Looking for a mobo...

[rbico]

I am building a new system and have settled on the Intel Q8200 and would like some advice for the remaining essentials.

I do not game at all. I multi-task with Photoshop, Illustrator, Firefox and RAR-processing programs. I usually have Firefox and lots of tabs open and also may be running Photoshop at the same time, or un-zipping a 5gb movie. i do some minor video processing - nothing professional, just editing mostly. I watch DIVX and AVI on my PC, but I am not looking for beautiful clarity on my monitor (just mentioning it as to my habits)


I already have a PSU, Case, Harddrives and Peripherals.

I need a MOBO, video card (mayte) and RAM

For RAM I was thinking 4gb Gskill

I don't need much for a video card, as I don't game. I have a LG LCD, so I need DVI, but that's pretty much it.

My budget for the MOBO is not much at this point. i could spend $100, but I'd rather keep it under $75, unless y'all highly suggest against it. I could go up to $100 for the MOBO if it has on-board video. I can always get a better card down the road. I have an old AGP GeForce 6200 and things seem to run fine, if that's any indicator as to my needs.

thanks for the help.

 

[fullmetall]

Look at the P43 gigabyte and ASUS.

For the ram you chose,

Rather you choose these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209
pi black

 

[rbico]

thanks, FullMetal.

So if I go with the p43 Gigabyte MOBO


and this card

I would be at about $100 -- add the RAM you suggested and that would be decent system?

I FORGOT: I am running Windows XP 32bit - corporate. No Vista.

 

[fullmetall]

Ew, no please hah donn't.

Didnt think you would want the video card and mobo to match up to 100.

that will be a really low end product for a q8200 and ddr2 800 ram.

Don't see any board worth getting for $50.. if it is then its a micro atx board.

 

[fullmetall]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186146
Foxconn is about as good as it gets.

leaves you at $42-$45.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125251
gigabyte 4350

 

[rbico]

I your comment ("ew") for the video card I chose? Would I really notice a difference between a that card and a higher end card while streaming the Daily Show or editing photos? I have read over and over that high-end cards with lotsn of RAM make no difference with photoshop. isn't that correct? I ever watch HD movies, so do I really need a GREAT card?

The combo I have is the MOBO you suggested, which has no on-board video, with the cheap card I tagged on. I can always buy a better card later.

still "Ew"?

 

[fullmetall]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121235
pci-e x16

 

[fullmetall]

Your taking a chance on some one who has already used the card, dont know for how long, so you dont know what could be wrong with it, if there is anything wrong with it. If you do get the board and the open boxed card, hopefully things will work.

 

[rbico]

I almost immediately changed the video card to a retail card. Sorry, I seem to be responding too fast to give you time to properly answer my questions.

 

[fullmetall]

The G31 motherboard should be fine, if not. I can look for an onboard motherboard.\

I looked and there isnt anything under 100 that i could find descent enough for a Q8200 for an onboard+motherboard, there was one mabye but its around $10-$20 more

 

[shortstuff_mt]

If you're looking for a motherboard with onboard graphics, I would look at the current generation G41/G43/G45 boards. Here's a good list:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200280+50001314+1070509908+107172715&Configurator=&Subcategory=280&description=&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

 

[rbico]

thanks, but only one of those supports the fast RAM and it's $90. I think the original one that FullMetal suggested might be best. any thoughts?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The G31 is a previous generation chipset. Do what you want, it's your build. If it was me, I'd go with a current board. There's really no need at all for DDR2 1066 RAM on an Intel Build. I'd go with some high quality, low latency DDR2 800 RAM like this:

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209&Tpk=pi%20black%20800 $44.99

 

[fullmetall]

Yea, i suggested the PI Blacks earlier to him, but, he's needing to budget way low to where, the motherboard becomes useless in this matter, G31 motherboard with a Q8200 is iffy. If the parts are mandatory and you need them now then go with the g31, if you can buy it peice by peice, saving money and getting good parts along the way, do that so you can get more up-to-date products for your main units.

