Newbie, more $ than brains.

[Strangelove]

Howdy,

First, thanks for helping out.

I'm a gamer and like to have the best performance that I can. Here's my philosophy, get the best now and overclock/upgrade when it becomes dated vs. buy midrange now, overclock now, and have a shorter lilespan.

Here are my planned componants. Comments?

LIAN LI PC-7B plus II Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

RAIDMAX AURORA RX-580F ATX 580Watts Power Supply

MOBO? I'm at a loss here. I'd like SLI. Ideas?

Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 Conroe 2.93GHz 4M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4

SONY 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DWQ120AB2

No secondary OD

On-board sound

XFX PVT71UZDF9 Geforce 7950GX2 1GB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Xtreme Video Card

Keyboard/mouse/monitor/speakers I have

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM

Have I missed anything? Thanks again.

[flanzig1]

Don't get the RaidMax PSU, go with something like an Antec TrupowerII 550w.
Check on Asus motherboards and don't worry about Sli. The 7950 video card will run just about any game with the eye candy.

[12twelve12]

Don't worry about SLI? Since he is looking to keep this system as long as possible wouldn't getting a SLI mobo be good for future use? I mean once that single card becomes a bit dated he can just get another one and pop it in next and run in SLI mode for cheaper than it would be to get the top of the line card of the future. Did that make sense...it did in my head.

[Strangelove]

Thanks for the quick replies. 12's is thinking along the same llines I am. I want to keep upgrade possibilities as open as possible.

Thanks for the PSU advice, flanzig. I had chosen the Raidmax due to good reviews on newegg.

[12twelve12]

Look here for good vs bad power supplies:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195


Another thing to think about, regarding SLI, is will two of those cards fit next each other on that board.

[flanzig1]

Reviews on Newegg need to be taken with a grain of salt.
As for the Sli question, my feeling is with the dual GPUs on a single card are going to be the norm for hi end video and providing good performance in gaming; doing Sli/Crossfire is going to get crazy expensive for cards and PSUs that the added gain isn't worth the extra cost.

[Alaron]

The Asus P5W DH is a top choice for motherboards right now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131025

I might drop down to the E6700 CPU or even the E6600. The X6800 is the best right now, but why spend $950 on a cpu? The E6700 is the same chip, only 300mhz slower and nearly half the price at $524 on Newegg.

[12twelve12]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 Reviews on Newegg need to be taken with a grain of salt. As for the Sli question, my feeling is with the dual GPUs on a single card are going to be the norm for hi end video and providing good performance in gaming; doing Sli/Crossfire is going to get crazy expensive for cards and PSUs that the added gain isn't worth the extra cost.

Good point.

[Mr.Ferrari]

If your going core 2 duo you mind as well forgot sli. I highly suggest you look into ati's crossfire.

And if he has the extra $$ and hes willing to make the most out of it, hence the X6800, I think its worth it to have the capability of a dual card configuration.

Just one word of advice, Do not skimp on the psu or the Monitor. Without a proper high res monitor these dual card configs. are useless.

[Strangelove]

All good food for thought, thanks.

Originally Posted by Alaron The Asus P5W DH is a top choice for motherboards right now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131025 I might drop down to the E6700 CPU or even the E6600. The X6800 is the best right now, but why spend $950 on a cpu? The E6700 is the same chip, only 300mhz slower and nearly half the price at $524 on Newegg.

My question isn't really whether there's a big difference now, since I don't really expect to tell the difference between cpu's today, but whether the x6800 will allow me to play the bleeding-edge games 3,4 or even 5 years from now.

Is the X6800 a $400 gimic, or is there really something there?

[Mr.Ferrari]

If your not planning on overclocking then no, there is no *major* advantage besides clockspeed. I say overclocking because the x6800 offers a unlocked multiplier.

[thefultonhow]

Nothing is going to keep you playing top-of-the-line games for five years. I would buy the E6600 or E6700 and put the extra money in a savings account for an upgrade down the line.

