Advice Needed on Build Out of a New Core 2 Duo System

[pradeep1]

Hi everyone,

I have a Dell 400SC machine with :

2.8 GHz P4 CPU
1GB (2 X 512) of Mushkin PC3200 (DDR400 (CAS 3, 3-3-3-8 timing) RAM
2 IDE Harddrives (120 GB, 250 GB)
NEC 2500A DVD Burner
Chaintech 6600GT AGP 128 MB Video Card

I'd like to salvage as many parts as I can from this computer and build out a new Core 2 Duo system. I am building a workstation for business/personal use. I heard the e4300 is a great 800 FSB part and can be overclocked, so once it comes down in price anther $30-40, I'lll get it.

I am not much of a gamer, but I do still like to play single player Prey, Call of Duty, Brothers in Arms, etc. Nothing my 6600GT can't handle with ease.

What is the best motherboard that can accomodate a C2D e4300, my 1GB PC3200 RAM, and also my 6600GT AGP card and allow me to do some decent overclocking.

I'd like to keep the build under $350, and I've already spent $50 for a Sonata II case, fans, and a good Antec 450 W PSU.

I figure I can get the e4300 CPU for around $120-130 in about a month's time and
a motherboard for $75-125.

I would hate to get rid of my 6600 GT video card and go to PCIe, but if that is required, please also suggest a good video card that would allow me to make budget and still play the games I have listed above.

Your help will be much appreciated.

Pradeep

 

[jkresh]

there are very few core2 boards that have agp (ddr1 is also rare but a little easier to find), I believe asrock has a board with agp and pcie that can take ddr1 and ddr2 (see link), I dont know how well it overclocks.

asrock

You are probably better off waiting until you can afford to go pcie, and ddr2 along with core2, as while ddr1/ddr2 is not that big a difference, there are very few ddr1 (and or agp) boards and they aren't really set up for over clocking.

 

[iluvdeal]

The Asrock 775Dual-VSTA should fit your bill. It supports AGP and PCIe (4x only not 16x) as well as DDR1 and DD2 memory. You can also buy it for about $60 from the egg, so you should come in underbudget.

Save your next major upgrade for later this year when PCIe 2.0, DX10 video cards, DDR3, etc. are the standards.

 

[pradeep1]

Thank you guys for the excellent suggestions. If I go dual core now, then I can wait another 18 months to upgrade to the PCIe 2.0, etc. in 2009 when everything will be cheaper. I am a holdout....I still run Windows 2000 Pro because I believe it serves my needs 100%.

How do these boards overclock?

 

[soydios]

Add another vote for the C2D E4300 and the Asrock 775Dual-VSTA motherboard. Those should be the only two components that you need. Make sure to get a retail-packaged processor, so that it comes with a heatsink.
Later this year, or beginning of next year, would be a good time to do a complete overhaul. Also, I would install XP on the new CPU/motherboard, because you'll need to reinstall the OS with the core component upgrades, and XP is kinda the standard these days.

Newegg:
ASRock 775Dual-VSTA $58
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 $178
Windows XP Professional 32-bit OEM $140

 

[pradeep1]

Soydios, my thoughts exactly. I want to squeeze another year or so out of my video card and RAM. The ASRock 775 seems to be able to overclock a e6300 up to 2.65 GHz, so that is not bad for a budget board. When I upgrade, I can go take advantage of the extra headroom on the C2D.

So when do you guys think the prices of the e4xxx series will come down? Right now, they are the same price as the e6xxx series.

Thanks,

Pradeep

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: pradeep1
The ASRock 775 seems to be able to overclock a e6300 up to 2.65 GHz, so that is not bad for a budget board. When I upgrade, I can go take advantage of the extra headroom on the C2D.

The AT review mentioned above said it only reached 297 FSB... that's 2.08 GHz on an E6300.

But fortunately for you, the e4300 has a 9x multi and 200 stock FSB. So if you can get 297 FSB on the ASRock that's 2.67 GHz. I'd bet more on 266 FSB for 2.4 GHz.

 

[pradeep1]

I'll take a C2D e4300 OC'ed to 2.4 - 2.67GHz for a net outlay of $200 to upgrade my aging computer! Thanks for the ideas magreen. I was getting concerned about the 7x multiplier on the e6300, but then realized it is 9x on the e4300.

Can't wait for the prices on the e4300 to come down.

 

[engiNURD]

Yah, what magreen said. I have a friend who uses that board, and he got it to 295Mhz. The E4300 is $163 at microcenter.

 

[pradeep1]

Very cool, I'll check it out. Prices coming down already!

Originally posted by: engiNURD
Yah, what magreen said. I have a friend who uses that board, and he got it to 295Mhz. The E4300 is $163 at microcenter.

 

[pradeep1]

As a follow up, I bought the Asrock 4Core-Dual from mwave.com. That should tide me over for a while.