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Perkam
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Perkam
This'll be updated as Conroe Launches.
Perkam
You spend more than 3K in a shop and they still charge you for shipping :eek:Quote:
Air Cooling: $3,632 + $100 Shipping = $3,732
Scroudges :p:
Hmmm...
Is this an Intel or AMD thread???:slapass:
exactly you have almost all the guide with amd processors xD
You have some AMD parts :|
AMD "What To Buy" Guide 2006
This is Intel what-to-buy guide
The previous intel guide went outdated because of severe pricing changes, even though it had conroe builds in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pirated
If you see the code from the guide, it takes more than 8 pages single spaced of code to right a guide where members can not only look at the hardware that bests suits a certain price range, but also be able to directly go to where they can buy it for the lowest price. The guide in total takes about 6 months to finish to ensure futureproofness.
Because I had already updated the parts and prices for the AMD guide and only needed to change the Processor, Motherboard and CPU HSF to transform it into the Intel Edition, you saw the guide while I still editing it :)
Sometimes the guide doesn't get updated for days if I'm busy. Today I decided to do it in one whole shot.
Hence its done for now - all the links work, the prices are accurate, and its meant to be all intel - though will require updating when Conroe launches and when AMD AM2 Opterons Launch later this summer.
Perkam
Perkam:
That's good idea dude.
hope you keep updating, thanks!
Updated Xtreme Gamer Rig with Crossfire.
Perkam
My budget is $700 for a CPU, mobo, RAM and GFX (I don't need a very good graphic card though). I need some help with my build! I have my Tuniq Tower 120 ready and I want to be able to OC my rig as much as possible for that budget. Here's what I found so far (tips welcome):
CPU: C2D E6400 - $224
Motherboard: Gigabyte 965P DS4 - $220
RAM: OCZ 1024 6400 (2x512 dual channel) CL 4 Platinum - $180
GFX: Sapphire Radeon X1600PRO 256MB DDRII $110
=====================
Sum: $730~
CPU: C2D E6600 - $316
Motherboard: MSI P965 NEO-F - $165
RAM: Corsair XMS2 5400 DDR2, 1024MB PC5400, CAS 4-4-4-12 $140
GFX: Sapphire Radeon X550 256MB DDR $80
=====================
Sum: $700~
So which one is best for a 24/7 OC @ 3~ ghz? Or maybe in other way... which setup has the best performance?
Your Rig:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 - $316 ~ When Available
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $143
RAM: Patriot 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail - $118
GFX: POWERCOLOR X800GTO256MBDDR3 Radeon X800GTO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $96
Total: $673
That gfx is more powerful than my x800gt and about twice as powerful as an x1600pro.
Perkam
Don't you think a good mobo and 6400 ram with E6400 will do better than E6600 but with less good mobo (<400 FSB) and 5300 ram? Cause if I buy E6400 I would like to have a better mobo (atleast 400 FSB) with RAID5 support (prolly DS4).
P.S Does Newegg ship internationally? Cause I can't find that graphic card and ram in my country :(.
Thats ok. Any 1gb of DDR2 800 should be the same price. Just look for gskill, ocz platinum, corsair or mushkin for some good clocking ddr2 800 ram :) Plus as you said gfx doesn't matter much ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by celerity
You're right about the balance thing. An E6400 with a good conroe mobo would be good :)
Look for Asus P5W DH Deluxe: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131025 + E6400
...for the best :)
Perkam
I just learned about this processor today. Is it a good performer at stock and a good overclocker. I figured that it's low fsb and high multi should allow it to clock well.Quote:
Originally Posted by perkam
[U
Should clock to 4ghz and beyond with ease.Quote:
Originally Posted by de redhead
Perkam
With the exception of Conroe links...It's done :)
Thx for the feedback and support everyone :) It's FINAL :D
Perkam
Great guide, I had already ordered most of the parts you mentioned =) Oh, if you guys care, Fry's is selling the platinum versoin of the OCZ memory for 139$ shipped. I just got myself some!
link
no 975 chip boards?
Not until they come in stock ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallman
Conroe price gouging is bad enough as it is.
Chrono, thats great news :) Do let us know when you get the parts.
