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    Low Budget $300-$400 Build

    1. What YOUR PC will be used for. Internet, email, playing music, Netflix streaming, nothing too intense. 2. What YOUR budget is $300 - $400. 3. What country USA, Southern California with access to both Fry’s and Microcenter. I would actually prefer MC for ease of any returns that...
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    GPU vs CPU Bottlenecks

    What are the bottlenecks for systems with differing CPUs vs GPUs? Is it just clock speed? So a Q6600 at 3.2 ghz can handle the same video card as an I5 or I7 at the same ghz? So has anyone tested the thresholds of performances for the various CPUs and GPUs? I'm outdated and have an older...
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    Intel 2500k vs 2600k Value

    Over the next 2 years, is the Intel 2600k worth 50$ more than the 2500k? I ask because Microcenter might get you that difference right now. Priorities for the system: basic internet, 1080p video output to a tv (with a discrete video card,) and moderate PC gaming. I'm currently running a...
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    Crucial M225 Series SSDs 128GB/256GB $200/$400 after Codes

    Anyone have some reviews and/or comparisons for these drives? Coupon Codes of Unknown Duration: 100M225US for the 128GB SSD 200M225US for the 256GB SSD Seems like the Newegg reviews on the 256gb are not favorable with a very high fail rate. But the 128gb drive seems to have pretty...
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    Newegg WD SiliconEdge Blue 2.5" 64GB SSD $129.99 Free Ship

    Looks like WD has taken Anandtech's advice from these Final Words of their review and cut their prices in half (at least at the 64 GB size at Newegg.) Edit: Looks to be most of the WD SSDs have been cut in half, and Newegg also has Open Box 128gbs for $200 + 6 dollar ship.
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    ASUS P5Q-E LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard Optical Audio Issue

    I have an ASUS P5Q-E LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard and when I try to mix analog audio with optical audio (via a microphone and headset on front inputs, and an Optical SPDIF output to my receiver) I am having problems. The audio sounds fine through the speakers, but when I change...
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    Asus p5q-E w/ Q6600 CPU Overclock

    System notes: Q6600 CPU (Was lapped by another user who got it up to 3.6 stable with better cooling than my options) Xigmatek HDT S1283 cooler NOT lapped (with backplate from here) Asus P5Q-E P45 Motherboard (Have NOT updated BIOS) 4gb (2x2) OCZ DDR2 800 RAM (OCZ2P8004GK) Corsair 750w PSU...
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    New System Build Nightmare (Won't POST)

    Overview of the problem New system build will not POST. 1 Beep, splash of video signal (but no actual video on screen, just the sound) then nothing. Full description of the problem and symptoms Building new system, here are specs: Q6600 CPU Xigmatek HDT S1283 cooler (with backplate...
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    Impossible Push Pins

    I'm past the end of my rope. Have a Xigmatek HDT-S1283 and there's no way I can get the push pins to work. I've tried the stock fan as well and I haven't been able to get more than 1 push pin to stick at a time. I have an Asus P5Q-E mobo and I don't know if it's thick or what, but I can't get...
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    Looking for Field Reports on Various Intel CPUs

    I've read many (getting to seem to be TOO many) different accounts of what various Intel chips can do in the overclocking department. I was hoping to get some anecdotal stats from the knowledgeable posters here at Anandtech. I think this would be beneficial for both those looking to start...
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    Any Idea When Arctic Cooling Twin Turbos Will Be Available?

    I though the Twin Turbo GPU coolers were supposed to be already be out by now. They seem tailor made for the new Radeon 48xx series cards, but they're nowhere to be found. Anyone have inside scoops or links to release dates/availability?
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    E7200 vs. E8400 vs. Q6600 vs. Q9450 Cost/Performance

    I'm currently looking to build a new system (mostly for gaming, outputting movies to an HDTV, and general internet action.) I am on a somewhat limited budget, so I was confining myself to the E8400 (or even falling back to the E7200) due to price, but I am now thinking about the long term...
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    Foxconn P45A Mobo Opinions

    I was looking at the Foxconn P45A-S in comparison to the ASUS P5Q Pro. I notice that the Asus only supports 8x speeds in Crossfire while it seems that the Foxconn supports full 16x speeds. Does anyone have experience with the Foxconn mobo? Is it really getting full 16x Crossfire speeds? Any...
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    Aftermarket Heatsink/Cooling Installation Question

    Okay, this is embarassing, but if I buy an aftermarket heatsink/cooling component like the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro will I be replacing the stock components on my CPU and installing the cooler right onto the CPU chip? I feel dumb for asking but there's a deal on an E8400 CPU and...
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    E7200 w/Xfire Mobo vs. E8400 w/out Xfire

    In a battle between a combination of: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 and a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L mobo vs. Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 and an Asus P5Q LGA 775 P45 mobo Which would be the better choice in the long run (meaning 2+ years with more or less the same system) if they can both be had at the...
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    Anybody Have Experience with the Cooler Master 690?

    I'm putting together a new system after being out of the do-it-yourself field of computers for a while. I want a case that will be relatively pain free to assemble everything and still provide good cooling internally. I'm looking at the COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP and like the 3 fans...
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    True Performance Increase with Separate HDs?

    Would the average gamer see a noticeable benefit from having separate hard drives for their Operating System and their Program files? Would it be worth it to have a 10000 rpm drive for one of these? If so, which one, OS or Programs? I'm thinking about putting in a Western Digital Raptor...
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    Trust Ebay for an LCD Monitor?

    I'm looking into buying a new gaming system and will need to upgrade my old 19" CRT (yes it's very sad here these days.) I've been looking at the 22" LG L227WT and the Samsung 24" 245BW. In the brick and mortar world it looks like I'd be spending $300+tax on the LG and $420+tax on the Samsung...
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    Build Now or Wait for August?

    1. What YOUR PC will be used for: Gaming, general computing, watching movies (possibly output to 46? HDTV.) 2. What YOUR budget is. $1000-1500 3. What country: USA, or other if Ebay (see later notes) 4. IF YOU have a brand preference. Western Digital, Intel (for now.) 5. If YOU...
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    Radeon 4870 or Crossfire 4850s?

    I've been obsessing over new systems in light of the recent GPU war developments. I see that as of 7-3-08 Newegg has several Radeon 4850's selling for about $200 with $25-30 mail in rebates available. The 4870's are going for a uniform $310. So you can get 2x 4850's for about $365 (I'm...