YARMRT: Yet another rate my rig thread

[Jeff7]

I apologize in advance for making another one of these.

As some of you may know, my motherboard's dead, needs new capacitors, and I need an excuse to upgrade. I've been totally out of the loop hardware-wise, but I got some help putting together a list of some hardware to buy.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3. $135
Video: eVGA 256-P2-N55-AX Geforce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-3 x16. $140, minus a $20 mail in rebate
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400, 2.13GHz. $217
RAM: G.Skill 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-6400. $210.
Extra: Koutech IO-PESI1300 PCI-e x1 SATA/IDE controller card. $25. Yes, I still have PATA hard devices, and lots of them.
------------------------------------------
Subtotal: $726.96
Shipping: $10.84
Total: $737.80


Updated
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3. $135.
Video: MSI NX7600GT-VT2D256E Geforce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-e x16 - $165, minus $30 MIR.
Procesor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, 2.40GHz - $309.
RAM: Corsair XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) TWIN2X2040-6400 - $280, minus $40 MIR.
Extra: Koutech IO-PESI1300 PCI-e x1 SATA/IDE controller card. $25.
------------------------------------------
Subtotal: $913.97
Shipping: $9.92
Total: $923.89
A wee little bit more expensive, thanks to you.

Or there's the OEM version of the processor Here for $270. But then I do need a heatsink, and I lose the retail warranty. Might as well just do retail.



I've got a 460W Seasonic SS-460AGX power supply, which should be more than enough to power this hardware.

Are there any areas there where I can squeeze a few more dollars out of the budget? I had to search through reviews for any RAM that doesn't work with this 965 chipset. Seems there are quite a few out there that Intel's chipset just won't tolerate.

No, I don't want an Intel/AMD/nVidia/ATI/fanboy/whatever flamewar here. I want a computer that will work. I do not plan on overclocking. I'm past that phase. I may still use Arctic Silver, but that's as close as I'm getting.

UPDATE. The stuff is here. I've opened some of the packages.
One disappointment already.
The video card is not as pictured.
I had wanted it partly because of the direct exhaust heatsink.
Opened the box, and it has a different heatsink on it.
This is the sort of heatsink it has.
And dammit, a $65MIR on the latter on there? Where the hell was that when I was shopping around? Did I just manage to miss it?


Final update, most likely. The system is up and running. It POSTed on the first try, and even booted to a very confused, but at least partially functioning, Windows desktop. The only "paces" I've run it through so far was Simcity4, but it runs a LOT smoother than my Radeon 9800 Pro could do. That, and more RAM, and a much faster processor might have also had something to do with it.

 

[UMfanatic]

sounds like a good deal, those are awesome choices, I would suggest if you want to OC the 6400 I would get an aftermarket cooler, both otherwise excellent choices

 

[moosey]

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
sounds like a good deal, those are awesome choices, I would suggest if you want to OC the 6400 I would get an aftermarket cooler, both otherwise excellent choices

agreed

 

[Operandi]

Go with this passively cooled Gigabyte 7600GT, no noise and no chance of fan failure.

Personal preference but I would go with this Geil RAM.

 

[Jeff7]

Will that GeIL RAM definitely run on a 965 motherboard?

WRT the passively cooled 7600GT, I don't mind a little fan noise (my case is nowhere near quiet anyway), and the eVGA thing is marginally faster (+20MHz core and +100MHz effective RAM), and it's cheaper.

 

[Operandi]

Geil has never been picky with chipsets. I haven't used that exact RAM on a 965 chipset but I've used a slightly faster pair of Geil sticks in a 965 Asus board so I'm sure it will be fine.

Regarding the card the reliability of the passive design alone makes it worthwhile (in my opinion). The speed difference between the two is trivial and it would be very easy to close the gap and then some with a bit of overclocking.

 

[Jeff7]

And I guess it would be nice to not have to worry about oiling a dying graphics card fan in the middle of the semester. Too often they cheap out on those things, and use low-quality sleeve bearing fans.
Are heatpipes basically good indefinitely?

 

[Operandi]

No moving parts so yeah, it should last basically forever. Aside cleaning the dust out of the heatsink once a year or so that is.

 

[Roguestar]

Good choices. Definitely get an aftermarket cooler like the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro, Thermaltake Tuniq Tower, Scythe Infinity or Zalman 9500/9700.

Read this thread for some ram suggestions if you're interested in overclocking.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=28&threadid=1966035&enterthread=y

 

[Blain]

The video cards are very close, but I went with an MSI NX7600GT.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
I apologize in advance for making another one of these.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3. $135
Video: eVGA 256-P2-N55-AX Geforce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-3 x16. $140, minus a $20 mail in rebate
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400, 2.13GHz. $217
RAM: G.Skill 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-6400. $210.
Extra: Koutech IO-PESI1300 PCI-e x1 SATA/IDE controller card. $25. Yes, I still have PATA hard devices, and lots of them.
------------------------------------------
Subtotal: $726.96
Shipping: $10.84
Total: $737.80

First off, why are you apoligizing? If you were so sorry, you'd be reading several reviews associated with each of your hardware peices you plan on buying and not bother posting here about such a topic.

