PC Builder Here, Looking For Input

[deedrit]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Web Development, Adobe Graphics, Movies (DVD), Usenet, Vista X64 Ultimate, Games

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread - $2000

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
INTEL, GIGABYTE, MICROSOFT, ATI/NVIDIA, SEAGATE/WESTERN DIG. - FANBOY

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
NO CURRENT PARTS WILL BE USED, ALL NEW

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
YES

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
DEFAULT w/ Option to OVERCLOCK if I want.

PROPOSED SYSTEM BELOW:

ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard

ASUS EAH3870X2/G/HTDI/1G Radeon HD 3870 X2 1GB (512MB x 2) 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600

G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ

Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

 

[DSF]

Even if you decide to overclock the Q6600 down the road, you don't need DDR2-1000. DDR2-800 should be less expensive, and is more than enough.

Also, why the X38 motherboard?

Did you have any idea what case, power supply, monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers you were looking at? I assume you need them, since you said you're buying all new parts.

 

[deedrit]

Well I was going by Anandtech's holiday shopping guide, they said the G.Skills RAM is really good for the price and the X38 MB is their choice for Mid-Range PCs.

As FAR as all the peripherals, I'm not looking for recommendations on that stuff, I'm set with all that.

 

[deedrit]

I am curious, I read about the MB on Asus and it supports Crossfire. Would it make a difference and work in getting 2 of the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 Video Cards?

And the X38 Motherboard...hmm. Is there a better board to suit this setup?

 

[DSF]

Spending $900 on two 3870x2's isn't really worth it in my opinion, no.

The reason I ask is that for a single-card setup like yours, the X38 doesn't really offer much over the P35, and a good P35 motherboard can be had for as little as $90.

The G.Skill RAM is good for the price, but that's not the point. What I'm saying is that you'll never fully realize the potential of DDR2-1000 on that chip. The Q6600 has a 266 MHz FSB stock. Even if you overclock the chip to 3.6GHz, which is pretty much the limit, your FSB will be 400MHz, which is within spec for DDR-800.
Here's a 2x2GB kit by the same company @ DDR2-800:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231122

You say you're set as far as peripherals, but what about case and power supply?

 

[deedrit]

Hmmmm...how can I realize a higher FSB?

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: deedrit
Hmmmm...how can I realize a higher FSB?

To what end? There isn't any need to push your FSB above 400MHz.

 

[deedrit]

Well, really just curious to see what I can get away with for 2k.

 

[chinaman1472]

You'll need a better cooler than a Arctic Cooler Freezer 7 Pro if you want to push it past the 400MHz FSB. It's unlikely you'll see any real world difference past 400 MHz. Since 400MHz FSB is attainable, it's quite an increase over the stock settings.

Spending $2000 on a top of the line system is generally not worthwhile. You can build a much better price/performance system for $1500 that includes EVERYTHING rather than spending an extra $500 on very marginal performance increases. It probably won't make a big difference getting two 3870 X2s. So you might get a few more frames, but it's certainly not $450 amount of frames, unless your money grows on trees. Raptors aren't much faster than regular HDs these days from what I hear, I'd opt for the extra $50 and 350 gigs over a minor speed increase. Get a nice 24" or even 30" monitor instead of spending it on things like a second 3870 X2, PC2-8000 memory, and Raptor HDs.

 

[MarcVenice]

You're not gonna get a q6600 past 3.6ghz on air, unless your ambients are like 10c

 

[deedrit]

thanks for the good reponses, helps a lot.

 

[imported_wired247]

IMO the specs of your system look fine for now.

I don't know if there is support for 2 of those 2x gpu video cards yet, but there may be in the future. For now, I would probably not buy 2 of the cards.

This motherboard sometimes has issues with people going above DDR2-800 RAM. (check the asus forums)


If you are going to run 2 of the 2xGPU cards in the future, a 1000W PSU may be a good option, i.e. pc power and cooling


And raptors are great, but if you are looking for more storage than 150GB then look into the seagate 7200.10 perpendicular recording drives, in 250gb/500gb/750gb sizes

Also... here's just a thought about dual core versus quad core, it may help you make a decision:
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000942.html

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: wired247
If you are going to run 2 of the 2xGPU cards in the future, a 1000W PSU may be a good option, i.e. pc power and cooling[/L]

Overkill, a 600W is well enough.