New Build with Futureability? + Questions

[kainokai]

I wasn't really planning on upgrading....i'm running on a 3ghz P4....but, obviously, it's getting old fast... especially with a 9800XT, haha, so time for an upgrade that may lead to more upgrades, input is welcome...and required, just kidding, got a little inspiration from Sanji's Guide, great read by the way.

I'd like to create something that will last me until the price cuts and other revisions in the Intel line as well as ATI's DX10 introduction's which will subsequently lead to nVidia's DX10 cards dropping in price. Hence, all the questions with the Pentium D


Mr Mobo:
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128012
can anyone tell me the difference between this and the S3? And, do they run Pentium D's?

CPU(s):
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 (1.66ghz)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115013

or

Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield (2.66ghz)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116249
assuming this will work, it would keep the cost down by $100, not bad IMO

RAMmage:
Patriot 1GB DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820220088
very doubtful on this, i'm thinking just getting 2GB of G.Skill for the overclockability with the money i save

HDD:
Western Digital 160GB 7200RPM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144415
this isn't really a component piece, i can do without it (have 250gb HDD right now), but i want it for backing the important stuff up...or is there a better solution?

GPU:
eVGA 7900GS KO 256MB
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130056
just until ATI releases it's new line, then i'll pick something new when all the DX10 cards come out to play. is there anything cheaper/better for this range?

PSU:
Antec True Power Trio 650W
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817371001
PSU's concern me, with a little time i can decide on any other part but the PSU, what is everyone's opinion?

CPU Cooling:
Scythe 120mm SCNJ-1100P
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835185038
the assumed purchase to go with the E4300, assuming Pentium D is not a viable solution

i will be reusing my Thermaltake tower as my case, i already have disk drives etc, so this is essentially an Upgrade Build.

I know it's rough around the edges, but i just want to get back in the game with my PC, and then when the future products are out they will jump in to take full advantage of the motherboard (even though the E4300 is clearly capable of tearing through anything with a proper overclock.) I'm not really an overclocker, so i can probbly do away with the Scythe CPU fan and use something a little less...uh, pronounced?

Total Build Price (on E4300): $722.94 w/rebates 762.94 w/o them


(^.^)V

 

[alcattle]

Motherboard - excellent choice, not any better at the price.
CPU I think go with the e4300 and you will be able to skip an upgrade level for the near future. I would only go pent D if money were so that, it breaks the build budget not to, and then you would want to step up with the newer processors come in 4-6 months.
Definate go 2gigs, save money by using 667 and value brand works fine when not clocking much if any.
I would pass on the HD for now and use DVD to back up stuff.
Depending on what games you want to play, I might go a step down and plan on getting a DX-10 after the dust settles with the new stuff.
Other parts are very good, what about the OS?

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

I wasn't really planning on upgrading....i'm running on a 3ghz P4....but, obviously, it's getting old fast... especially with a 9800XT, haha, so time for an upgrade that may lead to more upgrades, input is welcome...and required, just kidding, got a little inspiration from Sanji's Guide, great read by the way.

I'd like to create something that will last me until the price cuts and other revisions in the Intel line as well as ATI's DX10 introduction's which will subsequently lead to nVidia's DX10 cards dropping in price. Hence, all the questions with the Pentium D


Mr Mobo:
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128012
can anyone tell me the difference between this and the S3? And, do they run Pentium D's?

DS3's have durable capacitors. They'll last longer under overclocking.

CPU(s):
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 (1.66ghz)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115013

Go E4300 and skip the D 805. Remember, the E4300 is only dropping to $110. Add in the Pentium D and it is more economical to buy now.

or

Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield (2.66ghz)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116249
assuming this will work, it would keep the cost down by $100, not bad IMO

RAMmage:
Patriot 1GB DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820220088
very doubtful on this, i'm thinking just getting 2GB of G.Skill for the overclockability with the money i save

I, personally, liked the RAM for it's price point but there are definitely better alternatives out there. Might I suggest Patriot EXTREME if you want 2GB?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220144
$159.99 after MIR (ends 3/16/07)

This is a good RAM that should OC decently 😀.

HDD:
Western Digital 160GB 7200RPM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144415
this isn't really a component piece, i can do without it (have 250gb HDD right now), but i want it for backing the important stuff up...or is there a better solution?

