Need Advice

[polarr]

i'm buying a new computer in the coming week and am unsure what components to select. PLEASE make reccomendations. so far i have chosen:

-p4 2.4ghz 800fsb
-abit ic7 (or g version ???) or msi neo fis2r or Asus p4c800???
-2 x 256mb Kingston HyperX PC3500 or Corsair XMS3500 or OCZ El 3500??
-Radeon 9800
- wd raptor 36gb 10k sata

money is an object... in regards to ram the price seem to vary a lot between 3 brands what should i choose and is it worth paying extra $50 for 2.6ghz. Also what about cooling. i'm getting antex performance 1000 amg and will have 5 fans...will this be enough???

Thanks

[Liquid3D]

First; I'd recommend staying with the 2.4C, especially if your on a budget. From the overclocks I've seen, I believe you may not benefit so much, from a 200MHz model difference for $50.
Second; the ABit IS7 (http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=4295) is only $109, while the Abit IC7 (http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=4118) is only $142, and I believe this to be the best deal. Of course if it's the Abit IC7-G (http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=4082) for $209, I'd say go with the Asus P4C800 Deluxe (http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=3783) instead for $188. If you check the VRZone Northwood OC Database (http://www.vr-zone.com/guides/Intel/Northwood/) you'll find 8 / 10 of OC's are done with Asus P4C800, or other Asus boards. There's two Abit's on the list.
Third; Since your going to be dealing with extremely high FSB speeds, above 275FSB (hopefully) then memory is going to be crucial ([pardon the pun). I'm awaiting 2x512MB sticks of OCZ GOLD 3700 (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/OCZ+EL+DDR+PC-3700+Gold) Dual Channel Optimized, or OCZ DDR 3500 Dual Channel Platinum (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/OCZ+EL+DDR+PC-3500+Dual+Channel+Platinum), which is specifically designed for such environments. Ergo I'd eschew the more expensive IC7-G, and stick with the IC7 non-G, or an 865 board. There's also the MSI 875P Neo (http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=3787) which for $158 is the second least expensive 875 board out there. I would not, however; be frugal concerning memory, OCZ PC3700 Dual Channel Gold, or the DDR 3500 Dual Channel Platinum looks to be very promising!
Finally; in so far as your case choice, exhaust is important, however; I know people with 9 fans, and my system is 20C lower then theirs. WHY? I leave the side-panel off 24/7, and most importantly is the Thermalright SLK800 / SLK900U, I'll post my current temps at the bottom, and today it's warm here. I do use a loud Vantec Tornado 80mm/84CFM, but it's the SLK800 (right now) and I have the SLK900U waiting for my P4 2.4C to arrive. I cannot emphasize enough the criticality fo superior cooling, especially overclocikng this chip! I can think of no better combo for air then the Thermalright/Vantec , and it surpasses many H20 rigs. Hope this helps!

[JeffPH]

Liquid what board r u using for your P4? i ordered a slk900U for my msi but i dunno if it would fit what do u think?

[polarr]

thankyou very much,

ok that gold ocz ram is pricey. dont really want to start going over board.. should i get the gold ram + it7 or should i get p4c800 and kingston 3500??? also so with the cooling side. i should get that SLK900U + vantec tornado. also what about 2x front, 2 x rear fans??? what should i do??? what about Swifttech MCX4000?? do u think there will be a huge difference with the gold, platinum ocz and the kingston 3500 to justify price??? also what sort of 3dmark01 score could i be looking at if everythig suggested is done right???

thanks heaps!