As for dual-GPU solutions, it doesn't make sense to add another GPU later -- I would personally just upgrade the GPU in a year or two to a newer model with 3x better performance.

[Strangelove]

After careful consideration, and due to the excellent suggestions, I think I've finalized my choices.

As above except:

Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply

Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6700

NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A

Creative Sound Blaster SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card

Intel BOXD975XBXLKR Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard


I'm looking at the Intel mobo to minimize trouble as this is my first try at DIY.

[glc]

The Bad Axe motherboard is fussier on ram than the Asus P5W DH, and the Asus is easier to overclock. To get full overclocking options on the Intel, you have to mod the board.

[Strangelove]

Originally Posted by glc The Bad Axe motherboard is fussier on ram than the Asus P5W DH, and the Asus is easier to overclock. To get full overclocking options on the Intel, you have to mod the board.

Sorry for the ignorance, but what is "full" overclocking? Does that mean that there's partial?
How does the Intel board need to be modified? What kind of overclocking could I do right out of the chute?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Strangelove Sorry for the ignorance, but what is "full" overclocking? Does that mean that there's partial?

No. The motherboard either has overclocking options or it doesn't.

Originally Posted by Strangelove How does the Intel board need to be modified?

It involves soldering very thin wires to the motherboard...not for the inexperienced.

Originally Posted by Strangelove What kind of overclocking could I do right out of the chute?

None.

Cricket

[chuck4456]

Also, if Intel would have intended to have people solder wires to there boards, they would have already created a jumper to allow such activity, and such rigging wouldn't be thought of. A C2D will fly, overclocked or not.

[Strangelove]

Hmmm. Are you guys saying don't get the Intel board because it can't be overclocked, or is this just a heads-up? Even though I've had pc's since my dad got an Osborne 1 in 1981 ( http://oldcomputers.net/osborne.html ), I've never built or overclocked one. Is overclocking a "must-have" capability?

[thefultonhow]

It's definitely not a must-have, so if you don't want to overclock, the Intel may well serve your purposes. However, you should keep in mind what GLC said about RAM compatibility.

[glc]

The Bad Axe CAN be overclocked without the mod, but you don't get all the adjustments that you would on an Asus to help you overclock better. So yes, there IS partial overclocking.

No overclocking is NOT a necessity, but your very first post indicated you wanted that ability. Therefore, all recommendations were given with that in mind.

[newbuilder14]

Wait, GLC, I just bought 2gb of Patriot DDR2667 to put in my Bad Axe, should I expect any problems?, I sure hope not.

[glc]

As I said in the PM, I don't know.

[Strangelove]

Originally Posted by glc The Bad Axe CAN be overclocked without the mod, but you don't get all the adjustments that you would on an Asus to help you overclock better. So yes, there IS partial overclocking. No overclocking is NOT a necessity, but your very first post indicated you wanted that ability. Therefore, all recommendations were given with that in mind.

I've never mod'ed a computer past memory and other plug-ins, so this is all new to me. In my checking out of the various forums here overclocking seems to be de rigeur so I thought I'd keep the door open. What I'm really trying to do is balance idiot-proof with upgradeable. Maybe that can't be done.

[newbuilder14]

Originally Posted by glc As I said in the PM, I don't know.

Okay, well this is the last time I will interrupt this person's thread, but I just want to say people in Newegg reviews say that it worked in P5W DH, Bad Axe, and even P965 chipsets, so I have no worries.

[glc]

Overclockable and upgradeable are 2 totally different things.

[David M]

If you want the SLI option for future expandability and not have to mess around with soldering so you can overclock then look at the Asus P5N32 SLI SE Deluxe. I'm certain soldering a board invalidates the warranty anyway.

I agree with the opinion on the Newegg reviews. People tend to cheerlead the product they just bought regardless of how short the time is that they have owned it. Additionally, Newegg filters their reviews and is hesitant to post a review which trashes a product that they sell. You can find more unbiased and intelligent reviews elsewhere like Tom's Hardware.