: Your cops are corrupt.; +200|6698|fåking denmark

Havok wrote:
Private_Adam wrote:
I would change three things, if I were you. It would be the CPU Cooler, CPU, and the motherboard. I'm also going to post the motherboard, but since he doesn't want that motherboard then it's his choice.

CPU Cooler : ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

CPU : Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - OEM

Motherboard EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
I've heard good and bad things about that cooler, so I'll wait for more opinions. We decided to go Wolfdale because he's going to be getting a Penryn in March when they come out, and it's cheaper than the Q6600 with little noticeable difference. And I already mentioned that the 780i is too expensive for him. Surely there is a better mobo than the one we selected for much less than the cost of the 780i. Thanks for the input.

The Freezer 7 Pro is an excellent cooler.
Stick with it.

2008-02-02 15:52:38

Dragonclaw: Member; +186|6612|Florida

As for the motherboard you have 2 choices.

GIGABYTE X38
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6813128066
Or EVGA 780i
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6813188024

Anything else is a waste of money if you want penryn support. Both are in the same price range. I myself would recommend the X38 if he knows he doesnt want SLI.

2008-02-03 18:15:22

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,061|7079|PNW

Dragonclaw wrote:
Havok wrote:
My apologies for a double post, but I've almost convinced my friend to get a 780i; however, he has a concern that I don't think matters. The memory standard for the 780i says DDR2 1200, and the RAM we have selected is DDR2 1066. He doesn't think it will work, but I'm pretty sure that just means the maximum supported memory speed is 1200 MHz. So, just for clarification, the DDR2 1066 RAM will work with the 780i, correct?
Hes not very smart is he.

DDR2 1200 is the max it will support. It will support DDR2 800 and DDR2 1066 and anything else you put on it.

Coming from a guy who had to ask how to rip audio from the web? (http://forums.bf2s.com/viewtopic.php?id=92338)

But no, technical expertise does not intelligence make. I can see where it would be confusing. Besides which, for all we know there could be a stick of RAM out there that may fall within 780i parameters but just doesn't work with the board.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2008-02-03 18:17:08)

2008-02-03 18:51:04

Dragonclaw: Member; +186|6612|Florida

unnamednewbie13 wrote:
Dragonclaw wrote:
Havok wrote:
My apologies for a double post, but I've almost convinced my friend to get a 780i; however, he has a concern that I don't think matters. The memory standard for the 780i says DDR2 1200, and the RAM we have selected is DDR2 1066. He doesn't think it will work, but I'm pretty sure that just means the maximum supported memory speed is 1200 MHz. So, just for clarification, the DDR2 1066 RAM will work with the 780i, correct?
Hes not very smart is he.

DDR2 1200 is the max it will support. It will support DDR2 800 and DDR2 1066 and anything else you put on it.
Coming from a guy who had to ask how to rip audio from the web? (http://forums.bf2s.com/viewtopic.php?id=92338)

But no, technical expertise does not intelligence make. I can see where it would be confusing. Besides which, for all we know there could be a stick of RAM out there that may fall within 780i parameters but just doesn't work with the board.

>.>

<.<

Actually what I really needed was the music ripped from the video, but Ill figure that out myself later.

Just be sure you get well known RAM because the nvidia chipsets are really picky with RAM.

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Private_Adam wrote:

xGj wrote:

kylef wrote:

Havok wrote:

kylef wrote:

theknuck wrote:

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

Private_Adam wrote:

Havok wrote:

Havok wrote:

Private_Adam wrote:

Dragonclaw wrote:

Havok wrote:

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

Dragonclaw wrote:

Havok wrote:

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