Upgrading/replacing my current system

[imported_Gholam]

Right now my setup looks like this:

A64 3200+ with Thermalright XP-120 (no fan, ducted to case rear fan)
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe (with the annoying fan replaced by a passive heatsink)
3GB DDR400 (2x512MB + 2x1024MB, generic Samsung RAM)
80GB system drive + 2x200GB RAID1 data storage
LG H12L DVDRW
GeForce 6800GT with Zalman VF-700AlCu
Coolermaster CM Stacker
SeaSonic SS400
NEC 20WGX2 + ViewSonic VP171
Xerox Phaser 6100D printer

The main resource-hungry task on this system is gaming and movies, but newer games really give it a workout. At 1680x1050, Supreme Commander is barely playable, and Overlord required me to put graphics at medium-low settings. EVE Online runs fine, but they've been promising a graphics update for a while, and this does not bode well... not even thinking about running BioShock. I also run VMware server on it for various projects.

I have about $2k saved up towards a general system overhaul, maybe $2.5k. My current line of thought is to take this system as it is, turn it into a home server running WHS when it reaches my area (Israel) by replacing the graphics card with something passively cooled and sticking in a bunch of 500GB drives (they currently offer the best GB/$ ratio), and building a new system as primary workstation.

Current plan is, for workstation:
Intel Q6600
Intel DP35DP
2x Corsair XMS 800MHz 2GB (4GB total)
2x WD 160GB drives in RAID1
Leadtek 8800GTS 320MB
HEC/Compucase 6AR6 case, maybe aluminium version
HEC/Compucase 400TR-T PSU
LG H12L DVDRW (pulling from the old system)

...that's about it. OS will be XP Pro x32, not ready to switch to Vista yet. For the server, I'm leaving most things as they are, except the following:

GeForce 8400GS in place of 6800GT
A basic DVDROM in place of DVDRW I pull into new system
An extra drive cage
4xWD5000KS in addition to drives already there
Windows Home Server

Anything obvious I'm missing? Thinking about semi-passively cooling the CPU, same way I'm currently cooling my A64 - what kind of heatsink is best for doing that with a Q6600 SLACR? Same for 8800GTS - how hot do they run? What does it take to quiet one down? I have a spare VF700AlCu sitting unopened, will that work?

By the way, regarding the Intel motherboard - I'm not going to be doing any overclocking, and Intel's support policy is second to none (advance warranty replacement within 48 hours on all their products).

 

[yuppiejr]

I'd personally go with the 6750 for $199 (saving $80), 2 gigs of RAM and put the combined savings into an 8800 GTX / 768 meg video card. You'll see far better game performance in XP 32-bit with this configuration than you will with a quad + 4 gigs of RAM and a 320 meg GTS card.

I base this on your assessment of your own use that GAMING is your primary resource hog on the machine and would focus my spending on addressing performance in this space. Unless you really hammer on CPU intensive VMware tasks or do a LOT of transcoding you're going to get a lot less bang for your buck out of a quad core.

 

[teclis1023]

Hey Gholam

I have a few suggestions...

If you want to go with an Intel motherboard, consider an Intel D975XBX2KR (BadAxe) board. It's super stable, and we've had great luck with it here (I work for a small computer building outfit). It has an FSB of 1066, but the Q6600 does as well. Furthermore, the 975X chipset is well known for its performance and stability.

Have you considered GeIL memory? I used to use only Mushkin, but lately GeIL has really been a top performer for me. It's relatively inexpensive, and what it lacks in flash, it makes up for in value. I have 4GB of the DDR2-800 and love it.

I wonder if you might want to consider waiting for the nVidia 9000-series to come out. I assume that the release of the 9800GTX will lower prices on the 8800 series. Also, I've heard decent reviews on the ATI 2900s, although I understand that ATI has fallen in reputation as of late. Hey, the x1950 was still a kick-butt card!

Other than that, enjoy Israel. I'll be over soon, unless my plans change!

