New Computer

[ownage]

COMPUTER

CPU
Core 2 Duo E6600
http://microcenter.com/byos/byos_single_product_results.phtml?product_id=253108
MOTHERBOARD
DFI ICFX3200TR2/G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136032
RAM
Cell Shock DDR2-1000 5-5-5-15
http://www.tankguys.biz/2x1gb-cell-....html?osCsid=84e68845aaea4e5bf28c94f10cc329e7
POWER SUPPLY
no idea yet. Leaning towards a new Zippy or a Silverstone. I'm looking for the new PCI-E 8-pin connector.
HARD DRIVES
Western Digital Raptor 74GB 16MB cache 10,000RPM - already have
Western Digital Caviar 320GB 16MB cache 7200RPM - already have
OPTICAL DRIVES
A SATA 18x DVD burner. Waiting for them to go on sale for 40 bucks again.
VIDEO CARD
ATi x2800XTX when it comes out. For now i'll be using a pci video card that i have no idea about.
SOUND CARD
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS. I find no need to upgrade as I'm happy with my current card.
CASE
Lian Li V1000b w/ window - already have

COOLING

RADIATOR
Thermochill PA120.3 - already have
CPU BLOCK
Cathar Storm G4 - already have
TUBING
10' MasterKleer - already have
GPU BLOCK
Swiftech MCW-60 - subject to change depending on x2800XTX mounting holes. Swiftech is usually pretty good at releasing new hold downs.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcgpuwa.html
CHIPSET BLOCK
Still deciding if i need this. It would be nice and it doesnt cost a whole bunch more.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcchco.html
PUMP
DDC-2 (18W) + Petra's top
http://www.petrastechshop.com/laddcwpeddto.html
MISC
clamps/fans - already have


opinions? I am really going for performance here and money is sort of an issue so trying to spend the least too.

 

[watling]

well with the c2d 6300 you get amazing performance on games with it and just ask yourself are yo ureally going to notice that much with the 6600?

 

[ownage]

with the E6600 you get a 9x multiplier couple that with the DFI board's 500+ FSB, thats 4.5Ghz. With a E6300 you get a 7x multi, only 3.5Ghz. With the E6600, the RAM won't be a factor in holding you back.

 

[hascet]

plus the E6600 has a higher stock clock, and a higher cache 4mb instead of 2mb

 

[lhuser]

If you want the fastest DDR...DDRII-1111. $610 for 2GB

So, you finally figured out that the Xeon is just a more expensive E6600.

 

[ownage]

yeah, well i was going to buy the xeon if it was on sale and was guranteed clocks. But havent found one yet. And the DDF2-1111 is just too expensive. Plus, its made by corsair and their dominator series has the heatsinks like glued on or something crappy like that.

 

[Zaki]

well it looks pretty good.

Power supply: id get one of the corsair power supplies, even though they dont make the ridiculous 800+watt units, i've read that even their "lower" powered units are able to drive the new behemoth cards.

cant really make any more comments, you either have all the rest of the stuff or are pretty sure about the rd600 path, so i would not suggest anything along the nvidia route.

what about monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers?

 

[^Mike^]

Looks good, i would consider some of the things other members have commented

 

[c0d3_z3r0]

Awesome, very nice CPU, graphics card sounds good too.

 

[ownage]

well it looks pretty good.

Power supply: id get one of the corsair power supplies, even though they dont make the ridiculous 800+watt units, i've read that even their "lower" powered units are able to drive the new behemoth cards.

cant really make any more comments, you either have all the rest of the stuff or are pretty sure about the rd600 path, so i would not suggest anything along the nvidia route.

what about monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers?

I don't want to deal with the problems of the 680i. And i like the pure async DRAM clocking the DFI board provides. So memory holding me back isn't an issue anymore. So i run the FSB as high as i want while still retaining a 400Mhz memory speed or FSB at 266 stock and running the RAM at 1.3Ghz or what not. There are more options to choose from.

The Corsair power supplies, which are very good in my book and i recommend them to anybody, unfortunately don't feature the new 8-pin PCI-E plug. It would be really nice if I could find a powersupply with 2 8-Pin connectors. The only two that i know about are from Silverstone: the OP-1000 and the ST56F. The OP-1000 is out of my price range, and no one has reviewed the ST56F yet. I like Silverstone's high end units because they are made by SevenTeam and Etasis, two incredible companies making server grade power supplies. The Zippy/Emacs power supplies are also very good. They feature very little fluctuation in the rails and basically no ripple. Also server grade. The reason I am staying away from PCP&C while they may be good, is the fact that they are overpriced and louder than almost anything else.

About the monitor, i have a Dell 2005FPW, mouse is a Razer Diamondback, and speakers are Altec Lansing 2.1s.