Cant Decide - Lots of Questions

Bobo · 07-30-2006, 06:44 AM

I certainly agree with JG about the motherboard. Intel does not make quality boards. If you need to save $40, take it from the CPU, not the motherboard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragoon38900

Ahh, I never actually had the intention of overclocking, let alone get an overclocked product. How do you know if its overclocked? Where/which is the normal version

Overclocking isn't nearly as bad as you make it out to seem. The eVGA card is OCed, but it is a much better card than the XFX (just not necessarily in sheer performance)

Quote:

As for the Motherboard, Ill put your word for it. But I want to research some more. What exactly should I look for in a Motherboard for this system?

Look for not Intel. That basically depends on what you want, like how many IDE slots, or types of SATA RAID, etc.

dragoon38900 · 07-30-2006, 07:49 AM

Ill stick with the GIGABYTE board for now untill I find another one. Anyways, the X-Dreamer case looks really good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144122

I didnt really like the others since they had lights and all. I like front temp LED though .Question: Is the power supply on that case good enough for this system (I doubt it)? If not, is it possible to get this case without the power supply (and hopefully cheaper). If thats not possible... i'd end up spending a little over my $1000 limit (maybe 15-30 bucks more). If it is good enough for this system, that would be great since the final price would be about $980.

EDIT - I found 2 interesting cases.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144125
and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144163

One of them comes with 4 fans (that kind of suprised me), while the other only 2... which do you guys think is better out of the two? Also, is the PSU that comes with it good enough? If I get these, the final price still goes 1000+, but at least I didnt spend more than 100 on the case and PSU.

Also, about the Core 2 Duo processors. I know, ive seen the benchmark scores, and hands down they beat the X2s. However, what exactly is the reason? The numbers are less, yet the benchmarks are better... there has to be a reason to that...

Bobo · 07-30-2006, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragoon38900

Anyways, the X-Dreamer case looks really good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144122

I didnt really like the others since they had lights and all. I like front temp LED though .Question: Is the power supply on that case good enough for this system (I doubt it)? If not, is it possible to get this case without the power supply (and hopefully cheaper). If thats not possible... i'd end up spending a little over my $1000 limit (maybe 15-30 bucks more). If it is good enough for this system, that would be great since the final price would be about $980.

EDIT - I found 2 interesting cases.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144125
and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144163

One of them comes with 4 fans (that kind of suprised me), while the other only 2... which do you guys think is better out of the two? Also, is the PSU that comes with it good enough? If I get these, the final price still goes 1000+, but at least I didnt spend more than 100 on the case and PSU.

The PSU that comes with the X-Dreamer is not good enough, but those 2 X-Navigators have very good power supplies

Quote:

Also, about the Core 2 Duo processors. I know, ive seen the benchmark scores, and hands down they beat the X2s. However, what exactly is the reason? The numbers are less, yet the benchmarks are better... there has to be a reason to that...

Yeah, cause they're better

JG30 · 07-30-2006, 04:36 PM

The Core 2 Duo is better because it was designed and engineered better. If you take some computer engineering classes you'd probably be able to understand. But as I assume you have not I will not go into details of how they achieve a faster more efficient CPU because in all honesty it will be over your head. If your really interested search the internet because there are plenty of articles that will lead you to the reasons (if you can understand it). But I think it is much easier to just take the benchmarks for what they are and leave it at that. Unless you really want to spend a lot of time understanding CPU design and architecture. Don't take this the wrong way because I'm always one for learning but I just don't think it's necessary in this case.

For $1,000...

Core 2 Duo E6400...http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...de=intel-core2-$245.99
580W Hiper Sli certified PSU (you can find cheaper but this one is modular and so sleek

)...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817128003-$99.99
eVGA GForce 7900GT...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130032-$239.99 (after mail-in rebate)
Western Digital 250GB Sata HD...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144701-$79.99
GSkill 1GB DDR2 800 (PC6400) RAM (upgrade later)...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231088-$96.49

That puts us at $843 and leaves a case and motherboard. Your case selection I'll leave up to you and hold my opinions on that to myself. As far as the motherboard...I would wait a month and buy one of the boards coming out in the near future (aka the ones I linked you to). Spend the money on these boards (even if it sends your budget over a $100) because in the end it will be MORE then worth it! If you go with any of the previously mentioned motherboards then you will not be doing SLi and will mostly defenitly not be taking full advantage of your processor. I think that including motherboard and case you could pull off the system I just proposed for $1,100.

PS: I'd wait on the anything that is not discounted right now, like the processor, until the motherboards come out because more then likely you will save a few bucks when they bundle them together.

dragoon38900 · 07-30-2006, 07:43 PM

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Dual Core Processor (2.13GHz 1066FSB 2MB LGA775) - $245.99

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...de=intel-core2

MOBO - Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $149.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128012

*OR Wait for new ones to come out

RAM - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail - $177.99

Hardrive - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $79.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144701

Video card - eVGA 256-P2-N583-AR Geforce 7900GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $269.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130032

PSU - COOLMAX CP-500T EPS12V 500W Active PFC Power Supply 100 - 240V - Retail - $49.99

-Is this a good power supply alternative? It has PFC. Can it handle SLI?

