I've been scoping out components for my next pc upgrade (much needed) for a long time, since i'm having to keep using my saved money for random bs (and impulses). I've saved 700 bucks so far, and looking to spend around $1500 on a major overhaul on my pc.

The components I must at least get are:

• Intel Core 2 (most likely a 1066MHz FSB as DDR3 is too expensive) $300-400
• P35 Chipset Motherboard $200-300
• 2GB DDR2 1066 (Comp Alliance has a matched GeiL set for $199) - $150-250
• 8800GT 512Mb - $350-450
• 700W+ PSU (would go less wattage/higher quality over cheaper/more wattage)
• 320Gb SATA HDD to go with my existing one (will have to ditch my 200GB ATA HDD)

Components I'm keeping (new or no need to upgrade):

• 22"/19" LCD Monitors
• Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer PCI
• Surround Sound Logitech
• Keyboard/Mouse
• Pioneer DVD-ROM Slot-load
• Lite-On DVD Burner
• Thermaltake Soprano Case

I was going to go for the following components (as at Computer Alliance):

• $349 - Intel Core 2 Q6600 (best 1066MHz FSB processor)
• $209 - ASUS S775 P5KC (has 4x DDR2 and 2x DDR3 so definitely futureproof)
• $259 - 2GB Geil Ultra 1066MHz Dual Channel DDR2 Kit
• $359 - ASUS 8800GT 512M PCIe Video Card
• $149 - 320GB Western Digital YS 7200rpm 16M SATA HDD 24x7
• $189 - Tagan 700 Watt Power Supply

Total Price: $1550 (as of today)

What you think? Any bad experience with any of these parts? Also, I know a quad-core aren't that amazing yet, but its the best 1066MHz FSB Core 2 you can get and once more intensive programs start to be developed it'll shows its future proofing.

Also, don't suggest a GTX or anything coz it wont fit in my case and I also don't wanna go much higher than 1600 coz it'll just take me longer and longer to save and I'm seriously over my current PCs s***house performance (especially the pitiful desktop performance)!

Does the 8800GT need 700W ?

Computer Alliance ? .. thought MSY, Umart and Queensland Computer Group were all cheaper (plus I had issues with them the one time I purchased off them)

Personally I like the Gigabyte boards.

You spell like a f***ing asian no help for you

Yeh I prefer to shop at Computer Alliance because they have decent customer service and policies. And they know how to make a decent website :P

Would a better quality 600W PSU be good then? I've got a Belkin power surge protector as well. I'm want to give this beast some smooooth power to run on.

EDIT:

You spell like a f***ing asian no help for you

Of course I do... Except for the coz's everything is on par with normal English I can assure you unless I am gravely mistaken :P

last edited by 3dee at 13:12:30 26/Dec/07

Get the Asus board over the gigabyte, they are nicer and more proven.

Youv listed some really nice gear there, get it and love it. I say go to CA, while you pay a tiny bit extra, you get waaay better service if something breaks.

Yeh CA have never been dodgy for me at least and theyre always friendly, even if there is no real 'line' of cust service which is the one gripe I have with them. You sort of just stand there somewhere in the shop until a person finishes and asks u over... Meh. Good shop, good service.

Also, I'm over Gigabyte. Ive had them for the last 2 or 3 mobos and yeh I wanna try out ASUS this time.

decent customer service

ahh no....

Asus mobo's are good. I bought a s***ty $99 one from CA's to get me by when I did an upgrade and it works awesomely so I didn't bother replacing it.

decent customer service

Lol yeh I meant, good policies. Bad service until someone is serving you. Its not necessarily bad, its just an awkward way of doing it. They need a proper line. Not a cramp up counter right next to the door. The shop is pretty good. Just awkward way of doing the service especially when its busy.

CA's rock but they should have a ticket despenser thingy at the counter. I'm pretty well known there so I get served ahead of the noobs waiting so it's not really an issue to me.

8-)

Niice. Yeh that'd be a good way to do it. Same as QLD transport. Works well, though fkn slow on busy days. Thank god i only go there once every 6 months or more.

ASUS S775 P5KC (has 4x DDR2 and 2x DDR3 so definitely futureproof)

it does have DDR3, though the performance is pretty dismal even with some nice uber expensive DDR3 in there... it's a good board to avoid. The P5K is getting long in the tooth, but it's still a good mobo. The only downside to the P5K is that most on the market are factory refurbs now

And they know how to make a decent website :P

Bulls***, that menu on the left is in no particular order and is in serious need of an overhaul. Put it in alphabetical order ffs you ijits.

How about this X38 mobo http://computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=8636?

