Building a new computer and need some help..

[nags]

Pretty sure I'm going to base the system off a Intel Core 2 Duo E6600. Pretty sure I want to go with an Asus motherboard but theres just so many options and I really dont know what to go with. I'm not a gamer at all but would like a nice solid system. I will overclock a little bit but nothing too insane. I've already got an Antec Trio 650 psu and a Antec Fulltower. I'd also like to go with at least 2gb of 1066 ram.


I'm also a freak about cooling. Even on a stock system I love to have lots of fans. As far as a cpu fan goes I was thinking about the Asus cpu fan listed here;

http://usa.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=7458


Any suggestions, replacements, etc as far as to where to head?

Thanks,
nags

 

[nags]

Also, I'm not dead set on an Asus mobo if someone has a better suggestion. I've just always used Abit in the past and was thinking I'd go with an Asus this time.

 

[newschool]

P5K deluxe is likely the same as P5K-E but with more marketing hype (extra cooling extra phase regulation etc). In fact, P5KC could be a better deal because it support DDR3. So if your set on Asus, its between P5K-E and P5KC for the best quality/price decision.

 

[nags]

Now you see my dillema? Theres like 20 mobos that are almost identical!

 

[nags]

Ok, I've decided to go with the Asus P5K3 Deluxe. Now I just need to decide on memory.

Should I go with 2gb of DDR3 or 4gb of DDR2?

 

[newschool]

ok so you got a lot of $$. DDR3 is crap atm, and its really pricey.

 

[NXIL]

I think the P5K*3* is DDR*3* only:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131181

Could be that you are jumping a bit too far ahead of the curve with that motherboard, as DDR3 memory is very expensive right now, and DDR2 is really cheap.

Some DDR2 versus DDR3 modules to compare:

DDR2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...6565%2CN82E16820144062

DDR3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...5182%2CN82E16820145183

From AT:

http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2989&p=8

***
That brings up the more difficult question: what to buy today? That is a much more complicated question. If you are looking for a new system, definitely choose the new P35 chipset over the P965, as it is a better memory performer. At launch we are told DDR3 will be much more expensive than DDR2. Prices are expected to be about $480 for a 2GB DDR3 kit. At that lofty price it is difficult to recommend DDR3 over DDR2, when DDR2 performs just the same on the P35 chipset and decent 2GB kits can be had for under $150 now.
***

Great DDR2 RAM is cheap:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...8&bop=And&Order=PRICED

Tom's Hardware likes the Patriot Extreme for a system in your price range:

http://www.tomshardware.com/20...er_marathon/page3.html

Sharkey Extreme likes Corsair:

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/g...e.php/10707_3684486__4

Ars Technica:

http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/guide-200706.ars/3

***
RAM
2GB PC6400 DDR2-800 SDRAM

Two gigabytes of memory has been the de facto recommendation for performance users for some time now; recent memory price drops ihave left memory alarmingly cheap, which may not last as DRAM makers begin to transition to DDR3. In the meantime, we take advantage of this price drop and go with 2GB, with the strong suggestion that those ready to jump to 64-bit operating systems should look at 4GB of DDR2-800 because it's absurdly affordable at the moment.

Those seeking the ultimate in overclocking should look for premium lines from Corsair, Mushkin, Kingston, and GeIL. We save a lot of money by not pushing for the last little bit of that overclock with more standard PC6400 memory, although if you can find it, a few extra dollars for slightly faster CAS4 memory does net some performance gains at stock speeds. ***

P5K3 vs P5K deluxe:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...ue=717%3a28997&bop=And

HTH

NXIL

 

[newschool]

P35 has a better memory controller. But in global performance you dont really gain something over P965. If you are lookin for the top mobo atm, buy a P35. But dont forget that X38 is coming soon and it -should be- much better than P35, since P35 wasnt very different than P965. It would be plain stupid to releases 3 chipsets with relatively equal performances.

 

[nags]

Originally posted by: NXIL
I think the P5K*3* is DDR*3* only:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131181

Could be that you are jumping a bit too far ahead of the curve with that motherboard, as DDR3 memory is very expensive right now, and DDR2 is really cheap.

