Suggestions needed for building a new computer

[jjet67]

Hi.
I plan to build a new computer for a present to my academic advisor. He has bought me three computers including $3500 Alienware (with fx60), and I think this is the time to give him a nice present. Unfortunatey, I do have a budget problem. I can't afford more than a thousand bucks for the present. Furthermore, I would like to build one that will kick the ass of his new computer he recently bought from Dell (3.4Ghz dual core I guess). I have been out of this overclocking business for a long time, and this is the first time for Intel core.

The goal is to get at least 3.4Ghz with air cooling. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

1. Motherboard:
I'm thinking about ASUS P5B deluxe but any suggestion for cheaper but solid motherboard?

2. CPU: E6400 or E6600?
Is it worthwhile to spend $100 more to get E6600?

3. Memory:
Is OCZ Platinum Revision 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-15 any good? This costs about $150 after rebate.

4. CPU cooler:
I do have P180 case and Antec 550W (I believe) power. Which cooler shoud I buy?
(1) Scythe
(2) Tuniq Towers
(3) Thermaltake Big Typhoon
Personally I would like to try Tuniq tower but would it fit to P180?
5. Video card
He does not play games so any PCI-E card would be ok.

Again, thanks for your help and suggestions.
JJET

 

[jpeyton]

What is the point if he just bought a computer from Dell? Does he need another one, or are you just pointing out his mistake?

If he can afford to buy $3500 Alienware computers for his "students", I don't think he'd have a problem buying one for himself if he needed it.

 

[Agentbolt]

Putting the horrible impropriety of these "gifts" aside, if you're looking to hit 3.4 GHZ, you should feel pretty safe grabbing him E6300.

The memory you mentioned is fine. It should OC enough to hit the 3.4 GHZ you're looking for.

The Tunic Tower in that case MIGHT be tricky, and the Big Typhoon is almost certainly a no-go. The Artic Freezer Pro 7 is my personal fave.

If he does not play any games at all whatsoever, unless he's editing movies or something just get him the cheapest PCI-E vid card you can find, it'll be fine.

Anandtech has a good roundup of P965 motherboards, generally people seem to agree with what they found. Personally I use the GA-965P-S3 and it seems solid enough, although I'm trying to use it to OC my E4300 and it's not designed too well for that.

 

[jjet67]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
What is the point if he just bought a computer from Dell? Does he need another one, or are you just pointing out his mistake?

If he can afford to buy $3500 Alienware computers for his "students", I don't think he'd have a problem buying one for himself if he needed it.

Well. Look at how many rigs I have. We both do number crunching all the time and more computers always better. Yes. He can afford even $5000 Dell quad core computer with his research budget. However, you missed the point here. I want to give him a nicely overclocked computer from a poor graduate student. That's the sprit of the GIFT

JJET

 

[jpeyton]

Avg stable speed for E6300 and E6400 are 3.2GHz and 3.3GHz repectively. 3.4GHz isn't guaranteed.

 

[Markfw]

to get to 3.4, go with a 6400. The 6600 only buys you more cache, and some apps could use it, but its your call.And I don;t know why the comment "big no-no" on the Big typhoon, I have two of them, and they are great.

 

[Agentbolt]

I'm not trashing the Big Tyhpoon at all, it's a great cooler, I just worry about it fitting into that case.

 

[jjet67]

I appreciate your suggestions. I should go for E6400 then.
JJET

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: Agentbolt
I'm not trashing the Big Tyhpoon at all, it's a great cooler, I just worry about it fitting into that case.

Well, it no bigger than the ninja's, and I don't know the tunic, but I think its big too.