Hows this rig?

[Wulf190]

Well I'm revising my system (IE I got sum cash to play with!).

CPU: E8400 wolfdale 3.0GHZ 45nm socket T Dual core
RAM: 2 GB DDR2 800 No sure which kit yet, I'm looking at a Kingston hyper X set with lower timings, but a worse rating, or a Corsair set with higher timings, but a better ratting
Case: Cooler Master CM 690 (I REALLY needed a case upgrade!)
MoBo: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R Rev. 2.0 LGA 775 Intel P35
VGA: I'm trying to decided between a 88GT, 88GTA (92), and a 88GTS with 112 stream processors (leaning toward the 88GTS (92) though)

I'm going to use my current PSU, a thermaltake tough power 650watt modular unit, my CPU cooler a thermaltake V1, both of my Seagate SATA HDDS 80gig and 120gig), and both of my optical drives (which are beige so my case it going to look somewhat like a Zebra). And I'll also keep my Creative sound blaster 2 value sound card.

what does yas tink?

Oh yeah, I will sell off my old tower too.

[Butcherbird17]

Looks like a good system. That e8400 will hit 4 ghz no problem at all on air.:jump:
The one thing i would do is instead of going with 800mhz memory id go with some 1066mhz instead. Myself im going with 4 gigs of these.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148069
you cant beat that price.:d I have the same mobo paired with a e6750 running at 3.4 and am more then happy with the preformance.

Joe

[Wulf190]

Not abad price, but I got a set of Corsair DDR2 800 for $49. I'm not going to snuff at that price.:d

[Butcherbird17]

Cant argue with that:d I've got 2x1ghz of Corsair XMS2 800mhz in my system now, but its whats holding me back from hitting 3.8. :banghead:

Joe

[txnetcop]

Looks like a good system. That e8400 will hit 4 ghz no problem at all on air.:jump:
The one thing i would do is instead of going with 800mhz memory id go with some 1066mhz instead. Myself im going with 4 gigs of these.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148069
you cant beat that price.:d I have the same mobo paired with a e6750 running at 3.4 and am more then happy with the preformance.

Joe

The E8400 will hit 4 gig on air and 5 gig with water cooling, but fsb is everything to make that happen. x-38 or P-35 chipset motherboard with DDR3 RAM 1333 or better. The testers at TechCorp had to go to 1333 or better to get a stable overclock at 4+ GHz. With E6850 I had to move to DDR2 1066 for a stable, fast overclock of 4GHz

Here's helper for E8400 overclock
http://iax-tech.com/cpu/e8400/01.htm

[Wulf190]

Well I'm not looking to hit 4GHZ, yet. I probably what to go up to 3.5-3.6, and then see where the temps are. My Opty 170 I'm currently using is clocked at 2.5GHZ, which is relatively mild, and I can clock it up 2.6GHZ at least on stock voltage, but if I go any higher I'd have to lower the HT,because right now at 2.5GHZ my HT is at 1000, and when overclocking this Opty, or any AMD I've worked with since my 3200 Venice, the HT has to be either at 1000, or less or the board will become unstable, and so far 2.5GHZ hasn't disappointed me at all, and the gain between 2.5 and 2.6 or 2.7 wouldn't be much, and I have seen very few Optys go to 3GHZ, and of those none of them were using a board like mine.

As far as temps go though, my Opty idles at 27C and loads up to 38-40C Max load. Love that Thermaltake V1.

But with that said I want more power, hence why the change. :d

[David_L6]

I just got this set for Vista 64 computer: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145

^^^Q6600 @ 3.4

Recently, I've had 4 sticks (4 X 1GB) of this RAM fail:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148069

^^^ Same computer as above.......

and 2 sticks (2 X 1GB) of this RAM fail: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

^^^Q6600 @ 3.2


I've had 4 sticks of the PC2 8000 (2 X 1GB + 2 X 512MB) running for a lot longer than the PC2 8500 and PC2 6400....... http://www.priceguidenetwork.com/computer-component/crucial-ballistix-1gb-ddr2-1000-pc2-8000-240-pin-gaming-memory-bl12864aa1005.html

^^^ QX6700 @ 3.5

[David_L6]

Case: Cooler Master CM 690


Good choice. I think that you are going to love that case. I used one when I built my son's computer. I switched out the front fan for one without a led, switched out the 120mm side fan for a 140mm, and added a 140mm in the top. A Q6700 (@ stock clock) with a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme runs nice and cool. (Running stock clocks because I used an Intel DG965WH motherboard (no overclocking options in BIOS). No real need to switch out the stock fans, but I liked being able to add a fan in the top to get rid of the hot air in the top of the case. The 140mm fans are quiet too.

