Critique my Core 2 Duo build (updated)

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
O

Oddish

Member
Apr 23, 2003
45
0
0
In October of 2006 I asked for opinions on a build I put together, but I actually (as several people suggested) decided to wait a while for DirectX 10. Now I've updated the components and I would really appreciate all kinds of opinions on this updated build.

Board: ASUS P5N-E SLI
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
GPU: GeForce 8800 GTX
RAM: GeIL Ultra DDR2 PC6400/800MHz CL4 2x1GB
HDD (OS): WD Raptor 74GB
HDD (storage): 3 x WD Caviar 500GB RE-2 SATA II (in RAID5)
Case: Cooler Master CM Stacker
PSU: Silverstone Zeus ST75ZF 750W
CPU cooler: Scythe Ninja Plus
RAID controller: HighPoint RocketRAID 2300

Any general comments about the build? Any parts that could be exchanged for better alternatives?

Thanks in advance!
 
O

Oddish

Member
Apr 23, 2003
45
0
0
Originally posted by: Roguestar
If you're ever hoping to overclock, that is.
Click to expand...
That's the thing: I haven't the slightest clue about overclocking, aside from using built-in overclocking functions on the mobo, or using third party software to overclock the gfx card. Overclocking the ram is way above my head. :)
Originally posted by: Blain
3.75 out of 10
Click to expand...
Yeah, thanks. What would be great, is if you could motivate your score. An arbitrary number doesn't really help me very much.
 
A

andy04

Senior member
Dec 14, 2006
999
0
71
Originally posted by: Oddish
Originally posted by: Roguestar
If you're ever hoping to overclock, that is.
Click to expand...
That's the thing: I haven't the slightest clue about overclocking, aside from using built-in overclocking functions on the mobo, or using third party software to overclock the gfx card. Overclocking the ram is way above my head. :)
Click to expand...

From what I unerstand you cannot overclock just the CPU from you mobo - you cant do that with intels C2D so everything will be overclocked including your mem. So if you are planning to overclock then go for OCable mems too, something like CORSAIR ValueSelect. Rest everything looks perfect.. NINJA ROCKS
 
O

Oddish

Member
Apr 23, 2003
45
0
0
Alright, thanks for enlightening me! I think I'm actually going to go with the CORSAIR XMS2 TWIN2X2048-8500C5. :)
 
Boyo

Boyo

Golden Member
Feb 23, 2006
1,406
0
0
Originally posted by: Oddish
Alright, thanks for enlightening me! I think I'm actually going to go with the CORSAIR XMS2 TWIN2X2048-8500C5. :)
Click to expand...

Thank God you made the right decision there. Excellent choice of RAM that was just reviewed very highly by CPU magazine. I will have to say that with your build, I would not change a thing. It's a beast and it's perfect.
 
R

Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
0
0
Originally posted by: andy04
So if you are planning to overclock then go for OCable mems too, something like CORSAIR ValueSelect
Click to expand...

*** ^^^CRAZY TALK ALERT^^^ ***

Corsair ValueSelect are not overclockable! They're value chips, made with the cheapest of the cheap and tested only to run stably at their minimum rated speed.

I don't know what it is you've been rolling up and smoking but it might be a big bowl of brand loyalty, or some freshly picked ignorance. Either way he's not going to get anywhere trying to overclock ValueSelect. Even the Corsair XMS is a bad recommendation right now because they've changed memory chips from Micron D9.

I think you would do well to read the thread I linked, too.
 
R

Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
0
0
Originally posted by: Boyo
Originally posted by: Oddish
Alright, thanks for enlightening me! I think I'm actually going to go with the CORSAIR XMS2 TWIN2X2048-8500C5. :)
Click to expand...

Thank God you made the right decision there. Excellent choice of RAM that was just reviewed very highly by CPU magazine. I will have to say that with your build, I would not change a thing. It's a beast and it's perfect.
Click to expand...

Nay, that is bad advice. Corsair XMS have recently changed their memory chips from the Micron D9 models they sent out to reviewers to (if I recall correctly) Elpida chips. They won't overclock even nearly as well as a decent brand with D9. So spending all the money on Corsair XMS is a waste when you can get Crucial Ballistix, Team Group, Patriot or Geil memory that will do much much better for the same $$$ or less. Practically the only memory left using D9 in corsair's range is their top-of-the-line Dominator stuff, and you should really only go for that if you're made of money and need the fastest RAM money can buy.
 
G

gerwen

Senior member
Nov 24, 2006
312
0
0
Originally posted by: andy04

From what I unerstand you cannot overclock just the CPU from you mobo - you cant do that with intels C2D so everything will be overclocked including your mem.
Click to expand...

That all depends on what ram you buy. If you buy any DDR2-800 Ram, you can overclock to a 400 FSB without overclocking your ram (which would be 3.6GHz with a E6600). That corsair stuff you have listed (if i'm reading it right) is specced to 1066MHz, so it should go to a 533 FSB (which would be 4.8GHz)

Basically, take the Ram's rated speed, (533,667,800,1066) and divide by two. That is the front side bus you should be able to achieve while staying within the Ram's rated spec. Multiply the FSB by the Processor's multiplier (9x for the E6600) and you will get your max overclock without Overclocking the ram.

