Please, need help with my buy?

Yucca · 16 Sep 2007 at 15:26

Hi all

Ok so i want to get a new intel chip with a mobo and ram to run with my 7900GT and with 2 western digital 500gig hard drives im going to buy and run in raid 0.

Not a massive overclocker but id like to set it up to run at 3ghz.

So this is what i have in mind...

Abit IP35 Pro
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C4 800MHz Dual Channel Kit
Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient 95W Edition" 2.40GHz

Sound good? Anything i need to know? It'l all work well together and shouldt have any problems with them three right?

How many sata 2 ports does it have, anyone know? And how many usb 2 ports does it support as i have the stacker with about 8 on the front i want to connect up.

Thinking of using stock cooling, should be up to the job right?

Cob · 16 Sep 2007 at 15:31

Those are very good choices. I doubt anyone would suggest anything better.

The Abit IP35 Pro has 6 SATA ports on the board, and 2 e-SATA ports on the IO.

It has four USB headers for eight devices.

Stock cooling will be fine if you aren't intending to overclock the Q6600. Tho the G0 can handle a small oc with the stock heatsink.

Yucca · 16 Sep 2007 at 15:39

Id like to clock to 3ghz, do i need to spend money on another cooler or will it be ok?

What is e-sata then?

I have no intention in running vista and im not a super hardcore gamer althought i do play on the new games at high settinging and like them smoothe. But 2 gig should be fine for 99% of things right?

Cob · 16 Sep 2007 at 15:49

e-SATA is external SATA. It's an alternative to USB and Firewire external hard drives, and is much faster than either. It also allows you to plug a standard SATA drive into a computer without having to open the case.

2gb will be fine for the moment, tho some of the newer games can take advantage of more.

3ghz might be a little too much for the stock cooler. I would atleast spend £17 on an Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro.

Yucca · 16 Sep 2007 at 15:53

So with esata i could but a normal sata hard drive and stick the sata cable in the back and it'd work like an external?

Cob · 16 Sep 2007 at 16:03

Yip. Tho you are meant to use a special e-SATA cable. I don't know if it's necessary, but some boards (inc my Gigabyte P35-DS3P) came with one.

Yucca · 16 Sep 2007 at 16:21

Someone else also told me to get the gigabyte if i need a cheaper board.

Whats the difference. What has the abit got or do that the gigabyte wont?

Cob · 16 Sep 2007 at 16:41

The Abit seems to be the better overclocker, and it has better cooling. It also has slightly better power regulation.

But it's also £35 more than the P35-DS3P. That wouldn't really be an issue if you were intending to squeeze every last mhz out of the CPU. But if you only looking at 3ghz, then I'm not sure if the extra £35 is worth it for the Abit.

Yucca · 16 Sep 2007 at 16:46

Will the Gigabite do 3ghz easily?

Is the rest of the spec pritty much the same, sata ports, usb, esate etc or do i loose out there to?

Cob · 16 Sep 2007 at 16:50

Yeah mine's running my B3 Q6600 at 3.5ghz, and it's only the load temps that are holding it back.

The spec's pretty much the same (8 usb, Firewire), tho the P35-DS3P has 8 SATA ports on the actual board, and comes with a backplate for turning two of those ports into e-SATA ports (personally i think that's a better option).