Conroe component advice needed

[Fred_Pohl]

I'm anxious to start ordering the parts for a new Conroe system and I'd really appreciate some opinions. I'm looking at a mid-range system with the following cost limits:

CPU: <$300
Mobo: <$200
Ram: <$200

I've tentatively chosen the following parts:

E6400 ~$250
Gigabyte GA965P-DS3 ~$160
G.Skill 1GBx2 PC6400 (4-4-4-12) BZX (Intel only) ~$180

I plan to use the following parts from my current system:

Antec mid-tower case
eVGA 7800GT-CO
Antec SmartPower 500W PSU


My goal is a system that is stable for 24/7 use at 400FSB, 3.2GHz and if it does a little more for benchmarking, that's great but not a big deal to me. I'm sold on the E6400 since the E4300 might not be available for a few more months but I'm not convinced about the mobo and ram. The Abit AB9 doesn't appeal to me but should I wait to see the Asus P5B (non-Deluxe)? Is there any better ram for under $200?

BTW, sorry for making a new thread for this. I have searched the forum for days and found lots of useful info but I'd still appreciate some advice on my specific build. TIA.

[[TAG]Imp]

I'm anxious to start ordering the parts for a new Conroe system and I'd really appreciate some opinions. I'm looking at a mid-range system with the following cost limits:

CPU: <$300
Mobo: <$200
Ram: <$200

I've tentatively chosen the following parts:

E6400 ~$250
Gigabyte GA965P-DS3 ~$160
G.Skill 1GBx2 PC6400 (4-4-4-12) BZX (Intel only) ~$180

I plan to use the following parts from my current system:

Antec mid-tower case
eVGA 7800GT-CO
Antec SmartPower 500W PSU


My goal is a system that is stable for 24/7 use at 400FSB, 3.2GHz and if it does a little more for benchmarking, that's great but not a big deal to me. I'm sold on the E6400 since the E4300 might not be available for a few more months but I'm not convinced about the mobo and ram. The Abit AB9 doesn't appeal to me but should I wait to see the Asus P5B (non-Deluxe)? Is there any better ram for under $200?

BTW, sorry for making a new thread for this. I have searched the forum for days and found lots of useful info but I'd still appreciate some advice on my specific build. TIA.
ionno, i've heard good things about the Abit if you can handle the layout...

[Silver Bullet]

Looks fine to me ... you decide on a heatsink ?

[ocZZZ]

I am getting the same CPU and already have the DS3. Go with the team DDR2 instead of the gskill for 187 - http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=101692&page=15


I'm anxious to start ordering the parts for a new Conroe system and I'd really appreciate some opinions. I'm looking at a mid-range system with the following cost limits:

CPU: <$300
Mobo: <$200
Ram: <$200

I've tentatively chosen the following parts:

E6400 ~$250
Gigabyte GA965P-DS3 ~$160
G.Skill 1GBx2 PC6400 (4-4-4-12) BZX (Intel only) ~$180

I plan to use the following parts from my current system:

Antec mid-tower case
eVGA 7800GT-CO
Antec SmartPower 500W PSU


My goal is a system that is stable for 24/7 use at 400FSB, 3.2GHz and if it does a little more for benchmarking, that's great but not a big deal to me. I'm sold on the E6400 since the E4300 might not be available for a few more months but I'm not convinced about the mobo and ram. The Abit AB9 doesn't appeal to me but should I wait to see the Asus P5B (non-Deluxe)? Is there any better ram for under $200?

BTW, sorry for making a new thread for this. I have searched the forum for days and found lots of useful info but I'd still appreciate some advice on my specific build. TIA.

[[XC] serlv]

Another good choice for RAM is Team's PC2 5300

2 Gb Kit DDR2 (2 x 1Gb) 3-4-4-8 667 Mhz
( TXDD2048M667HC3DC ) (http://www.tankguys.biz/ddr2-3448-p-1643.html?osCsid=bc9e3f526e4ff6b159a90ca0cca06adf)

I am like you, in the same boat, and after much research went and ordered this RAM. The tried to deliver it yesterday but I wasn't home.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My DS-3 was delivered on Tuesday.

I'm trying to decide on a heatsink. I'm leaning towards the Thermalright Ultra-120.