Anyway, 965 boards are plagued with PCB problems, so be ready for an immediate update, and don't cross your fingers on the RAM _ you have the option of actually calling both companies and askking them specifically about the components you want to fit together on your new rig. I'm sure the RAM will work, but if you're feeling really bothersome, you can contact your manufacturers of attempt to find their product compatibility listings. Cheap priced 965 boards are a waste of money. Either you get the premium 965's or go all out and get the pricier 975 board from Asus, which by far is easily the best overclocker and has won so many awards anyway. Again, cheap priced 965 boards suck.

The Intel Core 2 you are buying is not an Conroe, it's in fact an Allendale. You are getting 2megs, slightly clocked higher than the E6300, but is none the less the exact same processor with higher clockts. Get the E6600 Conroe it's the cheaper E6300 part and overclock.

7600 is a waste of money, don't take it personally. You can find way better stuff on the FS/TR forum. I'm advertising the FS/TR forum? Yes I am. A 7600 for over a hundred bucks is a joke.

If you truly are dedicated to overclocking, dump the Intel stock cooler and replace it with 3rd party stuff, and if you're questioning AS5, that's probably not the brightest thing considering it's only 5 bucks and out does nearly every other thermal compound in doing the job. RAM will hold you back from heavier OC'ing, but will do fine if you want a a little more juice.

Get the rig the way it is, you will be happy, no problem. But you'll be happier if you dumped that 7600 for 140. Peace~

 

[Jeff7]

Well, when you put it that way, I guess I'm apologizing for my laziness.

FS/T - yeah, I've shopped there plenty. I'd just like something that's new, and something from a business that has at least some desire to maintain a good public image, and not have to wait for parts to arrive from multiple shippers, and not have to deal with people possibly taking their sweet time shipping parts that will hopefully work.
And searching FS/T has been a pain ever since the Search function went into its infinitely long coma.

Premium boards vs others: I'm not looking for overclocking. I'm done with that. I want to assemble, boot, and install an OS. And I don't need multiple x16 PCI-e slots. I do need a few standard PCI slots, and I do need a full-ATX motherboard with a PCI slot at the very end, to accomodate my Promise SX4000 controller. If it's anywhere else, it won't fit in the case.

If you truly are dedicated to overclocking, dump the Intel stock cooler and replace it with 3rd party stuff, and if you're questioning AS5, that's probably not the brightest thing considering it's only 5 bucks and out does nearly every other thermal compound in doing the job. RAM will hold you back from heavier OC'ing, but will do fine if you want a a little more juice.

You might want to reread my post.

"No, I don't want an Intel/AMD/nVidia/ATI/fanboy/whatever flamewar here. I want a computer that will work. I do not plan on overclocking. I'm past that phase. I may still use Arctic Silver, but that's as close as I'm getting."

 

[Jeff7]

There we go, revised my list just a little bit. I hope to order today.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: fire400
First off, why are you apoligizing? If you were so sorry, you'd be reading several reviews associated with each of your hardware peices you plan on buying and not bother posting here about such a topic.

Jeez let him be. There's nothing like getting advice from multiple sources, and some people here may have the same kit as him and inform him of compatibility problems that he wouldn't have found in reviews. If you don't like reading this kind of thread then don't post in it :thumbsdown:.

OP: I think your choices are all pretty solid but personally I'd still go for an aftermarket cooler, even if just so I could get one with a fan controller and keep the noise down .

 

[Jeff7]

Well, he did still provide a lot of advice. Perhaps he was merely pointing out the paradox of my apologizing for something I could have averted myself.


Dammitall, that Corsair RAM is sold out now. I'll get this instead.

 

[Roguestar]

You should also consider this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144028

It's a lot cheaper than the Corsair .

 

[Jeff7]

The stuff is here. I've opened some of the packages.
One disappointment already.
The video card is not as pictured.
I had wanted it partly because of the direct exhaust heatsink.
Opened the box, and it has a different heatsink on it.
This is the sort of heatsink it has.
And dammit, a $65MIR on the latter on there? Where the hell was that when I was shopping around? Did I just manage to miss it?


Part 2: The RAM, or rather, the rebate on it.
The rebate link there is now for a new rebate, for items bought between December 22nd and January 5th. I need the one for items bought on or before December 21st (mine was billed and shipped on the 20th.) Do I need to e-mail Newegg to get the proper rebate form now?
Edit: Got it. Thank you, Google archives!