First PC build, need help

[supersesm]

Finaly found a nice forum about pc-building.
I'm building a new computer, mostly for gaming but also video editing and different office applications. My budget is around 1000€, without screen, os, mouse, keyboard or speakers

This are the parts I found and will probably use:
CPU:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 - 2,4 GHz, cache L2 8 Mo Socket 775
GPU:
TWINTECH GeForce 8800GTS 512 Mo PCI-E 2.0 link
MB:
GIGABYTE X38-DS5 link
RAM:
OCZ PC Reaper Dual Channel 2 x 1 Go DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz link
PSU:
OCZ PC StealthXStream - 500 W link
HDD: x3 in RAID5
SEAGATE Barracuda 7200.9 - 160 Go - 7200RPM - 8 Mo - SATA II

Cpu: want a good fast cpu, quad core because more and more applications use now multicore, so it will be still usable after some years. Maybe will take an other coller later, when will decide to o/c, first will see how good is it.
Motherboard: chose the x38 chipset for support of PCI-E 2.0, future processors, fast ddr2
Ram: dunno, chose ddr2-1066 because cpu fsb also 1066 (I never understood all that Hz, fsb, and how they work ) Will I be later able to overclock cpu without worrying about ram? Than also, is 2GB enough or better take 4? And I like that heat pipe design
Psu: Is 500W enough, maybe better to take the 600W? I just selected this one because it's ocz, for the rest don't know much about power. If on mobo there is a 8-pin cpu power connector, does my psu need to have it also. (I think psu has a 4-pin connector )
Hdd: Don't know if RAID5 is good, but looked the best: faster than normal, but still possibility of recovery if a drive fails. I will have 320GB space, just enough for me
I would also like to install Vista Premium 64bit (hope it will work)
And the 8800gts looks the best card for the moment, so i'll take a cheap one and o/c myself (I'll use a 24'' wide screen)

So, what do you think about my configuration? Write your comments and if you see something doesn't go together please tell.

[pam123]

Quad core is a good choice.

The ram you picked is on the recommended vendor list for that gigabyte motherboard , no problem there.
What may be a problem is that you're putting an nVidia card into a motherboard intended to support the ATI crossfire set up.
Why not chose one of Gigabyte's other X38 boards ?

That power supply is a good choice but if you're serious about over clocking you may want to give yourself some more headroom.

RAID does have it's uses but you need to do some homework.
Start with this : http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Software-RAID-0.4x-HOWTO-2.html

[Katreat]

For DDR2 memory you double the speed to match processor speed. So 667 will match the processor speed. Then they always recommend that the ram is a bit faster, so for a standard build with no or only mild OC'ing 800 is good. 1066 is really designed for future processors or OC'ing. It will run fine and you mentioned OC'ing so nothing wrong with the choice but you could probably save a few bucks by dropping down to 800.

I would suggest getting a PSU with a few more watts just for head room. 500 should run your system but not much room for future upgrades.

I know nothing about the X38 MBs so will leave that to others.

The 8800 GTS (512) is the current card of choice, best bang for the buck, but be sure you get the 512 version, because the GT will outperform the two older 320 and 640 versions of the card.

Kat

[supersesm]

Originally Posted by pam123 What may be a problem is that you're putting an nVidia card into a motherboard intended to support the ATI crossfire set up. Why not chose one of Gigabyte's other X38 boards ?

Are they not all dual pci-e 16x with crossfire support? I found that mine had everything I need and for a good priceso I think i'll keep my choise for the moment. But will the nVidia card work fine on it?

Originally Posted by pam123 That power supply is a good choice but if you're serious about over clocking you may want to give yourself some more headroom.

Originally Posted by Katreat I would suggest getting a PSU with a few more watts just for head room. 500 should run your system but not much room for future upgrades.

Ok, i'll take the 600W one. is OCZ good? I found some good reviews, but I don't know much about psu's

Originally Posted by Katreat For DDR2 memory you double the speed to match processor speed. So 667 will match the processor speed. Then they always recommend that the ram is a bit faster, so for a standard build with no or only mild OC'ing 800 is good. 1066 is really designed for future processors or OC'ing. It will run fine and you mentioned OC'ing so nothing wrong with the choice but you could probably save a few bucks by dropping down to 800.