I'm also trying to figure out which PSU. This machine is not going to be loaded with stuff ( lean and mean .. LOL ) so I don't need the absolute best, but do want something rock solid.


~~~~
edit - someone else posted pretty much the sam thing while I was finding the link.

great minds think alike ... :)

[Fred_Pohl]

Imp']ionno, i've heard good things about the Abit if you can handle the layout...

Thanks. Although my Abit BX6 was one of the best mobos I've ever owned, Abit ain't what they used to be and the layout of the AB9 really sucks, IMO.

BTW, that old 1998 BX6 has been through the following cpus and is still in use today by my youngest. :D

C266 @448
C300A @504
C366 @550
C900 @1008

[[TAG]Imp]

Thanks. Although my Abit BX6 was one of the best mobos I've ever owned, Abit ain't what they used to be and the layout of the AB9 really sucks, IMO.

BTW, that old 1998 BX6 has been through the following cpus and is still in use today by my youngest. :D

C266 @448
C300A @504
C366 @550
C900 @1008
Nice.... this is the first mobo by the new abit, and their line on the crappy layout is: "we did it to optimize the overclocking"... from what i've heard, it's good for the price, but i'll post some results with my D 805 (no conroe till christmas:( :( :( ) when i get the rest of my parts. Slow ass newegg.... I love them, but my ZZF order got here 2 days after i ordered it, and the shipping was free..

[Fred_Pohl]

Looks fine to me ... you decide on a heatsink ?

Actually no. I forgot to add that to my list. I'd like to re-use my old SLK900 but apparently it won't work with S775. :(

I was considering the AC Freezer 7 but I'm oepn to suggestions.

[Fred_Pohl]

I am getting the same CPU and already have the DS3. Go with the team DDR2 instead of the gskill for 187 - http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=101692&page=15

Thanks. I'll definitely consider that option but will it do 4-4-4 @800+? I've always been a bit leery of buying ram rated at one speed with the intention of overclocking it much higher. If it does it, great. If not, on what basis do I RMA it if it runs fine at it's rated speed/timings?

[Haltech]

http://www.venomousmofo.com/pictures/team1.jpg
http://www.venomousmofo.com/pictures/team2.jpg

[Fred_Pohl]

Another good choice for RAM is Team's PC2 5300

2 Gb Kit DDR2 (2 x 1Gb) 3-4-4-8 667 Mhz
( TXDD2048M667HC3DC ) (http://www.tankguys.biz/ddr2-3448-p-1643.html?osCsid=bc9e3f526e4ff6b159a90ca0cca06adf)

I am like you, in the same boat, and after much research went and ordered this RAM. The tried to deliver it yesterday but I wasn't home.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My DS-3 was delivered on Tuesday.

I'm trying to decide on a heatsink. I'm leaning towards the Thermalright Ultra-120.

I'm also trying to figure out which PSU. This machine is not going to be loaded with stuff ( lean and mean .. LOL ) so I don't need the absolute best, but do want something rock solid.


~~~~
edit - someone else posted pretty much the sam thing while I was finding the link.

great minds think alike ... :)


Thanks. I'll check some threads for results with the Team ram. If it's Micron based and does at least 4-4-4 @800, that's a great deal. The Ultra-120 looks like an excellent HS. Thermalright has long been my favorite but they aren't cheap (at least not as cheap as I am). I don't know much about all the new PSUs out there but I've never had any problems with Antec or FSP. If for some reason my dual-rail Antec doesn't work out, I've got a 530W single-rail FSP I'll try.

Good luck with the DS3. Post your results soon. You can be my DS3 guinnea pig. ;)

[Fred_Pohl]

Imp']Nice.... this is the first mobo by the new abit, and their line on the crappy layout is: "we did it to optimize the overclocking"... from what i've heard, it's good for the price, but i'll post some results with my D 805 (no conroe till christmas:( :( :( ) when i get the rest of my parts. Slow ass newegg.... I love them, but my ZZF order got here 2 days after i ordered it, and the shipping was free..

I hope the AB9 turns out to be a great mobo, despite the crappy layout. We need more <$200 Conroe mobos. My biggest concern is stability but FSB overclocking is a close second. I'd hate to buy a mobo and then find out that it can't run reliably above 350FSB. With an 8x multiplier, that would be a terrible waste of Conroe. :D

I agree about Newegg being slow. They were great when they used Fedex but UPS sux ass. UPS 3 day shipping usually takes 5-7 days to reach me while Fedex 3 day took 2-3. I've been buying from ZZF since their Googlegear days and I prefer them to Newegg if they have the same item within a few bucks of Newegg's price.