PiCK the Better Custom-Made PC

[dileepsv]

System Number 1

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz FSB 1066, 8MB Quad Core
OCZ Vanquisher CPU Cooler - Socket 775, 754, 939, AM2
4GB DDR II 800 nVidia SLI RAM (2GB x 2) (OCZ)
eVGA 680i LT SLI 122CKNF67T1 Motherboard
Western Digital 500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA II
LG 20X DVD RW w/ Lightscribe +- Dual Layer Serial ATA
nVidia XFX 8800 Ultra 768 MB 612MHz GDDR3, Dual DVI, HDCP
Creative Sound Blaster SB046A X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro Audio
Apevia X-Cruiser Case (black)
Neon Light Package - 2 Neon Light (blue)
700 Watt OCZ GamerXStream SLI Power Supply


System Number 2

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz FSB 1066, 8MB Quad Core
Overclocked to: Core 2 Quad 3.2GHz
OCZ Vanquisher CPU Cooler - Socket 775, 754, 939, AM2
4GB DDR II 800 Vista Upgrade (2GB x 2) (OCZ)
ASUS P5E Motherboard
Western Digital 500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA II
LG 20X DVD RW w/ Lightscribe +- Dual Layer Serial ATA
nVidia XFX 8800 Ultra 768 MB 612MHz GDDR3, Dual DVI, HDCP
Creative Sound Blaster SB046A X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Pro Audio
Apevia X-Cruiser Case
600 Watt Thermaltake Tough Power Extreme Power Supply
Sunbeam Cold Cathod Neon Light


Any comments are Welcome!! Apevia Case comes with 2x default 80mm fans...would i need more cooling for any of these two PC's ? Liquid Cooling or a better Processor Cooler, perhaps? What about the 8800 ULTRA? Should i get an Arctic VGA Cooler or anything for that..? I am trying to not spend money on anything more..but if it is absolutely a must for more cooling, please comment!!

Thanks for reading and replying guys =)

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

Before I answer your question, I must ask: is it necessary? Is it necessary you spend $1800~$1900 on high-end technology that will be superceded as soon as march? I don't see the value in spending this kind of money on these parts. In all honesty I can bring myself to recommend either of these two machines. I'd kick everything a notch or two down and remove the sound card completely unless the board has bad onboard sound.

The GF9800GTX2 (two 8800GTS and some Elmers glue) comes out February-ish and the Q9450 in March, why not wait until then to upgrade? The 9800GTX2 should be $450 and the Q9450 around $320. Even better yet, get a 8800GT or 3870 and an E8400.

As for the fans, I don't know how they cool but 80mm fans have a tendancy to make a little noise because they have to run at higher RPMs. I personally like 120mm fans. Some like expensive solutions like Scythe S-FLEXs or Noctua P-12s and other prefer cheaper Yate Loons, either way.

 

[dileepsv]

yep..i decided to go with 8800 GT and also..i wont upgrade the processor for quite a while..so i guess ill just go with the 3.2 overclocked quad 6600 ??
What about a P5K-E Core 2 Quad Motherboard which is around 100 bux cheaper...and im getting G-Skill DDR2-1000 Ram..so that i can overclock that as well...no upgrades for anything other than video card in the next two years...Thanks a lot for ur reply =)

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: dileepsv
yep..i decided to go with 8800 GT and also..i wont upgrade the processor for quite a while..so i guess ill just go with the 3.2 overclocked quad 6600 ??
What about a P5K-E Core 2 Quad Motherboard which is around 100 bux cheaper...and im getting G-Skill DDR2-1000 Ram..so that i can overclock that as well...no upgrades for anything other than video card in the next two years...Thanks a lot for ur reply =)

.....

Oh man.... where to start...

1. Avoid Nvidia Chipsets on boards at all cost. The headache associated with overclocking + nvidia will drive you crazy.

2. Theres no point in you getting ram faster then PC6400 aka DDR2 800. why?
Because it has been shown there isnt a drastic increase in anything besides superPI and some encodes in having ram pushed at 800mhz vs 1066mhz. Also, i highly doubt you'll get your Q6600 over 450FSB without watercooling the Northbridge. Crucial Ballastix Series DDR2 800 is the best ram you can get. Micron D9 IC's overclock great too.

3. If you have no idea on what watercooling is, or you think you can go off and buy a kit like zalman, thermalcrap, gigabyte kits.... forget it entirely. Decient watersetup for the hardware you listed will run at least 300-350 in total parts. [no offense but your case choice sucks crap to watercool as well]

Id grab the OCZ over the TT. But if i had a choice, id rather pick up an ETASIS 850W @ newegg, or a PCnC 750, or Silverstone Zeus 850. Tier 1 PSUs.

Id ask for better recomendations on the sound card. Im sure you can get better ones.

Use LED UV fans like yates. You can buy these at jab-tech.com instead of dropping in CCFLs. The wiring jobs can get really messy if its your first time building, or if someone is building for you.


Your dropping in almost 1300 dollars of hardware inside a case thats sub 100? If you have to cheap the case, i recomend you getting a CM690 instead. Apevia = ricer sorry, its way too ricey and 80mm fans blow comapred to the 140mm top and side fan the 690 offers. Also rear 120mm fan.