Some memory and PSU advice please...

[tel1jag]

Some memory and PSU advice please...

I am a total noob on overclocking...however, I am very proficient with building PCs and knowing multiple OSes, so I am hoping to learn more about overclocking...

I am considering buying the following system components...
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
ASUS Maximus II Formula ATX Intel Motherboard
ASUS Radeon HD 4850 EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Video Card
2X (8GB total)--CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W Power Supply
3X (doing RAID 5) Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Antec Nine Hundred Black Computer Case
ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T


My thought would be to try and get the CPU up to about 3Ghz (if I could get it there...again, I know very little about overclocking at the moment and historically run everything at stock speeds).


Would my Corsair PC800 memory be alright or would I need to go to 1066?

Is the PSU look ok or do I need to go higher?

I have done some forum searching and google searching on overclock, but doesn anyone support or recommend a very good noob guide?


Thank you in advance.

--Jeff

 

[br3nd064]

The ram is fine. I trust you're running a 64bit OS if you have 8gb of ram? Just wanted to make sure...

I'd go with a better power supply though. Do you plan to crossfire in the future?

I have a PC Power & Cooling 750w and I'm very satisfied with it.

Hope that helps.

 

[tel1jag]

As for OS, yes, I will go with XP 64-bit. Otherwise 4.5MB of the RAM wouldn't be utilized as I understand it. I have read quite a few posts of people very happy with the performance of XP 64bit and 8GB.

Please forgive my igorance here, but the RAM is fine because there will be room to still clock it higher before having to go to 1066 or the RAM doesn't make a difference in trying to get the Q9550 to around 3Ghz (or whatever the multplier/math wil allow)?

Would 620w (an Antec or Corsair) be enough?

I am probably not going to do Crossfire, but would like to leave the option open as a possibitity.


Again, thank you.

--Jeff

 

[br3nd064]

You probably won't have to raise the ram frequency much (if at all) to sync it 1:1 with the fsb. The ram does play an important part in overclocking, but you won't have to change anything with that ram. You'll be able to get it to 3.4ghz by keeping the ram at it's stock speed. Sorry about the confusion.

The 620 would be enough for right now. It *may* be enough for crossfire, but I'm not positive on that.

 

[aevm]

DDR2-800 is plenty for an overclock from 2.83GHz to 3GHz. You can skip the Freezer too and just use the stock cooler.

I'd get a 750TX or at least 650TX for the Crossfire option.

The ASUS Maximus II Formula is based on P45. At $265+11 (Newegg prices) it's a bad idea. You can get a P5E Deluxe X48 for less money ($220+10) and it would be better for Crossfire (16x +16x instead of 8x+8x).

You could also get a Q6600/HD 4870 for the price of Q9550/HD 4850. It would be a lot better in most games. Of course, there are exceptions (FSX, video encoding) where the Q9550 would make a difference. It depends on what you're going to do with this PC.