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TBSN

TBSN

Senior member
Hey everyone,
I've been researching a lot, mostly on this forum, in preparation for a Conroe build that I'm...well, building. So here is the last revision of the list. Some parts I'm not totally sure about, some are easy choices.

Case: Antec P180b
Vid: Evga 8800GTS 640M superclocked
Soundcard: X-Fi XtremeMusic
OS:Windows XP Pro SP2b OEM
MB: Asus P5N32-E Plus SLI 650iCPU: Intel E6600
CPU cooler: Sythe Ninja Rev. B
Memory: G.Skill DDR2 800 2GB (Newegg link)
HDD: 1x Seagate barracuda 7200.10 250gb 16mb cache SATAII
PSU: Enermax Liberty 500W

So, I'm planning on using this computer for gaming and also probably graphic/ video work. I am planning on overclocking, although it will be the first time for me.
I am still considering going with the Asus P5B-D P965 motherboard, but the 650i one that I listed is supposed to be pretty good especially for the price. Also, do you think that the PSU is good? Also, is there any reason to go with XP x64, or is that just an unnecessary PITA? Any other opinions? Thanks in advance...
 
XP x64 is crap; if you're going 64-bit, go Vista or Linux.

Replace the Seagate with a Western Digital SE16; same price, faster, and quieter.

The Asus P5N-E is a lot cheaper, but equivalent in features and overclocking. Speaking of overclocking, you'd get more for your money with a E6400.

Buffalo offers Micron D9 for less. Or better yet, get DDR2 667 value ram for less than half the price of your G.Skill ($115 for 2GB).

Replace the Enermax with a Corsair 520W, Sunbeam 550W, or Enhance/XClio 500W.
 
Check newegg reviews on that Asus P5N32-E. I love ASUS, but I had the A8N-SLI board last and it sucked (not stable, 3 RMA's, terrible chipset fan). My A8N-SLI Premium has been much better. The newegg reviews I have seen for the current 775 boards also leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. In a quick search, I could not find much about the P5B-D. Only 1 HD? Stick with XP 32. Thinking about that Ninja myself, great cooler! System should ROCK!!

Good luck building and happy computing!
 
I was thinking about getting the 6400 instead of the 6600, but isn't a refresh coming out that will basically have a 64000 but with 4mb of L2 cache instead of 2mb? I thought I could wait for that or just step up to something that won't be made obselete in a few months. Still might get the 6400 tho...

The Buffalo stuff is sold out at Newegg and the buffalo site doesn't work, so idk where I'd get that ram, but I have heard it is a really good deal. Still not sure about the mobo. The P5N-E doesn't have 2x16 SLI and I wouldn't say it is 'equivalent' in features and overclocking, but it is cheaper. I think if I get a less expensive board I might go with p965 mobo... not sure tho.

As far as the PSU goes, what are the reasons that the other ones are better? Do I need more wattage? (Also I'm going to try to stick with a modular PSU if I can...)

Thanks again!
 
If you want a modular PSU go with the Seasonic M12.

I would also go with a Lian Li PC-V1100 or PC-101 over the P180.

Oh, and change the HS/F to a Zalman 9500AT.
 
Originally posted by: jpeyton
SPCR says the Ninja cools better than the Zalman.
Click to expand...

Thats true but I like the 9500AT for it's 4-PWM fan -- automatic RPM control via CPU temp means no compromises between noise and performance.

Scythe also use sleeve bearing fans on all their heatsinks, not something I'd be comfortable with.
 
I'll check out the M12 500W. Thats what I was thinking of getting originally. I thought it would be better to get the Ninja because I've heard reviews of PWM fans being noisy because of it changing speed quickly. Otherwise the ArcticCooling freezer7pro would be an attractive one... Anyway, i hear that the Ninja works well with the P180. I love that case; I've seen it and it is very quiet, I'm pretty sure about that component. Any comment on the motherboard?
 
The Corsair PSU's are Seasonic at heart. Look it up. They are newer models, slightly more power (520 or 620) and are more efficient (80 plus rated). I was going to get an M12 until I read about the Corsair. It was exactly what I had been looking for.
 
OK, I will look into the Corsair PSU's

So if the 6420 is coming out, I might as well get a 6600 with 4mb or cache now, or should I just get the e6400 now?
 