 

[rbico]

so the Q8200 with the g41

is good? This MOBO has onboard video,so I can get a better video card later.

why not go with faster RAM? I thought you needed more than 800 for overclocking.

thanks

 

[fullmetall]

Depends on your overclock, if your willing to go buck wild and oc everything in the system to really high clocks: FSB/Ram/mobo/ etc. then 1066 could be avaliable to you but, with your motherboard your getting should be enough for ddr2 800. You will still get a good oc with the set.

The G41 is a Micro ATX board, does your case have open holes for micro atx and regular atx?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

DDR2 800 RAM is all you need for your CPU. The Q8200 isn't a stellar overclocker and you'll be very lucky to get > 400 FSB on any quad core chip. If you do get a lucky chip that will go over 400, the PI Black RAM has a lot of overclocking potential if needed.

Intel chips run best when the RAM and FSB are at a 1:1 ratio. That means with your Q8200 if the CPU isn't overclocked at all you would only need DDR2 667 RAM (multiply the RAM speed by 2 to get the FSB since the Intel chips use a quad-pumped FSB).

 

[bmuell]

$260 - $10MIR if you can swing it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.165048

Faster Quad than the Q8200, onboard ATI HD 3300 128mb video.

 

[rbico]

$260 - $10MIR if you can swing it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.165048

Faster Quad than the Q8200, onboard ATI HD 3300 128mb video.

I was actually looking at this one, but I was too embarassed to suggest it after all the work everyone on this thread had put into helping me with the Intel.

Would there be a noticeable difference between the two packages? What kind of RAM would be best with it if I want to overclock the CPU (just tweak it really)?

 

[Why_Me]

Nice choice on that Q8200 That cpu is a good one for what you do with your PC. This mobo down below is just what your looking for. Also that vid card below has intergrated HDMI port. I would think this would be a perfect match for what you intend to do with your PC.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380 $84.99
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121259 $29.99 ($19.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
ASUS EAH3450/DI/256M Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Low Profile Video Card - Retail Integrated with HDMI port and HDCP ready

 

[geofelt]

You can't beat this deal on 4gb of quality ram form corsair--$19.99 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

Look at a decent mobo from asus or gigabyte with integrated graphics like this eg41-m from gigabyte for $74.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128365

If you find the graphics lacking, or want to play demanding games, you can always get a discrete video card later.

 

[bmuell]

I was actually looking at this one, but I was too embarassed to suggest it after all the work everyone on this thread had put into helping me with the Intel.

Would there be a noticeable difference between the two packages? What kind of RAM would be best with it if I want to overclock the CPU (just tweak it really)?

Yeah that Gigabyte board is very highly recommended. I only linked the Biostar because it's cheaper, and as such is closer to your original cost.

The Q8200, Q9550 and possibly the Q6600 (if you're dead-set on overclocking a quad) are all fantastic cpus. It's just that with the recent price drop on the Phenom II X4 940BE to $200 and newegg's huge combo savings with 790GX boards, they're a much harder sell. Only the Q9550 beats the X4 940, but it's $75 more expensive (NOT including combo deals). That's a big difference, and in my opinion, if you're going to spend that much on a processor, you should just pony up for i7.

The onboard Video is an added bonus on the 790GX boards that most people don't use, but in your case might be useful.

To answer your RAM question: The extra bandwidth from 1066Mhz rated ram is useful with AM2/AM2+ systems, but then again it is just overclocked 800Mhz ram under warranty. The G.Skill Pi Black is still a great deal here.

 

[fullmetall]

@ geofelt: yes you can, PI Black g.skills is the same price just no m-i-r, which can become useless. i've sent a m-i-r in before and never got one back, yes it was the day right after i got the part. If your getting a G41, make sure your case is Micro atx availiable cause thats what that G41 is.

I would much rather go with a p43 for more up-to-date and a ati 3450-4350

 

[rbico]

Okay, final build:


AMD Phenom II X4 940

cheap PSU

PI black 4gb


I orginally didn't need the case and PSU, but I decided to just start fresh with both. i know it's a cheap PSU, but I can get a better one later. I will pick up a case at our local Fry's. i have the other stuff

Running XP Pro, 32 bit.


Any last thoughts?

 

[fullmetall]

Whats the full list>?