I'm willing to spend another 100 bucks on a high quality motherboard however.

Bulls***, that menu on the left is in no particular order and is in serious need of an overhaul. Put it in alphabetical order ffs you ijits.

Actually I find the order is good. They put the important things like CPU, RAM, MoBo and Video Cards at the top. Always easy to find the major categories.

last edited by 3dee at 15:18:52 26/Dec/07

I reckon the CA website is awesome. It lists from least expensive to most expensive plus I'm not always up on what's new so having it that way makes it easy to tell what is good, like CPU's, video cards etc...

I've chosen the Enermax Liberty620W Power Supply over the 700W tagan. It's 30 bucks more but it modular and looks like a better quality one.

How about this X38 mobo http://computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=8636?

I nearly bought one of these the day I clamped eyes on it. Looks to be a great board from those that I've worked on.. though it's incompatibility with various Corsair ram made me wonder :/

I'd sooner have Corsair than GEIL ram, but I'd make the exception for this baby.

See I'd say CA customer service was awful... Umart is atleast efficient. MSY and Queensland Computer Group were fine, nothing but good experiences there.

I nearly bought one of these the day I clamped eyes on it. Looks to be a great board from those that I've worked on.. though it's incompatibility with various Corsair ram made me wonder :/

I'd sooner have Corsair than GEIL ram, but I'd make the exception for this baby.

Yeh I've gone with GeiL for a while as they're a quality brand but not too expensive. Hopefully won't have any problems with it but these parts may change by the time I get the money for the damn thing.

How about this X38 mobo http://computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=8636?

I would personally stick with the P35 chipset if you're only going to be using the one card, what you save can be put elsewhere. That being said, the P5E is a solid board.

Yeh, thats the trade-off. Is an extra 100 bucks for a really good board better than an just a good motherboard? I don't wanna skimp on motherboard's this time around since I never have enough money to buy decent mobos ever.

Oh btw what the hell happened to my sig? Someone ripped the HAL-9000 image out of it! wtf!

last edited by ³dee at 22:08:46 26/Dec/07

We prefer to put GSkill RAM in the PCs we built, much less likely to have compatibility issues.
If a system doesn't post, often the first thing we do is test it with GSkill, and 90% of the time the problem is solved.

Do they have 1066 DDR2 2Gb Matched sticks anywhere for $250 or less? Never rly bought G.Skill. I've always used GeiL. Has always worked fine.

this is the system im thinking about getting. im also looking to spend around $1500. these prices are from umart.

Gigabyte S775 GA-P35-DS3R Core 2 Motherboard - $163
Intel S775 Core 2 Q6600 Quad-Core CPU - $325
DDR2 2048MB PC2-8500 1066Mhz DDR2 Dual Channel(2x1024MB) GeiL - $215
MSI GF8800GT 512M OC DDR3 2 X Dual Link DVI HDCP HDTV-Out PCI-E - $459
Seagate SATAII NCQ 500GB 7200RPM 32mb Cache - $185

Total = $1347

any input from u guys would be most welcome. i want to try and spend that whole $1500 for the best possible machine.

how is that MSI 8800 1000 bucks more than most 8800s? Do most not have the HDTV features?

what do u mean $1000 more? its $459

edit: think u meant $100 more. you have your price wrong if you are getting your prices from ca. it should be $395 not $359.

im getting the msi graphics card because the latest pcpp has a write up where they have compared 6 8800gt card brands and msi ended up being the best buy.


last edited by ravn0s at 22:55:38 26/Dec/07

It is an overclocked version

MSI GF8800GT 512M OC

Also..
DDR2 2048MB(2x1G)PC8500 1066Mhz Blue Heatspreader G.Skill
Internet Price: $255.00

Looking at this late February, far from a finished build. Maybe old prices (more then a month ago), also I think dell no longer makes that monitor =(

Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 $285
CoolerMaster Real Power M850 (RS-850-ESBA) $258
Intel Q6600 1066FSB (GOSLACR stepping) $325
2GB DDR2 PC2-8500 1066Mhz (2x1024MB) GeiL $215
Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP $699
ASUS P5K DELUXE / WIFI-AP $289
Vista Home Premium 64bit $149
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Card PCI Express $85
Albatron GeForce 8800GTS 512MB DDR3 $479

Zalman CNPS9700LED (Copper) CPU Cooler $75
Zalman VF700-Cu $49

Total $2,908

last edited by Lynx at 23:18:41 26/Dec/07

Yeh, thats the trade-off. Is an extra 100 bucks for a really good board better than an just a good motherboard? I don't wanna skimp on motherboard's this time around since I never have enough money to buy decent mobos ever.

