What should I expect from this system?

[goe602]

- ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor
- G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel
- ASUS EN9600GT/HTDI/512M GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

I'm getting ready to play Conan and I do audio recording/editing. I'll be using XP Pro.

Does everything look like it works together? How should I expect this computer to run?

 

[LOUISSSSS]

yep it kinda looks like my system

good to go

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

64 bit? At this point, I don't see much of a reason to shy away from vista... but that is a personal preference, and I don't own vista- so it s very much your own choice
I would upgrade the gfx to a 512 mb card. palit has one reviewers seem to be liking

::EDIT::
sorry- rushed in reading and only say the 256-bit. everclear tends to do that to a person- looks like a strong build- enjoy building it!

 

[goe602]

Originally posted by: Comdrpopnfresh
64 bit? At this point, I don't see much of a reason to shy away from vista... but that is a personal preference, and I don't own vista- so it s very much your own choice
I would upgrade the gfx to a 512 mb card. palit has one reviewers seem to be liking

::EDIT::
sorry- rushed in reading and only say the 256-bit. everclear tends to do that to a person- looks like a strong build- enjoy building it!

I'm using XP because I don't want to buy another OS.

 

[Urtho]

1. Motherboards with x48 chipsets are way overpriced and not needed for most people. A good P35 board should be all you need. Solid boards from Gigabyte, ASUS, and Abit can be found around the $90 - $130 mark.

2. How heavy is your audio work? If it's strictly amateur/fun level than get an E7200 or E8400 and skip the quad. More clockspeed will probably serve you better than more cores for games for the foreseeable future. If you need a quad for production work than go for the Q9300 instead of the Q6600. Runs cooler and faster than the older chip and should overclock as well or better.

3. On a gaming system looking to play modern games, I wouldn't skimp on the video card. An 8800GTS can be found for as little as $170 AR right now so unless your budget is really tight or you play on a smaller monitor or resolution I'd look there before going for a 9600GT. Take the money you would have spent on that x48 board and put it into your video card and you'll notice a much bigger difference in gameplay.

 

[goe602]

Originally posted by: Urtho
1. Motherboards with x48 chipsets are way overpriced and not needed for most people. A good P35 board should be all you need. Solid boards from Gigabyte, ASUS, and Abit can be found around the $90 - $130 mark.

2. How heavy is your audio work? If it's strictly amateur/fun level than get an E7200 or E8400 and skip the quad. More clockspeed will probably serve you better than more cores for games for the foreseeable future. If you need a quad for production work than go for the Q9300 instead of the Q6600. Runs cooler and faster than the older chip and should overclock as well or better.

3. On a gaming system looking to play modern games, I wouldn't skimp on the video card. An 8800GTS can be found for as little as $170 AR right now so unless your budget is really tight or you play on a smaller monitor or resolution I'd look there before going for a 9600GT. Take the money you would have spent on that x48 board and put it into your video card and you'll notice a much bigger difference in gameplay.

I wouldn't say I do hardcore audio editing (I use cubase sx and a few vsti plugins, protools, and a couple other things), but I will probably get more into it in the near future.


Hows this for an updated list:


-ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
-Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor
-G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
-EVGA 512-P3-N845-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

OR

-EVGA 640-P2-N829-AR GeForce 8800GTS SSC 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card


((which vid card is better? The 640mb/320bit one is cheaper... dont really get why))


?

 

[DSF]

The 640MB is built around an older processor. It's a little bit slower despite having more VRAM. It also uses more power and therefore generates more heat.

If you're sticking with the Q6600 then go with DDR2-800, which will give you enough headroom to overclock that chip as far as it will go. If you decide to go with one of the newer quad cores, DDR2-1000 is all you need. Either way DDR2-1066 is unnecessary.

 

[goe602]

Originally posted by: DSF
The 640MB is built around an older processor. It's a little bit slower despite having more VRAM. It also uses more power and therefore generates more heat.

If you're sticking with the Q6600 then go with DDR2-800, which will give you enough headroom to overclock that chip as far as it will go. If you decide to go with one of the newer quad cores, DDR2-1000 is all you need. Either way DDR2-1066 is unnecessary.

OK so how about this...

-ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
- Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
-G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (the mobo says 1066 is the standard)
-EVGA 512-P3-N845-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
- ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: goe602

Originally posted by: DSF
The 640MB is built around an older processor. It's a little bit slower despite having more VRAM. It also uses more power and therefore generates more heat.

If you're sticking with the Q6600 then go with DDR2-800, which will give you enough headroom to overclock that chip as far as it will go. If you decide to go with one of the newer quad cores, DDR2-1000 is all you need. Either way DDR2-1066 is unnecessary.

OK so how about this...

-ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
- Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
-G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (the mobo says 1066 is the standard)
-EVGA 512-P3-N845-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
- ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

When the motherboard specifies a standard, that's the highest speed RAM the motherboard is guaranteed to recognize. It doesn't mean it's the required speed. You can save yourself some money without sacrificing any performance by getting DDR2-1000 for that E8400. If you're not overclocking you could even step down to DDR2-800.