Radeon B2 512 HD 2600 PRO PCI-e

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Any suggestions, building around a core 2 duo 6600. Motherboard suggestions welcome as well. Thanks in advance.
 
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As an FYI, got the MOBO on Amazon for 70 and change, with shipping. And I used a 50.00 gift card, so good deal. The video card is next!! Any recommendations on ram? I've got a P4 2.8ghz running with 2 gb DDR? ram. I will need DDR2 for this Mobo, correct? And at least 2 GB.

Thanks again

Paul
 
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ok, got a video card, not the one you recommended, but a decent one I think, for a whole 20 bucks, plus 5 shipping, its a

ATI Radeon X1600 Pro (512MB, PCIe)
probably not as hot a card as you recommended, but the price is right, and the setup should easily outdo my current P4 with agp graphics card. (Radeon 9550, 512mb).
The memory is the last step. Again, thanks for your help and support. BTW, what do you think of that graphics card I found?

Paul
 
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i used to own a e6600 with an x1600 that i got on a black friday long past with infact a 1280x1024 monitor aswell. good card and it ran well. it could run BF 2142 on med/hi settings with ocassional lag when looking at/inside an orbital strike. also also my friend can run C&C Red Alert 3 on low settings on a 1680x1050 montior.

i think the 4670 would have been the better deal even though its 3x the cost.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/compare,794.html?prod%5B2254%5D=on&prod%5B2155%5D=on
found this in the carts section 2008 Q3. the 4670 appears to pump out 3-4x the frames compared to the x1600.
 
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Thanks for responding Paperfox
It is apparent that the 4670 is vastly superior, but when I looked more closely at the MOBO I bought, I could find no video output integrated in the MOBO. SOOO, I figured I would need some kind of video card to get the machine up and running. The x1600 will do that, and buy me some time to get the 4670 down the road. Once I upgrade, I'll throw the 1600 back on Ebay for whatever I can get.
I am not a heavy duty gamer, but a game I like (Silent Hunter IV) video runs at a poor frame rate with my current setup, so this should resolve that issue.
Plus I am indulging my inner geek!!
And this all started when I won that processor on Ebay without intending to.
Now for the damn memory.

Paul
 
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The X1600 (I had an X1650 pro at one point) isn't a bad card but as you've noticed it's not going to give you much. It will suffice as a stepping stone from your 9550 until you can get the HD 4670. So you've got a good plan going.

The RAM I listed will do you well but if the price is scaring your wallet, let me see what else I can find.

Corsair XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 - $59.99 after rebate ($67.99 before rebate).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590

It's just slightly slower than the first RAM I linked to but not so much you'd ever actually notice in day to day use.
 
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Nearly? That IS the same RAM. Good find. That's one hell of a good price for it.

3 years ago I paid over $200 for that exact same RAM.
 
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ya i was debating if it was the same or not, it had the same model # but the timings where different.

i hear ya on paying $200 for ddr2 800 RAM, i got a 2 GB set for $250 to go with my E6600 wayyyyy back when, biggest buyers remorse ive ever had. :)
 
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Lol, that's even the same CPU I bought with it. I'm not as bitter about the RAM as I am the GPU. $420 for the X1950 XTX only to have it beaten out by a $55 HD 4670 now.

Anyway, Paul if you leave near a FRY's, I highly recommend that last selection that Paperfox listed.
 
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ve near a Fry's, I've never even heard of the store!! I got some ram coming I bought on Ebay, decent until I can get more shekels.
here is what I got
2GB Micron 2X1GB PC2-6400 800 DDR2

I also got this, thought it was 2 sticks, but its one

NEW Kingston 2GB DDR2 RAM MEMORY 240 PIN 1066 PC2 8500

So, what I have is 2 gb of slower Ram, and 2 GB of pretty fast ram. The Mobo supports both, but suggests I install ram so that I can use the dual channel capability. Can I use both types of ram? I know XP will only support 3 gb, so the 2gb chip on one channel and 1gb on the other?
Can I assume that the system will clock down to the slowest ram? Or is it better to run the 2gb alone, or the 2 1gb sticks in each channel? Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Also, can I use the fan from a pentium 4 running at 3 ghz? Or will the processor require more cooling? It seems to be a pretty substantial heat sink with integrated fan.

thanx again

Paul
 
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Use the 2 individual 1 GB sticks and run them in dual channel (put them in the same color DIMM). That will give you more performance than the single stick of faster RAM will.

Windows XP 32 bit cannot address more than 4 GB's of RAM. However, Windows XP 64 bit can address 16 exebytes of RAM (other limitations exist) but this is valid on any 32 and 64 bit operating system, not just Windows XP.

Are you asking if you can use the fan from a different P4 running at 3Ghz on your P4 or can you use the default fan to run your P4 2.8 Ghz at 3.0 Ghz speeds? The answer is yes on either account.
 
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ok, I thought that might be the case with the ram. I thought xp was a 32 bit OS and that vista could run either 32 or 64.
As to the fan, will it have enough cooling capacity for the new core 2 duo I'll be running? It came from a 3 ghz P4, though the fan was never installed. Was also thinking of installing a 3500 BTU window AC unit, but can't fit it into the case. :lol:
If not adequate, then I'll upgrade that as well, I have found computers run better when the smoke stays in the chips!!
And while I'm at it, I am also gonna find a bigger HDD. My rule is the more heads you have over data, the faster the HDD.

Paul
 
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XP comes in 64 bit flavors too.

A P4 CPU fan may not even fit on the Core 2 Duo socket. Some are designed for both socket types, some aren't.

You could always install the AC unit in the actual window and run a ventilation duct to the PC.
 
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Oddly enough, I did place the current computer so that the vents from the window AC blew toward it, though a dryer hose connection was out of the question (I am married, and want to stay that way!!) It seems that the Mobo I got has the standard 4 posts for the cooler, My concern was heat dissipation, does a core 2 generate much more heat than a P4? It also seems the form factor is identical between core 2 and P4, both using LGA 775 sockets. seems I am going to get another 2 gb ddr3 down the road, so I can run dual channel. with 4 gb. I did read that the extra ram, particularly on the graphics card, gives incremental improvement until you get to really high resolutions. Just out of curiousity, where are you located? Chicago here.
 
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Core 2 Duo's typically run cooler than P4's which are known to generate enough heat to warm a small arctic village.

Extra RAM can give a performance boost on equal magnitude as a new CPU. With a graphics card it not only allows better frames at all resolutions but more AA, AF and textures.

I'm in Jacksonville.
 
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Well, 2 days on and the adventure continues. tried to install mobo and discovered my power supply won't fit!! the bigger connector is 4 pins too short for the mobo. Any suggestions on what power supply would work keeping in mind my financial limitations? I am going to do a complete reload of the OS as well. That I can handle!!
Have I said thanks by the way? well, thanks again!!
 
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If you are using the motherboard I listed above, you need a PSU with a 24 pin (or 20+4 pin) power connector. If you're current PSU only has the older 20 pin power connector, it won't work.

Below is a top quality PSU that will power your motherboard without breaking the bank.

Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400W - $39.99 after rebate ($49.99 before rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008


And you're quite welcome.
 
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