The catch is that the X38 boards aren't better at all, you're just paying a premium for the ability to run Crossfire and a massive headache that it will cause.

I personally have the P5K-E and you can't go wrong, if you want to spend the extra money you can upgrade to the Premium version (better build quality, but essentially has the same features).

i think i might change the graphics card to the

MSI GeForce 8800GTS 640M OC Dual DVI TVOut HDTV PCI Express Video

for an extra $16

# $259 - 2GB Geil Ultra 1066MHz Dual Channel DDR2 Kit

why are you getting PC-8500 RAM? Is it just me, or is the FSB 1066 on the CPU only requiring DDR2 533mhz (PC4200) RAM?

AFAIK:

CPU FSB 800mhz = RAM Required 400mhz
CPU FSB 1066mhz = RAM Required 533mhz
CPU FSB 1333mhz = RAM Required 667mhz
and the only thing you could do to require more is to overclock the memory bus speed? Are you planning on overclocking?

I don't think the mainboard would currently utilize the full extent of that RAM module's capability, and therefore be a waste of near on $100 extra on top of some decent PC6400 or similar.




Correct me if I'm wrong of course.

I'll just add in this tidbit of info, the 8800s have confused a few people as to what is the more powerful of the cards. This is the general rule of thumb, though it depends heavily on the game your playing. In ascending order.

Low End
gts 320 G88
gts 640 G88

Mid Range
gt 512 G92
gtx 768 G88
gts 512 G92

High End
Ultra G88

vv Like I said, it is quite dependent on the game and it's setting, some cards can outstretch others in games with lots of shaders in use, but not with raw polygon processing games.

last edited by Lynx at 00:29:05 27/Dec/07

from what ive read the gts 640mb outperforms the gt at high resolutions. i dont usually go over 1680 x 1050 while playing games, sowould it be better to get that or stick with the gt 512?

last edited by ravn0s at 00:00:00 27/Dec/07

Put it in alphabetical order ffs you ijits.

I agree with you 5000000% percent there....

Personally I like the Gigabyte boards.

Personally, I wouldn't piss on any of the GA33's or the DQ6's if my life depended on it. An to be honest, I'm not fond of the ASUS Maximus line either...

So far, I'm very happy with my new ASUS P5E an the 4gb of Geil Evo One - albeit dual channel not quad :(

why are you getting PC-8500 RAM? Is it just me, or is the FSB 1066 on the CPU only requiring DDR2 533mhz (PC4200) RAM?

Hmmmm. Where are the 2.1Ghz FSB cpus? If that is the case then maybe getting a Core 2 Duo 6850 (since ive heard these 3Ghz dual-cores are much better than a slower quad-core) is the better option and get some higher quality DDR2 667 ram to go with the 1333MHz FSB.

• $349 - Intel S775 Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz CPU
• $109 - DDR2 2GB G.Skill 667MHz PC5400 RAM Kit LA

?

what do u mean $1000 more? its $459

Yeh woops. rav, the GTs have been proven to be almost as fast as GTXs in some cases. They've mixed around the performance labels a bit. Personally I wouldn't go for a GTS anymore since the GTs are so cheap and much better (more shaders, bigger memory bus (512-bit)).

last edited by ³dee at 06:36:38 27/Dec/07

Well, given this news of the DDR2 ram (which I didn't even think about in the first place) i've shaved of some money to get it a bit sooner :D Here's the new parts list post-advise:

• $349 - Intel S775 Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz CPU
• $229 - ASUS S775 P5K-E/WiFi-AP Core 2 Motherboard
• $109 - DDR2 2GB G.Skill 667MHz PC5400 RAM Kit LA
• $399 - BFG 8800GT 512M PCIe Video Card
• $149 - 320GB Western Digital YS 7200rpm 16M SATA HDD 24x7
• $209 - Enermax Liberty620W Power Supply

Total: $1,444

They've mixed around the performance labels a bit.

Not really, it's still in order of GT -> GTS -> GTX even after the revisions. It's just that unless your playing in 1920x1200 or higher, there is no point in getting the GTX.

GTs are so cheap and much better (more shaders, bigger memory bus (512-bit))

The performance difference is minimal depending on the resolution you are playing at, btw:

GT - 256bit
GTS - 320bit
GTX - 384bit

aww i thought they had a 512-bit memory bus for some reason. Oh well still getting one coz they're cheap powerhouses.

aww i thought they had a 512-bit memory bus for some reason. Oh well still getting one coz they're cheap powerhouses.

