Building new Computer

[imported_lostsoul]

Hi Guys,

I am new to this forum, being looking around for information for a long time and have learned ALOT =)

I am going to build a New PC, which will be used for gaming, Photoshop CS3, Lightroom, AutoCAD, ANSYS and general stuff. I have finalized the following hardware:

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650
Zalman 9700 CPU cooler
OCZ Reaper DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) 2* 4GB(2x2GB)
OCZ EliteXStream 800W PSU
XFX GeForce 9800GTX Black Edition Video Card
WD Relociraptor 300Gb @ 10K rpm
WD 750GB @ 7.5K rpm
Cooler Master COSMOS casing
Vista Ultimate 64-bit OS

My question is about the motherboard. At first I selected ASUS Rampage Formula(http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16813131284) , but now I saw the new ASUS P5Q Premium (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16813131326).

The P5Q premium has 16GB Ram support option, which looks good for future.

So, Please can you advise which one should be Best for the above configuration...
I will be doing a bit of overclocking... but wont be using 2 video cards... will only use the above stated video card.

Thanks in advance =)

 

[badnewcastle]

If I had the money for that system I would wait for nehalem to be release in 4Q 08 and I'm sure their will be a whole new video card to pick and mobo etc....

 

[DSF]

Don't pay for an extreme edition chip unless you're doing more than a bit of overclocking. The Q9550 is almost as fast at stock speeds and should overclock pretty well for you, and it's half the price. (And with the impending price drops, it should be around the $300-350 mark soon.)

DDR2-1066 is also more than you need to pay for. DDR2-1000 is less expensive and has the headroom to max out any chip out there.

No need for an 800W PSU for a single-card setup. A quality 500-550W unit would be fine, but if you really feel you want something larger, look at a unit like the Corsair 620HX. Nice and quiet and modular.

Would you really use 16GB of RAM? If you would, fine. If not, there are less expensive options for motherboards that would suit you just fine. 4GB sticks of RAM are pricey, even for DDR2. You'd be looking at about $1000 for the memory, and I'm not sure how far you'd be able to overclock with 4x4GB.

The Zalman cooler is also very overpriced compared to other heatsinks that are just as good or better.

 

[Denithor]

My god, to have the cash to throw away like that.

DSF is right on the button there, you need to refine your build to get better value for your money. Unless you just like spending excessively, in which case, can I interest you in a custom build?

EDIT: And why, oh why, would you build such a beast and only include a 9800GTX? Go for at least a GTX 260 or HD4870 if you want good performance in games.

 

[imported_lostsoul]

DSF - thanks for the advise.. Before QX9650 I was looking at Q9550.. I guess I have to think again =D

I will revise my build again... I just selected the previous config, cuz I wanted Top Notch parts....

Denithor - I replaced 9800GTX with GTX260 for new config... thanks =)

so.. If I go with Q9550.. ASUS Rampage Formula would be enuff?
and recommendation for anyother CPU cooler?

Thanks guys =)

 

[DSF]

Enough in what way? Memory? I think so, but it doesn't sound to me like you need to spend that much on a motherboard. A $150-200 P45 board should do you just fine since you're not using Crossfire.

 

[imported_lostsoul]

okies... I will look for some other motherboard then

Thank you =)

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: lostsoul
okies... I will look for some other motherboard then

Thank you =)

Why don't you start by listing the features you need in a motherboard?

Onboard sound and lan are standard these days.

RAID?
Connections for more than four drives?
eSATA?
Firewire?
Wireless?
Dual lan?

I'm guessing you don't need most of those, which can bring the price down considerably.

 

[imported_lostsoul]

I wont be connecting more than 4 Internal SATA drives.

i need Firewire, LAN, eSATA..
Inbuilt Audio is Plus. If not i am ok with it..

I guess that is pretty much all i need.. =)

 

[imported_lostsoul]

i looked at ASUS P5Q PRO P45 motherboard... the reviews look good too. plus it has everything.. just for $150 from newegg...

thoughts?

any big differences between X48 and P45 ?

 

[sgrinavi]

I'm replacing my P35 boards now with x38/48 so I can play with crossfire, there is a noticeable difeerence. My 4850's run 15-20% better with no other change....

A P5E Deluxe is $230 shipped at the egg, I got an Abit IX38 for $150 shipped... For me the delta is worth it for the pair of full band-width PCIE slots.

 

[imported_lostsoul]

sgrinavi - Thanks for the insight about x48 motherboards =)

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
I'm replacing my P35 boards now with x38/48 so I can play with crossfire, there is a noticeable difeerence. My 4850's run 15-20% better with no other change....

A P5E Deluxe is $230 shipped at the egg, I got an Abit IX38 for $150 shipped... For me the delta is worth it for the pair of full band-width PCIE slots.

Are you running two 4850s or one? For a single graphics card the bandwidth isn't any greater on an X38/48 system than P45 - PCIe 2.0 x16. Only in Crossfire does the extreme chipset have more bandwidth.

 

[sgrinavi]

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
I'm replacing my P35 boards now with x38/48 so I can play with crossfire, there is a noticeable difeerence. My 4850's run 15-20% better with no other change....

A P5E Deluxe is $230 shipped at the egg, I got an Abit IX38 for $150 shipped... For me the delta is worth it for the pair of full band-width PCIE slots.

Are you running two 4850s or one? For a single graphics card the bandwidth isn't any greater on an X38/48 system than P45 - PCIe 2.0 x16. Only in Crossfire does the extreme chipset have more bandwidth.

I have a pair of 4850's on the Abit IX38 in my sig - Considering how little cash that I have put in that system it runs really well (over 19k 3d06 marks) -- outstanding bang/buck factor.

$150 MB
$190 CPU
$140 RAM
$330 GPUs
$100 PSU


I have a P5E on the way which will replace the Gigabyte in the system below with the GX2. I will put the 8400 on it and probably get a pair of 4870's for that when the price melts down. I was looking at the higher end x48's, but really could not see any huge advantage, for me, that would justify a wad of extra cash.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Originally posted by: badnewcastle
If I had the money for that system I would wait for nehalem to be release in 4Q 08 and I'm sure their will be a whole new video card to pick and mobo etc....

+1

 

[ZootyGray]

for some real exciting news see anandtech home page

More research

 

[imported_lostsoul]

Thanks to all...

I have decided on Q9550 processor.. and XFX GTX260 video card...

now just the motherboard is left.... I am reading alot.. and just want a good motherboard which will be stable....

as I will not be doing crossfire, I am thinking to select P45 motherboard... ( i hope they overclock well with Q9550 )

 

[PUN]

I've just built a system and went with P45 which also supports DDR3

I went with ASRock P45R2000-WIFI for stability and almost everything that it comes with
Premium Sound 7.1 110db, Dual GLAN, WIFI, CF/SLI card, DDR2/DDR3

Board can go up as high as 500fsb from I've read.