Perkam
I would go with the Thermaltake Big Typhoon instead of the Thermalright SI-128. I would also ditch those older revision 8MB cache Raptors and get the faster 16MB cache version. The 16MB version is actually as fast and in some benches faster then the 150GB model. I would also get rid of those lower-end cases on those high-end rigs and get some Lian-Li V series cases in there :).
Any particular reason for Western Digital hd's? I prefer Seagates myself.
It's a overall preference...I try to keep the same brand consistently wherever I can.Quote:
Originally Posted by THE JEW (RaVeN)
Perkam
I would also personally ditch the idea of RAID setups on all the systems except the very high-end. RAID0 in itself makes almost no difference at all for an average user. You can't tell a difference unless you are doing something disk intensive with large amounts of raw data like video editing. For gaming it will making literally no difference. Western Digital RE drives have to be run in RAID or you will cut the lifespan of the drive down because they are designed for RAID implementation. I would be looking at the WD 2500KS 16MB SATA or Seagate 7200.10 320GB SATA drives for all the systems except the highest-end and i would put 150GB raptors in it. I have two 2500KS drives that i've been running in RAID0 but its pretty worthless so i'm going to split them up so i can be able to move data between two independent drives and wipe one of them if i need to.
Part of it is what fits best....and you're right some places there might be an imbalance...but the guide is also a culmination of what most users prefer in their gaming rigs, and a lot prefer to have raid 0 if they don't have it already.Quote:
Originally Posted by burningrave101
Makes for faster loading times in cs: s from what i hear :p:
Perkam
A reputable Anandtech article a while back pretty much showed RAID0 did not improve gaming performance, load times or most real world performance for that matter. However, it did dramatically affect synthetic benchmarks...
Then we're both in agreement.Quote:
Originally Posted by Soulburner
:lol:
Perkam
How about suggestions for an Intel HTPC / media (center) PC build? (Based on Conroe of course, either E6300 or E6600 would seem logical. I'll personally go with the E6600, I'm quite sure.)
An interesting case would be the hFX Mini - an all-passive with support for CPUs up to 120W. Especially if you get the fanless 165W mini-PSU. It's caught my eye anyhow, but I guess it's a question of taste.
Anyway... what motherboard would you suggest for an E6300 and E6600 based HTPC, respectively? It would seem from the existing guide that ASUS P5B Deluxe is the best (if you can afford it), then comes the Gigabyte GA-8I945P-G and for value rigs Foxconn 945G7MA-8KS2 seems to be best value? Would these be the same for an HTPC (I can't see why they shouldn't, but I haven't stayed update with Intel for a long time, so please excuse me for asking).
Otherwise excellent guide, kudos to you Perkam! My only remaining inquiry is why the ASUS is regarded to be the best? What makes it better/stand out more than the competition?
(On a side note, it turned out, as forecast by many, that the P965 spanks "big-brother" i975X I take it?)
What about the upcoming Abit board Fugger made a thread about?
Thanks!
~ Kris
I'm still wondering why you have a 965 board with XFire? Shouldn't you have a 975 board to go with that?
UDPATE
- Conroe links Added From ZZF
- "Xtreme" rigs or any with crossfire changed to 975x Mobos upon request
- X1950 Single and Crossfire added based on estimated prices.
- Updated X1900 Prices Added (X1900 Crossfire can now be had for as little as $700)
- All prices updated as of 11PM EST 08/19/2006
- DFI Infinity and MSI 975 Mobos Chosen for Xtreme Rigs
- Mainstream Rig Mobos reverted from Abit AB9 To Gigabyte DS3
- Intel Bench Machine is now using 2gb of TeamGroup cas 3 ddr2 667 Guaranteed D9s for its main memory
Perkam
How bout the mobo used at latest or recent "on air" records made here ? -> Xtreme Overclocking . Which category ? :D
Most Intel boards are either hard to get guaranteed revisions of (rev 302/304) or they require mods for the same oc options enthusiast (MSI/DFI/Asus) boards have anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by bing
Perkam
Cool, you chose my future board (MSI 975X PPUE) for the Intel Bench rig... any particular reasons why you chose this over the P5W DH?