Q6600 has a speed of 1066 not 1333. So even the DDR2-800 won't work at full speed as I understand? Should I also take 4GB or is it useless for the moment (I'll be using Vista, mostly playing games)?

Originally Posted by Katreat The 8800 GTS (512) is the current card of choice, best bang for the buck, but be sure you get the 512 version, because the GT will outperform the two older 320 and 640 versions of the card.

Still don't know if I'll take the GT or GTS, is the performance worth the price? I'll probably see at the end, when finished chosing all the other components.

Originally Posted by pam123 RAID does have it's uses but you need to do some homework. Start with this : http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Software-RAID-0.4x-HOWTO-2.html

Yeah, i've allready read some info about RAID. I think raid5 will be the best for me. I found this:

Originally Posted by bit-tech.net review Six SATA 3Gbps ports supporting RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5 or JBOD

Does that mean I don't need any other controller (pci card)? Also want to know if anyone had some problems with raid.

Thanks for your advices

[flanzig1]

Raid 0 mirrors data between 2 identical drives, can give some speed increase but you lose ALL data if a drive dies.
Raid 1 puts data on 2 drives(2 copies as it where)data redundancy.
Raid 5(JBOD=just a bunch of drives) need 4 or more.
Ram: 4gigs need to use a 64bit OS/2gigs is plenty for today's uses
The Q6600 works best with DDR2 667 speed ram/800 speed ram on my Q6600 system would cause BSODs, dropped the speed to 667, no problems.

[supersesm]

Here is the new list:

- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
- GIGABYTE X38-DS5
- OCZ StealthXStream - 600W

Originally Posted by flanzig1 The Q6600 works best with DDR2 667 speed ram/800 speed ram on my Q6600 system would cause BSODs, dropped the speed to 667, no problems.

I'll take 2GB of DDR2-800. Will I be able to o/c cpu untill 3GHz? What's BSODs?
- Was thinking about:
OCZ Gold GX XTC Dual Channel 2 x 1 Go DDR2 PC2-6400 800 MHz CL 5-5-5-12 OR
OCZ Platinium Revision 2 x 1 Go DDR2 PC2-6400 800 MHz CL 4-5-4-15 (or 4-4-4-15 for revision 2)

- TWINTECH GeForce 8800GTS 512 Mo
Is Twintech good? It was just the cheapest one, and I'm already near budget limit.

Ps: Can't I edit my first post? Didn't find any button

[Katreat]

Ok, i'll take the 600W one. is OCZ good? I found some good reviews, but I don't know much about psu's

I have heard good things about OCZ but have never owned one. Check out the following list for brands recommended by this forum.

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

Q6600 has a speed of 1066 not 1333. So even the DDR2-800 won't work at full speed as I understand? Should I also take 4GB or is it useless for the moment (I'll be using Vista, mostly playing games)?

You are correct the Q6600 is 1066. I was thinking about the new C2D CPUs. However, DDR is double data rate which means that the memory will runs at double its listed rate. So, 667 memeory will run at 1334 (without the rounding). So Flanzig is correct in that 667 is the best match for a 1066 CPU. It is one step faster than a perfect match. As for your questions about is it fast enough to OC I will have to leave that to people with some experience OC'ing. The way I understand it you want faster memory to OC a system but as Flanzig mentioned that might lead to problems also.

Still don't know if I'll take the GT or GTS, is the performance worth the price? I'll probably see at the end, when finished chosing all the other components.

That is a hard one to answer. I have a 8800 GTS (320) in my current system and am very happy with it. The GT came out both cheaper and with better performance. Now the new GTS 512 is out with even better performance. So, I think for normal gaming most people would be happy with any of the 8800 seriens right now, but the faster ones will be better for new games comming out. You might check out this review and then decide what you are comfortable with.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/01/...ming_graphics/

Kat



Kat

[Alaron]

BSOD = Blue Screen of Death

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