[Wulf190]

I was looking at the set of Gskill ram, but my budget didn't allow it, for now. Over all I'm impressed by Gskill, I use a 2GB DDR kit in my current box, runs great, and I got a 2GB DRR2 800 kit for my Bro for Christmas, also runs well.

[Butcherbird17]

David, I've been looking at them G.Skill's too. I've read some good reviews on them. I've heard some horror stories with the Ballistix failing, but i do know it was because of insane overclocks and temps as them D9's run pretty hot. The one thing i wish was that Crucial made 2gb sticks as id rather run 2x2gb rather then 4x1. Are you doing any OCing with the G.Skills?

Txnetcop, That was a good review on the e8400, im really impressed with the preformance of this chip. Have you gotten one of the e8500? As this is the one im eyeing for upgrade around spring time.

Joe

[cannonhead]

I have a 2 gig kit of Ballistix 1066 running at 1125 mhz on only 2.5 volts They clock like mad! The only time I see them get Hot is under a blend test....Great stuff.Joe remember that is not just Ballistix failing but other brands as well,Basically any brand that has Micron D9 are subject to failure, there just sensitive to much voltage and Power Ripple from mobos:173go1::d

[David_L6]

David, I've been looking at them G.Skill's too. I've read some good reviews on them. I've heard some horror stories with the Ballistix failing, but i do know it was because of insane overclocks and temps as them D9's run pretty hot. The one thing i wish was that Crucial made 2gb sticks as id rather run 2x2gb rather then 4x1. Are you doing any OCing with the G.Skills?

Txnetcop, That was a good review on the e8400, im really impressed with the preformance of this chip. Have you gotten one of the e8500? As this is the one im eyeing for upgrade around spring time.

Joe

I'm running at 378FSB and 1/1 for now. Quickly tried 378FSB and 4/5 but computer wouldn't boot. http://www.peakin.com/xbx2/calculator.html

Crucial does make 2GB sticks:

http://www.priceguidenetwork.com/computer-component/crucial-4gb-2gbx2-ddr2-533-pc2-4200-non-ecc-240-pin-dimm-memory-module.html

http://www.priceguidenetwork.com/computer-component/crucial-4gb-kit-ddr2-667-pc2-5300-non-ecc-240-pin-dimm-memory-module.html

http://www.priceguidenetwork.com/computer-component/4gb-kit-2gbx2-240-pin-dimm-ddr2-pc2-6400-non-ecc.html

Maybe one of those kits would last longer than the Ballistix??? They are rated for 1.8 volts and Ballistix is rated 2.2 volts. I ran the Ballistix that failed at 2.2 volts and I'm running the Ballistix that hasn't failed (yet?) at 2.2 volts....

[David_L6]

I have a 2 gig kit of Ballistix 1066 running at 1125 mhz on only 2.5 volts They clock like mad! The only time I see them get Hot is under a blend test....Great stuff.Joe remember that is not just Ballistix failing but other brands as well,Basically any brand that has Micron D9 are subject to failure, there just sensitive to much voltage and Power Ripple from mobos:173go1::d


Consider yourself lucky. I've had 4 sticks of that stuff fail at 2.2 volts.

You are correct about the D9 - it is fragile.

[Lewis-A2A]

For the UK chaps the E8400 is £140 from overclockers.co.uk

[Butcherbird17]

What i meant was i wished they made ballistix in a 2x2 config, i knew they made 2 gig sticks:d Im still gunna go with the 4 gig of ballistix's 1066 mhz, but wont be OCing them to much. I'll just keep em at a 1/1 ratio as im looking more for a higher FSB. Im a mild manner OCer and dont really like pushing my stuff to hard.:icon_lol: The one thing Cannon didnt mention was that he does have a memory cooler on his ballistix's which helps keep em cool, and that they only get hot when doing a blend test with ortho's.:kilroy:

Joe