New Build with a Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800

Dempsey

Im going getting a Core 2 Extreme X6800 because I can get 50% discount but my last build was about 2-3 years ago. I havent been keeping up with things.

I'm going to looking at reviews of Hardware myself but I'd appreciate input from you guys aswell.

I dont need monitors, keyboard, mouse, speakers. I just want to change the tower.

The main criteria for my new spec is

Good Overclocking Motherboard
2Gb of High Grade Memory for the overclock
The Best Heatsink for a Core 2
Quiet PSU but power enough for a decent overclock
Quality GFX that doesnt cost an arm and a leg
A Case that is good for overclocking and can house at least 4 hard drives
For HDD's im looking at RAID 5 with about 1TB but im open to other suggestions.

I'm thinking of overclocking a small bit using air cooling but nothing that would blow the chip. It would be an expensive mistake.

The maximum im willing to spend is about €2,000 altogether but I hope that wont.

Everyone's input would be appreciated. DDR2 Memory is something that im completely lost on aswell

Thanks in advance

Cuddlesworth

psu= PC&P SILENCER® 750
Case= Lian Li v2100
HD's= Raptor as a boot and 3 500gig in raid 5 if you really want to keep all your data and have the cash. Best get a controller card rather than use any onboard raid though.

Havnt read up on Conroe parts yet! :rolleyes:

conzy

krazy_8s wrote:

psu= PC&P SILENCER® 750
Case= Lian Li v2100
HD's= Raptor as a boot and 3 500gig in raid 5 if you really want to keep all your data and have the cash. Best get a controller card rather than use any onboard raid though.

Havnt read up on Conroe parts yet! :rolleyes:

^Well there's your €2000 gone already

The best board at the minute seems to be the Asus P5W DH Deluxe,

An Enermax Liberty 620watt, would be powerful enough and wouldnt cost as much as the PC&P

Dont know about ram..

Viewsonic VX2025wm gets my vote as always

Buadhach

I'm in the same situation and have investigated this for a while.
This is a list that has changed many times until I was happy with it. See what you think.:D

Zalman CNPS9500LED Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler, Socket 478/775/754/939/940

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=312473

OCZ Technology Powersupply ATX/EPS 600W, 120mm Fan, SATA, 4/8pin CPU, 20/24pin

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=324468

Hitachi Deskstar T7K250 250GB SATA2 8MB 7200RPM

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=308745

Corsair TWIN2X 6400C3 DDR2, 2048MB CL3, Kit w/two 1GB Dimm's, E.P.P Technology

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=321870

Club3D Radeon X1950XTX 512MB GDDR4, PCI-Express, Dual-DVI-I, VIVO, CF Ready

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=324909

Asus P5W DH Deluxe,I975X,Socket-775,ATX, SATAIIx7, Dual-GbLAN, DDR2, 2xPCI-Ex16

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=321774

PogMoThoin

:rolleyes: That looks nice Buadhach, but you don't need to go that expensive on the ram with the E6800 & an unlocked multi. I'd suggest the GSkill Hz on this page: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/GSkill_Memory.html
Every1 on xs forums is raving on bout it. No probs hittin cl3 at 800-900mhz

OCZ & Fortron psu's are the exact same, both made in the same factory. Fortron might work out cheaper. Min i'd recommend is 600w if your running raid 5 with a terabyte, maybe 700w if you plan to oc.

This is 1 of the best coolers out there, cheap too. 5th one down: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Arctic_Cooling_CPU_Coolers.html

Buadhach

I read a lot of mixed reviews of OcUK.
e.g. I've read that components that are showing in stock sometimes aren't.

I'd normally buy with Komplett as I've never had any probs with them. I'm presuming you've never had probs with OcUK.

Is people's experience with OcUK generally good?

Creamy Goodness

anytime i've ordered with OCUK they have been good, i do have a gripe with their phone system but not every company is perfect.

i buy off ocuk more than komplett are they've just screwed me around so much. i sent a motherboard back that had the socket clip broken when i took it out of the bag they tested it and said it was ok and sent me back the board

PogMoThoin

I've had no major probs with ocuk. There was a big delay in shipping my conroe, but it was royal mail that were at fault (silly me, i should have paid for parcelpost not postage). I rma'd a raptor, posted on fri, had new 1 on the following thur. I'd deal again with them. Quicker delivery than Komplett.

Dempsey

Thanks for the advice so far, keep it coming.

How loud is that PSU your recommending, I would like the system to be quiet aswell if possible.

I'll probably order my stuff from 3 places, komplett, shop4memory and ocuk. I've used them all before they usually have a good service

Psycopat

Buadhach wrote:

Is people's experience with OcUK generally good?

not at all tbh

awhir

seasonic make great silent psu's .

DemonOfTheFall

Yeah, I can't recommend Seasonic enough. They are just silent. That is all.

awhir

and also good psu too.

BKtje

I'd also highly recommend the seasonic 600w psu, very very quiet (passive infact mostly).

I've been using overclockers.co.uk for years now and i've never had any problems with them. Have rma'd a few things and have had very quick returns.

The case i have in my sig is also very very nice. Lightweight and silent (not to mention easy to use). Has a main hard drive enclosure that can hold 4 hard drives but you can also stick them in any of the 5 and a half inch bays quite easily. The hard drive bay itself has a big 120mm fan drawing air out to keep those hard drives cool. Cant recommend it enough really.

The asus p5w dh deluxe is also very nice tho it comes with a lot extras that you may or may not need. Take a look at the asus site and you'll see a complete list of its features. Only problem i have is that it doesnt seem to like cold booting but i haven't tried looking for a solution yet but its not really a big deal. Its not cheap however (then very few conroe mobos are).

