What do you think about this?

quantico · 12 Oct 2008 at 11:52

Hi friends, what do you think about this configuration?
I use the pc with software for calculation and 3d graphical visualization. I also use photoshop and capture NX. Finally, extensive office use (contemporary sessions of excel, word, adobe, powerpoint) together with online database to search and download data. I need much space for data storage.
I choose rampage mother board for possible future overclock and crossfire
I plan to change the ram as soon as faster memory will be available at reasonable price.
The price in italy is about 2600 € (+ monitor 1560 €).

Thanks a lot for your opinion and advices

Q

M/B ASUS RAMPAGE EXTREME - S.775 - Intel X48, 4XDDR3 1600MHZ, CROSSFIRE SUPPORT, 1XATA, 6XSATA (RAID 0,1,5,10), 2XGBLAN, 1X1394

CPU Core 2 Quad Q9650 3 Ghz 12MB, LGA775, FSB 1333, BOX INTEL

Dimm 1GB. 1333MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL8 KVR1333D3N9/1G (x 4GB)

Case Stacker 832 - RC-832-KKN1-GP COOLER MASTER

SAPPHIRE ATI HD4870 X2 PCI-E

HD 1000 GB. SATA II 16MB. 7200rpm 8,9ms. Caviar GP WD10EACS Western Digital (x 2000 GB)

Bluray writer - BLU-RAY Sata Int. GGW-H20L Black RETAIL LG

CD/DVD writer DVD ASUS 18X/48X IDE Black

Kit Cordless keyboard+Mouse Cordless Desktop® MX™ 3200 Laser 967688-0103 LOGITECH

Windows Vista Home Prem 64-bit OEM (only with PC) DVD MICROSOFT

COOLER MASTER 1.000 W. EPS12V V2.91 Active PFC RSA00-ESBAD2

Monitor Dell 3008 wpf

Chimerical · 12 Oct 2008 at 12:01

I assume that GPU is the 4870X2? and not just a 2GB 4870.

I'd probably buy the Q9550 instead of the Q9650 and get something like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...=Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler (Socket AM2/LGA775)

And overclock (which it looks like you're going to do anyway).

Plus, I'd buy a 320GB HDD boot drive in addition to the one's you have already listed.

EDIT

That spec is slightly cheaper than your current one and has 8GB of RAM. This is all assuming you still want to go with DDR3 that is

Huw_Dawson · 12 Oct 2008 at 12:03

Wait until next year and get LGA1337?

(Yes, I'm calling it 1337. Because it's suitably nerdish and easy to remember. :rolleyes:

)

- Huw

quantico · 12 Oct 2008 at 12:22

Hi Chimerical,

Chimerical said:
I assume that GPU is the 4870X2? and not just a 2GB 4870.

Yes you are right the GPU is the 4870 x2 (I have corrected the list above).

Chimerical said:
I'd probably buy the Q9550 instead of the Q9650 and get something like this:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...=Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler (Socket AM2/LGA775)
And overclock (which it looks like you're going to do anyway).
Plus, I'd buy a 320GB HDD boot drive in addition to the one's you have already listed.

Thanks for the interesting advices, I am seriously considering to follow it. I have a couple of questions: the Q9550 is better to be overclocked compared to Q9650? The boot drive of 320GB is to improve the performace in terms of velocity of the access to the data?

Ciao

Chimerical · 12 Oct 2008 at 12:26

quantico said:
Thanks for the interesting advices, I am seriously considering to follow it. I have a couple of questions: the Q9550 is better to be overclocked compared to Q9650? The boot drive of 320GB is to improve the performace in terms of velocity of the access to the data?

Ciao

Yeah, basically, the Q9550 is better because its only 100Mhz+ slower but a lot cheaper and if you overclock you'll get 3.6GHz out of both chips easily.

Correct, the 320GB boot drive would be faster than using a 1TB for loading Windows.

Are you sure about going for DDR3 still? (because of the cost).

quantico · 12 Oct 2008 at 14:46

Chimerical said:
Are you sure about going for DDR3 still? (because of the cost).

Can I use faster DDR2 memory on rampage mother board ? (Sorry if the question is orrible")

quantico · 12 Oct 2008 at 14:48

Huw_Dawson said:
Wait until next year and get LGA1337?
(Yes, I'm calling it 1337. Because it's suitably nerdish and easy to remember. ) - Huw

Nice advice but I need the pc now

Chimerical · 12 Oct 2008 at 21:22

quantico said:
Can I use faster DDR2 memory on rampage mother board ? (Sorry if the question is orrible")

No, you'd need to buy a cheaper DDR2 board, either this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...P45 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

or something like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...X48 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

The absolute only real-world benefit of the more expensive X48 board is Crossfire. If you do not intend on purchasing 2x seperate graphics cards, then P45 is the way to go.