Doing some changes to my rig!

[Lamb]

:welcome:

I currently have that and plan on changing some parts after summer!

Antec 900
Asus Maximus Formula
Intel E8400 @ 4.0ghz cooled by TT IFX-14
Diamond Viper HD3870X2
G.Skill PC8000 2x2GB cooled by OCZ XTC Memory Cooler
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W

So here's what I'm going to change :
Case : CoolerMaster Cosmos S-1100 Black
Proc : Q6600 or Q9550 (a bit later this year, probably not before the price of the Q9550 goes down)
GPU : 4870 (Xfire?)
PSU : Corsair HX1000

My biggest concerns are;

1-Does the Q9550 would really worth it over a cheap Q6600 ''G0'' knowing I just want to O/C it around 3.6ghz (air cooled with IFX-14 & 2 Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000RPM)

2-Would an aftermarket cooler for the GPU worth it? (HR03/05) If so, anyone would happen to know if it does fit on new ATI HD4850/4870?

3-Cosmos are good cases? The IFX-14 would fit in there without problems? (It's a bit tight in my Antec 900 :P)

4-Corsair HX1000 seems like one great modular PSU, is there any better within the same price range (200-300$...or lower if I don't need so much juice ;Pkeep it modular! I'd like something big tho so it will last for some times... )

[ExodusC]

1-Does the Q9550 would really worth it over a cheap Q6600 ''G0'' knowing I just want to O/C it around 3.6ghz (air cooled with IFX-14 & 2 Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000RPM)
In my opinion, the Q6600 is a far better buy. Now, it seems that the newer batches don't overclock well at all, I've heard of people not being able to get their new batch G0s over 3.2GHz. Honestly though, I don't think that the extra $250 is worth it to buy a Q9550, unless you really for some reason need to have such a high clock speed.


2-Would an aftermarket cooler for the GPU worth it? (HR03/05) If so, anyone would happen to know if it does fit on new ATI HD4850/4870?
I do know that the HD4850s run very, very hot on their stock cooler, and that with aftermarket coolers, people have gotten at least half the temperature of the stock cooler. At this point I do not think anyone knows how well the 4850s will overclock, as the only tool people can use is Catalyst Control Center right now. However, if you want a cooler running GPU, an aftermarket cooler would not be a bad idea.

As far as the HR-03/05 fitting, I don't know for sure, but users have reported the HD4850/70 having standard mounting holes, and that the Accelero S2 does fit on it. I've never owned an Accelero S2 or an HR-03/05, but if they use the same mounting holes it should fit.


3-Cosmos are good cases? The IFX-14 would fit in there without problems? (It's a bit tight in my Antec 900 :P)

4-Corsair HX1000 seems like one great modular PSU, is there any better within the same price range (200-300$...or lower if I don't need so much juice ;Pkeep it modular! I'd like something big tho so it will last for some times... )
I can't comment on these as I don't think I'm knowledgeable enough as far as cases and power supplies go.

[Asgard_thor]

the q9550 will be down in price soon,

I would pick up a used Q6600 that I knew clocked good or a "known" good batch

[ExodusC]

the q9550 will be down in price soon,

I would pick up a used Q6600 that I knew clocked good or a "known" good batch
Yes, that's probably the best idea.

I have seen used Q6600s that can clock around 3.8GHz go for $200 before.

[Eniqmah]

Mind if I ask why you would need to step down from a 4g 8400? It is my experience that 8400 is plenty for A LOT of multitasking. Ne ways, I would actually wait for a refresh of 45nm quads and get a P45 b/c those are able to push the new quads a little higher in FSB.

[Lamb]

Because from the start I wanted a quad-core back in January when I've started to buy the pieces for my rig and I've been stuck with a E8400 since it was the only alternative at that time (I wanted a Q9450 at the time, but since it was getting delayed and processor being the only part that was still missing I've took a dual-core. Q6600 was still a little too high priced for me at that time I think :P)

As for the motherboard, I've been thinking about it, wouldn't a X48 one be better for a crossfire setup? And would it REALLY worth the mobo upgrade knowing I only want to go around 3.4-3.6ghz, which any good motherboard should be able to! Maximus Formula can support latest C2Q's?...

[Lamb]

Anyone?

Mobo upgrade from Asus Maximus Formula worth it for a new quad-core? (Q9550)

P45 or X48? And why? I've been looking over Google and on a bunch of forums, and just can't find which one is really the best, just that the ''BIG'' difference is the price...