I plan to get a passive heatsink with an ultra quiet 120mm fan for when i decide to properly overclock. If im right it should make this machine almost totally silent but won't know till i get around to purchasing and installing the parts.

Machine in sig came to about €2k when you include the raptors and a few other bits iirc.

Dempsey

Which OS should I be getting, Vista, XP Pro or Media Centre.

Also, I dont want this thread to turn into a debate on how good OCUK or any other company is. Thanks.

The Seasonic sounds like the very good option, where did you pick up yours?

PogMoThoin

Dempsey wrote:

Which OS should I be getting, Vista, XP Pro or Media Centre.

Also, I dont want this thread to turn into a debate on how good OCUK or any other company is. Thanks.

The Seasonic sounds like the very good option, where did you pick up yours?

Vista is not out yet. I'd get an OEM copy of xp pro.

BKtje

The Seasonic sounds like the very good option, where did you pick up yours?

Picked it up from dabs here

Romero

Hey Dempsey

Are u working in Leixlip to get that kind of discount lol? I was thinking of going with the 6700 rather then the 6800.

Cheers

Romero

PogMoThoin

IMHO 6800 is a waste unless you get it cheap like Dempsey. Nobody has clocked a 6800 higher than a 6700.

Dempsey

Romero wrote:

Hey Dempsey

Are u working in Leixlip to get that kind of discount lol? I was thinking of going with the 6700 rather then the 6800.

Cheers

Snake

Yes:D

Intel Employees can buy any Intel CPU at 50% and thats in $ so its actually even less but it will probably get taxed coming into the country so it ends back up around 50% i reckon.

I'm not mad enough or a lotto winner to buy a EE at retail prices. I'm going to use my window of opportunity.

Dempsey

So far based on hardware reviews and people's opinions

Seasonic S12 Powersupply 600W €160
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=314759

ASUS P5W DH Deluxe Digital Home Series €237.99
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=321774

ZALMAN ZM CNPS9500 LED - processor cooler €62
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=312473

Is anyone here using the XP Media Centre Editon?

I plan to play games but I want to be able to play films etc on a TV at the drop of hat aswell

Romero

Hey Dempsey so am I, but I am going to wait around for what the loaner crowd have to offer, might be some unlocked engineering samples in the batch . Also with Kentsfield coming out soon we'll probably be offered something along the same discount for a 4 core chip!
Your build above is fine I would recommend a couple of Raptors 150gb to keep the OS running along nicely, Graphics cards it will have to be something from Nvida seeing as ATI has joined the darkside .

Cheers

Romero

PogMoThoin

Romero wrote:

Hey Dempsey so am I, but I am going to wait around for what the loaner crowd have to offer, might be some unlocked engineering samples in the batch . Also with Kentsfield coming out soon we'll probably be offered something along the same discount for a 4 core chip!
Your build above is fine I would recommend a couple of Raptors 150gb to keep the OS running along nicely, Graphics cards it will have to be something from Nvida seeing as ATI has joined the darkside .

Cheers

Snake

:rolleyes: New .10 series seagate are nearly as fast as raptors at half the price. He'd be as well go with Ati as he's gettin 975 mobo that supports only xfire not sli

Romero

Hey PogMoThoin,

Nice tip on the Seagates, I must check them out for my next build.

Thanks

Dempsey

The multiplier is unlocked on the E6800, dont need no engineering sample.

BadCharlie

Dempsey wrote:

Yes:D

Intel Employees can buy any Intel CPU at 50% and thats in $ so its actually even less but it will probably get taxed coming into the country so it ends back up around 50% i reckon.

I'm not mad enough or a lotto winner to buy a EE at retail prices. I'm going to use my window of opportunity.

I think then i would wait just a few more months and get the Kentsfield chip. Or just build a second computer and still get the Kentsfield. I think the Kentsfield is going to be very very powerfull but also going to very pricey.

L31mr0d

Dempsey wrote:

Yes:D

Intel Employees can buy any Intel CPU at 50% and thats in $ so its actually even less but it will probably get taxed coming into the country so it ends back up around 50% i reckon.

I'm not mad enough or a lotto winner to buy a EE at retail prices. I'm going to use my window of opportunity.

Really? I have a few friends that work over at intel in Leixlip and they never mentioned that deal. Are only certain employees given this discount? Sorry if its OT

Dempsey

Contractors, green badge, may not get the offer. Its available but not well advertised to employees.

Is the Kentsfield a server or desktop CPU? I may not be at intel much longer so I'm buying now

I now have my Extreme Edition ordered so I better step up my search for compenents.

Can anyone recommend a good RAID 5 Controller? Those seagates sound too good to be true but I hope your right

Psycopat

Dempsey wrote:

Is the Kentsfield a server or desktop CPU? I may not be at intel much longer so I'm buying now

Desktop, same as conroe but 4 cores instead of 2

DemonOfTheFall

I think the inbuilt Intel matrix raid chip does RAID 5. Not sure how good or bad it is though...

Dempsey

Seasonic S12 Powersupply 600W €160
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=314759

ASUS P5W DH Deluxe Digital Home Series €237.99
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=321774

ZALMAN ZM CNPS9500 LED - processor cooler €62
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=312473

2Gb DDR2 PC-6400 Platinum XTC Series Dual Channel kit - OCZ €278
http://www.shop4memory.com/products/ddr2.asp

Thermaltake Kandalf Black, Aluminium Front, Super tower (Without PSU) €175
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=310552

4 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 16MB 7200RPM €420.08
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=320709

What do people think of the case selection? I dont to move it very often so it can be heavy.

I'll need a SATA2 RAID 5 controller. Anyone have any suggestions

I'm still trying to catch up on the memory market. Is the selection correct. Is it forward compatible with the Kentsfield?

I forgot to mention a high performance DVD -/+ RW and a DVD ROM drive.