Suman
P5W DH = Rare as a blue moon to find in stock.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sumanji
Perkam
Wow really?! Pretty much in stock everywhere here in the UK, but bloody expensive at £150+. Oh well, the MSI is a superior board anyway :p:
Too bad, too, probably a nice board.. I guess I'll never know :brick:Quote:
Originally Posted by perkam
outpost has the Silverstone ST50EF for $69 + shipping. a little cheaper.
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by sn_85
That's a high quality 500W PSU !!!! As good as any enermax liberty.
Perkam
Great Guide!
I do have a suggestion for an added category though - Conroe Cruncher.. for those that don't want to do the 805 route
I had one on there for about a week ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hymay
But at the time the components were too expensive and those who DO crunch with conroe use at least an E6600...which ALONE is going for more than price of an entire PD805 Cruncher Rig Shipped.
Perkam
that 7900 in the mainstream power is INCREDIBLY overpriced...
Is the MSI better / more stable than the DFI? How do they compare feature-wise and as the P965 board was dropped from the list, I take it i975x is indeed superior?
My previous experiences with DFI haven't been too great when it comes to stability, which is very important to me. Overclocking by all means, but not at the expense of 24/7 stability.
So, what is the general consensus, is the MSI the best mobo for conroe out there at this moment, ignoring price?
I do not intend on going neither cross-fire nor SLI, at least not before R600 arrives and if I go CF then, I'd gladly replace the motherboard. So CF/SLI is a feature that I do not need
Thank you ever so much!
~ Kris
edit: Another question, what are the main differences between Intel ICH7R and Intel ICH7 DH south bridges?
Does anyone have a good link where one could read-up on the best chipsets (nbs and sbs) as well as mobos for conroe?
975 isn't surperior to 965...
no, the best mobo out now ignoring price is the P5WDG2 WS Pro.
both the MSI and DFI are mediocre boards, IMO.
Dunno about the DFI, but give the MSI some time, the BIOS is still very immature... :devil:Quote:
Originally Posted by [TAG]Imp
The Gigabyte DS3 didn't work with the OCZ 6400 memory I bought, even with the BIOS voltage change. I winded up getting cheaper Corsair value ram that boots at 1.8v fine.
Excellent thread Perkam
may I suggest that you gives explanantion for the title, as in
INTEL Value
INTEL Dedicated Cruncher
INTEL Gaming On A Budget
INTEL Mainstream Power
INTEL Mainstream Gamer
INTEL Xtreme Gamer
INTEL HardCore MultiTasker
INTEL Bench Machine
gives them definition e.g.
Intel Value for those who used the rig only for office appz
gives appz example
INTEL Xtreme Gamer for playin "A Game" with "AxB" resolution
hi
suggestion
add gigabyte ds4 mobo, cause better cooling and phase regulation...
price is somewhere there :D
Great Resource Thanks!
If your going to be buying an OEM CPU, you can't use stock cooling, as they don't come with a HFS.....Quote:
Originally Posted by perkam
I may well have misread it, but thats just my $0.02
i think we could try to ditch the Pentium D's. Core 2 is just so much better, and not too much more expensive.
See an core2's for $100 lately ?Quote:
Originally Posted by breakfromyou
Awaiting Pentium E to replace those...yes there will be single cores in the next update...which won't be a big one.
Perkam
Hey perkam, can you give me a hand. I'm having a hard time picking out a good RAM. These are the components I plan on buying:
Intel Conroe E6600
Leadtek GeForce 8800GTX
Seasonic S12-500 500W ATX
Cooler Master Stacker 830
Sunbeam Tuniq Tower 120
Plus a 680i based motherboard which I'm still waiting on and ofcourse RAM.
Is CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) good enough? I've been hearing something about some DB9 chips. Does this RAM
have them? Are they that important? I really can't afford anything more expensive so I'm looking the best ram for about 285€ in Europe (~300$ in the states).
I'm really in the dark when it comes to RAM. I have no idea what those PC numbers mean.
I just want a good ram, that will run as optimized with my system as possible.
Thanks.
a new guide for these holidays would be great!
;)
thx perkam