[Major]

Welcome to the Xtreme polarr !!!! ;)

I don't think I'll add anyting to what Liquid3d has already said :D

[Liquid3D]

I went with Abit IS7. Thermalright claims the SLK900U is compatible with ALL Socket-478 motherboards. Here's the link to their site; http://www.thermalright.com/

Well now that you mention it, perhaps the P4C800 & Kingston combo may be your best bet, however; I'd rather not take the risk where memory is concerned. I should have my OCZ Gold DDR3700 Dual Optimized by Wed, wait and I'll post the results! Switech MCXxxx[/B] series and SLK800 seem to be juxtiposed between 1st and 2nd places in just about every HSF round-up since their release, with the ALpha PAL very close. The advantage to the MCX is you may be able to get away with a less powerful (read QUIET) fan, due to it's use of aluminum "pins" wich may have more surface area, and is quite an impressive HS design in it's own right. I don't think you'll go wrong either way, but if you do, my only concern would be the Hyper-X's reliability, and speed. I don't know if it overclocks as well as I've seen in EVERY case. ;)

[polarr]

ops forgot. do i need a gpu cooling thing like Zalman HP80A or should i just put fan in window next to it??? are the vantec tornado's very loud??? and what about the termaltake smart fanII?? which would be best for the rear/front/side???
thanks

[Liquid3D]

Unfortunately YES my Tornado puts out so much noise it literally can result in damaging auditory psychological effects. And that's no joke. I'm not crazee yet, but how do you know when you are? It is however the second highest CFM you can buy, next to the 92mm Tornado which is 119CFM, but in the 80mm catagory, and below it's the highest period @ 84CFM. And perhaps the loudest. Especiallly with the dang side panel off.

And yes I'd most definately recommend the most powerful side window fan you can get! With that and the variable speed fan that may be an excellent combo. You've really done your homework, and the Zalman is another fine choice!

[polarr]

ok so i gather that the p4c800 is a lot better than the ic7. now with the cooling i should get a SLK900U with 92mm tornado. then get the zalman for gpu and put 80mm tonado on window. then put the termaltake smart fanII'on front and rear (4x) or put 80mm tornado's front rear or will it be too loud having 6 of them all up???

but with this set up should it be cool enough to overclock past 3ghz using 2.4c??

[Liquid3D]

Fisrt Your decision to purchase the P4C800, is a wise one. I still suggest the OCZ GOLD 3700 Dual Channel, but wait three days and I'll post my benchs although they'll be pre-burn-in.
Second You'd go deaf from four 80mm Vantec Tornado's in any one place smaller then the Rose Bowl. The 92mm, vantec Tornado is an excellent choice for your HSF! It pushes 119CFM, the most powerful HSFan on the Planet! If my Vantec Tornado on the SLK800 has provided me with constant 16C to 28C temps for the last year across four motherboards, and three CPU's (all overclocked) then imagine what the 119CFM capable 92mm Tornado will accomplish on the new SLK900U design. Which is why I ordered it.

There are two immediate benefits here. First albeit slight, the 92mm fan is quieter. Second, the SLK900U is approximately 20mm shorter then the SLK800. Which means your pushing 35CFM more air, 30mm closer to the core with the SLK900U. I'm willing to hypothesis it's -7C to -13C difference even at load. Below is (poor quality pic) of the finish on my new SLK900U. I haven't tried it yet, waiting for the 92mm fan, currently my "old" SLK800 is running my 800MHz overclocked JIUHB1700 at 25C (70% usage Folding @ Home).

[polarr]

Thanks a lot for everything.
Now the final system looks like this

-Antec Plusview 1000 AMG
-Antec 480w Trueblue
-P4 2.4c
-P4C800
-OCZ Dual Channel 3700 Gold Edition (2x256mb)
-Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro
-WD Raptor 36gb 10k
-Thermalright SLK900U with 92mm Vantec Tornado
-Zalman HP80A
-80mm Vantec Tornado for window
-80mm Thermaltake Smart Fan II x2 (for rear as case already got 2x 80mm for front)

Now any other suggestions. Do you think this cooling is sufficent? and also i have kinda gone over budget cause of cooling. Would like to cut back somewhere i.e get IC7 or Kingston HyperX 3500. What you think?