New Build Feedback

[astokes]

Hello,

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion...e=newest+build

The link above is a link to the new setup i am looking at. But i was wounding if anyone has the same motherboard and CPU and if they are working good together. And i was wounding what people think of the set up so far. the only thing i am looking to change right now is the case. i already have a HDD and a OS so no need for them. but any comments?


Thanks,

Stokes

[shadowpr]

Looks pretty good. I personally wouldn't get that motherboard though.

If you're not doing SLI, then just get a P5K-E and then change the ram to ddr2.

DDR3 is just too expensive for the increase in performance right now. Just not worth it, in my humble opinion.

[Katreat]

I would agree with Shadow on MB switch. DDR3 is just not ready for the consumer market yet and probably wont be on Intel set ups until the new socket comes out to support faster processors. The BIG advantage of DDR 3 is speed and with the fastest processors currently avaliable it just steps down to the processor speed which is no different than DDR2. You pay a lot for basically no improvment in performance. Currently, its only real use is for Advanced OC'ing.

I would also stay away from SLI unless you really need it. It gets expensive really fast and is not a good upgrade path because the video card market moves so fast. With a 24" monitor you will still get great graphics with a single card, SLI does really shine when you get into the very large 28+ monitor market.

If you really want SLI then look at the 780i boards. Also, if you really plan to SLI then you will need a much bigger PSU, 600w wont cut it. check out this site for PSU requirements for SLI.

http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

Kat

[Doom]

If you go with the 790i SLI board, it's just not worth the money in comparison to what you get with the 780i. Plus, the money you save by going with the 780i as well as the DDR2 RAM will get you half way to purchasing a second graphics card or it will allow you to get a faster processor.

I'm running a 780i SLI board w/ a Q9300 2.5GHz Quad Core and a single EVGA 9600GT and love it. I'm able to run Crysis at all high settings, 2xAA, and good resolution without breaking a sweat. Yeah... it's not "highest" settings w/ 4xAA... but my jaw still drops every time. I went with an SLI board just so I could have the option. I had previously found a review at www.tomshardware.com mentioning that two 9600GT's in SLI config provide the best performance for about $360... so in some very limited cases you can make the argument that SLI is a good thing. Those are extremely limited cases though.

For a PSU, I've got the Corsair 750w PSU and it's running fantastic.

Since DDR2 is cheaper, go for Corsair 2x2GB package. Yes, Vista or XP 32 bit won't recognize all 4GB, but this puts your memory in dual channel and ensures you get every last bit of RAM possible above 2GB (I believe my system shows up at 3.1 recognized).

[astokes]

well i have heard that the AMD Phenom Quad-core can use all of the DDR3. is this true and is this a good CPU? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103249 and if so whats best motherboard for this CPU out?

[Katreat]

Both Intel and AMD can use DDR 3 but until faster processors come along it provides very little advantage. AMD, since they are not planning a new socket in the near future, would be the best bet for an upgrade to a faster processor that can really gain advantage from DDR3. But to my knowledge their current crop of processors are still not pushing the fastest DDR2 (1066) so it will be awhile before a processor arrives that can really benefit from it.

There is nothing wrong with DDR 3 except the price.

Kat