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Need advice on new rig
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Posted by: Ack1027
So I'm getting a friend [ well not really I know him through another forum ] to build me my next computer. I've been running my current setup for quite some time now with upgrades here and there and I decided it was time for a new one. Also, the intel price drops from the end of last year and the upcoming ones seemed appealing.
Basically I want a system that's good to go for the next 5 or so years. I plan to use this new computer until it dies. My budget is $1000-1500 final cost including shipping. I aim to push this computer the hardest with games like sc2, cs:source, and video rendering here and there. I know this isn't extreme but I believe I'm spending a lot here and would like a good reliable be-all end-all type system for myself.
Through email conversations my friend and I have decided on the following setup:
Antec P182 Case
Cooler Master 550W PSU
Gigabyte Superclocked (11% faster) 8800GT 512MB
4GB DDR running at ~840MHz (windows will only see 3.5GB & CPU speed will affect final RAM speed, its a bandwidth issue)
320GB Maxtor SATA II HDD /w NCQ
GA-X38-DS4 Motherboard
E8400 @ 3.0-4.0GHz 6MB cache 1333FSB or Q6600 @ 3.4-3.5GHz 2x4MB cache 1066FSB
Cooler Master TX-2 Heatsink
Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card
I have a few questions for you OTS experts.
One issue is the CPU aspect. My friend says to me:
" The new Intel line is supposedly being released in about 1-2 weeks (and at a good price). What this means for you is that you can get a 1333FSB 6MB cache CPU, which is a 50% increase in cache over the current highest end Core 2 Duos. The extra cache makes about a 6% increase on average in performance. Thus a current C2D would have to be running at 4.24GHz at 1333FSB 4MB cache to be as fast as a 4GHz new C2D.
Supposedly overclocking gets this new line to 4GHz without any real strain even, but I can not promise anything about 3.4GHz without actually testing a CPU myself. I would say there is about a 95% chance that you can get a 4GHz Core 2 Duo when combined with a solid motherboard. I have seen some pre-release tests that have 4.3GHz stable.
The other road is the Q6600 Quad-Core. There is not that much difference in price between the Q6600 and upcoming E8400 Dual-Core. It is only performance that is at stake. Any other quad is just too expensive to consider (the next step up in real performance is the $1140 1333FSB Quad). The current problem with Quad-Cores is that most applications and games only use two cores. Unless there is a drop in prices (which there might be in time for this build) I would go with the new Dual-Core that is coming out. Perhaps, when you upgrade in 1-1.5 years you can get a 1333FSB Quad-Core. By then you should be able to use all 4 cores on the average application.
Right now, the Dual-Core is a whopping 36% faster running applications that only use 2 cores. The Quad, of course, wins with all 4 cores engaged, by about 50%. I guess the real decision should be: are you going to use this CPU for more than 2.5 years? If yes, get the Q6600, if no, get the new CPU that comes out. "
From the sounds of it he recommended me to go for the Quad core so I asked why he thought that thinking that future apps will probably use all 4 cores. He responded with:
"The reason I suggest the Q6600 if you are sticking with the CPU for a long time is exactly as you guessed. Programs and games should start taking advantage of the 4 cores more and more now. Crysis was the first game to really do it, but future DX10 games should follow suite. I think (this is just an opinion) that 4 cores will regularly be used in the next 2 years. MS might even have a 4 core OS in 3 years. However, since this is just my opinion, and is essentially unknowable at this time, feel free to get the C2D if you would rather. Even if you are wrong you can always upgrade in 2-3 years if necessary and you will have faster performance in the interim."
So OTS does this sound right? I feel like going with the core 2 duos, am I wrong?
Next point, the case. I chose that case as an example to show him what I like in a case [ simple design gun metal color etc ] but is there a better case that I could be using?
The final price he gave me for this system including shipping, shipping insurance was $1330 for the dual core and $1400 for the quad core. Does this seem reasonable?
Are there any immediate errors you see in my build?
Thank you for reading OTS members have always been a great help!
-Alex
Posted by: goranpaa
Hi Ack!
Well, I'm pretty convinced you would get a nice result with an E6850 too. The Quad cores wont give you any upper hand in gaming for quite some time. And by the time you get it. The Q6600 is a dinosaur anyway.
Get the AuzenTech Auzen X-Fi Prelude instead. I just jumped off the Creative XF-Fi stuff, For the cause of the lousy drivers Creative provides. Love Auzentech!
CoolerMaster psu? Naah! too weak on the +12V rails to be really future proof for video card upgrades. Besides, CoolerMaster is better at building cases than psu's. I dont mean the CM psu is bad though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16817341010
Edit. You may wanna swap the pretty noisy Antec Tricool 120mm fans in the P182 for silent Nexus or Noctua 120mm fans instead. Yate Loon is good too.
Posted by: shadysoldier
HI!
ya i agree dont go quad core. it's a waste of money for gaming.
We cnat even use dual core to what it is capable of.
hmm
i own 4 tricool fans and ill tell you they are LOUD, but it doesnt bother me. I dont like it quite. they do the job well tho. get the silent ones if you are sensative to noise.
i prefer a average cpu with NICE ram and a BANING gpu
for that budget i would go....
you can get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16819115028
i think that would be better for gaming then a quadcore. it will be cheaper and maybe you can get another gpu for sli
but i think
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16819115029
is better for the bang for the buck + you can speand more on the gpu
idk if your going to or not but think you should get 2 sticks of 2gig ram so when u decide to go vista you can get another 2 sticks and have a total of 8gigs
Posted by: Ack1027
Thanks for the replies guys!
Well... If you believe the fans are loud on that particular case, is there another case you guys could recommend? It's not really top priority but it would be pretty sweet if my system ran quietly.
Also that sound card seems a bit expensive, I'm not willing to spend that much. Would something like this be enough?:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16829156001
although that's a bit expensive as well. I'm trying to keep costs down.
If you guys can suggest a good 5.1 sound card I'll be glad to take that as well.
Thanks again!
Posted by: Ack1027
Also a few simple cosmetic questions:
If I transfer one of my old HDs with windows XP on it to my new system, can I just install my operating system on the new HD? Or is this a dumb idea? I ask this since I would like to keep windows and all my apps on the bigger drive[320GB] I would rather just use my current HD as storage space. If I do go through with this, would I have to format my old drive since my computer would detect two windows? Or could I just bypass that problem by making sure the computer boots from the new drive?
For newer systems like this one, is it better to leave it on all day or only during use?
Thanks.
Posted by: shadysoldier
hhmmm thermaltake just released these havnt looked into them much tho
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...iption=xaser+vi
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ltake+armorplus
you can take a look at those.
hmmm
i realy like the antec p182 and 900...just they are loud
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811119103
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811119121
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811119122
stacker is nice too
Posted by: Ack1027
I've decided on everything now except the sound card!
Thanks shady and goraanpa!
My budget is cutting close so I think I'll need a sound card under 50, any suggestions? X_x
5.1 is completely alright.
Posted by: shadysoldier
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16829127001R
close to 50
looks pretty sold
but lets see what goranpaa thinks
oh ya that is a very good question
i guess you can if youdelet you old drivers off of it..and you may have to activate windows again.
but ill leave those questions to goranpaa
what case you choose?
Posted by: goranpaa
Well, As for the fans in the P182.
If you seal up the case vents around the psu. And have the psu flipped upside down, with the fan pointing upwards. Then, you can remove the Tricool fan in the lower psu tunnel . The psu fan is sufficient to draw in cool air over the hdds. That should make the fan noise less noticable. Mount the case fans with elastic cords instead. And some foam or Play Doo in the fans, frame corners facing the case will kill much of the vibrations from the Tricools. Vibrations, is the biggest downside with these fans.
Then , you can swap one of the exhaust fans to a more silent one, one at the time. Starting with the top, exhaust fan.
Also, fill the compartment under the psu and lower hdd compartment with foam strips to prevent amplifying noise from the hdd's and psu.
If you wanna improve the cooling further? Get this Scythe drive bay fan. You will notice about a 5C cpu temp drop.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16835185020
And it's just good, that the Scythe fan is weak. The Antec "P" cases, are buildt for "negative airflow" I.e more powerful exhaust fans than intakes. This fan will take up 3 X 5.25 bays. Also seal up the holes in the cd cage for best airflow from the Kama Bay fan.
If you just are going to run 2 hdd's? Mount them in the lower hhd cage, down in the psu tunnel. And remove the uppder hdd cage for better intake airflow.
If you feel brave about it? Also remove the small, plastic doors in front of the intake filters.
I belive any of those sound cards is a good choise.
But the Auzentech, Shady found seems to be a bargain.
Got nice reviews. Especially music, seems to sound very good with the XMysique.
It''s OEM, but as you can download drivers at Auzentech home....well.
http://www.auzentech.com/site/download/updates.php
As for transfering the old os installaton / hdd? I'm not sure if the new bios, will recognize the OS. But you can always give it a try.
Posted by: goranpaa
xxxxxx double post!
Posted by: goranpaa
xxxxx
Posted by: goranpaa
xxxxx
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