Another Critique My Build Post

[imported_mson]

It's great I have so many options but I need some input to help me makes some decisions. I'm currently running AMD Athlon 3000+, 6600GT, 2GB RAM with a 20" WS monitor running 1680x1050.

Here is what I'm looking at
CPU (Intel Q6600):
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16819115017
MOBO ( GIGABYTE GA-EP35C-DS3R):
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16813128082
Vido Card(EVGA 8800GTS 320MB):
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16814130082
RAM ( G.SKILL 4GB):
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16820231145

I want to spend as little as possible for my needs, who doesn't right?!! Keeping the price around $600 USD. I will mainly use it for LightRoom/Photoshop, but I do some gaming. I don't plan to OC. Here are my questions.

MOBO, the one I listed has 8 USB ports which I like and it also has a eSATA bracket this would be nice for future use. But is it worth the extra $$ over the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L which is $50 cheaper?

Vid Card, WOW there are a lot of choices! Is the one I listed above "good enough" or should I spend a bit more and get a GTS w/ 512MB? Other options:
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130318
MSI NX8800GTS 512M OC GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127325
MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800GT 512MB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127329

RAM, Should I stick with DDR2 1000 or go with the slightly cheaper DDR2 800?

My PC sits right next to me so I would like to make it reasonably quiet. Would I benefit much from getting a Scythe or Arctic Cooling cooler? Which of the video cards I listed would be the quietest?

Any other suggestions? Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[imported_mson]

Bump... Anyone?

 

[DSF]

1. Unless your work apps make good use of four cores, I would go with an E8400. Most of the time it'll be faster than the Q6600, especially since you aren't planning to overclock.

2. It's up to you whether you think you need the extra features of the DS3R. However, don't get the "C" version, get the regular EP35-DS3R. You aren't going to see any benefit from swapping in DDR3 down the road.

3. How much gaming do you do, and how important is it to you to have best graphics possible? At any rate, I wouldn't go with the 320MB 8800GTS, it's an outdated card. If you want to save money, get a 9600GT instead.

4. You're not overclocking, so DDR2-1000 is useless for you. Just get DDR2-800. Since you're not overclocking the stock cooler is probably quiet enough for you. That said, everybody's definition of "reasonably quiet" is a little bit different.

 

[Blain]

No linkage witout identifying parts in thread.

 

[imported_mson]

Originally posted by: Blain
No linkage witout identifying parts in thread.

What? You don't want to click through all my links?? OP updated with parts.

 

[imported_mson]

Originally posted by: DSF
1. Unless your work apps make good use of four cores, I would go with an E8400. Most of the time it'll be faster than the Q6600, especially since you aren't planning to overclock.

2. It's up to you whether you think you need the extra features of the DS3R. However, don't get the "C" version, get the regular EP35-DS3R. You aren't going to see any benefit from swapping in DDR3 down the road.

3. How much gaming do you do, and how important is it to you to have best graphics possible? At any rate, I wouldn't go with the 320MB 8800GTS, it's an outdated card. If you want to save money, get a 9600GT instead.

4. You're not overclocking, so DDR2-1000 is useless for you. Just get DDR2-800. Since you're not overclocking the stock cooler is probably quiet enough for you. That said, everybody's definition of "reasonably quiet" is a little bit different.

Thanks! I don't do a lot of gaming but I also want to run games a year from now at a reasonable quality. Maybe I should just get the 9600GT and think about upgrading a year from now. Off to research the 9600GT v the 8800GTS...

 

[jkresh]

the 8800gt 512 is better then the 320mg gts and should be fine for most games for a while (unless you want to run crysis at really high resolution). If you can wait a little while ati is supposed ot have the 4000 radeon serious out this month and nvidias gt2000 is due in July (while both may be out of your price range they might drop some of the current cards (3870x2,9800gtx) into your range). Also at this point going with the q9300 or the 9450 might make more sense then the 6600, both are faster at stock and if lightroom/photoshop make use of their new sse instructions the differences could be dramatic.

 

[chinaman1472]

It'll really depend on how much LightRoom/Photoshop you do.
If it's just light and casual, you may be better off getting an E7200.
If it's a real big hobby and a time sink, you may want to consider the Q9300.

 

[cyberdave]

Some of these parts are similer to what I'm getting like mobo and video card.
Did you verify at gigabyte's site that the memory is compatible?
There is a Kingston HyperX PC2-8500 which is 800 at 1.8v and OC'd at 1066 at 2.2v.
It seems people have commented on new egg that the Gigabyte mobo's recognize it automatically at 1066 and you dont have to tweak the setting in the bios.

 

[Blain]

Save some $$ and get the DDR2 version Gigabyte MB. You don't need to worry about trying to "future proof" your MB at this point.

There is so little difference in price of the PC2-6400 and the PC2-8000 that it doesn't really matter...
But I would find memory that's rated to run at 1.8v, like the Mushkin PC2-6400.

If you aren't OCing, the E8400 with it's higher FSB, clock speed and lower wattage, would serve you better.

 

[imported_mson]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Here is what I ended up buying

GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3R
MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800GT 512MB
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1000
Core 2 Quad Q6600

I almost went with the E8400 because of the clock speed but changed my mind on OC'ing the 6600. I think I will OC to 2.6 or 2.8 to get it closer to the E8400 clock.

 

[Blain]

The Q6600 should OC easily on a FSB of 333MHz making it about 3GHz.