Some DDR2 versus DDR3 modules to compare:

DDR2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...6565%2CN82E16820144062

DDR3

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...5182%2CN82E16820145183

From AT:

http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2989&p=8

***
That brings up the more difficult question: what to buy today? That is a much more complicated question. If you are looking for a new system, definitely choose the new P35 chipset over the P965, as it is a better memory performer. At launch we are told DDR3 will be much more expensive than DDR2. Prices are expected to be about $480 for a 2GB DDR3 kit. At that lofty price it is difficult to recommend DDR3 over DDR2, when DDR2 performs just the same on the P35 chipset and decent 2GB kits can be had for under $150 now.
***

Great DDR2 RAM is cheap:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...8&bop=And&Order=PRICED

Tom's Hardware likes the Patriot Extreme for a system in your price range:

http://www.tomshardware.com/20...er_marathon/page3.html

Sharkey Extreme likes Corsair:

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/g...e.php/10707_3684486__4

Ars Technica:

http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/guide-200706.ars/3

***
RAM
2GB PC6400 DDR2-800 SDRAM

Two gigabytes of memory has been the de facto recommendation for performance users for some time now; recent memory price drops ihave left memory alarmingly cheap, which may not last as DRAM makers begin to transition to DDR3. In the meantime, we take advantage of this price drop and go with 2GB, with the strong suggestion that those ready to jump to 64-bit operating systems should look at 4GB of DDR2-800 because it's absurdly affordable at the moment.

Those seeking the ultimate in overclocking should look for premium lines from Corsair, Mushkin, Kingston, and GeIL. We save a lot of money by not pushing for the last little bit of that overclock with more standard PC6400 memory, although if you can find it, a few extra dollars for slightly faster CAS4 memory does net some performance gains at stock speeds. ***

P5K3 vs P5K deluxe:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...ue=717%3a28997&bop=And

HTH

NXIL

Wow, thanks for all that.

So I'm definitley going to go with the DDR2 mobo instead of the 3. I was just reading the reviews on newegg and people seem to have quite a few cons listed about the P5K Deluxe. Is there another mobo alltogether I should give a shot or just go with the P5K?

As far as memory I was kinda set in my head on going with 4gb for some reason but from what I've heard I'm better off with just going with 2gb. So I'm thinking about the following;

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145176

Or should I go with 1066?

-nags

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: nags
I was just reading the reviews on newegg and people seem to have quite a few cons listed about the P5K Deluxe. Is there another mobo alltogether I should give a shot or just go with the P5K?

abit's IP35 Pro seems to be getting good feedback & it's a bit cheaper.

 

[renethx]

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3P is another good choice.

For your pupose DDR2-800 is enough. But the 32-bit version of Windows XP/Vista can recognize only 3GB-3.5GB out of the 4GB memory.

 

[imported_OrSin]

Originally posted by: renethx
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3P is another good choice.

For your pupose DDR2-800 is enough. But the 32-bit version of Windows XP/Vista can recognize only 3GB-3.5GB out of the 4GB memory.

Actually it can see all the memory but can only use that much for programs to run.
Most times you will never need it but when i got vista i'm running xp on a vitural machince and it uses the extra memory. I like vista but all the drivers are not thier so build your self a VM for those problems that needs it and it will save you alot of headache later.

 

[NXIL]

As far as memory I was kinda set in my head on going with 4gb for some reason but from what I've heard I'm better off with just going with 2gb. So I'm thinking about the following;

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145176

For $229 after rebate, that is 2 x 2GB = 4GB; I think that is a very good deal, and great memory--I think you can't go wrong with that.

The regular P5K gets some marginal reviews:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131180

P5K Deluxe:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131182

Yes, there are some harsh criticisms in there....it's still pretty new....

Hmm, maybe consider the Gigabyte P-35 DQ 6?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128046

It's going to be a great system,

HTH

NXIL

 

[nags]

Thanks everyone for the help. I started ordering everything last night. I already had an Antec Full tower case and an Antec Trio 650psu that I just bought as well as a 400gb sata hard drive that I bought a few months ago.

I went with the following;

ASUS P5K DELUXE Mobo
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Processor
Tuniq Tower CPU Fan
CORSAIR XMS2 4GB DDR2800
Western Digital Raptor X 150gb 10,000rpm hard drive

I also bought a 20x sata dvd/cd burner



Still haven't got the video card yet but pretty sure I'm going to go with an Nvidia 8500gt

Thanks again for all your help

 

[nags]

Originally posted by: nags
Thanks everyone for the help. I started ordering everything last night. I already had an Antec Full tower case and an Antec Trio 650psu that I just bought as well as a 400gb sata hard drive that I bought a few months ago.

I went with the following;

ASUS P5K DELUXE Mobo
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Processor
Tuniq Tower CPU Fan
CORSAIR XMS2 4GB DDR2800
Western Digital Raptor X 150gb 10,000rpm hard drive

I also bought a 20x sata dvd/cd burner



Still haven't got the video card yet but pretty sure I'm going to go with an Nvidia 8500gt

Thanks again for all your help

So I built the computer a few days ago and it's AWESOME. Thanks again to everyone that helped

-nags