PSU etc 2xGeForce 7600GT, GA965P-DQ6,E6700

[vizion]

Hi
Here are my proposed components:
Intel Core Duo E6700 Conroes 266 4M LGA 775
Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6-ATX
4xRaptor 150G
2xSeagate 750G
2xGeForce 7600GT

Can someone please recomend:

1. Appropriate power supplies and arrangements (taking demand for cooloing into account). It seems from the Video card manufacturers site that a 24A 12v rail is needed for dual cards -- I havent seen one of these cards but I believe they do not have independent power sockets-- is that right??

2. Cooling suggestions on the assumption I am going to over-clock.

3. Suitable memory in 1g or 2G modules.. I believe this board is picky about memory.

Suggestions appreciated

Thanks in advance

David

 

[vizion]

Thanks for the input

I am also considering:

AMD Athlon 64x2 5000 + Windsor with similar configuration on a
Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5

My main use is for four monitors with considerable amount of graphics redrawing and rendering but also want to play !! <Chuckles>

How about recomendations for the power supply and case with my drive combination? I value quiteness as well as performance.

I agree the Zalman 9700 is ideal.

David

 

[vizion]

Thanks for the suggestion.. seems sensible

What would you recomend.. bearing in mind that both cards need to support dual monitors?

David

 

[vizion]

Applications:
Primary
Photoshop on huge files 1.5 -2G -- spending too much time waiting for redraws on panoramics with width:height ratios up to 7.5:1 - and need to be able to work on them at high resolution across multiple monitors.

Premier with multiple sources
pov-ray
multiple 3D rendering packages

Thanks for your time

David

 

[vizion]

OK lets assume we go for the 7900 (or at best 7950) and the 6600.

How about the amd v Intel ?

The Intel E6700 is a little over the $500 mark and the Athlon 5000 is around $300 with the 5200 coming somewhere in between. The motherboard for the intel is about $20 more than the amd so the maximum difference is $220. Taking OC into account I do not see a huge difference in performance for my applications -- I should be able to make good use of the duo because I run multiple applications simultaneously.

Does the E6700 solution differ all that much from the 5200 or the 5000 for either Photoshop or premier?

My guess is that more ram might be more beneficial than marginal improvements in processor performance!

David

 

[vizion]

Thanks for taking the time

I am on way out now and will do some more research in the morning.

I have some reservations atm.

1. I do not know whether I want to prepare for possible upgrading to a more powerful processor as the prices drop (maybe a QX6800 late next year .

2. Will I want to be ready to shift to Vista - in which case 2x2G - 800 memory modules would facilitate adding more memorylater and provide better support for swapping to a QX6800.

3. Should I consider water cooling for the sake of OC and quiet?

4. Is there enough margin in the power supplies for future expansion?

Once those questions are answered I might be ready to get ordering and building!

Thanks again for your help and encouragement

David