You'll be hard pressed to get something better cheap.

GPU:
eVGA 7900GS KO 256MB
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130056
just until ATI releases it's new line, then i'll pick something new when all the DX10 cards come out to play. is there anything cheaper/better for this range?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161060
The X1950PRO seems pretty good BUT don't overlook the Step-Up Program!

PSU:
Antec True Power Trio 650W
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817371001
PSU's concern me, with a little time i can decide on any other part but the PSU, what is everyone's opinion?

Good power supply. Should give you good upgrade room

CPU Cooling:
Scythe 120mm SCNJ-1100P
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835185038
the assumed purchase to go with the E4300, assuming Pentium D is not a viable solution

Great cooler. Can't get better for $40.

i will be reusing my Thermaltake tower as my case, i already have disk drives etc, so this is essentially an Upgrade Build.

I know it's rough around the edges, but i just want to get back in the game with my PC, and then when the future products are out they will jump in to take full advantage of the motherboard (even though the E4300 is clearly capable of tearing through anything with a proper overclock.) I'm not really an overclocker, so i can probbly do away with the Scythe CPU fan and use something a little less...uh, pronounced?

Total Build Price (on E4300): $722.94 w/rebates 762.94 w/o them


(^.^)V

[/b]

 

[kainokai]

Well i've decided to order by sunday so i can get my items by tuesday (i typically get one day turnover with newegg)

For the GPU i'm still wavering, i can either go down to a 7600GT for ~$100 or go X1950Pro (the HIS is nice but i feel more comfortable with Sapphire): http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814102061

RAM, i will take Sanji's advice because the Mail in Rebate dumps that to some DDR2 667 ranges. 4-4-4-12 timing sounds right for overclocking too.

As for ordering the Motherboard... how can i request a Rev 3.3 board? can i do it online, or must i call newegg?

Oh, and as for the Pentium D, i was saying i could buy a pentium D for cheap and hold off so i can buy a Core 2 Quad, or higher version Core 2 Duo in the future, but at this point it seems as though the price drops may not be as dramatic as originally expected.

This is my first Overclock build in any case, so i'm feeling a bit nervous to take on this task... haha

EDIT: Oh yea, i'll be using Windows 2000, haha just kidding, XP Pro...i do not feel like losing 30% performance in gaming and in my Adobe Applications >.< by going Vista


((^.^)V

Um, out of curiosity, i would like to know....how would i go about stability testing? is Prime 95 enough, or should i find something else as well (what to use for memory stability?)

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

I'd go 7900GS for one reason.

Step-up Program.

The 8600 GT is expected to go for $150. All goes well, you can step-up!

 

[trixst4r]

get memtest to check for ram (do this before you overclock)

and prime or 3dmark06 would do for stress but mostly prime if u are not ocing your gpu.

I havent been snooping around the market lately so im not sure why you need to request a special revision for the DS3.

I'd get the 7900GS if you feel like trading it in the future but the 1950pro is a sure bet for now and later on too.

DS3 and the S3 as said by sanji is solid state caps on the DS3. But if you are on a budget, many people have not really had problems with the S3 in OCing and solid caps dont guarantee anything. And for reliability wise, i havent heard much bad news about either boards.

 

[kainokai]

just sold an old laptop off, woohoo, more money to go wild with! DS3 is a go, i'll stick to that, and the more i look at the RAM the more certain i am about it so thats a go.

Now i'm thinking: 8800GTS 320MB...with the step up program (is newegg supported by the step up?) in the future that can lead to quite some high end stuff in the next 3 months right?

The reason i want to request the Rev. 3.3 is solely because it's the newest revision, i don't want to receive one of the Rev. 1.0 boards they had laying around in stock all this time, haha. I'm locked in now for pretty much everything but the video card, i'm thinking of OCing the E4300 to about 2.0GHz, at that speed how long do you think it ill take for the processor to deteriorate, years? Sorry for the abundance of ignorant questions, it's just that some of these answers are a bt hard to come by and like i said, this will be my first time in the Overclock PC market.

 

[alcattle]

on the Graphics card, you buy it from anyplace and deal with eVGA to trade it, just like most vendor RMAs. Clocking the e4300 to 2.0 ghz is very mild, you can do it with the stock cooler ( make sure you buy the reatil box) You will upgrade again before the CPU wears out.