Get whatever you can afford right now. Your setup looks good if you go with a seasonic or corsair psu (and not that bad with the liberty, though there are better psus available). What size monitor do you have? SLI is only needed if you have a 24" or larger screen (and maybe even 22" for the picky people, ehhe).
 
Well, I chose the mobo b/c it is supposedly stable and can OC well, SLI was just another feature to me. I am only getting one card now, but with that mobo I could add another one later on.

The reason I was thinking the "superclocked" GTS was b/c it is made by Evga (good warranty +service I hear), it comes with a game (not really a big deal), but it is also cheaper than most of the "normal" 8800 GTS cards (on newegg).

I want to get this as soon as possible, so I don't think I'll be waiting on the E6420. In that case, and keeping in mind that I will be doing video-editing and possibly 3d graphics as well as games, do you think that the E6600 would be a good choice, or should I get the 2mb L2 E6400?

Thanks!
 
Originally posted by: Dream Operator
Check newegg reviews on that Asus P5N32-E. I love ASUS, but I had the A8N-SLI board last and it sucked (not stable, 3 RMA's, terrible chipset fan). My A8N-SLI Premium has been much better. The newegg reviews I have seen for the current 775 boards also leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. In a quick search, I could not find much about the P5B-D. Only 1 HD? Stick with XP 32. Thinking about that Ninja myself, great cooler! System should ROCK!!

Good luck building and happy computing!
Click to expand...

Don`t check anything NewEgg reviews!
Those are not reviews nor are they reliable customer comments!
 
I'm not going with Vista, I'm just going to get XP pro 32bit. Any comments on my CPU question?
 
Be careful about your PSU choice with the P180 case. I had one of those beastly OCZ power supplies when I got my P180, and it wasn't a pretty fit. At the very least, a PSU of that size would be cause to remove the fan in the bottom chamber since the PSU wires kept hitting it.

Right now I'm running on an Antec NeoHE 550, and it fits much better, but is still a fairly tight fit with the fan design in that bottom chamber.
 
Hmmm, thanks Thoreau for the warning. I've read about people having problems with certain PSU's with the P180. One of them is fitting the PSU into the damn case 🙂. The other I believe is whether or not the cables will reach from the bottom of the case to the top of the mobo (that's where most mobos have their power inputs I think).

So what I'm thinking of doing is trying to is
1)find the best PSU for my needs/ price
2)getting my friend who has the case to tell me what PSU he has in it (it fits, but its pretty ****** I think so I don't want that same one)
3)find the dimensions of that PSU online somewhere
4)make sure that the PSU I choose is at least as small as the one my friend has....

In the world of the PC, if it's not rediculously complicated, you're doing something wrong...

Thanks once again!

P.S.: If anyone can give me some suggestions on the question I had about the CPU, I'd really appreciate it... (see above)
 
If it's in the budget, I've had no problems at all with the NeoHE 550, and the modular cables are a definite must for this case. The dimensions and cable length of the 550 seem to be a perfect match for the case as well.

With regards to the CPU, I've heard nothing but good things about the overclockability of the 6400 (godly?) and being cheaper than the 6600 would make it my choice. I actually went with an AMD build since I've also heard good things about the next gen chips from AMD, which will be the same socket.
 
I just bought an e6400 for my build. Not sure that 1 more multi and 2MB more of L2 is worth $100 extra bucks right now- and i seriously doubt how much impact to performance you would see with todays apps...so i got the cheapee and will look to upgrade that over the summer.
 
Ok, once again many thanks for the replies. I will check out the NeoHE 550 (it's made by Antec, right?) and I think I'm just going to go with my original choice of the E6400 for the CPU. The only reason I was considering the 6600 was b/c of the 2mb extra cache, which has little impact on gaming but perhaps it would improve rendering video, for example, for editing(??)

I'm going to look into some reviews of the Neo before I choose a PSU though. I heard some bad things about Antec powersupplies, but that could have been just a particular model... Back to researching again, but soon I'll really have the components nailed down!

And for one more random question:

Does the Sythe Ninja Rev. B come with thermal paste, and if it does, is it any good or should I get some ArcticSilver5?
 
Dunno why you wouldnt get Vista. XP is great, but thats an obsolete OS weather we all like it or not now that vista is running around. Would seriously consider getting Vista.
 
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