Best Peformance:Price ratio over a prolonged period.

DarkShadow · 4 Jan 2007 at 16:06

As per thread title,

Which would be your kit of choice say over 2 years:

E6600 + DFI 975X + 2gb Ballistix PC5300 (3-3-3-12) 35 Pounds more than below

E6400 + Asus P5B Deluxe + 2gb Ballistix PC5300 (3-3-3-12) 20 pounds more.

E6300 + Asus P5B Deluxe + 2gb Ballistix PC5300 (3-3-3-12)

Especially when you're on a budget and don't want to make a wrong decision for time to come, really could do with thoughts. Plan on a good overclock but nothing that will stress anything. 3Ghz onwards.

Thank you.

james_earl · 4 Jan 2007 at 16:17

i wouldnt go for ballistix for a start. i had to rma mine twice.

tHe_HyBrId · 4 Jan 2007 at 16:28

dark_shadow said:
As per thread title,

Which would be your kit of choice say over 2 years:

E6600 + DFI 975X + 2gb Ballistix PC5300 (3-3-3-12) 35 Pounds more than below

E6400 + Asus P5B Deluxe + 2gb Ballistix PC5300 (3-3-3-12) 20 pounds more.

E6300 + Asus P5B Deluxe + 2gb Ballistix PC5300 (3-3-3-12)

Especially when you're on a budget and don't want to make a wrong decision for time to come, really could do with thoughts. Plan on a good overclock but nothing that will stress anything. 3Ghz onwards.

Thank you.

I am in almost the same position as you here

so I will try and watch this thread qutie closely...although if you choice came down to between the e6300 one vs the e6400 one, I might add an aftermarket cooler to the E6300's list

Also I am curious of the DFI's performance and whther it has Firewire and SPDIF/out??

Might I also suggest a pick of them RAM bunch from here??? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=8&sortby=nameAsc&subid=813&mfrid=

Excellent value for money for 800MHz speeds +...now these are only my suggestions so please don't go on a buyingspree based on ym suggestions because I am only a "Thug"

Also I am guessing that your budget is around £450 - £500??

tHe_HyBrId

Rroff · 4 Jan 2007 at 16:51

I've been running a P5B delux board and the DFI Infinity 975X side by side with an E6600 in each for awhile and I would say (especially with the beta BIOS) the infinity is a much better performer, tho the asus is way more consumer friendly and came with a nice bundle.

My DFI deffinatly has firewire on the back plus a header for adding extra firewire capabilities (front panel, etc.) on the board, according to the manual the board has SPDIF out, has a phono style digital audio output on the back, as I use a creative x-fi I haven't really given the onboard audio so much as a glance.

I would also vote to stay away from ballistix - one of my friends RMA'd them 5 times in a couple of years before giving up and buying some OCZ...

nightic · 4 Jan 2007 at 17:49

james_earl said:
i wouldnt go for ballistix for a start. i had to rma mine twice.

Rroff said:
I would also vote to stay away from ballistix - one of my friends RMA'd them 5 times in a couple of years before giving up and buying some OCZ...

DDR2 Ballistix or DDR1 (the infamous PC4000 modules)?

If it's the DDR1 ones then that has no bearing, the DDR2 models are a different species altogether, simply using the same product line name

Street · 4 Jan 2007 at 18:25

I would deffinately stretch to get some PC6400 memory over 5300 if you plan on any overclocking.

SiD-P · 4 Jan 2007 at 18:45

I would drop the ballistix & go for OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400 Platinum.

OCUK have a This Week Only Offer:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=8&subid=813

I would advise the following:

E6600
Abit AW9D-MAX
OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400 Platinum

Comes to about £515 @ OCUK

nightic · 4 Jan 2007 at 19:14

SiD-P said:
I would drop the ballistix & go for OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400 Platinum.

Crucial Ballistix PC5300 = virtually Crucial Anniversary by another name.
Same Micron D9 ICs, PCB, heatspreader (albeit a different colour) with likely similar (if not identical) bin grade - but both rated at PC5300 3-3-3 2.2V.
(Available for £185 + delivery from a competitor)

OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400 Platinum Rev.2 = Promos ICs with sparkly heatspreader. Not to say they're bad but not being D9 they would generally be dismissed as inferior.

---

For another Micron D9 kit at a fair price, search for Adata Vitesta PC6400 4-4-4 Extreme Edition.
Have seen these available for ~£180+ delivery.

See this list for further clarification on which modules utilise which ICs.

SiD-P · 4 Jan 2007 at 20:05

nightic said:
OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400 Platinum Rev.2 = Promos ICs with sparkly heatspreader. Not to say they're bad but not being D9 they would generally be dismissed as inferior.

Duh!!! Stupid me

I did not think before I picked them. Thanx for pionting that out.