Planned specs for new rig... opinion please

[Ivan]

Board: Asus Striker Extreme (Nforce 680 SLI)
Processor: Intel QX6850 (3Ghz quadcore, 1333 MHz FSB)
Video: 640MB GF 8800
Memory: 2GB DDR2 800MHz
Audio: SB X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro (EAX 5.0, hardware MP3 decoder)
Harddisk: WD Raptor 74GB (for OS), WD Caviar 500GB (for data), both SATA
OS: Vista Ultimate
(and the usual DVD rewriter)

All of this in an old style CM Stacker with a 550W PSU and the optional side fan installed

Should be fast enough for a year or two (and gets promoted to software development machine after that)

[HugoCampos]

Why the heck are you going to buy a QX6850?!?! Yea, it's fast, but it costs $1500... you can get a whole computer with that (and one that can max fsX).
Well, if you can spend that much money on a CPU, then you can (and should) get:
-4GB of Corsair Dominator RAM
-Geforce 8800GTX or Ultra instead of the 8800GTS
-1000w PSU from PC Power & Cooling or Silverstone. The 500w one you have won't be enough.
-Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit

[Kaworu]

Don't focus all your funds on one part, spread them out! 1500, in my eyes, is too much for ANY processor.

[HugoCampos]

Exactly as eurofighterlover said. If I were you I would go with a Q6600 or Q6700, an 8800GTS or GTX, 4GB DDRII 800MHz and a 750w PSU. If you really have a lot of money, then go with the specs I posted above on the other post.

[Kaworu]

The 8800GTS is a really good investment! Me likes ( [smiley=lolk.gif]

[HugoCampos]

Yea, the 8800GTS is really good if you can't get an 8800GTX. I chose the HD2900XT for my new pc though because it will get better with time (new drivers) and I will have an option to add another one in the future... my board is a p5k Deluxe. It may not matter since I'm planning on getting one of the new Nvidia monsters that's coming out later this year or early next year... but we'll see.

[Nick N]

If the man wants to spend the money on the top shelf components... that works for me


550W PSU

[HugoCampos]

Yea, that's what I told him on the first post. If he can spend $1500 on just a cpu, then he can probably also get a "top of the line" graphics card, RAM and PSU.

[Ashton Lawson]

if he is limited to what he can buy, then buy a Q6600 or Q6800 and you can easily overclock it to QX6850 speeds (3Ghz).

then he can spend remaining money on other high-end parts...

EDIT:

almost forgot, THAT PSU???  ARE YOU INSANE???  u need a higher wattage PSU for a quad rig...

whatever Nick N said is what you should get (Nick's a pro, or retired pro, or whatever)

[aussiewannabe]

1500, in my eyes, is too much for ANY processor.

I agree! For that amount of money, I'd expect it to make my breakfast

Still, it looks like quite a setup. I'm still learning about upgrading video cards and PSU and I have to agree with Nick that 550w won't cut it with this system.

[Ivan]

Getting the proc Str1ker mentions makes it easier for me (not in price but the shop where i'll buy this stuff doesnt have anything above QX6600 on the list)... so maybe thats a better choice (and its just below 300 euros atm)

For the memory... how long would it take for 2GB DIMMs to be on the market, i have only 4 slots and the only thing i can get now is 1GB / module stuff.

And the PSU... Whats the problem with separate rails when the whole thing has just ONE electrically (theres only one 220V plug on it)

One of the reasons that i'm not too eager to change the PSU is that the heavier ones (above 600W) dont have a power switch... which makes them trip the surge protector when you plug it in.


And the most fun thing is that with my job... a part of the price is tax deductible

[Nick N]

You will have fun trying to run a 550watt PSU on that hardware. I smell a burnout, or very close to it. At the very least I see bluescreens and resets.



The PSU I spec'd has a power swich and you can not buy better quality, knowing exactly what you will get for the money.

2GB dims are already on the market.. check crucial.com

[Nick N]

Please not that the QUAD CORE needs on a motherboard are 8 pin PSU for CPU power



4 are capped on for dual core, remove the cap for Quad...






If that PSU does not have a 8 pin CPU plug and can not (which it probably cant) deliver the needed total watts... crash and burn city

even if it doesnt burn as soon as you fire it up, I dont see it going too far on 3D boot and load  


POOf!

[Ivan]

[quote]You will have fun trying to run a 550watt PSU on that hardware. I smell a burnout, or very close to it. At the very least I see bluescreens and resets.



The PSU I spec'd has a power swich and you can not buy better quality, knowing exactly what you will get for the money.

2GB dims are already on the market.. check crucial.com

[Nick N]

WOW

Thats a low current house


I would need to review the input specs on the unit. They are made in the USA but they do ship to Europe and I have never looked at the AC input spec.


As for memory, the QVL is limited. Its a base to sart from but that spec sheet is not the law. They upgrade with BIOS changes and also the memory companies test the motherboards for configuration of their products.

More than likely to get the 8gig, which is not needed unless you are a server and/or intend to video edit, it would appear you must use the 2GB dimms.

Here is the configuration readout for the Asus SE from Crucial: http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts. ... er+Extreme


They show the 2GB dimms will work: http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs ... 7EA5CA7304


but they are much slower than the 2x1GB dimms: http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs ... 13A5CA7304

There are other memory manufactures that may have faster products available. Corsair is one.

It has been my experience that Asus motherboards favor Micron memory chips. Many compaines use them in some of their products such as Mushkin, Super Tallent, etc, but Crucial is owned by Micron and that is all they use for their products.

I would not run anything other than the z9 Micron chips is a P35 or x38 chipset motherboard. Asus is really leaning toward fine tuning their BIOSs for Micron products.


According to PC Power and cooling, that unit takes a 12A AC input


90-264 VAC
.99 power factor
47-63Hz
12A

They do not specify if that is 110 or 220, however, typically that value drops as the input increases, however without a specific specification I can not post for sure the exact current draw @ 220+.

I would expect it to be lower

the boys at PC Power and Cooling will be able to give you exact numbers. They will respond through their web site communication portal.