Of course other factors can and will affect your overclock, this is just stating the Ram's limits.

So basically what i'm saying, with the cheapest DDR2-800 ram you can find, you should be able to hit 3.6GHz, without the memory being the limiting factor. (800/2 = 400 x 9 = 3600)

Determine what sort of speeds you expect out of your processor, and buy ram accordingly. Either from spec, or by finding good oc'ing ram as reported in the thread linked earlier.
 
O

Oddish

Member
Apr 23, 2003
45
0
0
Alrigh, if Corsair sucks, will these do: GeIL Ultra DDR2 PC6400/800MHz CL4 2x1GB (GX22GB6400UDC) ?

ryan256, thanks for the input, I'll do some research.
 
R

Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
0
0
Corsair don't suck, they're just not great for overclocking recently ;). And the price/performance on what you get isn't great.

Those Geil sticks are good, you won't even need to overclock them to get a 400FSB which would put your CPU at 3.6Ghz.
 
T

trOver

Golden Member
Aug 18, 2006
1,417
0
0
corsair sucks. period

if your going to build such a high end rig, get come crucial ballistix or something. pc2-8000 should do...
 
B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
Originally posted by: trOver
corsair sucks. period

if your going to build such a high end rig, get come crucial ballistix or something.
Click to expand...
People that have had their Crucial Ballistix fail, might not see it that way.
Corsair XMS = :thumbsup::laugh:

 
O

Oddish

Member
Apr 23, 2003
45
0
0
Alright, I've updated the RAM, PSU and added a hardware RAID controller. I couldn't find "RocketRAID 2210" but I hope that the "RocketRAID 2300" will do the job. Am I correct? I'm sooo lost when it comes to raid...
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
How much are you planning to OC the CPU?

Are you going to take advantage of the SLI? If so, that rig with 2 8800GTX cards will do just fine on a Corsair HX620 (CMPSU-620HX). If not, the HX520 is perfect.
 
S

StopSign

Senior member
Dec 15, 2006
986
0
0
Originally posted by: Roguestar
Originally posted by: Boyo
Originally posted by: Oddish
Alright, thanks for enlightening me! I think I'm actually going to go with the CORSAIR XMS2 TWIN2X2048-8500C5. :)
Click to expand...

Thank God you made the right decision there. Excellent choice of RAM that was just reviewed very highly by CPU magazine. I will have to say that with your build, I would not change a thing. It's a beast and it's perfect.
Click to expand...

Nay, that is bad advice. Corsair XMS have recently changed their memory chips from the Micron D9 models they sent out to reviewers to (if I recall correctly) Elpida chips. They won't overclock even nearly as well as a decent brand with D9. So spending all the money on Corsair XMS is a waste when you can get Crucial Ballistix, Team Group, Patriot or Geil memory that will do much much better for the same $$$ or less. Practically the only memory left using D9 in corsair's range is their top-of-the-line Dominator stuff, and you should really only go for that if you're made of money and need the fastest RAM money can buy.
Click to expand...
Elpida might not get crazy overclocks like D9 but my Elpida chips on a Brainpower PCB can do 465 MHz at least @ 5-5-5-15 with 2.1v (higher vdimm = bad). Others might not have such results, however.
 
O

Oddish

Member
Apr 23, 2003
45
0
0
Originally posted by: Howard
How much are you planning to OC the CPU?

Are you going to take advantage of the SLI? If so, that rig with 2 8800GTX cards will do just fine on a Corsair HX620 (CMPSU-620HX). If not, the HX520 is perfect.
Click to expand...
I'm not really planning on overclocking very much, but I think I will be adding a second 8800GTX in a year or so. I have no clue how much power I'll need, so I'm just relying on advice from trusted forums, and that advice sometimes differ quite a lot. :)

Originally posted by: jose
I'd get the PC Power & Cool 750w psu .. and I'd wait for the Asus Comando mobo..

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=125865&page=11
Click to expand...
The reason I didn't chose the recommended PC Power & Cool PSU is that it's not very available in Sweden. Thanks for the tips!
 
O

Oddish

Member
Apr 23, 2003
45
0
0
I was a little turned off when I saw that fan controller on the Sunbeam. I don't want to regulate the fan speed manually, I expect the HSF to set the fan at the appropriate speed automatically. What's up with that? But then again, the fan on the Scythe Ninja propably isn't temperature sensitive either...
 
O

Oddish

Member
Apr 23, 2003
45
0
0
So, about the motherboard. I've read more articles and forum posts that tells me that I should forget about the ASUS P5N-E SLI. Could anyone recommend another SLI board, that is available right now?
 
B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
All 775 SLI MBs (of the same chipset family), are going to be about the same.
The only difference are the bells & wistles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom