New machine coming up!

[Tangman85]

Okay, so I have read a lot of different posts and topics and asked quite a few questions.
I had a specific system in mind, but after a lot of re-reading and so forth, I have decided to from scratch and I have 2 new versions I would like some comments on.

First off, it is a gaming machine, I live in sweden and plan on getting the materials here. I have roughly 900 euros to spend, I am an Intel/nVidia person. I will be using my current Hard drive and CD-RW and I am not planning on overclocking unless I have to concerning my memory. (See below)

Okay, let's get to the good stuff.

Machine 1:
Memory: 2xCorsair TWIN2X2048-6400C5DHX Kit
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
GPU: BFG GeForce 8800GTS OC2 580MHz / XFX Fatal1ty if available
Motherboard: Abit IP35-E

Machine 2:
Memory: 1xTwin2x2048-8500C5D
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6850
GPU: BFG GeForce 8800GTS OC2 580MHz / XFX Fatal1ty if available
Motherboard: GA-P35-DS3 or DS3R if that one is better

Main difference I guess is the mobo, cpu and memory.
Is it better to have 4Gigs of slow ram or 2gigs of fast ram?

 

[MarcVenice]

Heh, I'd do the first build with the mobo from the second build. 4gb of ram > 2gb of faster ram. You do need Vista 64x to use all 4gb, otherwise you'll only see 3-3.5gb.

 

[Tangman85]

Well, I don't need all the bling-bling features of the GIGABYTE motherboard, it was only for the purpose of PC8500.

I have Windows XP x64 at my disposal which I will be using, that is another reason for that motherboard - it has drivers for WinXP64 and GIGABYTE does not, sadly.
There also are rumors of that EMI testing failure @ GIGABYTE's part aswell, ABIT is just there and delivering.

I also have a confirmation that the ABIT motherboard supports my CPU from initial release, where as the GIGABYTE motherboard has a release of F4 and support for 6850 at F6, I would highly not want to mess with BIOS, I know of the double-boot of ABIT but I honestly don't care. I turn on the computer, then I go take a shower and do morning-bathroom stuff and second option is home from school when I turn on computer and grab some food

 

[themisfit610]

Don't waste money on faster RAM unless you _KNOW_ you need it for overclocking. The only reason to have fast RAM is to maintain 1:1 dividers on high overclocks. DDR2 800 will not limit you in overclocking if you are ok with using a ratio - and otherwise is overkill in and of itself.

~MiSfit

 

[Billy Idol]

If as you've said you intend to use Vista64 and won't be overclocking I wouldn't hesitate to go with the 4gigs of PC6400. I don't know the prices you're working with in Sweden but given the situation here (US) I'd personally use the parts in the first build. I think the Gigabyte is regarded as a higher quality product but I, like you, don't need all the features and don't mind the double boot / wouldn't mind flashing the IP35-e.

Not sure how quickly the retailers there would see stock on the upcoming video cards but I might hold off a month and reevaluate the GPU situation at that point if I were in your position. Looks good otherwise.!

 

[Tangman85]

Alright, thanks a loot themisfit610, I figured something along those lines!

Billy, that's the thing, I'm getting the XFX fatal1ty, it is as good as a GTX basically at my resolutions 12*10 and sometimes at 16*12, I will be more than pleased with this card, do remember it is still 30? % faster than any normal GTS and I can't be bothered to wait for the GT to come out, seeing as I mainly play World of Warcraft, Neverwinter Nights 2, Warhammer 40K and will be playing Crysis a little bit perhaps + some other small goodies that may or may not come out. I am a firm believer this card delivers smoothness with the specs and resolution I will be using. Considering I have x850PRO and 1gb pc3200 ram, I guess I will be seeing a drastic performance difference, I also managed to tweak in a 6850 in build 1 which is what I have ordered. My only concern regarding double boot is, does that harm the hardware?

Regarding OS, there is no way I will install Vista, Windows XP x64 to the bone, baby!

 

[Roguestar]

Ugh. Windows XP x64 was a terrible abortion of an OS, a bone thrown to us all by Microsoft back when we had all just gotten Athlon 64s and wanted something we felt used them better. I've used both for a while now (though longer with Vista) and can safely say I'll never use XPx64 again, it was such a mess.

 

[Tangman85]

How can Windows Vista possibly be better than Windows XP x64?