I will only buy the PSU seperatly from the case if these cases:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144165
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144125

are not good enough. Can they handle SLI?

m0nk3ys1ms · 07-30-2006, 08:16 PM

Looks very nice. The power supply in the case should be ok. It has Dual +12v@16A and @18A.

07-30-2006, 07:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
dragoon38900 Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 37	Ill stick with the GIGABYTE board for now untill I find another one. Anyways, the X-Dreamer case looks really good. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144122 I didnt really like the others since they had lights and all. I like front temp LED though .Question: Is the power supply on that case good enough for this system (I doubt it)? If not, is it possible to get this case without the power supply (and hopefully cheaper). If thats not possible... i'd end up spending a little over my $1000 limit (maybe 15-30 bucks more). If it is good enough for this system, that would be great since the final price would be about $980. EDIT - I found 2 interesting cases. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144125 and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144163 One of them comes with 4 fans (that kind of suprised me), while the other only 2... which do you guys think is better out of the two? Also, is the PSU that comes with it good enough? If I get these, the final price still goes 1000+, but at least I didnt spend more than 100 on the case and PSU. Also, about the Core 2 Duo processors. I know, ive seen the benchmark scores, and hands down they beat the X2s. However, what exactly is the reason? The numbers are less, yet the benchmarks are better... there has to be a reason to that... __________________ My Intel Specs: CPU - Core 2 Duo 6600 Conroe 2.4GHz MOBO - GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 RAM - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 VIDCARD - EVGA 8800GTS 320mb HD - Western Digital Caviar 250GB 7200 ATA150 PSU - COOLMAX CP-500T 500W Active PFC 3DMARK06 - ~7000 My AMD Specs: CPU - Athlon X2 4200 MOBO - Abit KN9 Ultra Ram - 1 gig G.Skill VIDCARD - EVGA 7900GT OC HD - Some old IDE 40gig Western Digital PSU - COOLMAX 450W 140mm 3DMARK06: 4800 @1280x1024 on stock Last edited by dragoon38900; 07-30-2006 at 10:38 AM.

07-30-2006, 07:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
dragoon38900 Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 37	CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Dual Core Processor (2.13GHz 1066FSB 2MB LGA775) - $245.99 http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...de=intel-core2 MOBO - Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $149.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128012 OR Wait for new ones to come out RAM - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail - $177.99 Hardrive - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144701 Video card - eVGA 256-P2-N583-AR Geforce 7900GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $269.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130032 PSU - COOLMAX CP-500T EPS12V 500W Active PFC Power Supply 100 - 240V - Retail - $49.99 -Is this a good power supply alternative? It has PFC. Can it handle SLI? I will only buy the PSU seperatly from the case if these cases: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144165 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144125 are not good enough. Can they handle SLI? __________________ My Intel Specs: CPU* - Core 2 Duo 6600 Conroe 2.4GHz MOBO - GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 RAM - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 VIDCARD - EVGA 8800GTS 320mb HD - Western Digital Caviar 250GB 7200 ATA150 PSU - COOLMAX CP-500T 500W Active PFC 3DMARK06 - ~7000 My AMD Specs: CPU - Athlon X2 4200 MOBO - Abit KN9 Ultra Ram - 1 gig G.Skill VIDCARD - EVGA 7900GT OC HD - Some old IDE 40gig Western Digital PSU - COOLMAX 450W 140mm 3DMARK06: 4800 @1280x1024 on stock

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07-30-2006, 04:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
JG30 Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 39	The Core 2 Duo is better because it was designed and engineered better. If you take some computer engineering classes you'd probably be able to understand. But as I assume you have not I will not go into details of how they achieve a faster more efficient CPU because in all honesty it will be over your head. If your really interested search the internet because there are plenty of articles that will lead you to the reasons (if you can understand it). But I think it is much easier to just take the benchmarks for what they are and leave it at that. Unless you really want to spend a lot of time understanding CPU design and architecture. Don't take this the wrong way because I'm always one for learning but I just don't think it's necessary in this case. For $1,000... Core 2 Duo E6400...http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...de=intel-core2-$245.99 580W Hiper Sli certified PSU (you can find cheaper but this one is modular and so sleek )...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817128003-$99.99 eVGA GForce 7900GT...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130032-$239.99 (after mail-in rebate) Western Digital 250GB Sata HD...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144701-$79.99 GSkill 1GB DDR2 800 (PC6400) RAM (upgrade later)...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231088-$96.49 That puts us at $843 and leaves a case and motherboard. Your case selection I'll leave up to you and hold my opinions on that to myself. As far as the motherboard...I would wait a month and buy one of the boards coming out in the near future (aka the ones I linked you to). Spend the money on these boards (even if it sends your budget over a $100) because in the end it will be MORE then worth it! If you go with any of the previously mentioned motherboards then you will not be doing SLi and will mostly defenitly not be taking full advantage of your processor. I think that including motherboard and case you could pull off the system I just proposed for $1,100. PS: I'd wait on the anything that is not discounted right now, like the processor, until the motherboards come out because more then likely you will save a few bucks when they bundle them together.