New Build Critique

[mc866]

Well here goes, after a few years with my trusty socket 754 machine it's now time to upgrade to the C2D. Here is what I have picked out or will use from my old setup. The question I wonder though is it worth it to go for a real nice GPU right now or to go with something like a 7900GS until the new DX10 cards come out? Also should I go with the P5B deluxe or the EVGA 680i 122-CK-NF68-AR.? I don't know that I will ever utilize SLI/Crossfire so take that into account. I'm hoping to get a mild OC around the 3.0 area. Any feedback would be appreciated.


Case P180 - using from my old setup

Processor - Intel e6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003

Mobo -
P5B Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131045
or
EVGA 680i 122-CK-NF68-AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813188009

Memory - Team 2GB kit TXDD2048M800HC4DC
http://www.tankguys.biz/ddr2-44410-800m...sCsid=0d9c721704402627e737229cec78710b

PSU - Corsair CMPSU-620HX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817139002

GPU???????????

 

[beemercer]

What do you mainly use your computer for?

 

[mc866]

Gaming, encoding movies/music, web browsing, everything really

 

[pkme2]

Good start. You got PM.
Buy what you need and wait till after Xmas for the really expensive items.

 

[mc866]

Bump?

Any response on the graphics card?

 

[Eska]

I'd go with P5B... very good overclocker... but i hear 975 chipset works better for e6600...

 

[hofan41]

P5W-DH Deluxe provides more features than the P5B and is more than adequate to overclock your 6600 to its maximum potential. from my research p5b should only be paired with e6300/6400 since super high FSB speeds are only necessary for the lower multiplier cpu's.

however, 680i is the latest and greatest, so if I were you I would get the evga 680i and nvidia 8800gtx since it doesnt seem like your build has much of a budget limit.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: mc866
Well here goes, after a few years with my trusty socket 754 machine it's now time to upgrade to the C2D. Here is what I have picked out or will use from my old setup. The question I wonder though is it worth it to go for a real nice GPU right now or to go with something like a 7900GS until the new DX10 cards come out? Also should I go with the P5B deluxe or the EVGA 680i 122-CK-NF68-AR.? I don't know that I will ever utilize SLI/Crossfire so take that into account. I'm hoping to get a mild OC around the 3.0 area. Any feedback would be appreciated.


Case P180 - using from my old setup

Processor - Intel e6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003

Mobo -
P5B Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131045
or
EVGA 680i 122-CK-NF68-AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813188009

Memory - Team 2GB kit TXDD2048M800HC4DC
http://www.tankguys.biz/ddr2-44410-800m...sCsid=0d9c721704402627e737229cec78710b

PSU - Corsair CMPSU-620HX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817139002

GPU???????????

Superb choices actually.

If you have money to burn, then the 8800 GTX of course

If not, then the GTX is cheaper, & below that there are X1900s/7900s etc.

As for motherboard, the P5B-D is superb for either E6300s or E6600s.

The P5W DH is also great, but it will be limited to around <420 FSB, just like most other 975X motherboards.

The new Intel Bad Axe seems to be awesome also.

 

[benplaut]

Originally posted by: n7
If not, then the GTX is cheaper, & below that there are X1900s/7900s etc.

GTS? yea, right choice

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Excellent choices. What monitor/resolution are you using? Based on the performance charts of the 8800GTXs, you can very well scrap SLI/Crossfire plans from your mind unless you have a 30" Dell/Apple display.

You mention a mild overclock of around 3.0 - you don't even need a high-end motherboard for that! Even a ~$125 Gigabyte S3 will do that while yawning and smoking a cigarette (333FSB? Pfft!). You seem like a man with a decent chunk of change so go for the GTX, and if need be, save some money on the motherboard. The P5B Deluxe has been out for a while and it does radiate a great feeling of confidence in its owner, no doubt. Only go for the Evga 680i if you really, really think you want SLI. It does simplify overclocking a little bit for n00bs, but mild OCing isn't that difficult any way - some people here have had great luck by just copying other people's settings

And the P5B Deluxe will save you about $80 which can go towards the GTX.

About the waiting game - the next cards from NV/ATi have no definite release dates. NV will be coming out with the mainstream parts (to replace the 7950GT/7900GS/7600GT etc.) and ATi will be first launching their $600+ high-end. This is at the minimum, at least 2-3 months away. But your post suggests that you are NOT looking for mainstream parts so 8800GTX from NV is the way to go. Waiting for R600 might be smart - but I really, really don't expect it to trump the 8800GTX. It will match it in most games, give or take a few frames (pure speculation from my end, based on previous trends).

Note: You will have to remove the middle hard-drive cage of the P180 to get the 8800GTX to fit.

 

[mc866]

Thanks for the reply theprodigalrebel. Right now I have a dual monitor setup using two NEC 17" LCD1770VX-BK's. I usually didn't game in anything higher than 1024X768 because my 6800GT would hold me back on most newer games. I guess the dream setup would be to grab the Matrox triple head to go and a 20"+ monitor for the center display and run the triple monitor setup but that may never happen.

As it sits right now I do have a budget of $1500 so I don't think the GTX is possible right now. The parts I'm using from my old system are like stated before the P180, I also have a 74gig raptor, 3 320gig HD's, and the Creative SB X-FI Xtreme music.

ZZF is now running a promo on the EGVA mobo, if you purchase the 680i along with the 8800GTS you get $30.00 off and FREE full version Dark Messiah. Which means it's only $40 or so more to get the 680i rather than the P5B Deluxe plus a free game which isn't a bad deal. Also being that the GTS is EVGA I also qualify for the upgrade program so if something else comes out in three months I have the option of upgrading for only the difference in cost. So now what?

 

[mc866]

Well in case anyone is interested, I pulled the trigger. I wasn't planning on it but all this encouraging feedback talked me into the 8800GTS, I purchased the EGVA so if I want to three months from now I can bump up if some nicer revisions come up. Anyway here is the list:

Processor - Intel e6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003

Mobo -
EVGA 680i 122-CK-NF68-AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813188009

Memory - Team 2GB kit TXDD2048M800HC4DC
http://www.tankguys.biz/ddr2-44410-800m...sCsid=0d9c721704402627e737229cec78710b

PSU - Corsair CMPSU-620HX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817139002

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130071

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Yo mc866, you did good! Do write back when you finally receive/assemble the parts and tell us how you are putting that killer combo of Motherboard/CPU/RAM to good use!