Feedback on proposed rig

[zerodefekz]

Long time reader, first time posting - Definitely picked up a LOT of info from here..especially the Overclocking guide in another thread.

Great reading!

My current rig is nearing the end of its wonderful life -
P4 w/ HT Prescott @ 3.0 Ghz (w/ zalman alcu blue led fan,)
1 Gig of PNY 3200 memory,
ATI X800 w/ zalman hsf
2x 160 Gb Western Digital SATA II
1x 320 Gb Western Digital IDE
Ultra Xconnect 550 Watt psu w/ modular cabling.
2x 80 mm fans in the back
1x120 mm fan in the side window blowing half over the back, and half over the front of the video card (the video card bisects the 120mm fan almost perfectly in the middle)

All wrapped up in a Chieftec full atx case.

(paid 30 bucks for it when i worked at CompUSA - came with like a 8 or so CCL lights, (2 red, 2 uv, 2 blue, a "large" 8 inch, sound activated ccl, as well as 2 sets of usb powered sound activated ones, and a Antec 480 PSU)

My proposed rig, is the following:

Intel Core2Duo E6700
Corsair XMS2 5-5-5-18 W/ DHX (2x 1 GB) PC6400 (800)
Asus P5K Motherboard
BFG 8800GT 512 MB PCI-E

Eventually I am going to be getting a different case - It's a toss up between NZXT Blackline Lexa, and the Antec 900.

I figure the 550 watt psu, the harddrives, and the cd/dvd burner can be brought over from the old rig, into the new rig.

I have a couple of questions regarding this proposed build:

1. Does anyone feel the power supply is too low wattage? - Some other people that I've asked say yes, others say no.

They say yes, because more strain is put on a psu, thats rated for 500 watts, running at 75% load, compared to a 600 watt running the same load

Is that accurate?

2. I don't intend on overclocking right away, but I definitely want to have the headroom for it later on down the road.

3. Upgradeability - The board that I picked out, can use both DDR 2 & 3 memory, and is also 45nm/Penryn compatible. Is there something that I'm overlooking with regards to upgrading in the future?

My budget is between 650-700 bucks, but are there any other things that I should consider?

Thanks in advance :beer:

 

[Cutthroat]

Welcome to AT.

Your PSU wattage is likely OK overall, but what matters more is that it has appropriate Amps on your 12v rail, and that it has the proper connections for your new motherboard & video card.

That RAM is kinda expensive usually unless you've found a deal, you can get better for cheaper.

The vanilla P5K does not support DDR3, but DDR3 doesn't matter anyway, you won't be using it, even with a Penryn, by the time Nehalem comes out you'll be getting another new motherboard.

E6700 is kind of an old revision, if you're buying new look for a E6750.

 

[zerodefekz]

Originally posted by: Cutthroat
Welcome to AT.

Your PSU wattage is likely OK overall, but what matters more is that it has appropriate Amps on your 12v rail, and that it has the proper connections for your new motherboard & video card.

That RAM is kinda expensive usually unless you've found a deal, you can get better for cheaper.

The vanilla P5K does not support DDR3, but DDR3 doesn't matter anyway, you won't be using it, even with a Penryn, by the time Nehalem comes out you'll be getting another new motherboard.

E6700 is kind of an old revision, if you're buying new look for a E6750.

Cutthroat:

Thanks for the welcome!!


I thought about that, then I thought about what I would be using my rig for: Medium/Heavy gaming (think: Call of Duty 4, Crysis, Gears of War & the Need for Speed series) but also a smattering of music production/remixing (Fruity Loops XXL Producer, Reason 3.0, Virtual Dj)

A friend of mine is givin me a really good deal (or so it appears) on his old 6700 (115 bucks for it) he upgraded to a Q6600 I think, and he knew I was going to be building a rig here within a month or so.

I found the ram at MicroCenter Unfortunately, Newegg wont ship to a P.O box & I live in a kinda bad part of NY, so I'm kinda forced to go into a retail store instead of having it shipped to my home...

 

[Cutthroat]

$115 for an E6700 is good, go for it. Is Purolator afraid to go to your house?

 

[zerodefekz]

Originally posted by: Cutthroat
$115 for an E6700 is good, go for it. Is Purolator afraid to go to your house?

I just don't wanna have like 500 bucks worth of computer equipment sitting on my porch, yanno? It'd be too easy for someone to walk by and steal it. (I live a lone, but maybe a neighbor might look out for it - i'd have to ask)

 

[Cutthroat]

When Purolator delivers to my house and I'm not home they leave a note and I need to go to a depot to pick it up.

 

[zerodefekz]

Lol....

Whos Purolator??

 

[BlueAcolyte]

That looks fine... But I'm also wondering who Purolator is? Anyway, I think your PSU has 35 12V amps, which is more than enough. (I googled it)

 

[Cutthroat]

Purolator is the courier I use to deliver my parts, maybe they are only Canadian?