Recent content by zengonzo

  1. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    Thanks for the advice, goldfarb. I'll make that my first education lesson. Maybe I'll get an image of it. What does your temperature hang around, if I might ask? I see that you got the 4-4-4 memory timings. Isn't there an issue with the P5B and those timings? Or is it just a matter of...
  2. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    Thanks, goldfarb, I'd be happy to share notes. My heatsink did not look like that at all .. It had a raised copper bump that contacted with the chip. I can't imagine I was supposed to take it off, or anything. My manual was practically useless.
  3. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    I mean .. unless I'm thinking of something different .. my friend describe it as though there would be a sticker-thing (thermal pad?) that you would peel off and it would leave a thermal paste behind. I saw nothing like that on mine. The chip just had the raised surface with the etching and the...
  4. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    Thanks much, newb54 .. After a couple of days of use, I am very, very happy with the system, and with myself for putting together. The barrier has lifted. It is quiet and generates significantly less heat. My old unit would bake my office. I think the case makes a huge difference...
  5. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    No, I don't believe that it did. Nevertheless, I'd been told to go with a thermal paste even if it had. I just did a tiny drop and spread it out and scraped up everything I could. Turns out I'm a moron, anyways. I hadn't plugged in the PCIe power .. The noise was a low-voltage warning...
  6. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    Thanks, Jules. I'm a little perplexed, haven't found any info but I'm probably just stressing myself blind. I'm on hold with tech support. The 8800 GTS actually fits just fine. The P180 creates some interesting issues with the PSU cables, but if you are clever with it that isn't much of...
  7. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    OK, so I've only got the CPU, GPU and the power button hooked up and the PB5 shows a blue light indicating it is receiving power and in shutdown mode. I turn it on and it screams. I'm pretty sure it's coming from the motherboard - might be coming from the PSU. I can't tell. But it isn't...
  8. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    Thanks, ForumMaster, I'd been hearing that about the stock cooler, so I wasn't in a rush to get aftermarkets - I'll wait until I get everything running and lavish the modest upgrade. The GPU might be the worst offender. I suppose I am getting into the 'what's a hundred bucks more'...
  9. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    JulesMaximus, My current system is a chugging, old, coal-fired heat and noise machine. I probably am not the most suited person to draw comparisons if you are used to more modern setups. However, I'm expecting the P180 to make a huge difference and as long as I invest in decent, quiet...
  10. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    What are the situations which you would notice the difference of the 10,000? If it improves overall loading and running performance, I wouldn't mind spending the extra and I wouldn't skimp elsewhere as a result. Perhaps I can put it off until I see how it goes with just the 7200...
  11. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    I'm definitely going to start out mild and feel it out, see how comfortable I am. I've never actually put a whole system together myself (plenty of swaps and like) so that's my first goal. I realize it isn't as bad as all that, but I'll feel much better once I've actually got it going...
  12. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    Thanks, Boyo. I've included them now. Might as well .. Wow, SATA drives are as cheap as anything these days. Nice.
  13. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    Heh. I expected at least a 'hey, dumbass, aren't you going to get some fans for that volcano GPU' or 'why are you wasting that motherboard on that RAM'. Thanks, jpeyton. My mouse is a-hoverin'. Just going to hold out a little bit longer to see if anyone slaps me straight.
  14. Z

    First Time Builder - New Core 2 Duo System

    Fellas .. Long time skulker. Been squirming to put together a new system for over a year now, and now that things have settled down with the Core 2 a bit (as well as my finances) I believe I'm ready to bite some bullets. A stream of bullets. Anti-aliased, high-res bullets. Before proceeding...