New Build with a Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800

Dempsey · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:28

Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800

Seasonic S12 Powersupply 600W

ASUS P5W DH Deluxe Digital Home Series

ZALMAN ZM CNPS9500 LED - processor cooler

2Gb DDR2 PC-6400 Platinum XTC Series Dual Channel kit

Thermaltake Kandalf Black, Aluminium Front, Super tower (Without PSU)

4 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 16MB 7200RPM

BenQ DVD±RW burner DW1655, 16x, Dual, LightScribe, Black, OEM

LG DVD Drive, GDR-8164RBB, 16x52, Black OEM

Still Looking for:
1. SATA2 RAID 5 Controller (Do I really need one? Do I really need RAID 5? Should I just use RAID 0?)
2. Graphics Gard (Looking for High Performance but value for money aswell)
3. Sound Card?? (Is the onboard sound good enough)

Any suggestions for this build?

hyper_piper45 · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:32

My first suggestion would be don't get an x6800! Very expensive, and the performance can be easily achieved with an e6600.

Also get a scythe infinity. One of the best coolers avaliable at the moment.

For graphics card, i would go with a HIS x1900xt.

I have always used onboard sound, so i on't really know what to recommend in that department.

I might also go for the geil ultra ram.

Dempsey · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:36

hyper_piper45 said:
My first suggestion would be don't get an x6800! Very expensive, and the performance can be easily achieved with an e6600.

I'm getting the CPU for $495 excluding import duty

Lan · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:39

i can only assume Dempsey happens to be your last name if so so is mine

hyper_piper45 · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:41

Dempsey said:
I'm getting the CPU for $495 excluding import duty

That is still more expensive than an e6600. Can you get an e6600 cheap aswell?

If you have your heart set on it go for it, but it basically just has a higher multi and is clocked a bit higher.

Dempsey · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:43

Lan said:
i can only assume Dempsey happens to be your last name if so so is mine

It is

I've already ordered a X6800 but I could flog that and get a X6600 for $169 ex import? Could I achieve that overclock on with that cooling. I'm not getting into Water cooling.

I know they are already cranked up but I could crank it up a bit more and get my monies worth?

hyper_piper45 · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:48

Dempsey said:
It is

I've already ordered a X6800 but I could flog that and get a X6600 for $169 ex import? Could I achieve that overclock on with that cooling. I'm not getting into Water cooling.

As you can see here people have acheived those clocks easily on air.

Murzo · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:55

Dempsey said:
Thermaltake Kandalf Black, Aluminium Front, Super tower (Without PSU)

You can do better.

Akasa Eclipse 62 Aluminium Case & Window (BU-000-AK)

Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS

Lian-Li PC V1000 PLUS

To name a few.

Dempsey · 20 Sep 2006 at 17:03

Is it just me or are Lian Li very plain for the price. I know they are quality. You have to pay extra for a transparent side panel.

I like the Akasa Eclipse 62 Aluminium Case & Window, very nice, but then I have to go looking for fans, extra work on me. This research craic is hard on the brain.

Keep the idea's flying in though!

Lan · 20 Sep 2006 at 18:16

i just got a antec p180 really gd case

Lan · 20 Sep 2006 at 18:16

only prob is my tagan psu dint fit brill so i had to move the hdd fan out of there

Sir Random · 20 Sep 2006 at 18:44

I have the same mobo and I found the onboard sound to be very poor. In GTA:SA, the engine/tyre sounds disappeared whenever it started raining (too many sounds at once) and in Broken Sword: Angel of Death, some of the voices were missing.

I installed my old Audigy 2 yesterday, and it makes a big difference. Even the XP startup sound is noticeably richer, like you can feel the bass even at low volume.

I was using the Realtek drivers from the mobo CD, so maybe there are newer drivers available, but I doubt it will improve the sound quality to the standard of a seperate sound card.

For graphics, the X1900XT gives the best high-end performance/value.

Dempsey · 21 Sep 2006 at 08:38

Thanks for the advice lads,

I think i'll go for the Asaka case, looks nice. Gonna read some reviews on it soon enough.

Audigy cards are gone fairly cheap so I might invest in one.

Anyone recommend a 4+ Port SATA2 RAID 5 Controller?

Dempsey · 21 Sep 2006 at 22:37

People are telling me that my ram is overkill bearing in mind that I dont think i'll be doing any extreme overclocking. Thoughts?

Murzo · 22 Sep 2006 at 00:03

Its certainly not overkill for a x6800, probably just a little bit to dear for some peoples liking, but if it fits into your budget then why not, looks like top quality ram and has very nice timings as well.

Dempsey · 26 Sep 2006 at 14:17

That Asaka case is now out of stock, i had my heart set on it, any other case recommendations. I would like it to have a window

Dempsey · 30 Sep 2006 at 16:51

Right after days of chopping and changing i'm settling on the following

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB x 4 £295.88
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Seagate_SATA.html#aHD_2d078_2dSE

Lian-Li PC V1000 PLUS Black Aluminium Midi-Tower £129.19
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/LianLi_Cases.html#aCA_2d027_2dLL

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music £58.16
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Creative_Sound_Cards.html#aSC_2d043_2dCL

Asus P5W Deluxe WiFi £152.74
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Asus_177.html#aMB_2d152_2dAS

Seasonic S12 600W Silent £93.99
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Seasonic_Power_Supplies.html#aCA_2d002_2dSS

Highpoint Rocket RAID 2310 £104.52
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/SATARAID_Cards.html#aCC_2d017_2dHP

HIS ATI Radeon X1900 GT 256Mb £152.74
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/X1900_Series.html#aGX_2d057_2dHT

Zalman CPNS-9500-LED Aero Flower £35.24
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Zalman_CPU_Coolers.html#aHS_2d015_2dZA

Total: £1,022.44

What do people think? Interested in opinions on the RAID controller too. I cant find decent reviews of RAID controllers

I just need a recommendation in memory please

Murzo · 30 Sep 2006 at 16:59

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) (MY-058-GL)

Price: £169.99 (£199.74 Including VAT at 17.5%)

I would go for that memory, it performs very well.

valerian · 30 Sep 2006 at 20:56

Dempsey said:
Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800

Seasonic S12 Powersupply 600W

ASUS P5W DH Deluxe Digital Home Series

ZALMAN ZM CNPS9500 LED - processor cooler

2Gb DDR2 PC-6400 Platinum XTC Series Dual Channel kit

Thermaltake Kandalf Black, Aluminium Front, Super tower (Without PSU)

4 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 16MB 7200RPM

BenQ DVD±RW burner DW1655, 16x, Dual, LightScribe, Black, OEM

LG DVD Drive, GDR-8164RBB, 16x52, Black OEM

Still Looking for:
1. SATA2 RAID 5 Controller (Do I really need one? Do I really need RAID 5? Should I just use RAID 0?)
2. Graphics Gard (Looking for High Performance but value for money aswell)
3. Sound Card?? (Is the onboard sound good enough)

Any suggestions for this build?

why value for money graphics when you are going to waste money buying a 6800 chip

Dempsey · 1 Oct 2006 at 03:18

valerian said:
why value for money graphics when you are going to waste money buying a 6800 chip

I thought I explain that, I GOT the X6800 for 400 euros, the cheap

Also look at the current selection which has changed from what you've quoted