I would still recommend it over the GTS for most people, unless they're starting to move into the 1680x1050 range where the extra ram will help.

If that is the case then maybe getting a Core 2 Duo 6850 (since ive heard these 3Ghz dual-cores are much better than a slower quad-core) is the better option

Both overclock really well (got a Q6600 B3 at 3.6), so I wouldn't be to phased over the stock speed unless you're going to leave it at that.

unless they're starting to move into the 1680x1050 range where the extra ram will help.

Well I'm getting the 512Mb version so theres almost as much RAM as on the GTS.

so I wouldn't be to phased over the stock speed unless you're going to leave it at that.

Yeh its not so much the speed, but its the general performance over those Q6600 quad-cores. I would definitelty go a quad-core but ive read a fair amount of reviews which have the 6850 very well outperforming the Q6600 even in multithreaded apps like compression and encoding. I was going to get one in the first place but as above, thought you needed the 1.3Ghz ram for the damn thing.

...but as above, thought you needed the 1.3Ghz ram for the damn...

a lot of people get thrown off by this. I couldn't understand why my 6850 clocked in @ 2gig instead of 3gig under CPU-Z.. If the cpu isn't doing anything in the background it'll clock down to 2gig. Run an mp3 or a tv ep in the background while you run-up CPU-Z and there she is, humming away at 3gigz

$229 - ASUS S775 P5K-E/WiFi-AP Core 2 Motherboard

get the dude at the store to open the mobo box and show you everything as new *before* you pay. I might be wrong here but I'm about 90% sure all P5K series mobo stocks from Aussie distributers are factory refurbished now. Asus is now pushing the newer X38 mobos, and has long since stopped manufacturing P5K varients

get the dude at the store to open the mobo box and show you everything as new *before* you pay. I might be wrong here but I'm about 90% sure all P5K series mobo stocks from Aussie distributers are factory refurbished now. Asus is now pushing the newer X38 mobos, and has long since stopped manufacturing P5K varients

Hmm thats a good thing to know. I might go gigabyte p35 or an x38. Id prefer to get the newer board however.

My 2c

Combo boards are awful, just get a DDR2 board, x38 would be the pick for the chipset.

Crazy to get a 1066 over 1333 FSB CPU, it has nothing to do with needing ddr2 or ddr3 RAM.

700w is probably overkill, the Tagan units are very very good though.. after checking available psu's I probably would just spend the small bit extra and get the Tagan.

Videocard pricing seems to be equal in the 8800GT 512 range at CA anyway, so whatever is in stock. Although not really a big fan of Palit :)

Combo boards are awful

YES! This is a practise i want to be rid of with this upgrade. Everytime I upgrade, I never have enough to upgrade all of the core components so I have had to go for new boards with legacy s*** on them just coz im (or was) a poor bastard.

I'm so sick of having micro-atx everything-for-all-your-old-s***ty-components motherboards!

I'm pretty sure I'll go for the X38. Once you go quality, you never go back.

is it worth waiting for the geforce9's to be released, or is a feb release only rumour?

I'm pretty sure I'll go for the X38. Once you go quality, you never go back.

hehe.. once you have kids you cut corners where possible.

now that it's up and going with some stability I lub my cheapie G33-chipset mobo/stripe OS combo with it's 6850 powerplant.. still, I'm looking forward to dump that baby into a X48 mobo with some decent ram to really open her up and overclock the tits of her.

et:qw only runs @ 200fps atm... I need 500 :P

um.. hang on a minute...

last edited by koopz at 22:17:31 27/Dec/07

hahah gg koops. 60fps is more than enough! so u can vouch for 6850s ey? They seem to be quite good even against quads

come tax time, I'm ousting my QX6600 for the QX6850 or better - depending on prices

Oh, in case your curious as to what I have in my setup

QX6600 @ 3.0Ghz
ASUS Silent Knight II (after market cpu cooler)
ASUS P5E
2x 2Gb Kits Geil EVO ONE (dual channel)
Albatron 8800GTX
3x 74GB Raptors in RAID0 (OS & Games)
1x 750GB WD (Storage)
X-Fi Fatality Platinum
800W Tagan Dual Engine
ANTEC 900 Case

Haven't gotten round to benching since I added the EVO ONE gear as yet, will do when I get some days off that don't involve xmas shenningans

Edit: 3D Mark06 = 12,571

last edited by HERMITech at 00:53:48 28/Dec/07

Push the Quad to atleast 3.2ghz (400x9) Hermi.

not a bad setup hermi :P!

im prolly gonna get another 2gb set a week or two after getting it all since its so cheap