 

[yuppiejr]

I would actually say both boards are poor choices based on his requirements above... The BadAxe board is total overkill for this application and TWICE the price of the board he originally proposed. Since he's not overclocking and identified no need that would justify the extra PCI-e slots there are better places to invest $100 in his system.

The problem with the Intel DP35DP board is a lack of on-board RAID which was identified as a requirement for his RAID1 HDD array. Since the cost for a decent add-in RAID controller running on the PCIe bus is significant I'd consider either one of the Intel mATX boards based on the G33 chipset (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16813121315) ..

..or a different P35 chipset board like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128048

Also, I'd strongly consider going with 2 of these 250 gig Seagate single-platter 7200.11 series drives in 7200.10 packaging rather than the WD 160 gig units proposed: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148262

.. 5 year warranty to boot!

Also - I'd seriously consider going to a SATA based optical drive, from the P965/975 generation chipsets on using any pATA optical drives with the newer Intel chipsets have been a crapshoot. For $35 it's an easy problem to avoid.

 

[imported_Gholam]

Originally posted by: yuppiejr
I'd personally go with the 6750 for $199 (saving $80), 2 gigs of RAM and put the combined savings into an 8800 GTX / 768 meg video card. You'll see far better game performance in XP 32-bit with this configuration than you will with a quad + 4 gigs of RAM and a 320 meg GTS card.

From the benchmark results I've seen, the difference between 320MB GTS and 768GTX is quite small, and between 320MB and 640MB GTS nonexistant. On the other hand, I have 1-2 or more VMs running in background pretty much 24/7, and on my current single core machine it results in some... uncomfortable situations, at times. Hence the leaning towards quad-core. Plus, games are getting better at multithreading as time goes by...

Originally posted by: teclis1023
If you want to go with an Intel motherboard, consider an Intel D975XBX2KR (BadAxe) board. It's super stable, and we've had great luck with it here (I work for a small computer building outfit). It has an FSB of 1066, but the Q6600 does as well. Furthermore, the 975X chipset is well known for its performance and stability.

From what I understand, the new memory controller in P35/G33 gives it a significant advantage over older Intel chipsets. Plus, BadAxe is extremely expensive and hard to get a hold of, lead time can be weeks.

Have you considered GeIL memory? I used to use only Mushkin, but lately GeIL has really been a top performer for me. It's relatively inexpensive, and what it lacks in flash, it makes up for in value. I have 4GB of the DDR2-800 and love it.

Not available over here, at least not from any reputable supplier. I'm basically choosing between Corsair and Samsung.

I wonder if you might want to consider waiting for the nVidia 9000-series to come out. I assume that the release of the 9800GTX will lower prices on the 8800 series.

That'll take a while, especially for 8800 series prices to drop. I'm planning to build the system sometime in late october to early november.

Originally posted by: yuppiejr
The problem with the Intel DP35DP board is a lack of on-board RAID which was identified as a requirement for his RAID1 HDD array. Since the cost for a decent add-in RAID controller running on the PCIe bus is significant I'd consider either one of the Intel mATX boards based on the G33 chipset

Actually it's the other way around. DP35DP features RAID, while most (though not all) G33-based boards lack it. See here:

http://www.intel.com/products/...ard/DP35DP/configs.htm

http://www.intel.com/products/...ard/DG33BU/configs.htm

Regarding Gigabyte and Seagate - both have bad luck with Israeli distributors, going through several companies in recent years, each of which is quite reluctant about honoring warranties on hardware sold by their predecessors. Therefore, while it might have 5 years warranty on paper, the actual situation might be no warranty at all - or exchange times as long as weeks or months.

Any suggestions on quiet cooling? I've looked around, and the only viable option for 8800 seems to be Thermalright HR-03 Plus - fortunately the local Thermalright importer claims to have them in stock. It's quite tall though, and wraps around the video card - will it, and the attached fan, interfere with CPU cooler? Speaking of which, will Thermalright Ultra-90i be sufficient to cool a non-OCed Q6600, or should I go for Ultra-120? Keeping in mind no attached fan, and a duct to 120mm case exhaust fan running around 900-1200rpm. Also keeping in mind that it can get up to 40C in the summer around here.